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The Spring 2024 Manga Guide
The Manga Guide returns bigger than ever! Check back every day for reviews of manga and manhwa released from March to May! Today we have INITIAL D and One Piece x Food Wars crossover, SHOKUGEKI NO SANJI!
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Spring 2024 Manga Guide! You may have seen one of our seasonal Anime Preview Guides, where a team of critics writes up each new anime television premiere as it airs...
INTERVIEW: Small-Town Horror Comes to Life in Masaaki Ninomiya's GANNIBAL Manga
The manga creator shares the horror films that influenced his series set in rural Japan, where humans are on the menu.
―
Is Masaaki Ninomiya's horror manga Gannibal folk horror? It certainly fits a lot of the subgenre's definition. Set in a strange, isolated mountain village, it touches on how ritual can influence insular communities and how that looks to outsiders – and even more importantly, how o...
Manhwa: What Korean Comics to Start Reading
Rebecca Silverman dives into the ever-expanding world of manhwa to find some of the best series to dive into.
― It isn't fair to say that Korean comics being translated into English is new. Back in 2006, Netcomics was releasing books, and bigger publishers like Seven Seas have been venturing into those waters since at least 2012, with titles like the delightful historical mystery series Lizzie Newton...
The Best Manga and Light Novels of 2023
Don't close out your reading list yet! We've got the best manga and light novels of 2023 right here.
― For the first time, we're adding the best manga and best light novels to our year-end wrap-ups! We've split both publishing mediums into two categories: new and continuing. The new section highlights our favorite series published in English for the first time this year, while the continuing section...
The Moment That Undead Unluck's Yoshifumi Tozuka Decided to Create Manga
Yoshifumi Tozuka met someone early in his life who believed in his artistic ability. The rest is manga history.
― Undead Unluck fans at Anime NYC were treated to a panel featuring the creator Yoshifumi Tozuka, his editor Takumi Hashimoto, and Fuuko's Japanese voice actor, Moe Kahara. During the panel, Moe Kahara spoke about how she chose to pursue a career as a voice actor because she wanted to impr...
From Astro Boy to Pluto: The History of “The Greatest Robot on Earth”
Learn how “The Greatest Robot on Earth” chapter of Astro Boy would so greatly affect Naoki Urasawa that it led to Pluto nearly 40 years later.
― It's safe to say that the world of anime and manga would not exist as it does today without the works of Osamu Tezuka—to the point that he has earned the nickname “The God of Manga” in Japan. While he produced numerous classic works during his life that rem...
Developing a Diverse Cast in Kia Asamiya's Silent Möbius
Kia Asamiya has been writing manga for nearly 40 years. His most famous work, Silent Möbius, is an explosive mashup of genres: taking place in a cyberpunk Blade Runner-esque dystopia, it depicts the plight of AMP, an all-woman team of sorcerers, psychics, and even cyborgs.
― Kia Asamiya has been writing manga for nearly 40 years. His most famous work, Silent Möbius, is an explosive mashup of genres:...
The Fall 2023 Manga Guide
The manga guide is complete with over 40 new series released from September to November! Which manga looks the most promising?
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Fall 2023 Manga Guide! You may have seen one of our seasonal Anime Preview Guides, where a team of critics writes up each new anime television premiere as it airs at the beginning of a season. Now, doing something like that for manga is tric...
The Fall 2023 Manga Guide
It's vampires, witches, zombies, and one ice guy in today's manga guide update!
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Fall 2023 Manga Guide! You may have seen one of our seasonal Anime Preview Guides, where a team of critics writes up each new anime television premiere as it airs at the beginning of a season. Now, doing something like that for manga is tricky - there's no equivalent "seasonal" release s...
The Fall 2023 Manga Guide
Now with October releases, find your next must-read manga! Today's updates include a new release for CLAMP's Tokyo Babylon, the 20th anniversary edition of Fullmetal Alchemist, and more!
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Fall 2023 Manga Guide! You may have seen one of our seasonal Anime Preview Guides, where a team of critics writes up each new anime television premiere as it airs at the beginning o...
Crafting a Hell in Heaven with Heavenly Delusion Creator Masakazu Ishiguro
We spoke with Ishiguro about the hazy edges of his sci-fi series' themes and the message he hopes readers takes away from the series.
― Manga creator Masakazu Ishiguro's work spans multiple genres, from the unexpected maid café workers in the comedy manga And Yet the Town Moves to the labyrinthian detective story Skygrazer. Of these works, Heavenly Delusion stands apart as a concoctive blend of body...
The Fall 2023 Manga Guide
Now with October releases, find your next must-read manga from the original Noblesse webcomic to more terrifying tales from Junji Ito!
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Fall 2023 Manga Guide! You may have seen one of our seasonal Anime Preview Guides, where a team of critics writes up each new anime television premiere as it airs at the beginning of a season. Now, doing something like that for manga...
The Fall 2023 Manga Guide
This season's guide includes over 70 new series to discover! We're rounding out the September releases with the romantic drama Stray Cat & Wolf, the politically conscious The Darwin Incident, a very spicy Playing with a Proper Butler, and more!
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Fall 2023 Manga Guide! You may have seen one of our seasonal Anime Preview Guides, where a team of critics writes up each n...
The Fall 2023 Manga Guide
This season's guide includes over 70 new series to discover! Today's series includes the soon-to-be-an anime I'm Giving the Disgraced Noble Lady I Rescued a Crash Course in Naughtiness and a new take on The Deer King plus several isekai manga that got our reviewers' seal of approval!
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Fall 2023 Manga Guide! You may have seen one of our seasonal Anime Preview Guides, ...
The Fall 2023 Manga Guide
This season's guide includes over 70 new series to discover! Today's series includes the manga version of the hit series The Mandalorian, a new menu for your palate in Drops of God Mariage, and a promising series about building homes for fantasy creatures in Soara and the House of Monsters.
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Fall 2023 Manga Guide! You may have seen one of our seasonal Anime Preview G...
The Fall 2023 Manga Guide
This season's guide includes over 70 new series to discover! Today's series includes the soon-to-be-anime story of an overworked adventurer in My Daughter Left the Nest and Returned an S-Rank Adventurer, the nitty-gritty of the female reproductive system in Cells at Work! Lady, two witch-friendly series, and more!
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Fall 2023 Manga Guide! You may have seen one of our ...
The Fall 2023 Manga Guide
This season's guide includes over 70 new series to discover! Today's series includes the sumptuously gothic #DCRL, Tatsuya Endo's Blade Of The Moon Princess, the spicy I Can't Refuse S, the genderbender Life with an Ordinary Guy Who Reincarnated Into a Total Fantasy Knockout, the understated supernatural series Glitch, and a magical Cinderella story I'll Never Set Foot in That House Again!
― Welcome...
Crafting Psychological BL Manga with Kyoko Aiba
Manga creator Kyoko Aiba discusses Derail, a compelling portrait of two men attempting to hide their vulnerabilities while simultaneously pulling the other one into closer and closer intimacy.
― Kyoko Aiba has been making moves lately. Her first work in English, I Love You Enough To Tie You Up (from Juné Manga), is a series of steamy and erotic BL short stories about dysfunctional couples pushing ea...
Writing Relatable Villains with Bungo Stray Dogs Author Kafka Asagiri
We went straight to the source to find out what makes Sigma and other villains in Bungo Stray Dogs so easy to like and why Osamu Dazai keeps getting put into anime.
― Hot on the heels of the world premiere of the fifth season of the Bungo Stray Dogs anime at Anime Expo, we had the opportunity to sit down and speak with the original creator, author, and novelist Kafka Asagiri. Asagiri, whose love for...
Vinland Saga's Makoto Yukimura Shares Opinion on Violence: 'Consider Attack on Titan'
Yukimura opened up about his hope for a world without war and his antipathy toward violence.
― 2023 marks the fourteenth year since Makoto Yukimura debuted as a manga author, and he's shown no signs of slowing down. His current ongoing work, Vinland Saga, achieved high praise worldwide for its messaging on war and violence coupled with compelling storytelling and character development. Although many...
The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards: A Spotlight on Quality or A Sticker for Sales?
For the Eisners to be more relevant or even meaningful, it needs to be revamped. Otherwise, they risk becoming an unsatisfying parade of participation awards.
― Self-described as the 'Oscars' of the comic industry, the annual Eisner Awards bestows recognition to a select number of books published or distributed in the United States. From its first ceremony at San Diego Comic-Con in 1991, a small pane...
The Rise of Reiwa: Romance Manga's Current Era Explained
A shift is happening in manga from the "will-they-won't-they" to "they-did-now-what?!"
― Will they, won't they? Do we get a confession partway through or as the series' grand finale? For some reason or another, romance manga at the start of the century and beyond found itself between a rock and a hard place, having to balance the need for plot progression (and consequently, romantic development betwe...
The Quiet Terror of PTSD Radio with Eisner-Nominated Horror Manga Creator Masaaki Nakayama
Horror fans, Masaaki Nakayama is a name you need to know. Enter his disturbing world of evil spirits and curses and learn how the slightest tweak of the human face can create an entity that lingers in your nightmares.
― Horror manga is having a moment. This is in no small part due to a newfound appreciation for the works of Junji Ito, who has become a critical darling after multiple Eisner nomination...
After the Rain and Kowloon Generic Romance Manga Artist Jun Mayuzuki
Manga creator Jun Mayuzuki shares her inspirations for Kowloon Generic Romance, the research that went into creating it, and her feelings about categorizing it as sci-fi.
― Jun Mayuzuki is an acclaimed manga artist best known for the coming-of-age drama After the Rain. Her latest series, Kowloon Generic Romance, ranked third in Takarajimasha's This Manga is Amazing! ranking in 2021 and was also a pr...
Centaurs Manga Creator Ryo Sumiyoshi on Fantasy in Feudal Japan
Although we often think of centaurs as strictly Western creatures, manga has its fair share of centaurs. Even within that body of work, Ryo Sumiyoshi's Centaurs stands out for its art, worldbuilding, and story.
― From Greek mythology to Disney's Fantasia to Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series, centaurs, mythical half-human, half-horse beings, have been a fantasy mainstay. Although we often think of ...
Anime Aunties Visit Japan - Day 11: Osamu Tezuka Manga Museum Stirs Emotions
A Tezuka newbie, Jacki discovers why everyone should know the God of Manga and how is legacy persists into the future.
― The Father of Anime. The God of Manga. Articles about Osamu Tezuka have given the iconic artist, cartoonist, and animator numerous, glorious titles, but how many Americans know his name or works? I have no idea. I've been an anime fan since the age of 7, loved anime for nearly 30 y...
The Art of 【Oshi No Ko】: An Interview With Mengo Yokoyari
Yokoyari-sensei discusses trying to bring Akasaka-sensei's vision to life and how it's all so different from their work on Scum's Wish.
― To complete our set of interviews with the Oshi No Ko manga creators, here's our interview with Mengo Yokoyari, where she shares her insight about the art side of the manga. Read on to find out more about the manga's unique design choices and Yokoyari's working rel...
The Best Series Out Now on the Viz Manga App
Looking for some recommendations for what to read on the new Viz Manga app—now available in the United States and Canada? Our team of reviewers has you covered, from acclaimed shōnen and shōjo manga hits to some of the more off-beat titles.
― Looking for some recommendations for what to read on the new Viz Manga app—now available in the United States and Canada? Our team of reviewers has you covered,...
How Accurate Is 【Oshi No Ko】 About the Japanese Entertainment Industry? An Interview With Aka Akasaka
In our exclusive interview with Aka Akasaka, he reveals how his extensive research into the entertainment industry inspired the series and other fascinating insights into the manga's creation.
― It's not hard to understand why the Oshi No Ko anime and manga series has been a huge hit. The story is full of fascinating insights about the Japanese entertainment industry, all wrapped up in a thrilling su...
The Spring 2023 Manga Guide
The manga is complete with more than 50 manga reviews to find your next favorite series!
― Banner art by catfish Welcome to Anime News Network's Spring 2023 Manga Guide! You may have seen one of our seasonal Anime Preview Guides, where a team of critics writes up each new anime television premiere as it airs at the beginning of a season. Now, doing something like that for manga is tricky - there's n...
The Spring 2023 Manga Guide
New day, new manga! Find your next BL must-read or dive into historical intrigue with today's new reviews!
― Banner art by catfish Welcome to Anime News Network's Spring 2023 Manga Guide! You may have seen one of our seasonal Anime Preview Guides, where a team of critics writes up each new anime television premiere as it airs at the beginning of a season. Now, doing something like that for manga is ...
Katsuhiro Otomo's Domu Pilot: An Unnerving Movie Adaptation That Could Have Been
Domu remains a cursed affair: forgotten in the shadow of Otomo's more famous creation and repeatedly stumbling in attempts to bring it to a broader audience. It remains a story reserved for the select few who seek it out.
― Domu is a unique story within Katsuhiro Otomo's illustrious career as a mangaka and director, and not solely for its content. Despite being its predecessor, Domu is often compared...
Marry, F---, or Kill with Alternative Manga Artist Shiu Yoshijima
Shiu Yoshijima, an illustrator and manga artist who specializes in drawing cute yet edgy “poisonous” women, so we had to ask her the age-old question: marry, f---, or kill?
― Anime Boston's one Japanese guest this year was Shiu Yoshijima, an illustrator and manga artist who specializes in drawing cute yet edgy “poisonous” women, typically incorporating fantasy elements into her work. Yoshijima parti...
A Glance into Junji Ito's Horror: Uzumaki, Black Bird, and Enigma at Amigara Fault
In the context of pop culture, Ito's style has come to stand out from the norms with unique characters and stories that leap off the page.
― Over the years, Japanese media has earned a distinguished place on the stage of contemporary horror. Some may even consider them a forerunner, with works such as Ringu and Ju-On setting the bar for the genre. That said, the boom of J-horror in the 90s' was perha...
Why Creators Root For Akane-banashi
The creators of One Piece, Evangelion, and Re:Zero share one thing in common: a love for Akane-banashi. What is it about this manga that makes it such a darling among creators?
― When an artist publicly endorses another artist's work, it can be easy to assume that that recommendation has to be partially motivated by some kind of aesthetic or thematic similarity to their own. Fans of One Piece, Evange...
5 BL Manga That Deserve an Anime Adaptation
BL is no longer entirely out of the question for mainstream anime. Whether you're new to the world of boys' love or a hardcore fan looking for your next title, take a look at these five BL manga that deserve their own anime adaptation.
― The past few years have been a dream for BL fans. Almost every season has had a BL anime in the lineup, adapting popular titles such as The Night Beyond the Tricorne...
ANN's Most Read News and Interest Articles of 2022
We bid one last goodbye to 2022 with our top stories from the year.
― 2022 was a very different year compared to 2021 and 2020. The pandemic continued, but it no longer dominated the headlines, and its effects were much less apparent in most of our readers' countries. Although it didn't make the top ANN news itself, one of the biggest stories worldwide was, of course, the return to “life as usual,” o...
Attack on Titan Creator Hajime Isayama at Anime NYC
The manga's controversial ending loomed heavily over the hit manga creator's appearance in NYC, culminating in an apology and cheers of reassurance from fans.
― It's no exaggeration that Hajime Isayama was a huge draw at Anime NYC. The event marked the Attack on Titan manga creator's first-ever appearance in the United States and while enthusiasm for the anime is still going strong, it was hinted bef...
The Fall 2022 Manga Guide
We dive into upcoming November releases with The Wrong Way To Use Healing Magic, the Sasaki and Miyano spinoff Hirano and Kagiura, Embrace Your Size, and more! Sponsored by Yen Press.
― Banner art by catfish Welcome to Anime News Network's Fall 2022 Manga Guide! You may have seen one of our seasonal Anime Preview Guides, where a team of critics writes up each new anime television premiere as it airs...
The Fall 2022 Manga Guide
Discover these great reads that inspired anime: The Executioner and Her Way of Life, Sasaki & Peeps, The case files of Jeweler Richard, Sugar Apple Fairy Tale, and Apparently, Disillusioned Adventurers Will Save the World. Sponsored by Yen Press.
― Banner art by catfish Welcome to Anime News Network's Fall 2022 Manga Guide! You may have seen one of our seasonal Anime Preview Guides, where a team of ...
The Fall 2022 Manga Guide
The Fall Manga Guide's newest update includes the latest from Junji Ito, the indescribably weird Dandadan, Magia Record: Puella Magi Madoka Magica Another Story, and the soon-to-be-an-anime Shangri-La Frontier and more!
― Banner art by catfish Welcome to Anime News Network's Fall 2022 Manga Guide! You may have seen one of our seasonal Anime Preview Guides, where a team of critics writes up each new ...
The Pioneer of Shojo Style, Macoto Takahashi
87-year-old artist Macoto Takahashi began his artistic career in 1953 and would become an establishing force behind what we now know as the shojo (girls) comic art style.
― 87-year-old artist Macoto Takahashi began his artistic career in 1953 and would become an establishing force behind what we now know as the shojo (girls) comic art style. His works popularized ballet in the shojo scene and his cha...
Why Dragon Ball Fans Should Check Out the Red Ribbon Army Arc
The OG villains are back in the spotlight in Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, so we're going back to the source to discover why the Red Ribbon Army were always great villains.
― With a successful run in Japan and the international release being so close at hand, the hype for Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero is at a fever pitch. Not only are Gohan fans happy to hear that he's a focus of the film, but an o...
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: The Dangers in My Heart Manga Artist Norio Sakurai
The award-winning manga is getting an anime next year! ANN spoke exclusively with creator Norio Sakurai about their romcom series.
― The Dangers In My Heart is a charming romantic comedy manga starring an introverted teenage boy and his burgeoning relationship with his beautiful classmate. The manga took the top spot in the web category of Next Manga Awards 2020, and it will be getting a TV anime in ...
Ryuko Comic Creator Eldo Yoshimizu
Eldo Yoshimizu is as lively in person as he is on the page, channeling his real-life experience tussling with a yakuza into his femme fatale's fight scenes.
― Eldo Yoshimizu is as lively in person as he is on the page. His action comic, especially Ryuko, about the titular yakuza heiress and her fellow fighting females, have combat scenes that feel like deluges of black ink, violence drawn as a fever ...
The Silent Darkness of Chainsaw Man
Chainsaw Man is a manga known for a lot of things, but above all else, what truly impressed me about this manga is its ability to convey complex, often incredibly dark emotions while the actual dialogue says very little or even nothing at all.
― Chainsaw Man is a manga known for a lot of things. Explosive action set pieces, breakneck pacing, striking visuals, but above all else, what truly impressed...
Interview: SPY×FAMILY Manga Editor Shihei Lin
We spoke to the manga's editor Shihei Lin about his collaboration with manga creator Tatsuya Endō, and how they worked together to bring this manga to the world.
― SPY×FAMILY's goofy and heartwarming tale of found family has captured hearts the world
over. We spoke to the manga's editor Shihei Lin about his collaboration with manga creator
Tatsuya Endo, and how they worked together to bring this mang...
The Spring 2022 Manga Guide
The final update is live! Check out over 40 manga titles and light novels here and find your next favorite series.
― Banner art by catfish Welcome to Anime News Network's Spring 2022 Manga Guide! You may have seen one of our seasonal Anime Preview Guides, where a team of critics writes up each new anime television premiere as it airs at the beginning of a season. Now, doing something like that for m...
The Spring 2022 Manga Guide
Monsters abound in today's update from Witches to Devils Ecstacy to This Vampire Won't Give Up and more!
― Banner art by catfish Welcome to Anime News Network's Spring 2022 Manga Guide! You may have seen one of our seasonal Anime Preview Guides, where a team of critics writes up each new anime television premiere as it airs at the beginning of a season. Now, doing something like that for manga is tr...
The Spring 2022 Manga Guide
We slide into May manga releases today with the LGBTQ+ series I Want to Be a Wall, Kubo Won't Let Me Be Invisible, and Cat + Gamer! Plus 15 more manga reviews to browse!
― Banner art by catfish Welcome to Anime News Network's Spring 2022 Manga Guide! You may have seen one of our seasonal Anime Preview Guides, where a team of critics writes up each new anime television premiere as it airs at the begi...
The Spring 2022 Manga Guide
Today check out the Wind Breaker, a brawler manga looking to change up the formula! Plus: Yagi the Bookshop Goat, Cross-Dressing Villainess Cecilia Sylvie, My Brain is Different, The Fable, and The Abandoned Reincarnation Sage!
― Banner art by catfish Welcome to Anime News Network's Spring 2022 Manga Guide! You may have seen one of our seasonal Anime Preview Guides, where a team of critics writes up...
The Spring 2022 Manga Guide
We're updating daily with a new batch of manga just for you! Today check out the Wind Breaker, a brawler manga looking to change up the formula! Plus: Yagi the Bookshop Goat, Cross-Dressing Villainess Cecilia Sylvie, My Brain is Different, The Fable, and The Abandoned Reincarnation Sage!
― Banner art by catfish Welcome to Anime News Network's Spring 2022 Manga Guide! You may have seen one of our sea...
The Spring 2022 Manga Guide
We're updating daily with a new batch of manga just for you! Today check out the Given creator's latest, Links! Plus: Blackguard, Banished From The Hero's Party, Hen Kai Pan, A Galaxy Next Door, and High School Family: Kokosei Kazoku!
― Banner art by catfish Welcome to Anime News Network's Spring 2022 Manga Guide! You may have seen one of our seasonal Anime Preview Guides, where a team of critics wr...
Manga's Growth In Popularity Is Here To Stay, Industry Leaders Predict
The momentum behind the likes of Jujutsu Kaisen, Chainsaw Man, and Demon Slayer continues to outpace domestic comics.
― It has been over two years since My Hero Academia landed a spot as the first manga to crack the top three in the New York Time's best-selling graphic books list. Since then, manga has continued holding its place among the top of the list – with My Hero Academia, Jujutsu Kaisen, and ...
Interview: Unico: Awakening Writer Samuel Sattin
A collaborative effort between acclaimed writer Samuel Sattin discusses his and Eisner Award-winning artist team Gurihiru's revival of the Tezuka classic.
― The Unico: Awakening manga is a collaborative effort between the Eisner Award-winning artist team Gurihiru and acclaimed writer Samuel Sattin to reboot Osamu Tezuka's Unico for a new generation of readers. With the launch of Unico: Awakening's Ki...
The Anime Staff and Creator of Requiem of the Rose King
We spoke with manga creator Aya Kanno, director Kentarō Suzuki, and series writer Hiroki Uchida to learn more about the series' unique setting, Shakespearean influences, and how it was adapted to screen.
― Inspired by Shakespeare plays, Requiem of the Rose King tells an intriguing story about the tortured life of Richard III. In Aya Kanno's inventive telling, Richard struggles with his love and gende...
Here Are All The Designer Chairs Featured In Spy×Family So Far
Get ready to earn a minor degree in interior design as Kim Morrissy gives you the history behind the iconic chairs featured on the Spy x Family manga covers.
― Every SPY×FAMILY manga volume cover so far features a different character sitting on a designer chair, each telling its own story. It's a neat way of learning not just about the characters, but also the history of the mid-20th century art and ...
Sasaki and Miyano Manga Creator and Director On Crafting the Ideal “Boy's Life” Series
ANN spoke to manga creator Shō Harusono and anime director Shinji Ishihara on how they crafted this sweet and mellow series.
― Sasaki and Miyano is a “boy's life” series about two high school boys falling in love within their everyday lives. The series has earned high praise since its web manga serialization days, and now it has become an anime. ANN spoke to manga creator Shō Harusono and anime direc...
How The Staff of Love of Kill Brought the Action Romcom Manga to Life
ANN spoke to original creator Fe, director Hideaki Oba, series composition writer Ayumu Hisao, and character designer Yoko Sato about how they turned the manga into a thrilling anime.
― Love of Kill first began as a Pixiv manga with the premise of “two assassins find love together.” ANN spoke to original creator Fe about how the story evolved in its transition to a print serialization. We also spoke ...
What Happened to Sol Press?
The light novel, manga, and visual novel publisher's releases were pulled amid the company founder's disappearance, leaving team members unpaid.
― Sol Press was a North American localization company that specialized in manga, light novels, and visual novels. Founded in 2017, it had a lot of promise for a small publisher, licensing beloved niche titles like Chivalry of a Failed Knight, Blend S, and Is...
The Staff of Orient
Orient is a bold new anime that tells the story of the warriors fighting against demon invaders. ANN spoke to manga creator Shinobu Ohtaka, director Tetsuya Yanagisawa, and series composition writer Mariko Kunisawa about the making of the series.
― Orient is a bold new anime based on Magi creator Shinobu Ohtaka's manga. It tells the story of the warriors, who are the only people to fight the demon in...
East Loves West: Harlequin-Style Romance Manga
Even before a certain author made the astute observation that a young man in possession of a fortune must be in want of a wife, romance has been among the top-selling genres of fiction and manga is no exception.
― Even before a certain author made the astute observation that a young man in possession of a fortune must be in want of a wife, romance has been among the top-selling genres of fiction. And...
Frieren: Beyond Journey's End is the Best Manga I Have Ever Read
I've been reading Frieren weekly in Japanese for over a year now—and it's stunning how often I find myself on the edge of tears while reading it.
― I say this without sarcasm or hyperbole as a person who has been reading manga obsessively for more than 20 years now: Frieren: Beyond Journey's End is the best manga I have ever read. I can't even think of a single other one that even comes close. I've ...
Rose White, Rose Red: The Real History of Requiem of the Rose King
Manga pioneer Moto Hagio once said that Aya Kanno's story is more interesting than Shakespeare's own interpretation of the historical tale, but what is the truth behind the much maligned Richard the III?
― These days, Shakespeare's history plays are not as well-known as his tragedies or comedies, and despite what First Folio title pages may say, any play with the name of an English monarch is firmly ...
Interview: Captain Tsubasa Creator Yoichi Takahashi and Captain Tsubasa: Dream Team Producer Ooki
Captain Tsubasa: Dream Team received a brand new story installment titled NEXT DREAM that is penned by none other than Captain Tsubasa's creator Yōichi Takahashi himself.
― Back in September, the football simulation game Captain Tsubasa: Dream Team received a brand new story installment titled NEXT DREAM that is penned by none other than Captain Tsubasa's creator Yoichi Takahashi himself. Anime News ...
ANN's Most Read News and Interest Articles of 2021
The most read stories on ANN, from VTubers to Mushoku Tensei controversy.
― 2021 was a strange year as we all continue to navigate the changing landscape of the pandemic. Cons were back, albeit briefly, before the Omicron surge changed expectations once again. In the anime world, not all the surprises were negative. Somehow, against all odds, a deal was brokered to get Macross into the western world ...
Interview: The Night Beyond the Tricornered Window Manga Creator Tomoko Yamashita
ANN spoke to the manga creator Tomoko Yamashita about her approach to creating manga, her feelings on The Night Beyond the Tricornered Window as a BL story, and her intentions behind the seemingly dysfunctional romance.
― The Night Beyond the Tricornered Window is a supernatural BL manga which recently inspired a television anime. The series stands out because of how it combines elements of mystery, ...
How Self-Proclaimed “Scaredy-Cats” Created MIERUKO-CHAN
Manga artist Tomoki Izumi and anime director Yuki Ogawa both describe themselves as “scaredy-cats.” ANN asked the two about their work crafting this unique series.
― The MIERUKO-CHAN anime and manga series offers a unique blend of horror and comedy. Ironically, however, manga artist Tomoki Izumi and anime director Yuki Ogawa both describe themselves as “scaredy-cats.” ANN asked the two about their wo...
The Winter 2021 Manga Guide
The final manga guide update is full of classics you won't want to miss! Check out the reviews for Lupin the 3rd, Kamen Rider, and more!
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Winter 2021 Manga Guide! You may have seen one of our seasonal Anime Preview Guides, where a team of critics writes up each new anime television premiere as it airs at the beginning of a season. Now, doing something like that for m...
The Winter 2021 Manga Guide
Today's big updates in the guide include a new collection of stories from manga legends Akira Toriyama and Junji Ito!
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Winter 2021 Manga Guide! You may have seen one of our seasonal Anime Preview Guides, where a team of critics writes up each new anime television premiere as it airs at the beginning of a season. Now, doing something like that for manga is tricky - th...
The Winter 2021 Manga Guide
More reviewers and more manga are her for the guide's big return for winter! We'll have new books every week. Today: The Eminence in Shadow, Young Ladies Don't Play Fighting Games, Reborn as a Barrier Master, and more!
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Winter 2021 Manga Guide! You may have seen one of our seasonal Anime Preview Guides, where a team of critics writes up each new anime television prem...
The Winter 2021 Manga Guide
More reviewers and more manga are her for the guide's big return for winter! We'll have new books every week. Today: Is It Wrong to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? II, Madoka Magica: Wraith Arc, Cheeky Brat, and more!
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Winter 2021 Manga Guide! You may have seen one of our seasonal Anime Preview Guides, where a team of critics writes up each new anime television premiere ...
Interview: Ranking of Kings Manga Creator Sōsuke Tōka
ANN spoke to the Ranking of Kings manga's original creator Sōsuke Tōka about the story's inspirations and the artist's own unconventional path to success.
― The uplifting story of Ranking of Kings, which recently received an anime adaptation, has been a delight to fans across the world. ANN spoke to the manga's original creator Sōsuke Tōka about the story's inspirations and the artist's own unconvent...
ANN Holiday Gift Guide 2021
Trying to find the perfect gift for the otaku in your life? Why not check out Anime News Network's curated list of anime, manga, video games, and collectibles? Everything from the most popular series to classics is right here!
― Sponsored: Above you'll find suggestions for all the best gifts you can give for this holiday season. But what if you want to add some special anime flair to your other fine...
Sword Art Online: A Series of Retcons
Right from the very start, Sword Art Online was a work of compromise. Its constant self-revisions are the source of its biggest storytelling flaws, but also its most interesting qualities.
― Right from the very start, Sword Art Online was a work of compromise. When Reki Kawahara first began writing the novel 20 years ago in the hopes of submitting it to the Dengeki Novel Prize, he struggled to make h...
Hana-chan and the Shape of the World Manga Creator Ryotaro Ueda
In his first ever interview, manga creator Ryotaro Ueda goes into detail about the thin veil between the living and the dead, and the in-between world as Hana-chan experiences it.
― ©Ryotaro Ueda 2019 / KADOKAWA CORPORATION In his first ever interview, manga creator Ryotaro Ueda discusses his premiere manga Hana-chan and the Shape of the World. The unique volume follows the imaginative Hana-chan, a ...
Kageki Shojo!! Manga Creator Kumiko Saiki and Anime Director Kazuhiro Yoneda
Manga creator Kumiko Saiki and anime director Kazuhiro Yoneda share the inspirations behind Kageki Shojo!! from the Takarazuka Revue to the classic series The Rose of Versailles.
― The story of Kageki Shojo!! tells the story of aspiring opera actresses attending a school dedicated to refining their talents. It is strongly inspired by the Takarazuka Revue, the famous all-female theater group. ANN spok...
Star Wars' Place in Anime and Manga
It's fair to say that Star Wars would not look or feel the way it does without its roots in Japanese cinema, but do those roots extend to anime?
― Star Wars: Visions just graced the screens of millions of Disney+ owners everywhere. As anime continues to gain more mainstream momentum, it only makes sense to bring the medium's vast degrees of styles and creativity to that galaxy far, far away. I can't ...
The Never-Ending Manga: At What Point Should a Series End?
As series go on, and there's increasing pressure to surprise and excite audiences, it can be incredibly difficult to meet such high expectations. When is the right time to close out a series?
― In May 2020, the manga series Golgo 13 announced that it would be taking its first break since it first began publishing fifty-one years ago due to the ongoing pandemic. A manga running for quite literally ov...
The Drops of God: Towards a Classier Foodgasm
Hot off the announcement of an upcoming multilingual live-action series, Rebecca looks at the manga that caused a sommelier sensation.
― We all know that manga, like any other entertainment medium, can cover a vast number of topics. Foodie manga isn't even all that new or unusual; Food Wars: Shokugeki no Soma may be the title most people currently know, but the genre is largely thought to have had it...
How Does Piracy Affect Korean Webtoon Artists?
A common argument in favor of piracy is that unofficial distribution gives artists free exposure. However, the artists themselves don't see it that way.
― “Piracy is a service problem,” said Gabe Newell 10 years ago, describing the success of Steam in combating video game piracy. Today, digital publishers and distributors are adapting to the conveniences of piracy by providing a wide range of media a...
Beyond The School Cathedral: How Yuri Grew Up
From sequestered school girl dalliances to career women in the office, lesbian love stories are growing up and expanding into new narrative territory.
― Up until five or so years ago, if you wanted to check out some yuri anime or manga (media about romantic and sexual relationships between women) you had only a few options. You would get one of a small number of titles that would almost inevitably fe...
Do We Still Need Shōnen/Shōjo Labels?
Writer Dennis Banda looks at loanword labels and their usage for translated manga. Are they still useful or are they a barrier for entry?
― I was having a casual chat with one of my coworkers about my hobbies the other week and of course, anime came up. I mentioned my favorite series and films and even recommended a few that might interest them. However, our conversation hit a bit of a roadblock when...
Looking Back on the Twisting Plot of Pandora Hearts
The series had a way of vacillating between goofy comedy and dark fantasy; it should have been jarring in any other context, but in the case of Pandora Hearts it just somehow worked.
― Watching The Case Study of Vanitas, it's not hard for anyone familiar with Jun Mochizuki's work to be reminded of Pandora Hearts. Both manga series are defined by their Victorian Era aesthetics, their beautiful charact...
The Spring 2021 Manga Guide
The Manga Guide comes to the close with its final round of updates with new volumes from June! Now: Ya Boy Kongming!, Undead Girl Murder Farce, Kirby Manga Mania, I Swear I Won't Bother You Again!, Yakuza Lover, Fist of the North Star, Bofuri, Ride Your Wave, and more!
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Spring 2021 Manga Guide! You may have seen one of our seasonal Anime Preview Guides, where a team ...
Uzumaki Feeds Off the Claustrophobia of a Small Town
Following the release of a new teaser for Adult Swim and Hiroshi Nagahama's Uzumaki anime series, Adeline Panamaroff looks back at Junji Ito's acclaimed manga and how the haunting spiral encircles the inhabitants of a small town.
― Following the release of a new teaser for Adult Swim and Hiroshi Nagahama's Uzumaki anime series, Adeline Panamaroff looks back at Junji Ito's acclaimed manga and how the ...
The Spring 2021 Manga Guide
The Manga Guide updates with new volumes from May! Now: It's a man like none other, Kenshiro in Fist of the North Star! Also: Sex Education 120%, I'm the Hero, But the Demon Lord's Also Me, Ride Your Wave, Bofuri, Thigh High: Reiwa Hanamaru Academy, Dick Fight Island, Boys Run the Riot, and more!
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Spring 2021 Manga Guide! You may have seen one of our seasonal Anime P...
The Spring 2021 Manga Guide
The Manga Guide updates with new volumes from May! Now: Its beefy men and their lovely cats in Hard-boiled Stories from the Cat Bar! Also: Bite Maker: The King's Omega, With the Sheikh in His Harem, Hazure Skill, Thigh High: Reiwa Hanamaru Academy, Dungeon Toilet, Undead Unluck, Boys Run Riot, Dick Fight Island, The Not-So-Lonely Planet Travel Guide, Himitsu Sentai Gorenger, Stitch and the Samurai, I Was a Bottom-Tier Bureaucrat for 1,500 Years, Call of the Night, Your Turn to Die, A School Frozen in Time, and more!
The Spring 2021 Manga Guide
The Manga Guide updates with new volumes from May! Now: Undead Unluck, Boys Run Riot, Dick Fight Island, The Not-So-Lonely Planet Travel Guide, Himitsu Sentai Gorenger, Stitch and the Samurai, I Was a Bottom-Tier Bureaucrat for 1,500 Years, Call of the Night, Your Turn to Die, A School Frozen in Time, and more!
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Spring 2021 Manga Guide! You may have seen one of our s...
The Spring 2021 Manga Guide
Over 30 new manga and light novels with two weeks of daily updates! Check back each day and find your brand-new favorite! Now: The Not-So-Lonely Planet Travel Guide, Himitsu Sentai Gorenger, Stitch and the Samurai, I Was a Bottom-Tier Bureaucrat for 1,500 Years, The Honey-Blood Beauty & Her Vampire, Please Put Them On, Takamine-san!, Hana-chan and the Shape of the World, Call of the Night, Your Turn to Die, and A School Frozen in Time!
French Artist Jérôme Alquié and Captain Harlock - Memories of the Arcadia
Jérôme Alquié has a uniquely enviable position. The story is Alquié's very own series starring iconic Captain Harlock, and it comes with all the approvals of the manga's originator.
― Jérôme Alquié has a uniquely enviable position. The comic artist has the distinct honor of getting to work alongside one of Japan's most eminent creators, Leiji Matsumoto. In 2019, with assistance from French publisher ...
The Art of Pain: My Lesbian Experience with Loneliness Creator Kabi Nagata
In her first North American appearance at the virtual Toronto Comic Arts Festival, Harvey award-winning comic creator Kabi Nagata shared intimate anecdotes about her experience writing and drawing her famous series.
― Harvey Award-winning manga author Kabi Nagata made her first on-screen North American appearance at the virtual Toronto Comic Arts Festival. Her works include My Lesbian Experience with...
Imitations, Fakes and Piracy in Manga and Anime
LUDiMUS COO Takumi Furusato details the history of piracy in Japan from the 1950s on and how the government continues to combat leaks, fakes, and knock-offs.
― 150 million copies; 39.6 billion yen (US$364.67 million) of box office sales; 28.7 million viewers. The numbers above are all related to Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. Since the manga debuted on Weekly Shonen Jump in February 2016, this dark ...
Tohru is Tohru: the Onigiri Who Finds her Place
Tohru's story is still often framed by readers of all genders as being more about the Soma family members she helps, who are overwhelmingly male.
― I cannot count the number of conversations I've had about Fruits Basket over the years since it first came out. I've discussed it with students, with random people at bookstores and libraries, in attempts to explain it to my parents. Sooner or later, with...
Interview: Chainsaw Man Creator Tatsuki Fujimoto
Tatsuki Fujimoto's Chainsaw Man shocked and delighted audiences around the world. With the conclusion of the manga's first part, we interviewed Fujimoto about the manga's creation and got his thoughts on the upcoming anime.
― Tatsuki Fujimoto's Chainsaw Man shocked and delighted audiences with its stylish aesthetic and storytelling. With the conclusion of the manga's first part, we interviewed Fujimo...
Uncovering Tephlon Funk With Creator Stéphane Metayer and Samurai Champloo's Fat Jon
Dive into a story of music and hope set against the backdrop of New York's boroughs. Tephlon Funk has a whole world to discover and a dope soundtrack, too.
― Tephlon Funk, a comic written by Stéphane Metayer and illustrated by David Tako, is both a fusion of anime and hip-hop influences and a giant love letter to the five boroughs of New York City. Set in Queensbridge during the mid-90s, the story ce...
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