https://www.cbr.com Covering comics, movies, TV like no other in the world. CBR.com is all you need! Fri, 22 Sep 2023 21:00:23 GMT en-US hourly 60 Bleach is one of many Shonen action anime where the protagonist's lineage provides substantial insight into not just their heritage, but the story's broader lore and sometimes even its combat system. In Bleach's case, protagonist Ichigo Kurosaki has inherited practically everything this world has to offer, though he has no idea about it in the beginning.

]]> Fri, 22 Sep 2023 22:16:18 GMT https://www.cbr.com/bleach-kurosaki-family-tree-explained/ The Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War anime is full of surprises as the Soul Reapers and the villainous Quincy Empire fight one last battle for the fate of the Soul Society. Both sides are using powerful secret weapons never before seen, such as the Quincy Medallions and even Rukia's very own bankai. Now, the Soul Reapers and Sternritter are fighting to see who has the best zombies.

]]> Fri, 22 Sep 2023 21:00:23 GMT https://www.cbr.com/bleach-mayuri-four-arrancars-explained/ Plenty of shonen anime series draw inspiration from the best works in previous generations, such as the classic shonen "Big Three" following the example of Akira Toriyama's Dragon Ball. More recently, smash-hit shonen series like Jujutsu Kaisen and Demon Slayer drew inspiration from the Big Three in turn. It's easy to see how Demon Slayer borrowed the best ideas from both Naruto and Bleach, such as demon slayers being the next generation of Soul Reapers and Tanjiro's trio taking cues from Team 7 in Naruto.

]]> Fri, 22 Sep 2023 19:40:19 GMT https://www.cbr.com/how-jjba-inspired-demon-slayer/ Jujutsu Kaisen is a "Dark Trio" anime that focuses on narratives such as hunting monsters, a supernatural "school life" theme, body horror, and the never-ending battle against the villainous Mahito and his curse allies. The characters' own arcs tend to build upon these themes as well, such as Yuji befriending Aoi Todo and Maki Zenin's ideological battle against her traditionalist family. There's not much room for fluff like obligatory romance subplots, but Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 found a way to include it anyway.

]]> Fri, 22 Sep 2023 13:00:20 GMT https://www.cbr.com/how-jjk-s2-can-develop-nobara-correctly/ One Piece focuses heavily on the "found family" trope, most of all with the Straw Hat pirates and the Luffy/Ace/Sabo brother trio. The story doesn't linger much on Luffy's biological family, however. It wasn't until the end of the Water 7/Enies Lobby saga that readers finally learned a bit about Luffy's family through his grandfather, Monkey D. Garp.

]]> Thu, 21 Sep 2023 21:00:22 GMT https://www.cbr.com/one-piece-luffy-grandfather-origin/ Most people will occasionally have a desire to repeat parts of their lives. For some, it may be to talk to someone who has passed on or to relive experiences that are no longer possible for them. It's a normal feeling, and anime has explored this concept in numerous ways over the years. Time loops, age reversals and Isekai tap into desires that can not be satisfied through life. The past will always remain the past, but the laws of reality do not apply to anime.

]]> Thu, 21 Sep 2023 19:40:20 GMT https://www.cbr.com/isekai-anime-second-chances/ The antagonists of Dragon Ball have fallen into a sameness. They may come in different forms and come from various places, but there's one thing they all have in common. They all have the same kinds of interactions with Goku and his friends. It's a near-endless cycle of unfamiliarity, condescension, surprise, and anger. In this sense, the fighters coming from beyond Earth work against them. They can't get to know the Z-Fighters without battling them, so all their reactions are variations of one another's.

]]> Thu, 21 Sep 2023 19:00:22 GMT https://www.cbr.com/dbz-androids-best-villain-hero-dynamic/ Season 2 of Spy x Family is premiering this upcoming fall anime season, and fans are waiting eagerly for Anya Forger's next spy adventure. And so, here's all the latest news and updates about season two to prepare you for the new season.

]]> Thu, 21 Sep 2023 18:00:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/spy-x-family-s2-release-date-trailer-plot-updates/ The isekai genre has some incredibly weird entries, with most of them taking the idea of bizarre, inane reincarnations to ridiculous extremes. One of these is Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon, which features a normal man being reincarnated as, well, a vending machine. It's no surprise that this ridiculous concept has finally earned the property an anime adaptation, though its longevity is highly questionable.

]]> Thu, 21 Sep 2023 16:51:22 GMT https://www.cbr.com/reborn-as-a-vending-machine-s2-could-be-problem/ The Admirals (and Fleet Admiral) are the highest-ranked officers in the Navy. They, above all, are supposed to embody the Marines' strong desire for justice in the One Piece world. They also provide unquestioning loyalty to the Celestial Dragons of the World Government, even if their desires contradict the pursuit of justice. Being one of these men means having a firm moral compass, devotion, and absolute power. These qualifications should make them strict and uncompromising, especially toward the pirates the Navy regularly hunts down.

]]> Thu, 21 Sep 2023 16:10:19 GMT https://www.cbr.com/one-piece-admirals-who-dont-like-the-navy/ The battle of the strongest sorcerers has finally reached its end in Jujutsu Kaisen, after proving to be the most hair-raising death match of the series so far. Chapter 235 saw Gojo Satoru successfully drain Sukuna of all his strength after the pair spent thirteen consecutive manga chapters at each other's throats. Gojo has more than proven his worth, well and truly earning the title of the world's strongest sorcerer.

]]> Thu, 21 Sep 2023 15:20:20 GMT https://www.cbr.com/jjk-should-gojo-defeat-kenjaku/ Netflix's One Piece live-action series is the first truly great anime adaptation for many reasons, including its pitch-perfect casting for the main characters, the gorgeous set pieces, and most of all, some resourceful ideas to compress 60+ anime episodes into just one live-action season. This included streamlining and enhancing certain One Piece story arcs so they feel faster, fresher, and more creative than ever. That includes the Syrup Village story arc, which introduced Usopp the habitual liar.

]]> Thu, 21 Sep 2023 14:41:22 GMT https://www.cbr.com/one-piece-live-action-horror-arc/ In the world of Jujutsu Kaisen, one sorcerer is objectively more powerful than all others: Satoru Gojo. Being born with both the Limitless technique and the Six Eyes, Gojo is naturally blessed with seemingly infinite talent and potential. Yet still, despite all his overwhelming strength, Gojo's existence isn't necessarily a good thing for JJK as a series.

]]> Thu, 21 Sep 2023 13:00:19 GMT https://www.cbr.com/jjk-gojo-may-have-to-die/ Dragon Ball Super Chapter 97, “Rampaging Cell Max,” delivers pure action as the fight against Red Ribbon’s ultimate creation, Cell Max, intensifies. Dragon Ball Super’s manga has been caught up in an expanded adaptation of the anime’s latest feature film, Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, since Chapter 88, “Super Heroes are Born.” Chapter 97 highlights that this movie adaptation is still going to last for several more chapters and it’s even likely that Gohan’s upcoming Beast transformation will be used to punctuate the manga’s 100th chapter. Anime fans know that huge changes lie ahead for Dragon Ball Super’s heroes, but “Rampaging Cell Max” focuses on largely new material that should please those who have never experienced this content as well as those who have repeatedly watched Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero.

]]> Wed, 20 Sep 2023 19:40:23 GMT https://www.cbr.com/dbs-97-spoilers/ Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead has proved itself to be a series with revolutionary themes. After the zombie apocalypse takes hold of the world, Akira Tendo's life is turned around in the best ways possible. It comes off as a blatant attack on unfettered capitalism and the consequences that it has on the psychological state of its workers.

]]> Wed, 20 Sep 2023 16:10:19 GMT https://www.cbr.com/zom-100-comments-on-patriarchy/ At first, Jewelry Bonney wasn't set to do anything that important to One Piece's overarching narrative. She might have been among the nine Supernovas introduced in the Sabaody Archipelago Arc, but that meant surprisingly little. According to Oda, he created these characters in rapid succession with no plans for them to excel in the New World; if he hadn't decided to expand upon their roles, Bonney's capture before the time skip might have been the last anyone saw of her. For all anyone knew, Bonney was meant to vanish into obscurity, never to be seen again in the New World.

]]> Wed, 20 Sep 2023 13:00:23 GMT https://www.cbr.com/one-piece-jewelry-bonney-theory/ In One Piece Chapter 790, "Heaven and Earth," Monkey D Luffy used his Gum-Gum King Kong Gun to finish Donquixote Doflamingo forcefully and instantaneously. In Episode 733, "Attack on a Celestial - Luffy's King Kong Gun of Anger," Toei Animation recreated this scene, but fans were displeased with them for dragging it out. Despite this, Oda did the same thing with Luffy's Gum-Gum Bajrang Gun against Kaido in Chapters 1048 through 1049. Now, Episodes 1075 and 1076 of the anime recreated this dragged-out scene. The difference is that the punch was canonically dragged out in the manga. The anime is copying Oda's example in this instance.

]]> Tue, 19 Sep 2023 21:01:50 GMT https://www.cbr.com/one-piece-wano-final-punch-vs-dressrosa/ Luffy's win over Kaido is one of his most significant achievements since One Piece started. By taking out the Strongest Creature, he took his place as an Emperor of the Sea, earned a 3 billion Berry bounty, and established himself as one of the strongest characters in the series. Unfortunately, many consider this win invalid for one reason or another. Some say Kaido lifting the island stopped him from fighting at full potential. Others say fighting multiple opponents softened the King of Beasts up for the Straw Hat captain. The general assumption is that if these two were in a one-on-one fight with no outside help or interference, Kaido would have easily beaten Luffy.

]]> Tue, 19 Sep 2023 19:40:44 GMT https://www.cbr.com/one-piece-luffy-vs-kaido-fair-fight/ Since the conclusion of the Raid on Onigashima, the adventures of One Piece's protagonist, Monkey D. Luffy, have reached a fever pitch, signaling the beginning of the series' long-awaited final saga. As a fully-fledged Emperor of the Sea, the Straw Hat Pirate and his crew are more notorious than ever before, which has earned them the ire of several powerful factions — at least one of which followed the crew to their most recent stop, Egghead Island. Shortly after Luffy and his allies meet Dr. Vegapunk, the World Government initiates an assault on the island, introducing three new Seraphim-model Pacifistas in the process.

]]> Tue, 19 Sep 2023 16:10:33 GMT https://www.cbr.com/one-piece-crocodile-seraphim-could-confirm-woman-theory/ Netflix's live-action adaptation of the One Piece manga and anime did its best to capture the essence of Eiichiro Oda's original story, and it largely succeeded in many ways. It featured impressive acting by the main cast, wonderful set pieces, authentic costumes, and exciting action sequences. Still, some compromises had to be made to maintain the pacing, as fans saw in the Baratie story arc.

]]> Tue, 19 Sep 2023 14:40:24 GMT https://www.cbr.com/netflix-one-piece-sanji-recruitment-arc/ My Tiny Senpai is the latest office romance to enter the anime scene. Romantic comedies based in a workplace setting are steadily gaining popularity and inadvertently becoming a distinctive sub-genre of their own. If fans are lucky, they’ll get one romance office title a year or every season, but that just isn’t enough given the success of the existing series. Wotakoi set the bar high for workplace comedy and then came The Ice Guy and His Cool Female Colleague, which kept the ball rolling. That’s why fans had high hopes for My Tiny Senpai carrying the torch, and thankfully, it didn’t fail.

]]> Mon, 18 Sep 2023 23:16:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/my-tiny-senpai-office-romance-anime/ The world of One Piece is defined by a single quest — the pursuit of Gol D. Roger's legendary treasure, One Piece. An entire generation of pirates set pirates out to sea in search of the King of the Pirate's legacy, and along the way, many of them explore the Grand Line and learns its secrets, many of which were hidden by the World Government itself. Anyone who wants to become a pirate needs to be extremely strong to defend themselves against the Marines, but as evidenced throughout the series, there are more than enough powerful sailors to cause the World Government issues. While some of these sea-faring outlaws are evil, many pirates are kind-hearted and/or well-meaning. Shanks and the Red Hair Pirates, one of the first crews introduced in One Piece, are a great example of this, simultaneously possessing a jolly disposition and monstrous strength to back it up.

]]> Mon, 18 Sep 2023 18:00:32 GMT https://www.cbr.com/one-piece-powers-abilities-red-hair-pirates-explained/ In the early 2000s, a series of light novels known as A Certain Magical Index was released. Upon garnering acclaim for its well-designed characters and interesting story, it received an anime adaptation courtesy of the studio J.C. Staff. After the anime's release, the franchise gained even more new fans worldwide. This, however, is where things get a tad bit confusing and understanding the A Certain Magical Index watch order is a difficult task.

]]> Mon, 18 Sep 2023 17:40:29 GMT https://www.cbr.com/a-certain-magical-index-anime-best-watch-order/ Despite being syndicated for over 25 years, One Piece still presents many questions that demand answers. Among its many narrative threads, there are countless events that need to be explored. While Will of D., the lineage of Shanks, and the identity of Rocks D. Xebec are but a few of these mysteries, they speak to the show's interest in the lineage of One Piece's cast. The anime explores this recurring theme time and time against. As the series approaches its long-awaited final saga, there are still several major characters whose backstories and lineage are completely unknown. Arguably, the most noteworthy of these individuals is none other than Dracule Mihawk, the World's Strongest Swordsman.

]]> Mon, 18 Sep 2023 14:11:18 GMT https://www.cbr.com/one-piece-theory-mihawk-shakky-silvers-rayleigh-son-evidence/ One Piece enjoys no shortage of iconic characters, but even among its crowded field, Trafalgar Law is a fan favorite. Alongside Monkey D. Luffy, Law is a member of the Worst Generation, and following the Raid on Onigashima, the pair each possess a bounty of three billion Berries. As a child, Law vigorously trained in martial arts under Lao G, an executive of the Donquixote Family, giving him exceptional hand-to-hand combat abilities. The former Warlord of the Sea's Haki is also exceptionally strong; however, he still primarily relies on his Devil Fruit abilities during battle. With this power, he became one of the Grand Line's most feared warriors.

]]> Mon, 18 Sep 2023 13:00:19 GMT https://www.cbr.com/one-piece-trafalgar-law-devil-fruit-powers-explained/ Netflix's live-action One Piece adaptation finally broke the live-action anime curse, setting a new standard for bringing anime to life with real setpieces and practical effects. Some compromises had to be made, however, such as toning down some of the original One Piece anime's most ambitious visual tricks and even omitting entire scenes. All this was done to preserve the series' brisk pacing, even if it meant cutting out entire arcs like Loguetown.

]]> Sun, 17 Sep 2023 23:00:20 GMT https://www.cbr.com/netflix-one-piece-right-to-skip-loguetown-story-arc/ The announcement of a teaser trailer debuting at Dragon Ball's New York Comic Con panel on the 12th of October ignited a new wave of speculation regarding its potential contents. Given that several of Dragon Ball's official licensees have been hyping up the event, many fans have been hopeful that the teaser in question will finally bring an end to Dragon Ball's half-decade hiatus in the anime realm by announcing a new series. While many remain hopeful that the event will reveal a televised continuation of Dragon Ball Super, others have posited alternative possibilities—with one gaining traction being a remake of the original Dragon Ball anime. Given that the manga will be celebrating its fortieth anniversary in 2024, could now be the perfect time for Toei Animation to revisit the source material?

]]> Sun, 17 Sep 2023 18:00:18 GMT https://www.cbr.com/does-dragon-ball-need-remake/ It has become a common practice over the years for big anime franchises to release films that aren't always canon to the overall storyline. Eiichira Oda's One Piece has seen a lot of films since its debut more than 25 years ago — 15 films, to be precise, with the most recent, One Piece Film: Red, releasing mid-summer 2022. There's often debate among fans about which One Piece movies are canon, or at least contain elements that fit into the overall canon, and Red is just as ambiguous as all the other One Piece movies. Some say it isn't canon at all, while others believe there are at least some bits and pieces that fit nicely into the canon.

]]> Sun, 17 Sep 2023 16:40:19 GMT https://www.cbr.com/is-one-piece-red-canon/ One of the most iconic series in anime history, Yu Yu Hakusho has stood the test of time. Over 30 years after its premiere, not only has the series continued to attract fans, but its legacy can also be felt in many shonen titles that came later. For that reason, many anime fans consider it the "mother" of modern shonen anime.

]]> Sun, 17 Sep 2023 15:30:19 GMT https://www.cbr.com/yu-yu-hakusho-final-arc-sudden-ending/ Compared to the beginning of Tokyo Ghoul, Ken Kaneki has changed dramatically. Most recall his first big shift when, after being tortured, Kaneki's hair turned white and his personality changed drastically. However, that transformation was far from his only one. With every major event in the tragic hero's life, Kaneki's outlook and actual appearance morphed to fit his new normal.

]]> Sun, 17 Sep 2023 14:40:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/tokyo-ghoul-how-many-kanekis-are-there/ Monkey D. Luffy, captain of the Straw Hat Pirates, has been sailing the seas for over 1,000 chapters. He's now closer than ever to achieving his dream of finding the titular One Piece, not to mention becoming the Pirate King. Although Luffy set out on his own, he gradually gathered a talented crew now renowned across the world of One Piece. The story behind each Straw Hat joining the crew is impactful enough on its own. Because Luffy gained their respect, they wholeheartedly believe he will become the Pirate King.

]]> Sun, 17 Sep 2023 14:20:17 GMT https://www.cbr.com/one-piece-straw-hats-say-luffy-will-be-pirate-king/ On his quest to avenge his family and find a way to save his younger sister Nezuko, Demon Slayer's main protagonist Tanjiro Kamado grows stronger with every story arc. Considering everything he's faced, from the brutal murder of his entire family to fighting anyone who would try to kill his demon sister before he can find a way to cure her, Tanjiro has had no choice but to home his prodigious skills. Whether that strength is enough to keep him alive and slaying demons until the last one has been destroyed is yet to be determined onscreen, but for those itching to find out how Tanjiro fares in the end, the manga has all the answers.

]]> Sun, 17 Sep 2023 13:00:20 GMT https://www.cbr.com/demon-slayer-does-tanjiro-become-demon/ Beneath the shine of the iconic armor are Saint Seiya's tales of heroism, sacrifice, and battles against foes and Gods. These Cloths, magnificent in design, draw inspiration from constellations, each representing the guardian symbol chosen by its bearer. From the vast canvas of stars, five figures stand tall, the quintessential Saints, defenders of the reincarnation of the Olympian goddess Athena. In a world where divinity is not just a matter of belief but of battles, they stand against gods with plans to dominate planet Earth.

]]> Sat, 16 Sep 2023 23:00:20 GMT https://www.cbr.com/saint-seiya-saint-rank-meanings/ FLCL Grunge, the fourth season in the FLCL franchise, released its first episode last week, featuring a colorful, occasionally neon-infused, cell-shaded, 2D art style that looks quite nice. It's reminiscent of last year's Cyberpunk: Edgerunners. Unfortunately, much like FLCL Progressive and FLCL Alternative, FLCL Grunge is attempting to build on the brand of the original FLCL (2000), creating an impossible task for themselves where viewers and critics will diminish it through comparison.

]]> Sat, 16 Sep 2023 13:00:17 GMT https://www.cbr.com/flcl-generational-masterpiece-one-of-a-kind-teenage-nostalgia/ After four years of syndication, the Wano Country Arc culminated in One Piece's largest battle ever — the Raid on Onigashima. However, against all odds, the series' Egghead Island Arc is somehow poised to spawn an even bigger conflict, due in large part to the major role that the World Government and their constituents play in the process. Their arrival at Egghead Island raises the stakes higher than ever before, but it also serves as an unexpected reminder of a previous One Piece arc.

]]> Fri, 15 Sep 2023 21:30:23 GMT https://www.cbr.com/one-piece-sabaody-archipelago-arc-egghead-island/ Bleach is a shonen "big three" anime that focuses not on Devil Fruits or ninjutsu, but zanpakuto – soul-cutting swords. The concept of zanpakuto was introduced almost right away in Bleach, with Rukia Kuchiki wielding one in battle against a Hollow before Ichigo Kurosaki gained his own zanpakuto to finish the fight. Ever since then, zanpakuto have been a staple of Bleach's combat system.

]]> Fri, 15 Sep 2023 20:00:22 GMT https://www.cbr.com/bleach-zanpakuto-guide/ In the shadowy corridors of mid-eighteenth-century Europe, a sinister plot unfolds, weaving together fragmented pieces of literature and lore. Undead Girl Murder Farce plunges the audience into a world both eerily familiar and deliciously witty and original, filled with figures of fabled reputation. At its core, the anime follows Tsugaru Shinuchi, a half-demon killer called Oni, along with Aya Rand, a bodiless great detective who also happens to be immortal, and her servant Shizuki Hasei on their quest to find the mysterious man who stole Rand's body.

]]> Fri, 15 Sep 2023 18:50:18 GMT https://www.cbr.com/undead-girl-murder-farce-banquet-members/ My Hero Academia is a superhero anime series with a well-defined combat system centered around Quirks, or supernatural mutations and abilities found around the globe. In My Hero Academia's world almost everyone has a mutation, meaning the anime is packed with many dozens of diverse Quirks. Over time, the series has shown the true potential of powerful Quirks in the hands of well-trained heroes and villains, but it's not easy keeping track of them all.

]]> Fri, 15 Sep 2023 18:00:21 GMT https://www.cbr.com/mha-quirk-guide/ Anime is one of Japan's biggest cultural exports, but it's not the only form of media that the country is known for. Though some aren't as aware of the actual term, "tokusatsu" has also left Japan and gone to other countries in other forms. Known for brightly colored heroes and monsters of varying sizes, this genre showcases the Japanese take on superheroes. Strangely enough, however, it's not very common to see tokusatsu anime.

]]> Fri, 15 Sep 2023 16:40:19 GMT https://www.cbr.com/go-go-loser-ranger-isekai-and-red-ranger-tokusatsu-anime/ Saint Seiya in 1986 became an instant classic and gathered a loyal loving fanbase. A story of gallant Knights known as Saints, protectors of Athena, an incarnation of the Greek goddess. Their battles, set against a tapestry of Greek and Nordic mythology, captured imaginations worldwide. Central to their power was the Cosmo – an inner energy deeply connected with everything in the Universe, much like the Force in Star Wars, that fueled their combat capabilities, enabling the Knights to fight against evil oppressive Gods in their quests to save Athena and humanity.

]]> Fri, 15 Sep 2023 15:50:18 GMT https://www.cbr.com/saint-seiya-omega-cosmo/ Becoming a respected Pokémon Trainer is nearly everyone's dream in the Pokémon world. Fortunately, there are boundless career paths a Pokémon Trainer can take to elevate their status; whether it be as a Pokémon Master, an Elite Four member, or a Pokémon Contest Champion. But one of the most well-known and respected of these Pokémon Training careers is to become a Gym Leader, specializing in a specific Pokémon Type and battling other trainers to trial their skills before battling the Elite Four.

]]> Fri, 15 Sep 2023 14:45:18 GMT https://www.cbr.com/pokemon-manga-gym-leader-downsides/ Several light-hearted and hilarious anime series focus on the friendship between two children, such as School Babysitters and Teasing Master Takagi-san. Yet, there is one childhood friend-focused anime that is deserving of attention: My Clueless First Friend. The series is set in elementary school: a shy Goth girl named Akane Nishimura befriends the new transfer student, Taiyo Takada. Taiyo finds Akane amazing because there is a rumor that she has supernatural abilities. However, Taiyo doesn't realize that Akane is bullied by her peers for being "different."

]]> Fri, 15 Sep 2023 13:00:22 GMT https://www.cbr.com/my-clueless-first-friend-sets-new-anime-friendship-standard/ Back in 2011, the cosmos stirred again with celestial energy. Celebrating a monumental 25 years since the inception of the beloved Saint Seiya franchise, Saint Seiya: Omega emerged as a beacon for both older and newer fans alike. It wasn't just a mere sequel but a continuation that weaved threads from the past into its new narrative. As the cosmos would have it, many familiar faces from the original Saint Seiya appear on-screen once more, reaffirming their legacy while guiding a new generation of Knights.

]]> Thu, 14 Sep 2023 23:00:22 GMT https://www.cbr.com/saint-seiya-omega-original-character-tributes/ My Hero Academia is one of those shonen anime that managed to grab the world with an iron fist and has refused to let go since its debut. With its combination of well-loved tropes and inspiration from Western superhero comics, the time was absolutely perfect for a show like it to hit the international stage and capture the imaginations of people around the world—which is why it can be so hard to wait for the next season. Even if there's always the manga to read, even that can only satisfy the die-hard fan for so long when there have been frequent and well-deserved breaks in between chapters.

]]> Thu, 14 Sep 2023 21:30:18 GMT https://www.cbr.com/this-is-the-best-anime-to-watch-while-you-wait-for-my-hero-academia-to-return/ Jujutsu Kaisen's second season has reintroduced Mahito, one of the series' most malevolent and unpredictable cursed spirits as one of the main antagonists of the Shibuya Incident. Since taking form in Season 1, Mahito has derived pleasure in emotionally manipulating and breaking the spirits of humans, whom he considers to be inferior to him. To that end, Mahito's Idle Transfiguration Cursed Technique has served him especially well. It's one of the most balanced in terms of offensive and defensive utilities in the series.

]]> Thu, 14 Sep 2023 20:00:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/jjk-s2-shibuya-incident-mahito-cursed-technique-explained/ Early on in the Naruto anime, Sasuke Uchiha made one thing clear: He needed to grow as strong as possible, so he could destroy his own older brother, Itachi. Sasuke's relationship with Itachi had been one of deep brotherly love and admiration, with little Sasuke pining for more time to spend with his hero. But then Itachi committed an unforgivable act when he massacred the Hidden Leaf Village's entire Uchiha clan, sparing only Sasuke.

]]> Thu, 14 Sep 2023 19:40:20 GMT https://www.cbr.com/naruto-why-itachi-killed-uchiha-family/ Anime comes from a variety of source materials. Most people think of manga as being the main source for most mainstream anime, while others recognize the contributions of light novels and visual novels to the medium as well. Even history or classical literature. This means that, of course, there are plenty of famous anime based on video games. The mediums have a lot in common and video games lend themselves particularly well to anime. Some anime have tie-in games and even more have managed to make something of a multimedia experience out of the combination of the two like the .hack series.

]]> Thu, 14 Sep 2023 18:51:18 GMT https://www.cbr.com/rpg-maker-inspired-anime/ Children of the Sea is a difficult film to understand. Directed by Ayumu Watanabe and adapted from Daisuke Igarashi's five-volume manga, the film is philosophically comparable to Neon Genesis Evangelion. Watanabe's psychedelic antics have successfully intrigued, dazzled, and ultimately bamboozled countless viewers, some of whom still aren't clear about the movie's conclusion.

]]> Thu, 14 Sep 2023 18:45:17 GMT https://www.cbr.com/children-of-the-sea-anime-movie-ending-explained/ Anime is one of the most popular mediums around the world, with its success reaching far beyond its native land of Japan. It's part of the reason why Japan as a whole has made more cultural inroads than other Asian countries, with South Korean media only becoming a major international force in the past decade. Now, however, Japanese animation is facing stiff competition from China.

]]> Thu, 14 Sep 2023 18:00:20 GMT https://www.cbr.com/why-donghua-will-never-replace-anime/ As the weather gets cooler, the desire for a certain amount of coziness is to be expected. Much of anime is about the grandiose battles, the over-the-top rivalries, the intense longing romances, and so on, but sometimes even the most die-hard anime fan just wants to curl up in a warm blanket and have some time to feel good and warm. There are very few things more cozy than being cared for and loved. Having someone to help around the house and cook delicious meals is a piece of wish fulfillment that has long been a part of slice-of-life anime.

]]> Thu, 14 Sep 2023 17:20:20 GMT https://www.cbr.com/the-masterful-cat-is-depressed-again-today-cozy-wish-fulfillment/ The Gundam franchise has several continuities, with spinoffs becoming more regular ever since the 1990s. While most of the series' entries are set in the Universal Century timeline, some anime, manga, and other works have their own universes. This makes these stories almost entirely incongruous, though one part of the franchise tried to mash them all together into one consecutive story.

]]> Thu, 14 Sep 2023 16:40:21 GMT https://www.cbr.com/turn-a-gundam-experimental-important-all-timelines-correct-century/ Anime and manga have many genres and subgenre, some of which are essentially exclusive to the mediums. One of these is iyashikei, which emphasizes low-stakes, comfy and cozy stories. While these works are usually minimalist and relaxing, one new fantasy anime is taking things in a completely different direction.

]]> Thu, 14 Sep 2023 15:51:19 GMT https://www.cbr.com/crash-course-in-naughtiness-explained/ Chapter 223 of the Jujutsu Kaisen manga revealed a massacre of the Jujutsu society's higher-ups in a shocking flashback. All fingers pointed to Gojo Satoru, considering his difficult past with the elders and obvious disdain for their dated concepts. However, many fans question whether the strongest sorcerer actually committed the crime. This could also be because nobody wants to see someone as powerful as Gojo become a villain.

]]> Thu, 14 Sep 2023 15:30:19 GMT https://www.cbr.com/jujutsu-kaisen-higher-ups-massacred-gojo-not-responsible-evidence/ Gege Akutami's acclaimed Jujutsu Kaisen is popular for several reasons, and its intricate lore is one of them. All-time classic shonen titles like Naruto, One Piece, and even Dragon Ball Z have cult-like followings because these anime take the time to create and expand their stories based on completely original concepts and phenomena. Even though seasoned anime watchers may disagree that JJK's lore is 100% original, its power system and metrics are unique. The distinct features of how sorcery works in the Jujutsu world are mind-blowing and so expertly detailed that one can't help but admit that Jujutsu Kaisen is genuinely a masterpiece.

]]> Thu, 14 Sep 2023 14:40:17 GMT https://www.cbr.com/jjk-cursed-energy-explained/ The anime and manga worlds are mourning the passing of one of their most unsung creators. Buichi Terasawa recently died after a series of health issues, though his legacy is sure to live on. A pioneer in more adult-oriented manga, his most popular work is one of the best-selling manga of all time.

]]> Thu, 14 Sep 2023 13:00:20 GMT https://www.cbr.com/buichi-terasawa-tribute-iconic-manga/ Recently, Netflix's Cowboy Bebop came back in the public consciousness thanks to the streaming service's lauded adaptation of One Piece. However, this wasn't because of nostalgia, or news of a Season 2. Netflix's Cowboy Bebop was only brought up again to be contrasted negatively against the more well-received One Piece, or to be mocked yet again by fans of the quintessentially '90s anime.

]]> Wed, 13 Sep 2023 18:50:19 GMT https://www.cbr.com/netflix-cowboy-bebop-second-season/ Netflix's live-action One Piece faithfully brought the original manga/anime franchise's East Blue saga to life in spectacular fashion. Many factors went into making this live-action anime adaptation a resounding success, including some serious rewriting of the original story for the sake of pacing. That sometimes means omitting entire story arcs like Loguetown or writing out villains like Don Krieg.

]]> Wed, 13 Sep 2023 18:00:21 GMT https://www.cbr.com/one-piece-live-action-skipped-don-krieg/ My Hero Academia's manga has almost reached its 400th chapter, and the final endgame battle is still ongoing. By now, Toya Todoroki/Dabi has been taken care of and the villain Himiko Toga seemingly gave her life to save Ochaco's own after their battle, but the dreaded All For One still stands. Even if all of class 1-A united to support Izuku Midoriya/Deku in this final fight, it'll be a close call, but that's why All Might is here.

]]> Wed, 13 Sep 2023 17:20:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/mha-all-might-suit-final-battle/ The main story of Oshi No Ko may be on hold while author Aka Akasaka takes a break, but artist Mengo Yokoyari has a few surprises in store for longtime manga readers in the short interlude arc. This arc's short chapters are more than filler episodes or bonus art collections – they are an opportunity to explore Oshi No Ko's best characters and themes from entirely new angles, most of all with Aqua and Ruby Hoshino. The interlude shows what they could have been like as a true brother and sister in another lifetime, a lifetime free of drama and tragedy.

]]> Wed, 13 Sep 2023 16:41:19 GMT https://www.cbr.com/oshi-no-ko-interlude-aqua-and-ruby/ The anime isekai genre is facing a problem. Many anime are repeating the same tropes and story beats. Minimal effort is being put into making one isekai different from the other and pushing the genre forward. The most anyone can think of is to make the Hero reincarnate as one of many things (a slime, a spider, a sword, a vending machine, etc.), make them overpowered, and have them sweep through the early series. These anime rarely earn another season because of how quickly audiences lose interest. Once the unique premise has been shown and the rest of the series turns out like every other isekai, there's no further reason to keep watching.

]]> Wed, 13 Sep 2023 15:50:18 GMT https://www.cbr.com/rise-of-post-demon-lord-anime/ Most viewers who watch anime in Japanese are likely to have heard bad English spoken by a supposedly native English-speaking character. For example, a British or American character who speaks with an unexplainably thick Japanese accent, or whose words feel rigid or nonsensical. These characters are presented as native English speakers but sound unnatural to English speakers. In the last few years, Do It Yourself and Blue Lock are two anime featuring native English characters whose English feels a little less than natural.

]]> Wed, 13 Sep 2023 14:40:18 GMT https://www.cbr.com/bad-english-in-anime/ When it comes to battle shonen anime, most fans of a given series will want to know which characters are the strongest. There are many ways to judge how powerful any given character is. At first, it will be about known feats of strength, speed, durability, etc. If those concepts become vague, fans can rely on how much they can destroy (buildings, mountains, planets, etc.). Of course, the most common way to judge which characters are the best is to see how they fare against each other in a straight fight. Unfortunately, writers sometimes leave the outcomes of these fights open to interpretation; this allows fans to believe their favorite character could win, depending on the circumstances. However, it's a monkey wrench for power scalers who want a straight answer.

]]> Wed, 13 Sep 2023 13:01:18 GMT https://www.cbr.com/anime-sweat-scaling-acuracy/ MF Ghost began publication in Kodansha's Weekly Young Magazine in 2017, over 20 years after its predecessor started. Unfortunately, it hasn't had nearly as much mainstream success or recognition as Initial D, however. This stems from the quality of the work itself to how much the first series was a product of its time. Now that MF Ghost is getting an anime adaptation, its relation to Initial D and comparative lack of success is worth exploring.

]]> Tue, 12 Sep 2023 18:01:20 GMT https://www.cbr.com/mf-ghost-disappoints-initial-d-fans/ With One Piece's Wano Country Arc concluded, Monkey D. Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates are finally prepared to head into the final leg of their journey across the Grand Line. Thanks to his intense fight with Kaido, Luffy has achieved two of his biggest goals: becoming an Emperor of the Sea and Awakening his Devil Fruit.

]]> Tue, 12 Sep 2023 14:40:18 GMT https://www.cbr.com/one-piece-foreshadowed-luffys-new-form/ One Piece has never been afraid to wear its inspirations on its sleeve, with the whole story delighting in showing off Eiichiro Oda's favorite things and visibly drawing inspiration from the media that shaped him as a creator. This also applies to the anime adaptation, where the animators often pay tribute to their favorite genres and tropes. And nowhere is this better seen than with episodes 1071 and 1072, titled "Luffy's Peak - Attained! Gear 5" and "The Ridiculous Power! Gear 5 in Full Play," where the animators use Luffy's powerful new Gear 5 form to pay tribute to many classic Western cartoons.

]]> Mon, 11 Sep 2023 23:00:21 GMT https://www.cbr.com/one-piece-episode-1071-1072-classic-western-cartoon-reference/ After sailing the harsh seas of the world of One Piece, the bonds between the Straw Hat Pirates are now almost unbreakable. They know almost everything about each other, and they are willing to sacrifice even their own lives if it means helping their crew mates. Each of them also has a dream ambitious enough to make most people laugh. Even so, none of them think of their dreams as absurd, especially when it comes to Luffy becoming the Pirate King. However, despite their seemingly unbreakable bonds, there were also moments that tested their friendships — and the first one to betray their pirate crew was none other than their navigator, the Cat Burglar Nami.

]]> Mon, 11 Sep 2023 20:00:21 GMT https://www.cbr.com/one-piece-why-nami-betrayed-straw-hat-pirates/ The superhero anime My Hero Academia features an ensemble cast of characters who have all been thoroughly developed as lovable and memorable shonen characters. By now, dedicated My Hero Academia fans know the most essential details of these characters, such as their Quirks and their hero/villain code names, and fluff details are sometimes counted, too. There's plenty more to know about Deku and his classmates than their costume designs or their best fights.

]]> Mon, 11 Sep 2023 16:40:19 GMT https://www.cbr.com/mha-characters-height/ Season One of Hell's Paradise did not shy away from plot twists and shocking deaths. The anime follows a group of desperate criminals who are each offered a chance at being pardoned if they are able to find the Elixir of Life on a mysterious island named, Shinsenkyo. Each criminal is assigned to an Asaemon from the Yamada clan and the Asaemon are to keep the criminals in line. Among the criminals is a man by the name of Gabimaru the Hollow, who has a superhuman body that can't be killed. His drive and motivation is the possibility of being able to return to his wife once he is pardoned.

]]> Mon, 11 Sep 2023 15:50:19 GMT https://www.cbr.com/hells-paradise-gabimaru-amnesia-season-2/ Not a lot is known about One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda. Like most mangaka, he keeps his personal life under wraps and rarely comments on anything unrelated to his work. However, fans know a little about the mangaka's family life. It turns out Oda's wife is a real-life version of Nami, one of his most popular characters.

]]> Mon, 11 Sep 2023 14:20:19 GMT https://www.cbr.com/one-piece-eiichiro-oda-wife-nami/ The most common questions One Piece fans have asked about the live-action adaptation regards its faithfulness to the source material. There are many things fans would like to be accurate – the aesthetic, the story, the tone, the dialogue, and so on. One place most fans were concerned with was the accuracy of the characters. It's hard to find exact lookalikes for hand-drawn characters, but it should be possible to get someone who loosely resembles them and put them in the right outfit. From there, the minimum an actor would need to do is perform the lines as they appear in the anime and manga.

]]> Sun, 10 Sep 2023 14:40:19 GMT https://www.cbr.com/one-piece-live-action-actors-shouldnt-copy-anime/ Naruto is one of the most popular anime and manga series of all time, so it is not surprising that it would receive a sequel series. Boruto follows a new generation of shinobi who grow up in a relatively peaceful ninja world. That being said, there are still conflicts and dangerous enemies to deal with. A number of good and evil Boruto characters have died in these conflicts, and a small number of Naruto characters have also died. Boruto's first manga chapter showed a destroyed Hidden Leaf Village, which led many fans to assume that either Naruto or Sasuke were dead, but they are both alive, at least for the time being.

]]> Sun, 10 Sep 2023 13:01:23 GMT https://www.cbr.com/which-naruto-characters-die-in-boruto/ Netflix's live-action One Piece series fully captured the magic of the East Blue saga in the original manga/anime franchise, but it wasn't an exact reproduction scene by scene. Out of necessity, the live-action One Piece series greatly shortened the original material and streamlined it into eight one-hour episodes, which meant cutting a lot of fluff material. It also meant rearranging some key plot points, such as character introductions.

]]> Sat, 09 Sep 2023 17:20:20 GMT https://www.cbr.com/netflixs-one-piece-nami-zoro-intro/ Netflix's live-action One Piece series did many things right as the first truly great live-action anime adaptation, from the main actors' great performances to the anime-accurate set pieces and costumes. The live-action series also paid tribute to many of the original One Piece anime's best fight scenes and memorable panels from the manga, but it didn't always translate well into live-action. One example was One Piece's habit of zooming in on facial features.

]]> Sat, 09 Sep 2023 15:51:19 GMT https://www.cbr.com/one-piece-live-action-close-ups/ As Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead proceeds, it's pretty intriguing to see how Akira and Kencho navigate the zombie apocalypse. The landscape has drastically changed with this massive outbreak, but they take it in stride, opting for a comedic view of life.

]]> Sat, 09 Sep 2023 14:40:19 GMT https://www.cbr.com/zom-100-bucket-list-of-the-dead-comedy-shark-zombie/ Sometimes life is frustrating, unfair and just outright baffling. Currently, the second season of The Duke of Death and His Maid is airing, and once again, it's failing to reach the audience it deserves. For example, on the aggregator website animekarmawatch, The Duke of Death and His Maid has consistently ranked outside the top 20 anime for the season, and it's a crying shame. The Duke of Death and His Maid is a deftly written anime that carefully balances humor, romance, and the sad backstories of the two lead characters without ever veering toward melancholy.

]]> Sat, 09 Sep 2023 13:00:19 GMT https://www.cbr.com/the-duke-of-death-and-his-maid-beautiful-romance-anime-underrated/ After the massive success and four-year run of Netflix's Castlevania, showrunners Kevin Kold, who headed the original series, and Clive Bradley bring viewers the next installment of the Castlevania universe — Castlevania: Nocturne. The original Netflix Castlevania was inspired by the classic video game series from Japan's Konami. It was a dark medieval fantasy that followed the last surviving member of the disgraced Belmont clan, trying to save Eastern Europe from extinction at the hand of Vlad Dracula Tepes himself.

]]> Fri, 08 Sep 2023 21:30:19 GMT https://www.cbr.com/new-castlevania-nocturne-trailer-explained/ The Pokémon franchise tends to focus on its more popular monsters and advertise them more than others. Naturally, many Generation I Pokémon fit into this category, especially Charizard, Pikachu, Eevee, and Mewtwo; there will always be room on the stage for at least one of them. Generation IV also produced multiple lasting icons like Bidoof, Lucario, Rotom, and Arceus. Starter Pokémon and their evolutionary families also make many recurring appearances; the same goes for most Legendary and some Mythical Pokémon. Every once in a while, a relatively obscure Pokémon will be given more attention than expected.

]]> Fri, 08 Sep 2023 20:00:22 GMT https://www.cbr.com/pokemon-oddish-all-over-right-now/ Season 2 of Jujutsu Kaisen has been one of the most highly anticipated anime of the Aummer 2023 season, if not the entire year. The first five episodes, which covered the Hidden Inventory/Premature Death arc, were met with rave critical reviews and overwhelmingly positive fan reception. Still, if the promotional material of the new arc is anything to go by, the Shibuya Incident is going to turn out even better.

]]> Fri, 08 Sep 2023 18:50:19 GMT https://www.cbr.com/the-hidden-easter-eggs-in-jjk-season-2-shibuya-incidents-opening-credits/ Akira Tendou's journey through zombie-infested Tokyo has been a very different take on the zombie apocalypse genre. The character's upbeat outlook on an otherwise harrowing situation causes him to stand out from most other apocalypse-surviving protagonists in media.

]]> Fri, 08 Sep 2023 18:01:19 GMT https://www.cbr.com/zom-100-akira-tendo-hope-symbol-for-zombie-apocalypse-real-world/ The live-action adaptation of One Piece has a lot to do if it's successful. There are over 1070 episodes of the anime to adapt and counting. The Netflix series can't churn out new content every week like its predecessors. It also can't afford to take time retelling everything lest the actors all age out of their roles. This series has to balance conciseness and faithfulness to relay this expansive narrative as best as possible. With the first season of the Netflix series available for streaming, audiences can get a general idea of what strategies were used to cover enough of the story in as little time as possible. As long as One Piece is, its story arcs can be relayed much faster than people realize.

]]> Fri, 08 Sep 2023 15:50:21 GMT https://www.cbr.com/one-piece-live-action-future-seasons/ The live-action One Piece series on Netflix currently stands as the best live-action adaptation of any Japanese anime series, borrowing the best aspects of the original One Piece anime while adding a few new tricks to present a fresh, exciting narrative that anyone can enjoy. The live-action One Piece series does many things right, including using a new formula for flashback sequences.

]]> Fri, 08 Sep 2023 14:40:21 GMT https://www.cbr.com/one-piece-live-action-flashbacks/ Hell's Paradise is an unforgiving and merciless anime, that follows a group of samurai and their charges, criminals who are given a chance at redemption if they can go to an island and bring back and deliver the Elixir of Life to the shogun. The island, believed to be Shinsenkyo, has a landscape that is vibrant yet full of terrifying monsters called Soshin, creatures that are part human part animal, and part God; it is also where the line between life and death is blurred. Here, the life of every Yamada Asaemon and the criminal they are assigned to is on the line as they traverse the perilous island in search for the holy grail that is rumored to be deep within it.

]]> Fri, 08 Sep 2023 13:00:20 GMT https://www.cbr.com/hells-paradise-senta-death/ The live-action version of Eiichiro Oda's One Piece does many things right as the first truly great live-action anime adaptation, including promoting or demoting certain characters in the narrative. The One Piece franchise has a truly vast cast of characters across 1,000+ episodes and chapters, so by cutting redundant or fluff characters, the story can expand upon fan-favorites like the pink-haired Koby.

]]> Thu, 07 Sep 2023 18:00:17 GMT https://www.cbr.com/one-piece-live-action-series-koby-character-arc/ Unlike Toriyama's previous Dragon Ball series, the Dragon Ball Super anime ran simultaneously with its corresponding manga, rather than the anime beginning much later in the manga's run. Fans of the Dragon Ball Super anime have still had occasional feature films to satiate their need for more content, but the best place to get new Dragon Ball Super stories is in the manga.

]]> Thu, 07 Sep 2023 16:40:19 GMT https://www.cbr.com/dragon-ball-super-new-chapters-release-date/ The Japanese anime industry regularly churns out romantic comedy series every year, and anime fans can't get enough of it. Viewers love romantic comedies for their innocent, heart-warming storylines and their colorful and expressive characters, but many of those series feel generic or forgettable. Any fan of romance anime is encouraged to try some of the modern classics to see what animated love stories are really capable of, and Natsuki Takaya's Fruits Basket franchise is a great pick.

]]> Thu, 07 Sep 2023 15:50:17 GMT https://www.cbr.com/fruits-basket-watch-guide/ The Netflix One Piece live-action series has one of the most monumental tasks of any adaptation. It needs to take a narrative built up over 26 years and compress its content into eight-episode seasons. Even at a rate of one hour per episode, that should take a while. Most arcs have taken several years and dozens of chapters or episodes to cover. Even the East Blue Saga, the first leg of the Straw Hat Pirates' voyage, took over 60 episodes to tell in anime form. The only way for the Netflix version to get through all this while the actors are still young enough for the roles is to make enormous cuts to the content.

]]> Thu, 07 Sep 2023 14:40:20 GMT https://www.cbr.com/one-piece-live-action-shorter-than-anime/ Hell's Paradise does not hold any mercy for its characters and definitely not its audience. A dark anime that could rival Attack on Titan, Hell's Paradise introduced a vast cast of characters only to kill off the majority of them within a few episodes. The anime immerses its audience into a treacherous island of enigmatic beings and dangerous criminals, where the only way off of the island is death. One of those deaths stings harder and is more heart-breaking than most – the fall of Yamada Asaemon, Tenza.

]]> Thu, 07 Sep 2023 13:00:20 GMT https://www.cbr.com/hells-paradise-tenza-death/ When the Straw Hat Pirates brought down Arlong Park, they were in the right. They did it to save their friend Nami and the rest of East Blue. Arlong was a menace, and his reign of terror needed to be stopped. If the Arlong Park arc is viewed in this context, the Straw Hats are the heroes. However, something about this story changes based on the context of future arcs. The Fish-Men and Merfolk are among the most tragic races in One Piece history. They have been the victims of oppression and slavery at the hands of humans for centuries.

]]> Wed, 06 Sep 2023 17:20:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/one-pieces-arlong-park-arc-aged-weirdly/ The year's most highly anticipated anime sequel is currently airing, and the fandom has a burning question – Where is Yuta Okkotsu? In its most-awaited return to the screens, Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 features one of the most crucial and defining anime arcs of modern times. The Shibuya Incident arc is a game-changer in anime storytelling, and its adaptation will be groundbreaking. It's the kind of mega event that used to be the signature marker of The Big Three, and now one of the members of The Dark Trio is keeping the tradition alive. The Shibuya Incident arc is the pinnacle of JJK lore and a rare experience where there's no telling who is going to come out on the other side.

]]> Wed, 06 Sep 2023 16:40:18 GMT https://www.cbr.com/jjk-yuta-okkotsu-jjk-season-2/ Spin-offs of popular series are always tricky, as capturing what made the original series so memorable is difficult. Plus, new elements can undermine the stories that came before them, causing fans to quickly sour on the new material. Nowhere is this better seen than with Magia Record: Puella Magi Madoka Magica Side Story, which attempted to take the story of the critically acclaimed and utterly beloved Puella Magi Madoka Magica in a new direction, much to the anger of long-time fans. But where did Magia Record go wrong, and why did it fail to capture the Madoka charm?

]]> Wed, 06 Sep 2023 15:50:19 GMT https://www.cbr.com/madoka-magica-vs-magia-record/ Back in the 1980s and 1990s, there were numerous anime OVAs (original video animation) that told grisly, gritty, and grimy stories. Full of blood, guts, gore, and all manner of other "adult" content, these projects were instrumental in positioning anime as the "grown-up" cartoon alternative in the West. Some of these OVA movies and TV shows were based on manga, though in some cases, this source material was never actually completed.

]]> Wed, 06 Sep 2023 14:40:18 GMT https://www.cbr.com/genocyber-manga-never-finished-why/ Boruto: Two Blue Vortex is one of the most anticipated manga events of the year, and it is easy to see why, as this new chapter in the Boruto story has the potential to revolutionize the series and tell an epic tale while also carrying the Naruto franchise forward into the future. Many fans are trying to work out where to read this new tale, however, and if their current manga providers will offer it. Thankfully, keeping up with Boruto's new adventures is pretty simple.

]]> Wed, 06 Sep 2023 13:01:20 GMT https://www.cbr.com/read-boruto-blue-vortex-manga-chapter-81/ With the One Piece franchise as popular as it's ever been, all eyes are on the long-awaited final saga of the series' manga. The Raid on Onigashima signaled the Straw Hat Pirates' arrival as true contenders for the One Piece, seeing them defeat an Emperor of the Sea and their crew; however, while Monkey D. Luffy's victory over Kaido was a monumental milestone, the events of the Egghead Island Arc are shaping up to be even more impactful.

]]> Tue, 05 Sep 2023 23:00:20 GMT https://www.cbr.com/one-piece-chapter-1091-pits-zoro-vs-rob-lucci/ Violet Evergarden is a romantic anime gem that draws in all those who seek stories of love, hope, and understanding. With its beautifully dreamy visuals and complex characters, the story follows Violet, an android who, despite her mechanical heart, goes on a quest to understand the true meaning of the word "love." Violet finds a job as a "Doll," a position that has her writing letters on behalf of her clients. Through every experience she has with her clients, Violet inches her way down the path of learning what love means and understanding why a man she respected uttered it to her.

]]> Tue, 05 Sep 2023 18:00:18 GMT https://www.cbr.com/violet-evergarden-anime-for-romance-fans/ Bleach has one of shonen's best combat systems, focusing on soul-cutting swords and spiritual energy rather than supernatural ninjutsu or Quirks. This combat system works somewhat differently for the three major factions involved, however, each faction has cool unique abilities that speak volumes about them. The most recent example is the Quincy tribe and their bizarre use of spirit particles.

]]> Tue, 05 Sep 2023 17:21:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/bleach-sklave-rai-explained/ One of the first scenes from the Pokémon anime is a recreation of the opening from Red and Green. This scene of a Nidorino battling a Gengar begins precisely as it did in the games, complete with monochrome colors and limited animation. Then, it shifts into the style that would become standard for the rest of the series – vibrant colors, dynamic camera angles, and speedy movements. The anime presented Pokémon fans with the world of the games in ways they could only dream of, but it didn't stop at the battles. The characters, stories, music, and many other parts of the anime went beyond what it needed to do as an adaptation.

]]> Tue, 05 Sep 2023 16:41:19 GMT https://www.cbr.com/is-the-pokmon-anime-less-creative-now/ Certain One Piece events come around to let fans know what the power hierarchy looks like. Sometimes, it's a simple matter of one character establishing dominance by beating another. There are also more nuanced instances of characters holding their own against superior opponents or performing similarly impressive feats of strength, speed, durability, etc. Whatever it is, fans will use it in endless arguments over who's the best and who can beat who in a fight. Such is the nature of a battle shonen.

]]> Tue, 05 Sep 2023 15:51:18 GMT https://www.cbr.com/one-piece-chapter-1091-power-scaling/ The Mobile Suit Gundam franchise has remained one of the biggest Japanese multimedia franchises throughout the decades. Beginning as an anime, it's since gone on to become a major property, defining both the medium it started in as well as Japanese pop culture in general. Now, the next potential Gundam project may put it in the hands of Western creators for a second time.

]]> Tue, 05 Sep 2023 14:01:18 GMT https://www.cbr.com/gundam-project-western-reputation-redeem/ Juggernaut franchises like Bleach give fans plenty of material to work with, as seen in the official guide books, and that includes personal details like each character's birthday, favorite foods, and even their height and weight. Intimate details like those may feel like total fluff at first, but for passionate anime fans, such nuggets of information help make these characters feel truly alive as people.

]]> Mon, 04 Sep 2023 21:30:18 GMT https://www.cbr.com/bleach-characters-height/ 2023 has produced many successful anime sequels. Demon Slayer, Bungo Stray Dogs, and Mushoku Tensei have already wowed the fandom, while super hits like Jujutsu Kaisen and Bleach TYBW are still entertaining viewers with their highly anticipated arcs.

]]> Mon, 04 Sep 2023 17:20:20 GMT https://www.cbr.com/upcoming-anime-sequels-2023/