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Lazarus had fans thinking that the anime was about to come apart at the seams. The reason? Well, the past few episodes seemed all the more inconclusive with the lack of character depth and whatnot.

Axel’s parkour antics took a backseat, but the chaos ensued nonetheless. The group fought tooth and nail to rescue Chris from Russian special forces. But the recent episode sent a wave of nostalgia for all anime lovers.

Episode 9 might have referenced a lesser-known classic by Studio Bones. We almost forgot about this one, and boy, Shinichiro Watanabe may have given us yet another enigma clad in black. But who is he? Read more to find out!

Lazarus Episode 9 is a throwback to Studio Bones’ classic

Lazarus is a complete visual masterpiece. The animation, background art, and music deserve all the praise. It is simply out of this world. The recent episode, on top of that,...

Over the years, anime has seen tremendous growth and success, because of a handful of genres that have helped the artistic medium grow in popularity around the world. These genres feature an incredible variety of series, but arguably none are more consistently thrilling than the assassin genre.

Assassin anime has been a major part of the medium's success since the 1970s, and during this time, the genre has spawned many titles that earned impressive followings among their fans. That said, there are a select few assassin anime that are particularly well-received, including a few that rank among the most popular series in anime history.

Darker Than Black Trades Realism for Spectacular Flashy Fights Streaming on Crunchyroll

Assassins are one of the most dangerous (and chaotic) tools in the world for political conflict, and few series capture this better than Darker Than Black. This sci-fi mystery follows the journey of Hei,...

This March, the curtain will finally rise on RSC's (Royal Shakespeare Company's) stage adaptation of My Neighbor Totoro. Ahead of the show's return to London's West End, RSC has revealed the new and returning cast members who will bring the anime's story to life.

A joint collaboration between Nippon Television and RSC, My Neighbour Totoro utilizes innovative puppetry techniques and creative stage effects to retell Hayao Miyazaki's classic tale. Per Variety, the show's production team is currently gearing up for Totoro's upcoming round of performances, which will be held at the Gillian Lynne Theatre from March 8 through Nov. 2. While Ami Okumura Jones reprises her role as Satsuki -- Totoro's spirited 10-year-old protagonist -- Singaporean actor Victoria Chen will be making her RSC debut as Satsuki's four-year-old sister, Mei.

Related Studio Ghibli Revives Its Sweetest My Neighbor Totoro Keychain Series in Official Re-Release

Studio Ghibli's beloved mascot...

Imagine living in a world where humans and wolves have a mutual relationship and they both equally struggle for power and survival. Here comes Wolf’s Rain! It presents such an intriguing scenario where themes of adventure, myth, and self-discovery merge into one single, exciting narrative.

Kiba from Wolf’s Rain | Credits: Studio Bones

Even more surprisingly, it was, in fact, directed by famous Tensai Okamura, who single-handedly helped popularize anime originals such as Darker than Black and Kuromukuro.

Through the adaptation of Wolf’s Rain, Okamura tried his best to infuse every frame of this dystopian world with questions of identity, community, and the lines between human and animal. And in a past interview, fans also got the rarest of rare opportunities to learn some interesting insights behind this creation.

Director Okamura might not have had close communication with Wolf’s Rain‘s author A still from episode 12 of Wolf’s Rain anime series...

While making a strong first impression is a crucial challenge every new anime has to face, it's arguably even more important for a long-running series to keep the momentum going. With dozens of new shows premiering every year, far from every debut anime manages to stick around for a sequel - and even fewer succeed at meeting the established expectations with their continuation.

A second season of their favorite show is something fans eagerly welcome, knowing all too well how many incredible series never get the chance to continue past the first cour. However, even some of anime’s most anticipated follow-ups to highly acclaimed shows can suffer from a drop in quality from one season to the next. Be it an animation downgrade, a sudden lull in the story, or an unwelcome narrative shift from what the series had previously established, these anime sequels changed for the worse compared to how they started.

Makoto Yukimura is a particularly accomplished and meticulous mangaka known for his seinen manga, most famously Vinland Saga, but his previous acclaimed series was Planetes. While Vinland Saga is a thoroughly researched sword and sandal period epic, Planetes is a similarly humanistic take, but in a grounded science fiction universe for those seeking variety in Yukimura's works. Thanks to Crunchyroll's recent confirmation on October 15, 2024, Planetes has joined the Crunchyroll streaming platform for viewers who had previously missed out.

Planetes was not nearly as prominent in North America, amounting more to a beloved cult classic similar to Serial Experiments Lain and Darker Than Black, critically just as well-received as its manga. The series follows the crew of the DS-12 Toy Box and their lives as space debris collectors, including the protagonist, Hachirota Hoshino. Planetes is a compelling and cerebral exploration of humanity told in a concise twenty-six episodes, available to stream on-demand now on Crunchyroll.

Most anime fans have an idea who the strongest characters are, and it is no surprise that many of them come from iconic and popular series. These characters have earned their status because of their overwhelming strength and overpowered abilities. Well-known characters get all the attention, and rightfully so, but there are several lesser known anime characters who are incredibly strong.

Most of these lesser known characters are heroes in their respective series, but there are a few villains as well. Many of these characters possess superhuman physical traits and supernatural powers. Several of these characters are human, but most of them are some type of monster or demon. One character comes from a popular shonen series, yet most anime fans are unaware that she has the power to defeat gods.

Joseph Newton Is The Pinnacle Of Human Evolution A Human Who Can Destroy Dozens Of Terraformars Without Using Any...

Anime is a vast world, but spy anime offers some of its most thoroughly and intricately designed entries. The best spy anime, whether beloved series like Spy X Family or formative film classics like Ghost in the Shell, are renowned for delivering the dazzling action sequences found in other subgenres, while also expertly balancing complex puzzles and compelling characters. The seamless blending of suspenseful espionage with unforgettable plot twists makes for particularly engaging and bingeworthy anime for all fans to sink their into.

From navigating complex political landscapes to unraveling historically inspired atrocities, each title offers a unique perspective on the world of spycraft. Whether a seasoned aficionado or a newcomer to the genre, these selections showcase the finest examples of spy anime, promising an engaging and thrilling viewing experience throughout.

Your browser does not support the video tag. The Millionaire Detective Gives Spy Anime Fans Their Money's Worth Streaming...

This article contains spoilers for the My Hero Academia manga by Kohei Horikoshi

Kohei Horikoshi’s My Hero Academia is one of the biggest shonen successes to come out of the past decade. The series brilliantly combines superhero and shonen tropes in a world where superpowered “Quirks” are the norm. Izuku “Deku” Midoriya trains to become the Number One Pro Hero as he faces malevolent villains who want to disrupt society. My Hero Academia has triumphed as a manga and anime series, but it’s also found new fans through its theatrical feature films. The series’ fourth film, My Hero Academia: You’re Next, is set to be released in Japan on August 2nd.

You’re Next has assembled top talent, including Tensai Okamura of Darker Than Black and Wolf’s Rain fame as its director. However, the film’s plot revolves around a fanatical All Might follower who misconstrues and weaponizes...

Darker than Black does not get as much praise as other anime, but it is a compelling series that combines mystery with science fiction and the supernatural. The anime is set in a world where a pair of gates appear in South America and Japan a decade back, which turn multiple individuals into psychics - otherwise known as Contractors. Each of these psychic beings receive a unique power, but certain Contractors are stronger than others.

Many Contractors join secret organizations that train them and use them as weapons. These psychic agents typically show no emotion because their feelings and personality get buried, but they all have to pay a price for using their powers. This price is known as an Obeisance and each Contractor has a different ailment. Every Contractor in Darker Than Black is also associated with a specific fake star that has its own Messier Code, which results in complex psychic showdowns.

Superheroes have a strong presence in anime, with shows like Astro Boy, Ssss.Gridman, One-Punch Man, and Heroman showcasing unique properties and fresh perspectives. Astro Boy, created by Osamu Tezuka, revolutionized anime and laid the foundation for the genre's success today. Anime series like Zetman, Charlotte, and Darker than Black take a darker and more serious approach to superheroes, exploring complex themes and conflicts.

When it comes to superhero anime, My Hero Academia is the main series that's likely to come to mind for fans. Yet, there are still many other anime series about superheroes, or people with special powers and costumes who fight crime. While it's tempting to say that the best superhero anime are adaptations of Western Comics, this ignores the many unique properties that are wholly their own thing.

Superheroes might not be the first thing that comes to mind when fans think of anime, but the...

Deku's character growth in My Hero Academia has eliminated the initial drawback of his body being harmed when using One For All, but the latest chapter brings back that dynamic with the Second's Gearshift ability. Despite knowing the consequences, Deku decides to use Gearshift again in order to end his battle against Tomura Shigaraki, highlighting his determination as a hero. The return of this drawback serves as a reminder of Deku's limitations and what originally made him a compelling underdog in the series.

Warning: Spoilers for My Hero Academia chapter #406

One of the original appeals of Deku's character in My Hero Academia was how his body initially couldn't handle the power of One For All, causing him severe harm every time he used the Quirk. However, the series soon began to eliminate that flaw by having him undergo intensive training and even don specialized gear, much to the detriment of his characterization.

In the world of anime, Bones is one of the best-known animation studios, renowned for their ability to consistently put out high-quality anime series. Their works have been both manga adaptations and original anime and can run the gamut from action to slice of life to comedic sci-fi weirdness. Bones' anime series have been some of the most popular throughout the 21st century so far, and even if they're not aware of it, most anime fans probably count a Bones series among their favorites.

Since Bones' work can differ quite a bit from one another, straight comparisons can be difficult, but the series listed below are some of the most popular or most inventive that they've ever produced. While they're on the list for different reasons, these are all the cream of the crop, and anime fans won't be disappointed after giving almost any of these a try.

Eureka Seven...

Anime reboots can sometimes be far-fetched ideas since a studio would rather make a new anime series based on a popular manga than produce a completely new version of an already poorly regarded one. If it were so simple, we could have a slew of much-needed reboots, such as Tokyo Ghoul and Rosario Vampire. The good news is that Rurouni Kenshin, a classic anime series that, despite a few shortcomings, emerged as one of the best anime shows, is getting a remake this year.

Even though the Rurouni Kenshin franchise has spanned an anime series with 94 episodes and a highly successful live-action movie series that ended in 2021 with Rurouni Kenshin: Final Chapter Part II - The Beginning, it is planning to deliver fans with another intriguing one with a rebooted version of the original.

The new reboot, from the creative minds of Strike the Blood and Re: Zero, will retell...

There are many anime that are listed when talking about popular shonen series that will keep fans hooked for days to come. However, in this conversation, there's always one particular title that is woefully ignored for all the wrong reasons — Darker than Black. Utilizing the unique concept of Contractors — people with unique powers who always have to fulfill a particular task for using their abilities — Darker than Black weaves a tale that is surprisingly plot-heavy and keeps fans hooked all the way up until the very end.

Related: Anime To Watch If You Liked Avatar

Of course, the plot and action of Darker than Black are just a few of its many draws — one can't fail to bring up its brilliant characters as well, each of whom ends up being brilliant and notable in their own unique ways. Keeping this in mind, here are all the main characters of Darker than Black,...