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Yoko Kawanami, the Japanese voice actor behind two popular Dragon Ball roles and more, has died at age 67. Her talent agency, Aoni Production, revealed that she passed away on March 18, 2025, due to peritoneal metastasis.

Via Oricon, Kawanami was undergoing medical treatment for peritoneal metastasis (peritoneal cancer), a condition where cancer spreads to the peritoneum from other organs. Although she passed away on March 18, her death wasn’t announced to the public until March 27, 2025. Out of respect for Kawanami and her family, a private wake and funeral attended by those closest to her was already held.

Aoni Production released a statement regarding Kawanami's passing, which reads, "Yoko Kawanami (67 years old), an employee of our company, had been undergoing medical treatment for some time and passed away on March 18, 2025, after being treated for peritoneal metastasis for which no medication was effective. We want to express our deepest gratitude for the kindness shown...

Toei Animation's Dragon Ball Z anime series and Crocs have teamed up for an epic fusion. The collaboration will see the release of a new pair of clogs, inspired by the hit show's main character, Goku.

This week, Hypebeast reported that Crocs will partner with Dragon Ball Z on new Goku-inspired clogs with Jibbitz referencing the popular anime. The clogs come in an orange-blue colorway, are reportedly priced at $70 and will be released sometime in 2025. The strap takes inspiration from Goku's belt, while the orange body references his iconic gi. Jibbitz include the kanji symbol on Goku's gi, a Flying Nimbus cloud, Dragon Balls and the immortal dragon Shenron. Readers can check out the first look at the new Crocs below.

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Whether they're experienced or newcomers, anime fans recognize that anime can tell beautifully resonant stories about an infinite number of topics. It's easily possible to find dozens of anime about sociopolitical or even philosophical issues for those who are looking for them. That said, not every anime is about having a strong storyline. Some anime series prioritize fighting above all else.

That's not to say anime that's heavily combat-focused can't also tell great stories, as many shonen series like One Piece and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood have proven over the years. Yet some series prioritize fighting far more than story, often with mixed results. Some series understand their fans are looking specifically for great fights rather than interesting narratives. Other series might have tried to tell a good story, only for fans to discover they have little going for them other than their decent fight scenes.

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Heroes cant just hog the spotlight all the time: the best anime also give villains their own time to shine! Many of the best episodes of anime are villain-focused, telling a story devoted to one or more villains with nary a protagonist to be seen. Even more fun are the occasions when an episode focuses on not just one villain, but an entire team of them, allowing fans to get a much better sense of the villains' dynamic and relationships to each other. Though it's not always done, well, when it is, the result can leave viewers with a lot more sympathy for the antagonists.

The tones of these episodes can be extremely broad. Some of them can be funny, showing a formerly intimidating villain kicking back and having fun in their free time. Others flesh out the characters under the spotlight in the heaviest way possible, perhaps showing a...

Check out Cbr's official Dragon Ball Rewatch Podcast, now streaming on YouTube and Spotify!

The original Pre-z Dragon Ball places its focus on comedy and adventure over action-packed battles to save the world, but that doesn't mean it isn't filled with memorable villains. Goku's early adventures most commonly involved hunts to find the Dragon Balls and martial arts tournaments, with enemies getting in his way and rivals serving as his competition, but he also saved the world from the greatest threats it had ever faced.

Many Pre-z Dragon Ball villains end up on the Dragon Team, most notably Yamcha, Tien, Chiaotzu, and one of the main characters of the franchise, Piccolo. Not every villain in the series is a powerful menace or a future ally, though, as some lean entirely into the comedic nature of the story. Before Vegeta, Frieza, Cell, and Buu in Dragon Ball Z, these were Goku's greatest enemies.