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We Were Liars is a psychological mystery thriller series created by Julie Plec and Carina Adly Mackenzie. Based on the 2014 novel of the same name by E. Lockhart, the Prime Video series follows Candice Lockhart, a teenage girl who comes from an extremely wealthy but toxic family. After a tragic incident results in her losing her memories, she tries to remember what actually happened and who hurt her. We Were Liars stars Emily Alyn Lind, Caitlin Fitzgerald, Mamie Gummer, Candice King, Rahul Kohli, Shubham Maheshwari, Esther McGregor, Joseph Zada, and David Morse. So, if you loved the thrilling mystery, intense drama, and compelling characters in We Were Liars, here are some similar shows you should check out next.

The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart (Prime Video) Credit – Prime Video

The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart is an Australian...

Spy x Family is one of the most hilarious action-comedy anime in recent years, and its brilliant voice actors, who bring the characters to life, have made a major contribution to its success. Saori Hayami, the voice actress of Yor Forger, is beloved by fans for her role in the popular series.

Hayami has previously delivered mind-blowing performances as Yukino Yukinoshita (Oregairu), Chiriko Tsurumi (Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day), Yumeko Jabami (Kakegurui), Yamato (One Piece), and more. Needless to say, her role as Yor Forger is worth taking note of, and some might even want to know the secret behind her ways.

Saori Hayami’s ‘problematic’ methods get her in trouble

In a particular interview, Saori Hayami was asked about the important considerations she makes when taking on a role. The voice actress replied:

I believe that being emotionally invested is the key to embodying a role and expressing oneself.

Bittersweet anime endings are the perfect way for fans to get into their feelings. While it's not recommended for the lighthearted, those who can handle these endings often leave the anime with a deeper connection to themselves. While some sad anime ultimately end up with happy endings, not every emotionally impactful anime has that. Sometimes, bittersweet endings are even more tragic than the sad endings.

Anime like Your Lie in April shows how strong of an impression that life can leave on another person. Meanwhile, anime like Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day shows how, even if the past can't change, it shouldn't define someone's entire being. There are incredibly deep messages and meanings hidden within these bittersweet endings that fans should note. While bittersweet endings are sometimes hard to watch due to how emotionally charged they are, they're worth it in the end.

5 Centimeters per Second is a...

The official website for A New Dawn , an upcoming original animation film directed by Japanese painter Yoshitoshi Shinomiya , announced two additional voice cast members today. Miyu Irino will play Sentaro Obinata, the protagonist Keitaro Obinata's older brother. Takashi Okabe will play Eitaro Obinata, Keitaro's father. Miyu Irino is known as Haku in Hayao Miyazaki's 2011 film Spirited Away and Jinta "Jintan" Yadomi in the 2011 TV anime Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day . Unlike Keitaro, who struggles to find the fantastic fireworks, and Kaoru, who leaves her hometown to seek a future in Tokyo, Sentaro works for the local city hall and is more serious. However, he is gradually influenced by Keitaro and Kaoru's passion for fireworks. "When I saw the audition materials for this film, I was instantly attracted to the atmosphere that I felt," said Irino. "The recording was very difficult, but it was a very special time.

Naoko Yamada's A Silent Voice is a dramatically driven anime film that examines the relationship between a bully and his victim. It features Shoko Nishimiya, who is bullied for her hearing disability and leaves her school. To seek closure, the bully, Shoya Ishida, wishes to find Shoko and apologize.

A Silent Voice received immense praise from many critics and is one of Kyoto Animation's most beloved anime. A Silent Voice is not only filled with amazing animation and a perfectly tone-setting instrumental soundtrack but also features a beautifully crafted coming-of-age story. A Silent Voice portrays realistic depictions of struggles with mental health, the trials and tribulations of growing up, and making meaningful relationships. Therefore, if fans are seeking to satiate a craving for any of those elements, anime like Death Parade and Your Lie in April are perfect for fans of A Silent Voice.

Updated on February 18th,...

Valentine’s Day is here, and one should make the most of it. And what better way to celebrate love than romance anime, right? From meet-cutes to friendly banters, love is celebrated in every form and way. The subtle yet slow-burn romance is what we all live for.

Kazehaya and Kuronuma in Kimi ni Todoke | Credit: Production I.G

And these four anime are an ode to love itself. Other than action, adventure, and fantasy, these series blended romance, relationships, and intimacy brilliantly within their premise. These are sure to make your heart flutter in the best way possible. Do stay tuned for our honorable mentions as well.

1. Fruits Basket – A wholesome Valentine’s Day anime

Based on Natsuki Takaya’s manga of the same name, Fruits Basket is anything but a bog-standard romance anime. It is a perfect blend of love, friendships, and betrayal. It is gripping in its portrayal of dysfunctional families.

While action may be a spectacle and drama can be intriguing, sometimes the best anime are laid-back slice-of-life series. Slice-of-life is an absolutely pivotal genre in anime, as it can show the small intricacies of day-to-day life that be affirming. Sometimes, after a difficult day, nothing beats unwinding with a great slice-of-life anime.

While slice-of-life is its own genre, it is certainly a diverse one. Slice-of-life anime can be about school life, city life, rural life, and can even have a slightly mystical twist. More than just simple though, all these series can almost be healing as their more peaceful nature shines through. The best laid-back slice-of-life anime are peaceful enough to make fans forget the world and their problems for a little while, and sometimes, that's exactly what's needed.

Gakuen Babysitters Anime series by Brain's Base, Based on the Manga By Hari Tokeino

Gakuen Babysitters is as heartwarming as it gets,...

10 Hit Anime Surprisingly Not Based On a Manga - Main Image

Manga is an influential form of art that combines intricate illustrations with captivating, often incredibly unique stories. When a manga becomes a hit, readers naturally wonder how the scenes will play out in animation, and that's how the idea of a TV series usually takes shape.

But here’s an interesting twist, some of the most successful anime aren’t based on manga at all! Instead, they are original creations first seen in anime format. If you're curious to find out which anime made a huge impact without being based on manga, keep reading to discover these amazing titles.

Code Geass

Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion, an original anime created by Sunrise, is set in a futuristic Japan controlled by the Holy Britannian Empire. Lelouch Lamperouge, a prince of the empire, is exiled to Japan—a big mistake for his enemies,...

A-1 Pictures' hit 2011 series, Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day, is regarded by many as a masterpiece of supernatural fiction. However, according to the show's creative team, Anohana's story was originally thought to be too "plain" to garner attention from mainstream audiences.

In a recent interview conducted by Mantan Web, Anohana writer Mari Okada went into depth about the origin of the beloved anime series that marked the first creative partnership between herself and Anohana director Tatsuyuki Nagai. Anohana is a moving tale about a boy named Jinta Yadomi who meets the ghost of his deceased childhood companion, Meiko "Menma" Honma. After Menma asks Jinta to fulfill her deepest wish, he ends up reforging bonds with other childhood friends that he had grown distant from. "From the planning stage, our cast is expected to tell a coming-of-age story, a contemporary drama," Okada stated.

Related "I Myself Was Poor at...

Animate Times -- a news outlet run by Japan's largest anime and manga retailer, Animate -- has unveiled its top five picks for the most tear-jerking anime of all time. Modern classics largely lead the charge, with the list populated by favorites from the 2010s.

The list includes the well-known shows Your Lie in April (the beloved adaptation of Naoshi Arakawa's manga) and the 2018 hit series A Place Further than the Universe. Also featured in the lineup are Violet Evergarden, Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day and Angel Beats!, with each relatively recent anime best known for serving pensive explorations of grief and friendship. While some fans may have expected older, iconic tear-jerkers like Grave of the Fireflies, all of the list's featured titles are from recent memory -- Angel Beats! being the oldest, which premiered in 2010. While recency bias may have some fans rolling their eyes, the...

The Fureru anime film – from the Super Peace Busters creative team which includes director Tatsuyuki Nagai, writer Mari Okada and animator Masayoshi Tanaka – opened in Japan last Friday to 69,000 tickets sold. To celebrate its premiere, the film’s final trailer was released last night. The trailer includes some detailed plot points, so be warned of spoilers! Fureru Anime Film - Final Trailer Related: Fureru Anime Film Shares New Key Visual on Opening Day CloverWorks produced the Fureru anime movie from the Super Peace Busters creative team, who previously made Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day , The Anthem of the Heart and Her Blue Sky together. It opened in Japan on October 4 with no Western release confirmed as of writing. Fureru is described as a coming-of-age film set in present-day Tokyo surrounding the Shinjuku area. The movie centers on childhood friends who find a creature with mysterious powers that push...

The R15+ version of The Birth of Kitaro: The Mystery of GeGeGe (known as Kitaro Tanjou: GeGeGe no Nazo in Japan), subtitled Shinsei-ban ("genuine edition"), opened in 331 theaters across Japan on October 4, and earned 156 million yen (1.05 million Usd) on 97,700 admissions in its first three-day weekend, making its third place debut in the weekend box office ranking according to Kogyo Tsushinsha . The opening weekend performance was almost close to that of the original version, which made 160 million yen (1.09 million Usd) on 111,500 admission in the weekend of November 17-19, 2023 . To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the original GeGeGe no Kitaro manga author Shigeru Mizuki's birth, the original version of The Birth of Kitaro released in Japan on November 17, 2023, under the rating of "PG12" (Viewing by children under 12 years of age requires the advice and guidance of a parent or guardian). The 104-minute movie earned 2.79 billion yen (18.83 million Usd) on 1.95 million admissions from its initial domestic run.

Original anime film Fureru finally opens in Japan today on October 4. On its opening day, the film's official website posted a new key visual featuring the three main characters—Aki, Ryo and Yuta—and a mysterious creature known as “Fureru." The tagline reads: "We want to be together forever. So--" Additionally, a short video message from the three main voice cast members— Ren Nagase (Aki Onoda), Ryota Bando (Ryo Sobue) and Kentaro Maeda (Yuta inohara)—is now streamed on the film's official X (formerly Twitter) . They say, "'Fureru' opens today! The latest work from the creator team of 'Anohana,' 'Kokosake,' and 'Soraao.' This is a story that touches the hearts of three young men who live with a mysterious creature called Fureru. What is the ability hidden in Fureru? What will happen to the friendship between the three young men? Please see it at the theater!

The official YouTube channel for the two-member unit Yoasobi has started streaming a music video for their latest digital single song, "Monotone." The lyrical pop tune is featured as the theme song for the upcoming original anime feature film Fureru to release in Japan on October 4. " Monotone " is Yoasobi's first theme song work for an anime feature film. It is based on the novel Fureu. no, Zenya , ("The night before Fureru.") written by Mari Okada, who also wrote the screenplay for the movie. The music video is a completely original creation by the film's production team. It depicts new animation footage featuring the three childhood friends who are the main characters and the mysterious creature 'Fureru,' which was not depicted in the film. Yoasobi " Monotone" Music Video "Our newly-written song 'Monotone' was created while confronting the 'relationships between people' that we have felt through this film, as well as...

The popular Castlevania animated series returns for a second season on Netflix, with a teaser trailer for Castlevania: Nocturne Season 2 unveiled during the annual celebration of Netflix Geeked Week 2024.

Set to premiere in January 2025, Castlevania: Nocturne Season 2 dramatically changes the status quo with the arrival of Alucard, the son of Dracula, to the Belmont party. The sequel to the 2017 Netflix series follows the young Vampire Hunter Richter Belmont and his adoptive sister Maria Renard as they try to stop the rise of the Vampire Messiah during the French Revolution. Edward Bluemel voices Richter, while Pixie Davies (Mary Poppins Returns) portrays his sister Maria.

Related AnoHana, Toradora Creative Team's Most Underrated Movie Comes to Netflix Next Month

The least-known anime movie from the creators of AnoHana and Toradora! is finally coming to Netflix this fall -- and with a long-awaited English dub.

Castevania: Nocturne Teases Heartpounding Action in Season 2's Announcement...

A relatively little-known 2019 anime film from AnoHana: The Flower We Saw That Day and Toradora! director Tatsuyuki Nagai and screenwriter Mari Okada will finally receive its long-awaited English dub streaming treatment, officially slated for a fall premiere on Netflix. The streaming juggernaut has confirmed that CloverWorks' Her Blue Sky will premiere on the streaming platform next month.

Originally titled Sora no Aosa wo Shiru Hito yo in Japan, Her Blue Sky premiered to critical acclaim in its home country. The positive reception further cemented Nagai and Okada as anime creators worthy of appointment-viewing, supported by previous heartfelt hits Toradora! and AnoHana. However, unlike its more popular predecessors, Her Blue Sky never quite caught the same global fire despite boasting the powerhouse creative team that helped define a generation of fans of coming-of-age anime. The Netflix release, debuting on Oct. 8, primes the film for a second shot at a mainstream presence.

CloverWorks, the Japanese animation studio behind hits like Spy x Family, has released a brand-new trailer for its upcoming theatrical movie about three young men acquiring telepathic powers from a mystical hedgehog-like creature. Fureru, releasing this fall, also features the creative team behind Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day.

The movie's official X (formerly Twitter) account shared the latest trailer for Fureru. The initial teaser from early July advertised the main creative team behind Fureru, including Tatsuyuki Nagai (director), Mari Okada (writer and director) and Masayoshi Tanaka (character designer). The trio -- who commonly go by the name of the Super Peace Busters from the childhood friend group of Anohana -- worked on the 2011 TV anime series and 2013 movie, as well as The Anthem of the Heart and Her Blue Sky. This newly-released trailer digs deeper into the main story of Fureru, which marries the supernatural with coming-of-age elements.

Just one month ahead of its theatrical release in Japan, the official website for the upcoming original anime feature film Fureru released a second main trailer today. As with the first trailer , the clip features the movie's theme song provided by the two-member unit Yoasobi, titled "Monotone" . Fureru Second Main Trailer Yoasobi has provided theme songs for other anime series, including as Beastars , Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury and Oshi no Ko . " Monotone " is their first theme song work for an anime feature film. The song is based on the novel Fureu. no, Zenya , ("The night before Fureru.") written by Mari Okada, who also wrote the screenplay for the movie. The CD single for "Monotone" is set to release in Japan on October 2, two days before the film's opening. Yoasobi artist photo Related: Fureru Anime Film Trailer Arrives Along with Cast, Yoasobi Song and Premiere Plans Key visual...

Your browser does not support the video tag. Sonny Boy is an underrated anime with stunning animation and an engaging story that deserves more attention. Kaiba is a profound series that explores identity and class disparity, and is a masterpiece that more anime fans should watch. Wolf's Rain is an underrated anime with beautiful animation, a compelling cast, and dark storytelling, making it one of Adult Swim's hidden gems.

Not every anime show can achieve the mainstream success of some of the most popular anime like One Piece, My Hero Academia, or Attack on Titan, even if they truly deserve it. As a result, there are a lot of underrated anime gems waiting for fans to discover and enjoy them.

There seems to be an almost constant stream of highly acclaimed anime series these days, more than anyone interested in the art form will have enough time to consume,...

Anime has a unique talent for taking its audience on an emotional rollercoaster like no other medium. From the heart-pounding battles in Dragon Ball Z to the high-stakes sacrifices of Naruto, there's no shortage of devastating descents into villainy, bittersweet reunions, or spellbinding farewells. The intense confrontations and climactic moments in these series are well-known for eliciting powerful responses, but anime doesnt only rely on grand gestures to make an impact. It excels at weaving intricate emotional narratives that stay with viewers long after the screen goes dark.

Quieter, more introspective anime like Fruits Basket or Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day prove that raw, unfiltered emotion isn't reserved for epic-scale stories. These series delve into the subtleties of human experience, exploring themes of grief, redemption, and personal growth with a delicate touch. They offer a profound look at the human condition, demonstrating that the emotional depths of anime...

Cbr Anime Week is brought to you by Hulu Animayhem

Last year, CloverWorks unveiled a brief teaser for its upcoming fantasy-drama anime, Fureru. Now, the acclaimed animation studio has dropped an official debut full trailer, along with new plot details, about the upcoming feature.

Released in December 2023, CloverWorks' initial teaser introduced the film's titular character -- a cute hedgehog-like animal that shares a mysterious connection to the film's protagonists. Aniplex, which is producing the film alongside Story Inc. (Weathering With You), recently unveiled Fureru's new trailer on its official YouTube channel, showcasing the three main stars on screen together for the first time. According to Fureru's official site, the film's story revolves around "childhood friends who grew up on the same island [in] Takadanobata Tokyo." Over 20 years later, the trio comes across the mysterious Fureru, whom they initially encountered as children. Through the power of telepathy, the creature allows them to hear each other's "inner voices,...

More info has been revealed for the Fureru anime film, the latest project from CloverWorks and the Super Peace Busters creative team. In addition to a new trailer—which announces and samples the Yoasobi theme song "Monotone"—cast members have been revealed along with an October 4, 2024 premiere date. Fureru Trailer Fureru key visual Main cast members include: Aki Onoda voiced by Ren Nagase Ryo Sobue voiced by Ryota Bando Yuta Inohara voiced by Kentaro Maeda Juri Kamozawa voiced by Haruka Shiraishi Nana Asakawa voiced by Manaka Iwami Wakita voiced by Sarutoki Minagawa Kohei Shimada voiced by Kenjiro Tsuda Director Tatsuyuki Nagai and actors Ryota Bando, Ren Nagase and Kentaro Maeda pose with a stuffed version of Fureru: Related: Mari Okada, Tatsuyuki Nagai, Masayoshi Tanaka's Fureru Anime Film Release Spiky New Visual CloverWorks will produce the Fureru. anime movie. The Super Peace Busters creative team—Tatsuyuki Nagai, Mari Okada and...

Studio Mappa, the Japanese animation studio behind Jujutsu Kaisen and more, is releasing a new theatrical anime in 2025. The new movie is based on a landmark shojo series that made a massive impact on its genre and demographic: The Rose of Versailles.

In early 2025, a theatrical anime based on The Rose of Versailles will be released in Japan. The series' official YouTube channel uploaded the first teaser trailer online. Mappa is producing the film adaptation with Ai Yoshimura as director. Yoshimura was the series director for My Teen Romantic Comedy Snafu and directed episodes of popular anime series like Daily Lives of High School Boys, Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day and Blue Spring Ride.

Related New Chart Reveals the World's Most Popular Anime Studio Is Also the Most Controversial

Mappa earns the crown for "most liked" studio on MyAnimeList despite the company's controversial reputation regarding employee welfare.

Mappa's...

The Rose of Versailles is returning with a movie in 2025, celebrating its 50th anniversary. Produced by Mappa, the series has returned a new promotional video, key visual, and release date. Directed by Ai Yoshimura with music by Hiroyuki Sawano, the movie promises a visual treat for fans.

One of the most iconic shoujo manga series of all time, The Rose of Versailles, is finally returning with a movie in celebration of the franchise's 50th anniversary, produced by none other than Mappa. Two years after announcing the movie, The Rose of Versailles has finally returned with a brand new promotional video, a new key visual, information on the production staff and cast, and a release date to look forward to.

Based on the manga by Riyoko Ikeda, The Rose of Versailles recently announced that a movie adaptation produced by Mappa is set to release in Spring 2025. The announcement was made via...

Super Cub captures the essence of Studio Ghibli with a dynamic female protagonist and immersive world-building. Anohana delves deep into the emotional crucibles of youth with a poignant exploration of loss and maturity. Snow White With The Red Hair breathes new life into classic tales, offering a fresh take with Ghibli-like charm.

Much to the chagrin of its fanbase, Studio Ghibli continues to demonstrate impressive restraint by abstaining from producing an anime series, save for 2014's Ronja, the Robber's Daughter. It's a shame, really. Studio Ghibli's trademark penchant for immersive world-building lends itself perfectly to the long-form storytelling a series offers and the possibilities are impossible not to get excited over.

Although it's been a decade since Ghibli's sole anime series was produced, the studio's influence on the anime industry at large can be traced through numerous anime offerings. Luckily, the Hayao Miyazaki-co-founded studio's indelible mark has spawned no shortage...

The upcoming anime film Fureru — from the creative group that includes director Tatsuyuki Nagai, writer/director Mari Okada and artist Masayoshi Tanaka — revealed a new visual today of the cute creature from the film that will introduce to audiences to the film's namesake: the spiky Fureru. Fureru (pictured above) is a creature that has been passed down for generations to people on the island where the three main male characters are from. The creature has the mysterious power of telepathy through the action of “fureru,” which while not specified what the action is, can translate to “touch” or “sway.” Related: Mari Okada, Tatsuyuki Nagai, Masayoshi Tanaka's Fureru Anime Film Teases Heartwarming Story in First Character Look CloverWorks will produce the Fureru. anime movie, scheduled for a fall 2024 release . The Super Peace Busters creative team previously made Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day , The Anthem of the Heart and Her Blue Sky together.

A first look of the characters of the much-anticipated newest work from the Super Peace Busters — the creative group that includes director Tatsuyuki Nagai, writer/director Mari Okada and artist Masayoshi Tanaka — was released today for the original anime film Fureru at AnimeJapan today during a special stage event . The panel gave us the first peek at childhood friends, who are now in their 20’s and are living their lives in downtown Tokyo. Aki Onoda Ryo Sobue Yuta Inohara Related: Mari Okada, Tatsuyuki Nagai, Masayoshi Tanaka Reunite for Original Anime Film Fureru CloverWorks will produce the Fureru anime movie, scheduled for a fall 2024 release . The Super Peace Busters creative team previously made Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day , The Anthem of the Heart and Her Blue Sky together. Fureru is described as a coming-of-age film set in present-day Tokyo surrounding the Shinjuku area. The movie centers on childhood friends...

The anime shorts from the WcDonald's universe continue as the second episode from Studio Pierrot was posted today both subbed and dubbed titled "Love From Across The Booth," featuring aesthetics familiar to any fans of Sailor Moon and the City Pop music genre. Related: WcDonald's Becomes Real with First Anime Short by Studio Pierrot Four anime shorts produced by Studio Pierrot will release over four weeks with a simultaneous manga chapter released on WcDonalds.com . Each episode will focus on a specific genre — Action, Romance, Mecha and Fantasy — with the next Mecha short launching March 11. You can watch the first episode of the Action genre here . The WcDonald's anime campaign also contains a themed restaurant experience launching first in Los Angeles from March 9-10, which takes inspiration from the Isekai genre. Artist Acky Bright also designed custom bags for the promotion, alongside an exclusive Savory Chili WcDonald's Sauce available for a limited time.

The anime in-joke of WcDonald's is no longer just that, as McDonald's began an official anime campaign featuring the notorious upside-down naming with anime, manga and other Japanese pop culture promotions. To start, four anime shorts produced by Studio Pierrot will release over four weeks with a simultaneous manga chapter released on WcDonalds.com . Each episode will focus on a specific genre — Action, Romance, Mecha and Fantasy — with the first Action short available now in sub and dub. The campaign not only consists of anime and manga, as a themed restaurant experience will launch first in Los Angeles from March 9-10 which takes inspiration from the Isekai genre. Artist Acky Bright also designed custom bags for the promotion, alongside an exclusive Savory Chili WcDonald's Sauce available for a limited time. The WcDonald's meme has appeared in anime and manga since the 1980s, including in Cat's Eye , City Hunter , Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt...

Maboroshi has stunning visuals and animation that rival some of the most famous anime films in recent years. Unfortunately, the film's pacing is terrible, with major tonal whiplash in the middle and a meandering second half that becomes unbearably dull. The love triangle in Maboroshi is handled poorly, with a fast-moving love triangle and a final twist that adds an uncomfortable element to the story. The ending is rushed and confusing, leaving many loose ends unresolved.

Warning: The following contains spoilers for Maboroshi!!Maboroshi is the latest film by acclaimed director Mari Okada in collaboration with the internationally renowned animation studio, Mappa. After mysterious cracks appear in the sky above Mifuse, the town is locked in an eternal winter. Masamune Kikuiri is one of the people trapped in the town, and his struggles have bigger ramifications for the world than anyone could have expected.

After its theatrical run in Japan...

The official website of AnimeJapan 2024 revealed the line-ups for its main stages, Red, Blue and Green, on Jan 19, 2024.

AnimeJapan 2024 will take place at Tokyo Big Sight on March 23-24, 2024.

An overview of the stages can be viewed below:

Red & Green Stage: Closed stage with assigned seating. Entry requires both an entrance ticket and a stage viewing ticket. Blue Stage: Open stage with assigned seating for seated viewing near the stage front. Entry requires both an entrance ticket and a stage viewing ticket. Limited free viewing at the rear due to space constraints.

Check out the complete timetable of AnimeJapan 2024 stages below:

Red Stage AnimeJapan 2024 Line-up: Date: March 23, 2024 Timings (Jst)Event NameMembers attending09:15 – 09:50Suicide Squad ISEKAIAnna Nagase, Yuuichirou Umehara, Reigo Yamaguchi, Jun Fukuyama and more10:25 – 11:00Mushoku Tensei: Jobless ReincarnationYumi Uchiyama, Tomokazu Sugita, Ai Kayano, Yuuki Takada, Yuiko Ohara11:35 – 12:10i☆Ris the Movie – Full Energy!

Anime movies not made by Studio Ghibli can provide memorable and impactful experiences for fans. Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms explores themes of identity, motherhood, and loneliness with stunning animation and a memorable soundtrack. Blue Giant tells a moving tale about jazz and friendship, while I Want To Eat Your Pancreas offers a beautiful story about the value of life and friendship.

To many anime fans, the movies created by Studio Ghibli, especially those directed by Hayao Miyazaki, represent the pinnacle of the anime world. From classic titles like Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke to the more recent award-winning The Boy and the Heron, most fans would count at least one of these among their favorites. However, there are quite a few options for the best anime movies not made by Studio Ghibli as well.

The anime movie landscape is a broad one, defined by its rich and complex history.

Streaming services like Crunchyroll offer a plethora of anime series under 20 episodes that are perfect for binge-watching. Shows like Odd Taxi and Erased deliver complex mysteries that keep audiences hooked with each episode. Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches and Horimiya provide fresh takes on romance anime, offering engaging storylines and lovable characters.

Thanks to streaming services dominating how fans consume series – which has led to the binge-watching phenomenon – there's never been a better time to sit back, relax, and binge anime on one of the biggest streaming platforms for the medium, Crunchyroll. The platform's massive library hosts plenty of series under 20 episodes that are easy to get hooked onto, and, despite their shorter runs, tell impressive stories that rival even some of the greatest classics in the industry.

Whether it be a complex mystery throwing hints and foreshadowing at its audience each episode, a simple slice-of-life romance or a bloodsoaked revenge thriller,...

Anime studio Cloverworks announces new original movie titled Fureru, reuniting the creative team behind Anohana. The teaser and website offer minimal details, showcasing three characters and a mysterious hedgehog. Fans are hopeful that Fureru will deliver emotional highs like previous works, with Cloverworks' involvement adding to the anticipation.

Anime studio Cloverworks announced its latest original anime movie, Fureru, with major attention paid to the fact it is reuniting the creative trio behind the modern classic Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day. The new website and teaser are scant in details about the premise of the movie, bar the presence of three characters and a mysterious hedgehog. Fureru is expected to premiere in Fall 2024.

The promotional material focuses on the team up of director Tatsuyuki Nagai, screenwriter Mari Okada, and artist Masayoshi Tanaka, who, together, go by the group name "Super Peace Busters". Their last work was Her Blue Sky...

Mappa's anime-original film Maboroshi is soon set to come to Netflix.

Netflix recently announced that Maboroshi (Alice to Therese no Maboroshi Koujou) will arrive on the streaming platform on January 15, 2024, releasing a trailer with English subtitles. The film is directed by Mari Okada and stars Junya Enoki as the film's protagonist, Masamune Kikuiri. Kikuiri's classmate Atsumi Sagami is played by Reina Ueda, and the 'mysterious girl' Itsumi is played by Misaki Kuno. All three are featured in the trailer below. The theme song, "Shin-on," can be heard in the trailer and is performed by Miyuki Nakajima.

Netflix's Blue Eye Samurai Called "Anime of the Year" by Metal Gear's Hideo Kojima

Trapped in a town frozen in time, life must keep going without any change. While struggling for a future, two students have their fate altered upon an encounter with a mysterious girl. Directed by Mari Okada, #maboroshi will be streaming on Netflix,...

This list contains spoilers for its respective anime series and movies. Please read at your own caution.One of the many things fans love about anime is the powerful emotions that they portray. Art styles, voice acting, and direction intersect to create exhilarating or gut-punching shows - sometimes with unbelievable twists. Unfortunately, several anime are so heartbreaking or feature twists that are so seismic that fans can't come back to the anime with the same enthusiasm as they did on their first watch.

Most of these anime tell great stories, but are impossible to repeatedly view because they're just so devastating. Even anime that aren't as sad can have further viewings tainted by knowing too much about their story and where the narrative is head. In either case, these anime are still worth seeing, but probably aren't going to become regular, repeated viewings.

Related: 10 Saddest Anime Scenes of All Time,...

For a medium as diverse and wide-spanning as Anime, it can be difficult ranking the best anime series of all time. Looking at the wide range of metrics fans use to judge the quality of any individual anime makes the ranking even tougher.

Though no metric is necessarily wrong, ultimately this list used things such as animation quality, industry impact, direction, atmosphere, and consistency to quantify how to rank each anime. Unfortunately, that last point disqualifies some notable fan favorites. While Naruto and Bleach are both incredible series that have reshaped the Shonen genre around themselves, their abundance of poor filler eliminates them from ranking. This list will also not contain any currently ongoing series. So while One Piece, Spy x Family, Ranking of Kings, and Kaguya-Sama are all masterpieces in their own right, it's impossible to rank them without knowing their endings.

Fist of the North Star

Year Released...

Even the best anime can fall short sometimes. Great anime have been known to have some poorly written scenes or annoying characters. The worst thing a fabulous anime could do is land just shy of having a perfect ending. As sad as the thought is, this phenomenon happens more often than fans would like.

Anime endings can go south for many reasons. The most common ways strong anime miss the mark with the endings are trying to finish the story too fast, characters' final interactions becoming uncharacteristic, or throwing in unnecessary plot twists. Though all of these anime are great, they just barely fail to give audiences the proper endings the stories deserve.

Related: 15 Worst Anime With The Best First Impressions

Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day

Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day is an excellent, tragic tale of a group of friends coming to terms with...

Romance anime contains a broad spectrum of emotions, including drama, love, longing, and tragedy. While most romance shojo stories are light-hearted and comedic, even shows like Ouran High School Host Club can have something dark lurking in the background. Not all shojo characters are happy-go-lucky innocents. When romantic stories have sad themes, the culprit is usually either the male or female protagonist's disturbing past.

Shojo male protagonists have been under fire for a while for being walking red flags and exhibiting toxic traits. However, some anime boys have incredibly tragic backgrounds that shaped their cold-hearted or complicated personalities. It's interesting to note how most of these shojo anime boys, despite their sad background stories, managed to turn their lives around before their series ended.

Related:15 Most Common Tropes In Shojo Anime (& Which Anime Did Them Best)

Tamaki Suoh (Ouran High School Host Club)

The charismatic Tamaki Suoh is the prince...

Not every anime show can achieve the mainstream success of the most popular anime like My Hero Academia or Attack on Titan, even if some shows deserve it, which means that there are a lot of underrated anime gems waiting for fans to discover and enjoy them. There seems to be an almost constant stream of highly-acclaimed anime series these days—more than anyone interested in the art form will have enough time to consume, in fact. This inevitably causes some underrated series to slip through the cracks.

Naturally, no list of underrated anime could cover every single anime that gets overlooked. But at least this list can highlight 20 obscure anime of particular note and hopefully help them get more recognition.

Hell Girl (2005 - 2017)

Hell Girl is an underrated supernatural/horror anime full of self-contained episodes of characters suffering at the hands of those around them. After reaching their limits,...

Bocchi the Rock! recently held a live concert in Tokyo, and it ended with the announcement of a film, including a release window. Bocchi the Rock! was a breakout hit of 2022 for its creative, and often deranged, animation style wrapped around a genuinely thoughtful exploration of a girl trying to overcome her crippling social anxiety. The show was a hit with fans and critics alike, even going on to win eight different awards in the 2022 Anime Trending Awards, including Anime of the Year, and with there being a lot of material in the manga to work with, people were quick to speculate about when the anime might continue.

People wanting to see more Bocchi the Rock! were finally given something when, at the live concert at Zepp Haneda, a compilation film was announced for spring 2024. While that’s disappointing for anyone who might have wanted a season 2 announcement, the fact...

Netflix has released their list of new titles coming in the month of June, as well as a last call for everything getting ready to leave the streaming service.

Highlights arriving this month include the fifth season of Netflix’s popular psychological thriller series “Black Mirror,” coming June 5, and Hilary Swank’s thriller “I Am Mother, coming June 7. And whether or not you were alive in 1993 when the original TV mini-series “Armistead Maupin’s Tales of the City” came out, you can still appreciate the remake starring Ellen Page as Laura Linney’s on-screen daughter when it arrives June 7.

This month is the last chance to watch what is arguably the best moon mission movie, “Apollo 13,” starring the ultimate dream team, Tom Hanks and Gary Sinise. Other classics getting the boot include “Legally Blonde” and its sequel “Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde,” along with “Friday the 13th” and “Pretty in Pink.

“I won’t cry, I promise,” vows the ethereal, long-living Maquia (voiced by Manaka Iwami) to the little mortal boy she is raising as her son. “I’m a mother!” she says, beating her fist lightly against her belly in a gesture of defiance that makes the boy smile. But mother or no, it’s a promise any viewer of this gorgeously rendered, acutely sentimental animated phantasmagoria would be foolhardy to make.

“Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms” is the directorial debut of prolific and successful anime screenwriter Mari Okada (“Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day”), and though set in a medieval-styled, distinctly “Game of Thrones”-esque fantasy world of dying dragons, imprisoned princesses, warring kingdoms, and mystical cloth into which is woven the stories of our lives, the trembling, overflowing heart of the film is a story of motherhood, self-sacrifice, and forgiveness that is informed by Okada’s...

Mari Okada, who has written the screenplays for some 20-odd animated films, including the iconic Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day, debuts as one of Japan’s rare female anime directors in the melancholy and poetic Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms (Sayonara no Asa ni Yakusoku no Hana o Kazarou). Set in a medieval fantasy world that recalls The Hobbit and The Game of Thrones, the story describes how an immortal girl called a lorph is abducted to the world of humans and adopts a baby, only to watch him grow up and age, while she remains the same.

Known for ...

Mari Okada, who has written the screenplays for some 20-odd animated films, including the iconic Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day, debuts as one of Japan’s rare female anime directors in the melancholy and poetic Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms (Sayonara no Asa ni Yakusoku no Hana o Kazarou). Set in a medieval fantasy world that recalls The Hobbit and The Game of Thrones, the story describes how an immortal girl called a lorph is abducted to the world of humans and adopts a baby, only to watch him grow up and age, while she remains the same.

Known for ...