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Even though some deride shōnen anime for its formulaic nature, there's a reason it's still one of the most popular genres. That’s largely due to the fact most shōnen series know what they’re best at and stick to it — impressive fight scenes, strong and often likable character archetypes, and powerful stories surrounding themes of friendship, family, and being an all-around decent person.

Over the years, there’s been no shortage of impressive shōnen anime thanks both to Shōnen Jump and its many competitors. It's a hot debate in anime fandoms as to which titles are the cream of the crop, but the best titles are sure to offer something unique. From old school classics to the newest hits, the shonen demographic is home to some of the greatest anime series of all time.

Updated on March 20th by Sage Ashford: The shonen genre features some of the best anime in the medium.

Tokyo Ghoul is one of the most tragic anime adaptations in recent times. The manga had set up a grim-dark reality and attracted many fans, but the anime was unable to depict its essence properly. By heading in an anime-original direction, the anime disappointed fans by being highly disappointing and was a massive failure.

Tokyo Ghoul Anime Series | Credit: Studio Pierrot

These are the anime that went down the wrong path and brought an ill reputation to the original work as well. Tokyo Ghoul is one of the biggest examples as due to its anime’s reputation for being just plain bad, the manga has lost out on its popularity as well.

There is a need to do justice to the source material (Tokyo Ghoul manga), which, compared to the anime adaptation, was many miles better. Sui Ishida (the author) himself said it could have been so much better and...

Anime is no stranger to level systems. Across many action and shonen oriented series, power systems have become a staple of the anime genre, determining what powers the characters have access to and what the protagonists must do to grow stronger.

From classic shonen series like Dragon Ball, Naruto, and Hunter X Hunter to modern contemporaries like Jujutstu Kaisen, power systems remain a staple to provide viewers with a basis for all the different abilities that characters can use. While its applications and complexity vary, they remain a great way to communicate just how powerful the main characters can get.

Shaman King's Use of Spirits Adds To Its Unique Identity Shaman King

Shaman King may not be the first series that comes to mind when you think of power systems. But the series' unique identity is thanks to the unique way Shamans can see undead spirits. This is done through Mana,...

The shonen demographic "genre" remains the most notable in anime and manga, with almost all of the biggest brands in these mediums being shonen. This has been the case for decades, with the mainstream popularity of battle shonen making almost any franchise into a notable hit. Sadly, that isn't always the case, and one series in particular is now set to conclude with nary a care from the public.

Shaman King was a series that was somewhat prominent in the 2000s, but it failed to achieve the same long-term success as other brands. There have been attempts at reviving the series, but these have only dug the hole deeper in terms of its obscurity. Worst of all, another shonen series has proven to be much better at turning past failures into newfound popularity, making Shaman King's forgotten nature all the more saddening.

Related Who is the Most Legendary Character in Bleach Lore?...

10 Anime Shows That Desperately Need A Reboot - Main Image

As times change, some anime from earlier generations could reach a broader audience with a reboot. Many have great concepts, but their outdated art and animation may not appeal to modern viewers.

Then, there are those that didn’t get a faithful adaptation or left fans hanging with abrupt endings. Fruits Basket and Shaman King, for example, both had original versions reimagined and received massive acclaim afterward.

There are many more classic anime titles that could use an overhaul, so here are 10 of them.

Record of Lodoss War

Considered the grandfather of fantasy anime, Record of Lodoss War tells the story of medieval knights, dwarves, and elves battling the forces of evil. The most notable thing about it is that the story is a retelling of the creator’s own Dungeons and Dragons campaign, with some original lore added in.

Shaman King officially has a new series in the works. Hiroyuki Takei's Shaman King is a cult classic shōnen which has over time received two sequels in Shaman King: Flowers and Shaman King: The Super Star. The series stands as one of the most unique battle shōnen available today, in part due to Takei's interest in nonviolence and Buddhism. It follows the story of a shaman boy, Yoh Asakura, who fights to become Shaman King—effectively a god—alongside his young fiancée, renowned spirit medium Asakura Anna.

The series has an undeniable charm, tracing Yoh and Anna's steps as they gather a troupe of friends (flesh and spirit alike), eventually taking the confrontation with Yoh's brother, Hao, as a priority. Shaman King has maintained a steady following since its initial debut in 1998. Starting with the sequel series, Shaman King Flowers, focus has shifted to Yoh and Anna's son, Hana.

The recently released role-playing video game by Marvelous, Farmagia, has become the talk of the town as an anime adaptation of the video game has been announced. The character designs of the game were done by Fairy Tail creator Hiro Mashima, and the anime adaptation comes as a big shock to many people as the game was just released worldwide for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Steam.

Farmagia | Credit: Studio Bridge

Farmagia is a combination of action role-playing and farm life simulation that allows the players to grow different categories of monsters from seeds. These monsters can be used for different purposes and are the most important aspect of Felicidad, the fictional land where the entire game is based. The game came out on November 1, 2024, and it has instantly become quite famous.

The intriguing aspect of the upcoming anime adaptation of Farmagia is that the entire staff of Fairy Tail is...

A month into the Fall 2024 anime season, and some clear winners have already surfaced. Of course, one of them is Dandadan by Yukinobu Tatsu, the quirky Shonen that has won the hearts of otakus all over the world.

Dandadan has set itself apart from other typical Shounen anime with a dynamic female protagonist and a hilarious yet complex plot. With the co-existence of both aliens and yokai in the same universe, Dandadan sports a mystery like no other.

A Dandadan Episode 5 Moment That Is a Nightmare for Voice Artists Okarun confessing he lost his family jewels again | Credits: Science Sarud Spoiler Alert !!!Spoilers for Dandadan Ep 5.

In episode 4 of Dandadan, Momo Ayase and Okarun successfully defeat Turbo Granny by using various methods and ploys. Both of them barely survive the onslaught of the yokai’s powers. After the deal is done, Okarun and Momo return to Seiko Ayase’s place and have crab dinner,...

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"It's over 9,000!"

Vegeta's most iconic line in Dragon Ball Z's Saiyan saga is one every anime fan has heard, and it wouldnt be possible without the concept of Power Levels. As Dragon Ball's action took a turn from grounded martial arts tournaments to the epic intergalactic battle royales of Dbz, measuring each fighter's power became more complicated than ever and Power Levels were Akira Toriyama's answer to that problem. Using the Scouter technology, the Saiyans could measure the Ki output of their opponents in terms of simple numerical data called a Power Level, which made sizing up their enemies that much easier.

While Power Levels did help in raising the tension of some of the earlier battles in Dbz, by the time Goku became a Super Saiyan, Power Levels were well into the millions and only made measuring...

With spirits playing such a prominent role in Japanese culture, it's no wonder that many fans want to know what the best anime about ghosts are. The supernatural occupies a popular spot in pop culture for good reason. Audiences love to explore the world of the occult, whether to get some good, old-fashioned scares or out of genuine interest. Whatever the reason, ghosts and spirits are never far away from the entertainment industry.

Some of the most iconic anime in history deal with the supernatural. Stories like Death Note and Jujutsu Kaisen take audiences into the dangerous world of the supernatural in a way that's both fun and easily accessible. Sometimes the ghosts are friendly allies in the protagonist's battle; other times, they are the cruelest of villains, but that's what makes them fascinating. The best anime about ghosts show how truly diverse stories about the restless dead can be.

A highly regarded voice actor long associated with the One Piece anime series will not appear in an upcoming episode. Due to health concerns, Kazuki Yao, who plays the Straw Hat pirate Franky and the hypnotist Jango, will be replaced by Wataru Takagi.

The official One Piece website made the announcement on its social media account on X (formerly Twitter). "Due to the poor health of Kazuki Yao, who plays Jango, Wataru Takagi will take over the role," the online post reads. One Piece Episode 1121, "Garp and Kuzan: Master and Student's Conflict of Justice," will air on Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Japan. New episodes are available weekly on Crunchyroll and Netflix.

Related One Piece Releases Trailer for Brand-New Anime Film Special This October

One Piece reveals a surprise trailer for a new anime special releasing this month, alongside a key visual, for the film titled "One Piece Fan Letter."

One Piece's Franky,...

Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece is among the Big Three, and for good reason. One Piece has been serialized longer than both Bleach and Naruto and is still the most popular ongoing Shonen manga out there. Despite the popularity and fanfare, Eiichiro Oda has had to face criticism for his manga.

Fans often complain about Eiichiro Oda’s art style in One Piece. At first glance, the panels look a bit overburdened; however, all the details are absolutely necessary in One Piece. The author has been compared to Masashi Kishimoto and Tite Kubo as their art styles are apparently more aesthetically pleasing than Oda’s. Despite all the comparisons, there is only one rival who truly sticks out in Eiichiro Oda’s mind.

Eiichiro Oda Admits He Can’t Measure Up To Shaman King’s Author Shaman King | Credits: Kodansha

In an interview, Eiichiro Oda was asked between all his...

Manga creator Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece is set to welcome back some very special characters in its upcoming chapter with a surprising and heartwarming twist. Oda, known for his intricate storytelling and vast world-building, is reaching back to his roots to pay homage to his early days as a manga artist. This development has sent waves of excitement through the One Piece fandom and the wider manga community.

A scene from Eiichiro Odas’ One Piece | Toei Animation

The official preview for the next chapter reveals that Oda will be reintroducing pirate characters he first drew 27 years ago, long before the series became a global phenomenon. This offers fans a unique glimpse into Oda’s past, and serves as a touching tribute to the friendships and experiences that shaped one of the most influential manga creators of our time.

Nostalgic Return to Eiichiro Oda’s Roots Nobuhiro Watsuki creator of Rurouni Kenshin | Vizmedia

Sandman,...

A certain meme sprung to mind when I awoke to last week’s double-whammy of old-school anime remake news. It’s that panel from a Watchmen comic where Dr. Manhattan sits pensively in isolation on the surface of Mars and is usually made to lament how time is a flat circle, a recent example of which remarked on Ghostbusters and Dune competing at the box office in three separate instances since 1984. Anime is hardly different from other mediums when it comes to rebooting or remaking older material for newer audiences, though it's arguably been slower to dig deeper for inspirations. In the last couple of years, we’ve mostly seen updates of adaptations that originate from the early 2000s or late '90s like Fruits Basket , Trigun , Shaman King , Spice and Wolf , Bartender , Tokyo Mew Mew , Forest of Piano , Orphen and so forth. A few recent exceptions include Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai...

Among the dozens of new anime series that debut on the airwaves each year, there have always been works that end up getting lost in the mix. Recently, via MyAnimeList -- the world's largest anime database -- a user compiled a top 20 list featuring the titles that are most frequently neglected by viewers.

MyAnimeList is often used to help avid anime fans keep track of what series they are following or plan to follow in the future. Featured on the anime subreddit, Mal's "Yet to Watch" lineup showcases which anime series are most often delegated to users' "Plan to Watch," "On Hold" and "Dropped" categories. While many of these series are standalone works, a surprising number of titles are based on major established franchises, including Aria the Origination, Blade Runner, Flcl and Shaman King. This paradoxical phenomenon confused and disconcerted certain Redditors, including one who pointedly described the list as "cursed.

The Summer anime season brings unique Isekai, comedy, romance series with reasonable hype to watch out for. My Deer Friend Nokotan, No Longer Allowed In Another World, and Days With My Step Sister offer refreshing storylines and character dynamics. Suicide Squad Isekai and Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings In Russian introduce exciting twists to action and romantic miscommunication genres.

Since 2023, the Summer season of anime has become known for bringing some of the best anime of the year, which is a tall order for 2024 considering some of the anime that have already aired. There's always the continuation of long-running anime, but for those who aren't caught up and aren't interested in the popular series airing today, there are new anime worth looking into. With the attention they are receiving, one of these new series could become an even bigger hit than the continuing anime.

The newly anticipated Summer series brings...

Dragon Ball has a vast cast of characters with many voice actors in both English and Japanese dubs. Having iconic voice actors like Sean Schemmel and Masako Nozawa brings gravitas to key roles. Characters like Son Goku, Vegeta, and Future Trunks have evolved throughout the series with consistent voices.

Thanks to its 40-year history and many spinoffs, Dragon Ball has one of the largest casts of any anime franchise. A lot of that comes from things like video games, movies, and other non-canon material, but even just taking what was made by Akira Toriyama into account, there are still hundreds of unique characters within the franchise, many of whom have played large roles in the series for numerous decades.

There are an incredible number of characters in Dragon Ball, and there is an equally large amount of voice actors attached to each character. With a franchise as big as Dragon Ball,...

On February 11, 2013, voice actor/singer Sumire Uesaka announced that she would be making her artist debut from King Records. Sine then, she has released 15 CD singles and five original albums. And to celebrate her 11th year as as solo artist, a special fan club event was held at Newpia Hall in Tokyo on February 11, 2024. At the event, she announced that her two-disc first best album is set to release in Japan on July 24, 2024. The first disc features the title tracks from her previous singles, including latest 15th single song, "Dear Panta Rhei" released last Wednesday. Meanwhile, the second disc includes 12 songs selected by Uesaka herself, as well as three new songs. The album will be released in three formats: a limited edition, CD + Blu-ray, and regular edition. Next, a commemorative book tracing the history of her artist activities, "Dai Shukuga-bon: Uesaka Sumire Artist Activities 10th Anniversary Commemorative Book," will be...

The chips are down and rock band Five New Old is back with another banger opening theme song for the second season of crime thriller anime High Card . Featuring "Showdown", the creditless version of the sequence is now available to watch below. Related: Shaman King Flowers Anime Summons Creditless Theme Song Videos An original mixed-media project conceived by Homura Kawamoto ( Kakegurui ) and Ebimo, Junichi Wada ( Sakugan ) directs High Card at Studio Hibari, with series composition by Naoki Kuroyanagi, character designs adapted for animation by Nozomi Kawano ( Radiant Season 2) and music by Ryo Takahashi ( SK8 the Infinity ). Crunchyroll streams both seasons and describes the story: After discovering X-Playing Cards, powerful cards that grant powers, pickpocket Finn is recruited by High Card, a secret group sworn to protect and collect them. This deck has been scattered throughout the kingdom of Fourland. Moonlighting at luxury carmaker Pinochle, this squad's set out to play...

Featuring "Turn the World" by Nana Mizuki ( Tomodachi Game Op) and "Dear Pantalei" by Sumire Uesaka ( TenPuru Ed), respectively, the creditless versions of supernatural action anime Shaman King Flowers ' opening and ending theme sequences are now available to watch below. Related: Chained Soldier TV Anime Unleashes Creditless Opening Theme Video Based on the sequel manga by Hiroyuki Takei, Takeshi Furuta ( Double Decker! Doug & Kirill ) directs Shaman King Flowers at studio Bridge, with series composition by Shoji Yonemura, character designs by Mayuko Yamamoto and music by Yuki Hayashi ( My Hero Academia ). Netflix aired the first Shaman King anime reboot in 2021 and 2022. Kodansha USA, which publishes the manga's official Shaman King Flowers English version, describes the series: The action returns in this brand-new sequel to Shaman King! Hana Asakura finds that being the son of Yoh & Anna Asakura isn't all it's cracked up to be, and his boredom has him itching for any kind of excitement.

PlutoTV now offers a Naruto channel with two streaming options, allowing fans to revisit or experience the hit anime for the first time. The channel plays episodes continuously, but there is also an on-demand option for viewers to start from the beginning. All 220 episodes of the first series are available, providing around 84 hours of Naruto content to watch, along with an additional 20 hours from a related spin-off series.

After previously offering a dedicated Sailor Moon channel, PlutoTV has added one for Naruto. Available in two different streaming options, as well as in Spanish, now is the best time for anime fans to revisit or experience the hit anime for the first time. One of its spin-offs has also been made available.

PlutoTV is a free service that uses ads to support the many series it offers either on-demand or as watchable channels. These channels air episodes continuously, but the streamer also offers films to watch.

Shaman King's various spinoffs and sequels have been plagued by issues, which prevent it from becoming a popular shonen brand. The original anime and its 2021 remake failed to gain recognition, with the remake feeling especially generic and rushed. Shaman King's manga series, including its follow-ups, have not achieved the same level of recognition as other mainstream shonen titles.

Shaman King is a franchise that's well-known among hardcore shonen anime and manga aficionados, though it's far from a mainstream series by modern standards. Shaman King is still defined by its original 2001 anime even though the property has had several spin-offs and sequels over the years. Nevertheless, many of these Shaman King productions have been plagued by numerous issues, which collectively deliver death by a thousand paper cuts towards the earnest chance that Shaman King ever becomes a wildly popular franchise.

The original Shaman King anime is itself somewhat problematic...

Shaman King: Flowers has released a new trailer for its upcoming anime series adaptation, also revealing an official release date.

The video offers fans a glimpse of the Shaman King sequel, with the trailer including snippets of Shaman King: Flowers' animation and a sample of the show's theme song, "Turn the World." The opening is notably once again performed by well-known singer and voice actor Nana Mizuki, who is set to reprise her role as Tamao Tamamura in the upcoming series.

Final Issue of Shonen Magazine Edge Reveals Fate of Shaman King, Otaku Elf and Other Titles

Much of the old cast from Shaman King are similarly expected to return for Shaman King: Flowers, which is scheduled to premiere on Jan. 9, 2024. A previous trailer announced voice actors Megumi Hayashibara, Katsuyuki Konishi and Minami Takayama are set to reprise their roles as Anna Asakura, Amidamaru and Hao Asakura, respectively. Yoko Hikasa,...

The majority of anime series are adapted from manga, and in most cases, the anime does a good job of following its source material. There are times when an anime airs while its manga is still ongoing, and this usually causes the anime to introduce filler episodes. In certain cases, the anime will tell an original story instead. Fortunately, there are several great anime series that can be watched because their respective manga have now ended.

Many of the most popular anime fall into the Shonen category, and they usually become popular because they feature a lot of action. That being said, the best anime will always stand out because they have great characters and stories.

Related: 10 Biggest Manga Controversies, Ranked

Shaman King Is The Perfect Blend Of Action, Comedy, and Fantasy Manga Run: June 30,1998 - August 30, 2004

Shaman King returned in 2021 with an anime that followed the manga, and it benefits from having high-quality animation.

One of the most 'torturous' shonen comedy manga out there is getting an anime adaptation.

The anime for 'Tis Time for "Torture," Princess has just been announced, with the series planned to be released in January 2024. The director for the series is Kazuyuki Fudeyasu, who has previously been a screenwriter on iseki anime adaptations such as That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, as well as other fantasy anime and slice-of-life series such as Do It Yourself!!. The studio behind the series is Pine Jam, which recently released the anime adaptation for Paradox Live.

Final Issue of Shonen Magazine Edge Reveals Fate of Shaman King, Otaku Elf and Other Titles

The comedic plot for 'Tis Time for "Torture," Princess involves two nations at war with each other, with the princess of the Human World's kingdom being captured by the villainous Hellhorde. Unfortunately for the latter, however, outright torture is forbidden between the kingdoms,...

A government agency has referenced the new Kagurabachi manga in a post depicting a "Chihiro" hell-bent on battling waste and defending the environment.

The new Kagurabachi meme is making its rounds on social media, hot on the heels of the manga's sudden popularity among international readers. However, this meme stands out from the rest because it was posted by the Singaporean government's official Facebook account. Someone from the country's Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment apparently caught the Kagurabachi bug, compelling a parody illustration of the manga's protagonist as an environmental awareness advocate.

Final Issue of Shonen Magazine Edge Reveals Fate of Shaman King, Otaku Elf and Other Titles

Our battle against waste will be hard-fought. There are several ways to join the fight, like arming yourself with a... Posted by Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment on Friday, October 27, 2023

The photo mimics one of Chihiro's signature poses drawing Enten,...

A popular Kodansha publication is ending, sending several manga series elsewhere.

Shonen Magazine Edge has now published its final issue, with the cessation of the title originally announced in August 2023. The shonen manga magazine began publication in 2015, with its first issue being marked by a new series from Hiroyuki Takei, the creator of Shaman King. The current iteration of the long-running franchise, Shaman King The Super Star, was one of the biggest titles being published in Shonen Magazine Edge. Thankfully, it and the magazine's numerous other works will find new homes in different Kodansha titles, as revealed by Comic Natalie.

Related: Isekai Rom-Com Chillin' in Another World with Level 2 Super Cheat Powers Gets Anime Series

According to the Japanese website, the following manga will be relocated to the Comic Days app:

Otaku Elf by Akihiko Higuchi (starts on Dec. 20) Ah, Sore Pon Desu! by Kentauloss (starts on Dec. 13) I Got...

Shaman King: Flowers, the sequel to the 2021 anime reboot of Shaman King, has released its first trailer.

On YouTube, the King Amusement Creative official channel uploaded the first official footage of the Shaman King: Flowers anime. Based on the manga by series creator Hiroyuki Takei, Shaman King: Flowers continues the adventures of the Asakura family. 13-year-old Hana Asakura, the son of Yoh and Anna Asakura, is growing up to be a rude and lazy kid. However, Hana's boredom with everyday life starts to change when members of the branch Asakura Family challenge him and his dad for control of the main house.

Related: 15 Anime Reboots Just As Good As The Original

The Shaman King: Flowers anime trailer also revealed the show's new and returning voice cast. The main cast are Yōko Hikasa as Hana Asakura, Katsuyuki Konishi as Amidamaru, Sumire Uesaka as Alumi Niumbirch, Shun Horie as Yohane Asakura,...

The hit anime series Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba has its own very interesting take on Japanese-style demons that has captivated fans, but it's far from the only series to utilize demons in interesting ways. Japanese demons can go by many names--like yokai, ayakashi, mononoke, or akuma, to name a few. And while each of these has its own special meaning, they're all frequently translated as "demon."

Though Demon Slayer is an archetypal Shonen anime series in many ways, its wide cast of characters, heartbreaking backstories, and thrilling action easily set it apart from many of its contemporaries. There's a reason Demon Slayer's Mugen Train movie is still the highest-grossing anime film of all time. Now that season 3 of the epic series is over, fans are doubt hungry for more anime like it. Luckily, there are plenty of great anime that every type of Demon Slayer fan will want to watch.

The Inner Sailor Guardians shine in a new promotional video for Sailor Moon Cosmos that showcases their beautiful transformations.

Posted to the official YouTube channel for the classic series, the trailer sees Sailors Venus, Mercury, Mars and Jupiter become powerful magical girls and highlights each warrior's respective element. It also confirms the Japanese premiere dates for the movie duo; Sailor Moon Cosmos Part 1 will debut on June 9, followed by Part 2 on June 30. The international release dates for the two movies have not been confirmed at the time of writing.

Related: 10 Strongest Magical Girls More Powerful Than Sailor Moon

Sailor Moon Cosmos' Pretty Eternal Winged Sailor Moon Reveal

Last month, a clip that showcases the stunning transformation of protagonist Usagi Tsukino from an ordinary middle student into the winged Eternal Sailor Moon dropped to hype the upcoming film duology. Feather, rainbow colors and lunar imagery feature throughout the short video, with...

As a way of demonstrating their prowess, an invading presence quickly turns all of Earth into an enormous third-world country. In what can only be imagined as a chaotic fever dream of dog lovers, many different breeds of human-canine hybrids continuously face off against giant rat rebels in brutal and ghastly wars.

Humans are subjugated and become nothing more than expendable troops and eventually measly regarded as a form of grilled chicken. Crafting all of this into somewhat of an Orwellian space opera, Yakitori: Soldiers of Misfortune is a six-episode Netflix adaptation of a novel originally released by Japanese author Carlo Zen in the summer of 2017.

This newly released action-oriented anime follows a team of five young adults who have all been recruited by the innermost branches of the Pan-Star System Trade Federation Security Council in order to help in the fight against the Barkans, a race of intelligent mice...

Since the 1990s, there have been several shonen anime that have made a massive splash both in Japan and overseas. Their popularity has often led to periodic surges of popularity for anime as a whole in different regions, with Dragon Ball Z, Naruto and My Hero Academia being just a few examples of this. Unfortunately, there's one shonen series that's suplexed a fandom in Japan, yet only stumbled into the ring when it made its way to the West.

Kinnikuman is a legendary wrestling/superhero comedy manga that's continued to be influential and prominent throughout the decades. This success has mostly been in Japan, however, with its foray into the U.S. and the West in general being a complete failure. Now more known for its not-as-successful sequel, Kinnikuman has never really caught on outside the country of its origin.

Related: This Is the Biggest Advantage Modern Shonen Hits Have...

"Jojo's Bizarre Adventure" has a devoted audience in Japan, but it took years before it found a following in the United States. Conventional wisdom says that it was David Production's anime adaptation of the series that led to its acceptance abroad. I would be even more specific and say that it was the anime's theme songs that were responsible. The first "Jojo" theme, "Sono Chi wa Sadame," roared onto the scene like an unholy chimera of a James Bond song and a classic anime power anthem like "Ai wo Torimodose!!" The second, "Bloody Stream," matched the swagger of its predecessor to a funky beat. While "Sono Chi wa Sadame" melted the faces of Jojo-curious viewers, "Bloody Stream" proved the show's musical stylings weren't a fluke. It helped that the animation accompanying those songs was incredible, courtesy of talented animator Naoki Yoshibe and his crew.

The fifth arc of the "Jojo" anime,...

Media Do International Expands Library of Japanese Content on OverDrive Digital Reading Platform, Offering 20,000 Titles, Including Exclusive eBooks

OverDrive’s Golden Week Japanese Content Sale highlights an extensive selection of bestsellers, popular fiction/non-fiction, children’s, young adult, and manga titles for libraries and schools globally

Media Do International Inc., the U.S.-based subsidiary of Media Do Co., Ltd., Japan’s largest eBook distribution company, announces the expansion of Japanese titles available on OverDrive, the leading digital reading service for libraries and schools worldwide.

OverDrive’s Golden Week Japanese Content Sale highlights the catalog of more than 20,000 manga and literary titles in Japanese and select English translated (manga) works. This set of exclusive eBooks is now available to libraries and schools around the world across a diverse range of categories including acclaimed bestsellers, popular adult fiction/non-fiction, children’s storybooks, educational books, and manga. Exclusive titles include classic children...

“Shaman King” (2021) reboot anime gets a sequel that centers on Yoh and Anna’s son.

Two thank you visuals were also released featuring the current and grown-up cast of the anime along with a short trailer spotlighting “Hana”, Yoh and Anna’s son. The anime sequel’s details such as studio, release date, and staff have not yet been revealed!

This article contains spoilers for Shaman King.

When a popular manga was adapted into an anime in the early 2000’s (or earlier) there was a pretty high chance that it’d be… lacking in some respect. Turn of the century anime often featured filler episodes, occasional weak animation, or just a less-than-perfect retelling of the manga’s story. This would often happen with any show adapting a currently running manga, forcing it to make up stories to catch up to what was being published.

This was the case for Shaman King, which received its first anime starting in 2001 (and later aired on FoxBox in 2003.) At first it hit most of the manga’s major story beats but it only took until the fourth episode for new filler content to appear. The second half of the series introduced substantial new elements that hadn’t been in the manga. It’s a...

Brand New Cherry Flavor looks like one of the wildest shows of the year -- and that's a good thing.

Netflix on Friday dropped the full-length trailer.

I'm still trying to wrap my head around what went down because of how out there it was, but it looks exciting.

"Lisa Nova (Rosa Salazar) comes to LA dead set on directing her first movie," reads the logline.

"But when she trusts the wrong person and gets stabbed in the back, everything goes sideways, and a dream project turns into a nightmare," it continues.

"This particular nightmare has zombies, hit men, supernatural kittens, and a mysterious tattoo artist who likes to put curses on people."

"And Lisa’s going to have to figure out some secrets from her own past in order to get out alive."

Sounds like a nightmare, right?

Brand New Cherry Flavor arrives on Netflix on Friday, August 13th.