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Voice actor Mamoru Miyano digitally released his new song "Jump Shite Mite" (literally means "Try Jumping") on August 8, and also posted the song's music video on his official YouTube channel . The funk song is a pre-release track from his upcoming eighth full album to be available on November 19. Two more songs from the album will release digitally in September and October. The video is a short drama based on the lyrics, featuring comedian Antony as a delinquent student who threatens Miyano, and Miyano also shows off a stylish performance at a disco. Mamoru Miyano "Jump Shite Mite" Music Video "Jump Shite Mite" digital jacket Mamoru Miyano artist photo Related: Voice Actor Mamoru Miyano to Release 8th Album in November His next concert tour, which will begin in November of this year, is titled “Mamoru Miyano Asia Live Tour 2025-2026 ~Vacationing!~” and, in addition to the three domestic venues already announced,...

The Cowboy Bebop director has finally spoken about Lazarus, its behind-the-scenes, and the challenges it faced during production. Despite the buzz and hype surrounding its release, Shinichiro Watanabe‘s Lazarus failed to live up to fans’ expectations this year. During an interview with Amazon Japan, Watanabe delved into the making of Lazarus, citing budget issues as one of the biggest challenges.

The director might be content with the show, but the fan reception was the exact opposite. And budgeting wasn’t among the reasons fans stated for their dissatisfaction.

Shinichiro Watanabe Explains the Challenges Faced by Lazarus

Lazarus was among the most anticipated anime of 2025. It marked the comeback of the director after Carole & Tuesday in 2019. Moreover, the premise and promotional material of the show looked promising. If all of that wasn’t enough, the association of big-scale experts like Chad Stahelski (John Wick action director) and Mamoru Miyano (Light...

An alien incursion, lots of explosions and the awakening of Tae Yamada are just some of the eye-popping moments teased in the latest trailer and visual released today for the upcoming Zombie Land Saga: Yumeginga Paradise anime film from studio Mappa, ahead of an October 24, 2025 theatrical release in Japan. A new song by Franchouchou, titled "Matataku Sora ni Akogarete," is also previewed. Zombie Land Saga: Yumeginga Paradise Main Trailer Zombie Land Saga: Yumeginga Paradise Main Visual Related: Zombie Land Saga Anime Film Premieres on October 24 The first season of Zombie Land Saga , which debuted in October 2018, was directed by Munehisa Sakai ( Dance Dance Danseur ) at studio Mappa, with series composition by Shigeru Murakoshi ( Kakegurui Twin ), character designs by Kasumi Fukagawa ( IDOLiSH7 ) and music by Yasuharu Takanashi ( Tsukimichi -Moonlit Fantasy- ). A second season subtitled "Revenge" followed in April 2021. Core cast members include Kaede Hondo, Asami Tano, Risa Taneda, Maki Kawase, Kotono Mitsuishi,...

We're not even in the summer anime season yet, but it's already safe to say that this is a great year for anime. In fact, it's so good that some of its creators are going for gold with a title that was incredibly well-received by critics. This week, it was announced that Adult Swim is submitting its anime series Lazarus — created by Cowboy Bebop director Shinichiro Watanabe — for two categories for the next Emmys. If selected, the show will compete with other nominees for the Outstanding Animated Program and the Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music categories.

Even though it got a bit of a divisive reception when it premiered back in April, Lazarus has become a favorite of critics. The debut season of the anime scored a comfortable 91% score on Rotten Tomatoes, which, according to critics, makes it one of the year's must-watch titles. Fans were not quite as taken with it,...

As artificial intelligence continues to reshape creative industries, voice actors in anime are beginning to voice concern over the tech’s rapid evolution. While some worry about AI mimicking iconic performances or undercutting professional labor, veteran Japanese voice actor Mamoru Miyano is unshaken. Known for playing characters like Doma in Demon Slayer and Chrollo in Hunter x Hunter, Miyano has spoken up on the topic, confidently asserting that AI, no matter how advanced, simply cannot replace what real performers bring to the table.

Miyano’s take, reported via Yahoo Japan and Cbr, does not come from fear but from conviction. Reflecting on the growing use of unauthorized AI-generated voices, he remarked that while fans may experiment with the tech, true voice acting is irreplaceable. “Go ahead and do it,” he said. “Even if it's used a little, it’s fine.” It was not defiance, it was assurance. Miyano believes that...

Official Hunter x Huntervoice actor Mamoru Miyano -- also known for his roles such as Doma in Demon Slayer and Axel in the currently airing Lazarus -- has assured fans that generative artificial intelligence will never replace him.

Per Yahoo News Japan, Miyano opened up about his take on generative AI in the industry and arts, particularly with regard to the use of "unauthorized" voices simulated or recreated by generative AI. "A lot of people are raising their voices," Miyano said. "I don't think [generative AI] can do it after all." When the subject of amateurs recording voice work for and/or of themselves, Miyano stated, "Go ahead and do it... Even if it's used a little, it's fine."

Miyano's credits include dozens upon dozens of appearances in various anime series, feature films, specials and video games. Among Miyano's best known works are his roles in the likes of Wolf's Rain, Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood and,...

Not one or two, To Be Hero X has ten protagonists, which is both bizarre and fascinating. How can a story have ten main characters? Moreover, most of these characters are played by renowned voice actors, including the likes of Natsuki Hanae, who has previously played Tanjiro Kamado from Demon Slayer, and Mamoru Miyano, who has played Light from Death Note.

Trying to figure out how ten main characters co-exist within one season must have been challenging. At the same time, this narrative decision impacted more than the story. Getting all these experts on board is a daunting task in itself. The makers of the show discussed this during an interview, and here’s what they had to say.

The challenges faced by To Be Hero X makers due to its protagonists Hero X snaps to use his ability in To Be Hero X | Credits: Bilibili and Studio BeDream

To Be Hero X...

Who doesn’t know Mamoru Miyano, the voice actor for Light from Death Note? The man has entertained audiences around the world with his amazing performances, and has been working in the industry for 30 long years. On June 8, 2025, however, when everyone least expected it, the anime community was met with bittersweet news. Mamoru Miyano, the renowned voice actor, announced his departure from his agency, the Himawari Theatre Group.

This announcement coincided with the 42nd birthday of the Death Note voice actor, and as mentioned earlier, marked the end of a remarkable 30-year journey with the agency. The Himawari Theatre Group shaped his entire career, and his exit, following the expiration of his contract, has saddened everyone. What’s next for Miyano? Will he continue to contribute to the anime industry, or will he perhaps find new entertainment avenues?

Mamoru Miyano and his career with the Himawari Theatre Group Mamoru Miyano...

The official website for voice actor Mamoru Miyano has announced that his yet-titled eighth full album is set to release on November 19, 2025. Miyano started his solo singer activities in 2007, releasing 26 singles to date. It will have been three years since the release of his previous seventh album "The Entertainment" in November 2022. The site writes: "Following his previous album 'The Entertanment,' a new entertainment by Mamoru Miyano will be spun." Additionally, the schedule for his 2025 arena concert tour was also announced as below: November 22 (Sat): Xebio Arena Sendai, Miyagi November 23 (Sun) : Xebio Arena Sendai, Miyagi November 29 (Sat) : Kobe World Memorial Hall, Hyogo November 30 (Sun): Kobe World Hall, Hyogo December 13 (Sat): Yokohama Arena, Kanagawa December 14 (Sun): Yokohama Arena, Kanagawa Mamoru Miyano artist photo His official YouTube channel is now streaming a digest video of the DVD and Blu-ray of his latest concert tour "Mamoru Miyano Live Tour 2024-2025 〜Dressing!

Short form giant monster comedy anime Chibi Godzilla Raids Again (known in Japan as Chibi Godzilla no Gyakushu ) announced today that the series will kick off a third season beginning on July 2. The new season of the series broadcasts in Japan on the TV Tokyo Network as part of the “Oha! Star” TV program, and it also streams on YouTube via the Godzilla Official by Toho channel . Chibi Godzilla Raids Again Season 3 Trailer In Chibi Godzilla Raids Again Season 3, voice actor Katsuyuki Konishi joins the cast as Chibi JJ . Wednesday Campanella performs the new theme song, which is entitled “Kaijutou” (“Monster Island”). The main voice cast also returns to reprise their roles, including: Chibi Godzilla voiced by Jun Fukuyama Chibi Mechagodzilla voiced by Yoshitsugu Matsuoka Chibi Ghidorah voiced by Takuya Eguchi Chibi Mothra voiced by Rie Takahashi Chibi Rodan voiced by Hiro Shimono Chibi Anguirus voiced by ??? Chibi Hedorah voiced...

If you are not a Max subscriber but are immensely curious to check out the new anime from Cowboy Bebop director Shinichirō Watanabe, this is a good day for you. Adult Swim decided to make the first episode of Lazarus available for free on YouTube — and you can also watch it in this article. The story takes place in a not-too-distant future and centers around a utopian society in which all diseases have been cured.

The twist to Lazarus is — and don't worry, this is not a spoiler — that the drug that helped humanity overcome all diseases was manufactured by a doctor called Skinner (voiced by Koichi Yamadera in the original Japanese and by David Matranga in the English dub), a mad scientist that resurfaces years later and announces that everyone who took Hapna will die if he isn't located to provide a cure. This is where the story starts:...

Kafka Asagiri created history with his masterpiece manga Bungo Stray Dogs. Be it the art style, storyline, pacing, or complex characters, Asagiri’s series excels in all aspects. Interestingly, though, many might not know that the mangaka’s impact went beyond crafting the story on the pages.

If anything, it was Kafka Asagiri’s understanding that not only helped build the Bungo Stray Dogs anime series, but also made it possible for it to become one of Studio Bones’ best works in history. Hence, the fandom will forever be indebted to the mangaka for that.

Kafka Asagiri’s understanding helped Studio Bones elevate Bungo Stray Dogs anime into a masterpiece

There is a major reason why many of the most anticipated anime series in recent years have suffered great disappointments. That is just how the makers tried to translate the source material into the anime adaptation without understanding the necessary difference between the mediums.

A brand-new teaser visual and video released today for the upcoming Zombie Land Saga anime film, which is subtitled Yumeginga Paradise and produced by studio Mappa, officially announced an October 24, 2025 theatrical release in Japan and teased an out-of-this-world story. Advance tickets go on sale on May 2. Zombie Land Saga: Yumeginga Paradise Trailer Zombie Land Saga: Yumeginga Paradise Teaser Visual Related: Zombie Land Saga Anime Film Kicks Off in 2025 The first season of Zombie Land Saga , which debuted in October 2018, was directed by Munehisa Sakai ( Dance Dance Danseur ) at studio Mappa, with series composition by Shigeru Murakoshi ( Kakegurui Twin ), character designs by Kasumi Fukagawa ( IDOLiSH7 ) and music by Yasuharu Takanashi ( Tsukimichi -Moonlit Fantasy- ). A second season subtitled "Revenge" followed in April 2021. Core cast members include Kaede Hondo, Asami Tano, Risa Taneda, Maki Kawase, Kotono Mitsuishi, Rika Kinugawa, Minami Tanaka and Mamoru Miyano. Crunchyroll streams both seasons and describes the story: A typical morning.

Lazarus will premiere on April 6, 2025, and if you didn’t already know it, it’s directed by Shinichiro Watanabe, the legend behind Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo. His works have become famous even outside the realm of the anime community, inspiring many Hollywood filmmakers, too.

Most anime series will not have a big budget like most Hollywood films, but Lazarus secured Chad Stahelski’s unwavering support. The John Wick director is set to design the action sequences for the series, but Watanabe was initially worried about the cost of the collaboration.

Axel Gilberto from Lazarus. [Credit: Mappa]

So not only will it be reminiscent of Cowboy Bebop, but also have the thrilling action of John Wick. Stahelski will shoot live-action fight sequences for Watanabe’s team of animators to reference. From the trailers, the action in Lazarus already looks smooth and riveting.

The upcoming series sounds like it’s guaranteed to be a success.

Today, Nintendo announced via their new Nintendo Today! app that the live-action The Legend of Zelda film will be released in theaters on March 26, 2027.

The Legend of Zelda film will be produced by Shigeru Miyamoto, Representative Director and Fellow of Nintendo, and Avi Arad, Chairman of Arad Productions Inc.

The movie will be produced by Nintendo and Arad Productions Inc. and directed by Wes Ball. Ball’s credits include The Maze Runner film trilogy and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.

The Legend of Zelda movie will be co-financed by Nintendo and Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc., with more than 50% financed by Nintendo. Sony Pictures Entertainment will distribute the film to theaters.

“By producing visual contents of Nintendo IP by itself, Nintendo is creating new opportunities to have people from around the world to access the world of entertainment which Nintendo has built, through different means apart from its dedicated game consoles,...

There is no doubt that Shinichiro Watanebe’s upcoming Lazarus anime is one of the most anticipated Spring 2025 debuts, possibly the biggest one among the list (excluding returning shows). It’s been a while since Watanabe made an anime after scoring hits with Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo, and with his track record, the fans are excited.

And while the production suffered a large hiatus, we now know that the anime is premiering on April 6, 2025 and to hype us up even more, the opening video for the anime has just been released.

Related: Shinichiro Watanabe’s ‘Lazarus’ Anime Adds 14 Cast Members

Before we continue, here is the Op video:

Kamasi Washington is performing the opening theme, “Vortex,” whose instrumental and ambient-focused nature reminds us of Watanabe’s previous work. On top of that, the series’ style is very similar to Cowboy Bebop, which is something the fans will appreciate.

The...

Next month, Adult Swim will begin airing Cowboy Bebop creator Shinichiro Watanabe's brand-new anime, Lazarus. Recently, the network unveiled a special sneak peek from the series, giving fans an action-packed introduction to Lazarus' lead character, Axel.

Lazarus' newly-released preview is featured on Adult Swim Europe's official YouTube Channel. The sequence showcases Axel's unique acrobatic skills, which he uses to deftly evade several armed prison guards. The clip also previews the show's English dub, which stars Jack Stansbury (Axel), Bryson Baugus (Leland), Jovan Jackson (Doug), Luci Christian (Christine) and David Matranga (Dr. Skinner). In North America, Lazarus is slated to premiere on Adult Swim's popular Toonami programming block on April 5 at 12 a.m.

Lazarus Is Set to Be Cowboy Bebop Creator's Next Sci-Fi Action Hit Anime

Lazarus is Watanabe's first original anime work since Carole & Tuesday (2019) -- an adolescent drama about two young girls who share a passion for music.

With less than two weeks remaining until the premiere of Lazarus, Adult Swim decided to tease anime fans with a sneak peek of the series. The show chronicles the everyday lives of five agents who form a special task force to find a scientist who basically doomed the entire humanity with a secret project. Each of them needs to be the best at something, and protagonist Axel's (voiced by Mamoru Miyano in Japanese and Jack Stansbury in the English dub) ability seems to be... breaking out of prisons. The anime is slated to debut on Adult Swim on April 6.

In the sneak peek, we can see that Axel makes it seem like escaping prison is no hard task at all. He moves swiftly between guards, has a clear picture of where he should go to escape and avoid them and seems like he will be out of there by the time the scene is over.

Ahead of an April 6 broadcast and upcoming simulcast on Crunchyroll , the official accounts for To Be Hero X today released a brand-new main trailer that gives us our first listen of the superhero series' ending song, "Kontinuum" by SennaRin ( Protocol: Rain opening theme). The opening song sequence featuring "Inertia" by SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]:Rei was previously shared . To Be Hero X Main Trailer The main cast of To Be Hero X includes: Nice voiced by Natsuki Hanae E-Soul voiced by Nobunaga Shimazaki Ahu voiced by Koichi Yamadera Lucky Cyan voiced by Inori MInase Loli voiced by Ayane Sakura Little Johnny voiced by Yoshitsugu Matsuoka Ghostblade voiced by Yuichi Nakamura Dragon Boy voiced by Koki Uchiyama Queen voiced by Kana Hanazawa X voiced by Mamoru Miyano Related: To Be Hero X Anime Releases X Character Story Video To Be Hero X features animation produced by BeDream and direction by Li Haolin ( Link...

Heroes never go out of fashion, and gorgeous ones with beautiful white hair even more so. This is exactly why the upcoming release of To Be Hero X anime is so highly anticipated. For those unfamiliar with this upcoming anime, it’s important to know that the star cast is packed with renowned voice actors and the animation looks stunning and stylish.

To Be Hero X anime | Credits: Crunchyroll Official YouTube channel

However, the most important part is that the release date of the anime has been officially confirmed along with other important information. From the plot to the full cast, all cards are on the table with the release date just around the corner. So, here’s everything you need to know to catch the first episode as soon as it drops!

To Be Hero X release date, plot, and more

To Be Hero X anime is scheduled to...

Ahead of an April 6 broadcast and subsequent simulcast on Crunchyroll , the official accounts for To Be Hero X today released a "character story video" for first-ranked hero X. The video previews his episode theme song, "New Type of Hero", which is composed by Griff Clawson and performed by Chatterbox. To Be Hero X X Character Story Video The main cast of To Be Hero X is as follows: Nice voiced by Natsuki Hanae E-Soul voiced by Nobunaga Shimazaki Ahu voiced by Koichi Yamadera Lucky Cyan voiced by Inori MInase Loli voiced by Ayane Sakura Little Johnny voiced by Yoshitsugu Matsuoka Ghostblade voiced by Yuichi Nakamura Dragon Boy voiced by Koki Uchiyama Queen voiced by Kana Hanazawa X voiced by Mamoru Miyano Related: To Be Hero X Anime Releases Queen Character Story Video To Be Hero X features animation produced by BeDream and direction by Li Haolin ( Link Click ), with music...

The wait is almost over as Shinichiro Watanabe is all set to return with his directorial magic in the Lazarus anime. With a spring 2025 release date, the cast and other exciting information have been announced. A new trailer was also released with this announcement and it looks stunning.

Lazarus – the agents who will save mankind | Credits: Studio Mappa

With less than a month left until the anime’s release, excitement is at an all-time high. So, here’s everything you need to know to catch the first episode as soon as it drops!

Lazarus anime’s spring release and cast confirmed

The story of Lazarus is set in the year 2052, and the world is free of all physical pains, all thanks to Dr. Skinner’s invention – Hapuna. It is the ‘miracle drug’, but an unexpected message from Skinner changes that forever. The alarming message reveals that everyone who has taken Hapuna only has 30 days left.

Ahead of an April 6 broadcast and subsequent simulcast on Crunchyroll , the official accounts for To Be Hero X today released a "character story video" for second-ranked hero Queen. The video previews her episode theme song, "Queen of the stars", which is composed by Shangri-La Frontier composer Ryuichi Takada (Monaca) and performed by R!N. Individual character story videos for each of the core heroes are currently being released daily. To Be Hero X Queen Character Story Video The main cast of To Be Hero X is as follows: Nice voiced by Natsuki Hanae E-Soul voiced by Nobunaga Shimazaki Ahu voiced by Koichi Yamadera Lucky Cyan voiced by Inori MInase Loli voiced by Ayane Sakura Little Johnny voiced by Yoshitsugu Matsuoka Ghostblade voiced by Yuichi Nakamura Dragon Boy voiced by Koki Uchiyama Queen voiced by Kana Hanazawa X voiced by Mamoru Miyano Related: To Be Hero X Anime Releases Dragon Boy...

Ahead of an April 6 broadcast and subsequent simulcast on Crunchyroll , the official accounts for To Be Hero X today released a "character story video" for third-ranked hero Dragon Boy. The video previews his episode theme song, "Scar", which is composed by Mecha Ude: Mechanical Arms composer Daiki (Awsm.) and performed by Ak LiuZhang. Individual character story videos for each of the core heroes are currently being released daily. To Be Hero X Dragon Boy Character Story Video The main cast of To Be Hero X is as follows: Nice voiced by Natsuki Hanae E-Soul voiced by Nobunaga Shimazaki Ahu voiced by Koichi Yamadera Lucky Cyan voiced by Inori MInase Loli voiced by Ayane Sakura Little Johnny voiced by Yoshitsugu Matsuoka Ghostblade voiced by Yuichi Nakamura Dragon Boy voiced by Koki Uchiyama Queen voiced by Kana Hanazawa X voiced by Mamoru Miyano Related: To Be Hero X Anime Releases Ghostblade Character...

Ahead of an April 6 broadcast and subsequent simulcast on Crunchyroll , the official accounts for To Be Hero X today released a "character story video" for fourth-ranked hero Ghostblade. The video previews his episode theme song, "Because of you", which is composed by Hideyuki Fukasawa ( Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works ) and performed by Kris Roche. Individual character story videos for each of the core heroes are currently being released daily. To Be Hero X Ghostblade Character Story Video The main cast of To Be Hero X is as follows: Nice voiced by Natsuki Hanae E-Soul voiced by Nobunaga Shimazaki Ahu voiced by Koichi Yamadera Lucky Cyan voiced by Inori MInase Loli voiced by Ayane Sakura Little Johnny voiced by Yoshitsugu Matsuoka Ghostblade voiced by Yuichi Nakamura Dragon Boy voiced by Koki Uchiyama Queen voiced by Kana Hanazawa X voiced by Mamoru Miyano Related: To Be Hero X Anime Releases The Johnnies...

Ahead of an April 6 broadcast and subsequent simulcast on Crunchyroll , the official accounts for To Be Hero X today released a "character story video" for fifth-ranked heroes Little Johnny and Big Johnny. The video previews their episode theme song, "growL", which is composed by Misaki Umase ( Kaina and the Great Snow Sea ) and performed by J.Rio. Individual character story videos for each of the core heroes are currently being released daily. To Be Hero X The Johnnies Character Story Video The main cast of To Be Hero X is as follows: Nice voiced by Natsuki Hanae E-Soul voiced by Nobunaga Shimazaki Ahu voiced by Koichi Yamadera Lucky Cyan voiced by Inori MInase Loli voiced by Ayane Sakura Little Johnny voiced by Yoshitsugu Matsuoka Ghostblade voiced by Yuichi Nakamura Dragon Boy voiced by Koki Uchiyama Queen voiced by Kana Hanazawa X voiced by Mamoru Miyano Related: To Be Hero X...

Voice actor Mamoru Miyano successfully held his latest concert tou in Japan, "Mamoru Miyano Live Tour 2024-2025 ~Dressing!~," in five locations from December 14, 2024 to January 26, 2025. His official website has announced that a new DVD and Blu-ray that includes his concert at Lala arena Tokyo - Bay in Chiba Prefecture on the last day of the tour is set to release on June 4, 2025. This will be his 17th live-concert disc released in Japan since 2010. In addition to the live performance, the discs also include a behind-the-scenes featurette. And the Blu-ray comes with visual commentary. The price for both the DVD and Blu-ray is 9,350 yen (incl. tax /63 Usd). His official YouTube channel is now streaming a performance clip of his 26th CD single song "Dressing," which was the opening song of the tour. Mamoru Miyano "Dressing"【Dressing! Live ver.】 Related: Voice Actor Mamoru Miyano Shares New Song "Mayu" Lyric Video Source :...

Ahead of an April 6 broadcast and subsequent simulcast on Crunchyroll , the official accounts for To Be Hero X today released a "character story video" for sixth-ranked hero Loli. The video previews her episode theme song, "Candy Mountain", which is composed by Shuhei Mutsuki ( Lycoris Recoil ) and performed by Kaon Kokudo. Individual character story videos for each of the core heroes are currently being released daily. To Be Hero X Loli Character Story Video The main cast of To Be Hero X is as follows: Nice voiced by Natsuki Hanae E-Soul voiced by Nobunaga Shimazaki Ahu voiced by Koichi Yamadera Lucky Cyan voiced by Inori MInase Loli voiced by Ayane Sakura Little Johnny voiced by Yoshitsugu Matsuoka Ghostblade voiced by Yuichi Nakamura Dragon Boy voiced by Koki Uchiyama Queen voiced by Kana Hanazawa X voiced by Mamoru Miyano Related: To Be Hero X Anime Releases Lucky Cyan Character Story Video To Be Hero X...

Ahead of an April 6 broadcast and subsequent simulcast on Crunchyroll , the official accounts for To Be Hero X today released a "character story video" for seventh-ranked hero Lucky Cyan. The video previews her episode theme song, "Take Off" by Mecha Ude: Mechanical Arms composer Daiki (Awsm.), and her popularity as a hero and musician. Individual character story videos for each of the core heroes are currently being released daily. To Be Hero X Lucky Cyan Character Story Video The main cast of To Be Hero X is as follows: Nice voiced by Natsuki Hanae E-Soul voiced by Nobunaga Shimazaki Ahu voiced by Koichi Yamadera Lucky Cyan voiced by Inori MInase Loli voiced by Ayane Sakura Little Johnny voiced by Yoshitsugu Matsuoka Ghostblade voiced by Yuichi Nakamura Dragon Boy voiced by Koki Uchiyama Queen voiced by Kana Hanazawa X voiced by Mamoru Miyano Related: To Be Hero X Anime Releases Ahu...

To Be Hero X is rocketing toward its global debut—with its Japanese premiere date now confirmed to be April 6 . Along with the announcement comes a flashy new key visual, showing the new series' 10 heroes in vibrant color. Check it out—with top-ranked hero X, of course, taking center stage: Related: To Be Hero X Anime Releases Ahu Character Story Video Release dates have been confirmed for other services as well. Netflix and Prime Video will distribute the new series starting April 7, with other platforms starting April 9. The main cast of To Be Hero X is as follows: Nice voiced by Natsuki Hanae E-Soul voiced by Nobunaga Shimazaki Ahu voiced by Koichi Yamadera Lucky Cyan voiced by Inori MInase Loli voiced by Ayane Sakura Little Johnny voiced by Yoshitsugu Matsuoka Ghostblade voiced by Yuichi Nakamura Dragon Boy voiced by Koki Uchiyama Queen voiced by Kana Hanazawa X voiced by Mamoru Miyano...

Ahead of an April 2025 release and subsequent simulcast on Crunchyroll , the official accounts for To Be Hero X today released a "character story video" for eighth-ranked hero Ahu. The video previews his episode theme song, "Sparx" by Attack on Titan Final Season composer Kohta Yamamoto, and his dogged determination. Individual character story videos for each of the core heroes are currently being released daily. To Be Hero X Ahu Character Story Video The main cast of To Be Hero X is as follows: Nice voiced by Natsuki Hanae E-Soul voiced by Nobunaga Shimazaki Ahu voiced by Koichi Yamadera Lucky Cyan voiced by Inori MInase Loli voiced by Ayane Sakura Little Johnny voiced by Yoshitsugu Matsuoka Ghostblade voiced by Yuichi Nakamura Dragon Boy voiced by Koki Uchiyama Queen voiced by Kana Hanazawa X voiced by Mamoru Miyano Related: To Be Hero X Anime Releases E-Soul Character Story Video To Be Hero X...

Ahead of an April 2025 release and subsequent simulcast on Crunchyroll , the official accounts for To Be Hero X today released a "character story video" for ninth-ranked hero E-Soul. The video previews his episode theme song, "Neon Rain" by Hidefumi Kenmochi, who composed and performed the "Eternal Rail" insert song for the ID: Invaded anime, and his flashy fighting style. Individual character story videos for each of the core heroes are currently being released daily. To Be Hero X E-Soul Character Story Video The main cast of To Be Hero X is as follows: Nice voiced by Natsuki Hanae E-Soul voiced by Nobunaga Shimazaki Ahu voiced by Koichi Yamadera Lucky Cyan voiced by Inori MInase Loli voiced by Ayane Sakura Little Johnny voiced by Yoshitsugu Matsuoka Ghostblade voiced by Yuichi Nakamura Dragon Boy voiced by Koki Uchiyama Queen voiced by Kana Hanazawa X voiced by Mamoru Miyano Related: To Be Hero X...

Ahead of an April 2025 release and subsequent simulcast on Crunchyroll , the official accounts for To Be Hero X today released a "character story video" for tenth-ranked hero Nice. The video previews his episode theme song, "Paragon", which is composed by Hiroyuki Sawano and performed by Benjamin and mpi, and how his heroic smile hides something more. Individual character story videos for the nine other core heroes will be released daily from today. To Be Hero X Nice Character Story Video The main cast of To Be Hero X is as follows: Nice voiced by Natsuki Hanae E-Soul voiced by Nobunaga Shimazaki Ahu voiced by Koichi Yamadera Lucky Cyan voiced by Inori MInase Loli voiced by Ayane Sakura Little Johnny voiced by Yoshitsugu Matsuoka Ghostblade voiced by Yuichi Nakamura Dragon Boy voiced by Koki Uchiyama Queen voiced by Kana Hanazawa X voiced by Mamoru Miyano Related: To Be Hero X Anime...

Over 25 years ago, director Shinichiro Watanabe changed the anime world forever with his groundbreaking hit, Cowboy Bebop (1998). Now, Watanabe is gearing up for the television premiere of his upcoming Spring 2025 series, Lazarus -- a work that its team is praising as "the highest level of entertainment we Japanese can create."

As detailed on Mantan Web, an advance screening of Lazarus was recently held at the Shinjuku Wald 9 movie theater in Tokyo. Here, director Watanabe presented Episode 1 alongside several key cast members, including Mamoru Miyano (Axel), Makoto Furukawa (Doug) and Yuuma Uchida (Leland). Although the primary voice cast has worked on other projects, they are especially enthusiastic about this specific undertaking. Consequently, the first day of recording was extremely nerve-wracking, particularly for Furukawa. "I was very nervous. There are sweat stains on the script for Episode 1," he admitted. "The performance was born because of that tension."

New Mappa & Adult Swim Anime...

Shinichiro Watanabe, best known as the creator of Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo, has a new anime coming out next month, as Mappa is preparing for the release of Lazarus. The anime has attracted a lot of attention, as fans of Watanabe’s work are looking forward to seeing this new story.

As we have reported earlier, the series will premiere on Adult Swim’s Toonami programming block on April 5 at 12:00 a.m. Edt, and will be available on Max the next day. In Japan, the series will premiere on TV Tokyo and its affiliates on April 6 at 11:45 p.m. and will also stream on various platforms.

But, while the premiere date is getting closer, Mappa is providing us with additional information, as 14 new cast members for the upcoming series have been revealed. Their roles are, as of the time of writing, unknown, but we have the full list of names for you.

Anime villains are almost always over the top. But the ones who are obsessed with their protagonists take things to the extreme. These fanatical villains can’t help but let the main characters consume their every thought.

Some anime villains are obsessed because of the anger they feel toward the protagonists. Others simply want to take their powers and will do anything to get them. Anime villains who are obsessed with their protagonists aren’t concerned with optics. They merely want to see the main characters go down as painfully as possible because their hatred (or love) is that strong.

Related15 Most Complex Seinen & Shonen Anime Villains, Ranked

Complex shonen villains are known to be intensely driven by their personal desires, yet there is some level of understanding behind their motives.

Goro Akechi Envies Joker & The Phantom Thieves in Persona5: The Animation Streaming on CrunchyrollImage via CloverWorks

Goro Akechi...

A few more mysteries about The Dinner Table Detective have been solved, as the upcoming mystery anime's latest trailer today revealed an April 4, 2025 at 23:30 Jst premiere date and previewed the series' ending song, "Rhapsody" by Billy Boo. The Dinner Table Detective Trailer The Dinner Table Detective anime's confirmed cast is as follows: Reiko voiced by Kana Hanazawa (Mitsuri in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba ) Kageyama voiced by Yuki Kaji (Eren in Attack on Titan ) Kazamatsuri voiced by Mamoru Miyano (Dazai in Bungo Stray Dogs ) Related: The Dinner Table Detective Anime Reveals Cast, Staff and Release Date in First Trailer Based on the novels by Tokuya Higashikawa, Mitsuyuki Masuhara ( Ace of the Diamond ) directs The Dinner Table Detective at studio Madhouse, with series composition by Mariko Kunisawa ( Bartender Glass of God ), character designs adapted for animation by Izumi Kawata and music by Takeshi Hama ( Maoyu ). The story follows Reiko, the...

There have been plenty of anime endings that have a reputation for being polarizing. This could come for several reasons. Viewers may feel disappointed that the characters didn't get enough time to grow, or that the anime alters material from its manga to move in a new direction. Whatever the case is, plenty of these controversial endings still aren't nearly as bad as the conclusion to Season 8 of Game of Thrones.

Game of Thrones' ending will forever live in infamy for how it disappointed fans of the series. With several characters acting out of character, poor pacing, and messy resolution, it's easy to see why viewers felt that Season 8 rushed to the finish line. In comparison, these anime endings still give decent conclusions to their franchises despite their controversial nature. These animes get a lot of criticism for their endings, but they can always be worse compared to Game of Thrones.

Fans of TV series often see Game of Thrones' "The Rains of Castamere" as the peak of dark, brutal deaths, with the Red Wedding delivering a shocking moment of bloody betrayal. The episode was so intense it launched the viral reaction video trend on social media. While it's hard to top such a nightmarish scene, many anime series have matched or even surpassed it with their own brutal deaths.

Anime rarely relies on shock value alone, much like the well-written Game of Thrones, but that doesn’t make its deaths any less gruesome. Heroes and villains alike meet their end in battle, assassination, or sudden murder—often with heavy emotional impact, raising the stakes for those left behind.

Roy and Riza Witnessed the Horrors of the Ishval Civil War Firsthand Streaming on CrunchyrollImage by Studio Bones.

Plenty of tragic deaths and accidents happened to good people during Edward's journey to find the Philosopher's Stone,...

The new anime Lazarus is coming this April, and it’s already generating excitement. This original sci-fi action series, directed by Shinichirō Watanabe (known for Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo), is being produced by Mappa, the animation studio behind hits like Chainsaw Man and Jujutsu Kaisen.

It will air on TV Tokyo in Japan starting April 6 at 11:45 p.m. and stream on various platforms.

Fans in the U.S. can catch it a day earlier, on April 5, at midnight Edt on Adult Swim’s Toonami. The episodes will also be available on Max the following day.

Related: 10 Sci-Fi Anime Gems You Need To See

The anime’s plot is set in 2052, a time of peace and prosperity thanks to a miracle drug called Hapuna, developed by Dr. Skinner. This drug eliminates sickness and pain worldwide.

However, three years after its introduction, Skinner reappears with shocking news: the drug has a short half-life,...

Shinichiro Watanabe’s latest anime series, Lazarus, has officially confirmed that it will release on April 5, 2025, in its new trailer.

The series will debut at midnight on Adult Swim’s Toonami block, airing in English, before becoming available for streaming on Max the following day.

Warner Bros. Discovery detailed the release schedule in a press release, confirming that the English-dubbed version of Lazarus will air first, with encore airings scheduled every Thursday at midnight beginning April 10.

The Japanese-language version with English subtitles will become available on Adult Swim and Max 30 days after the English premiere.

In Japan, Lazarus will air on TV Tokyo starting in April 2025.

Checkout the new trailer below:

Adult Swim President Michael Ouweleen expressed excitement over the project, stating, “We’re talking Watanabe here—this show is an amazing mix of great characters, super fun high-stakes, brilliant directing, and of course, some pretty great music. We are...

Many anime fans enjoy watching shows for the action-packed scenarios series can come up with. However, sometimes, a fan craves something a little more peaceful, where the series can progress with no big fights or conflict. While arguments and combat have their place, sometimes an anime with zero action just feels better.

The anime come in all different varieties. Some feature singing idols rocking out to catchy pop songs. Others feature a slice-of-life telling a dramatic story that can touch one's heart. No matter what the circumstances are, sometimes it's better to have no action at all than too much action to stay engaged with a series.

Zombie Land Saga is Full of Friendship, Songs, & a Quest for Dreams Streaming on Crunchyroll

Zombie Land Saga is a zombie series unlike any other. Instead of craving human flesh, these zombie idols merely want to sing to revitalize the Saga prefecture. They...

The anime industry is truly vast, and new viewers might not be sure where to start. Their options are endless, but conveniently enough, there are some must-watch anime series to serve as a starting point. In fact, these anime series are so popular, influential, and entertaining, the fandom might say a new fan should watch them all before they become a 100% bona fide anime fan.

Of course, fans must not take that idea too seriously and end up harassing each other with gatekeeping. Still, if a new fan has a more casual attitude about what they should watch to be a real fan, they are encouraged to check out a large handful of series to show them what anime is like. At the very least, watching these popular series will give newer anime fans plenty to talk about with the rest of the fandom, and it will help them feel like a realanime enthusiast.

The official website for the upcoming live-action film adaptation of Yuto Yotsuba (story) and Ryo Ogawa's (art) comedy manga Ya Boy Kongming! (known as Paripi Koumei in Japan) released a main trailer featuring the theme song "Count on me" performed by Eiko, played by Moka Mamishiraishi . This is her first song for the live-action series in a year and a half since "Dreamer," an insert song for the TV drama in 2023. Ya Boy Kongming! Live-Action Movie Main Trailer "Count on me” was written and composed by Shinya Ishihara , vocalist of the three-piece rock band Saucy Dog . "The song 'Count on me,' which I newly wrote for the film, expresses the feeling of moving forward and moving with the music itself while putting Eiko's feelings first," said Ishihara. "The melody is easy for Eiko to sing and can be performed acapella. I created this song to give it an overall gorgeous feel.

Shipping couples is many anime fans' favorite pastime. Though it's a bonus if the pairings are canonically hinted at in the anime, it doesn't always mean fans stick to hoping non-canon couples get together. Therefore, it can be disappointing when audiences' favorite couples don't start dating by the end of the anime.

While some are more plausible than others, there's no denying certain anime would be better if the fan-favorite couples got together. Whether canon or non-canon, viewers feel that the stories and character development would have been better had these anime listened to fans and followed through on their favorite relationships. As it is, fans will have to content themselves with fan fiction if they truly want to see these couples together.

Related15 Shonen Ships Anime Fans Wish Were Canon

Non-canon shipping is a hallmark of the anime community. It allows fans to imagine their favorite romantic pairs, even if they it's not canon.

Spoilers for the Demon Slayer anime's upcoming Infinity Castle Arc ahead.

Demon Slayer tells the story of teenager Tanjiro Kamado as he works as a Demon Slayer following the murder of his family by the King of Demons, Muzan Kibutsuji. With his sister turned into a demon herself, Tanjiro faces many challenges in keeping her safe as he works to find a cure for her affliction. Along the way, Tanjiro and the other Demon Slayers battle many evil demons on their quest to stop Muzan in his tracks. The demons that Tanjiro and his allies face are all forces of evil, but there is one character whose wicked acts are beyond reproach.

The Upper Rank Two demon, Doma, seems to have no moral compass and regularly proves himself to be a monster in ways that other demons just can't compare. With his eventual downfall in the Infinity Castle Arc, a...

The official YouTube channel for voice actor Mamoru Miyano (Light Yagami in Death Note ) is now streaming a digest video of his first orchestra concert tour "billboard classics Miyano Mamoru Premium Symphonic Concert 2024 ~Authentica~" , which was held in June 2024. As his 15th-anniversary artist debut, the symphonic concert featuring the Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra was first held at the Tokyo Garden Theater on June 8, 2024, followed by two concerts at the Kyoto Concert Hall on June 15 and 16, attracting about 10,000 people. "Authentica" Live Blu-ray & DVD Digest Commercial Spot Related : Voice Actor Mamoru Miyano Releases New Performance Clip from Symphonic Concert A DVD and Blu-ray including the tour's Tokyo show on June 8 will release in Japan on February 19, 2025, exclusively for fan club members. In addition to the whole show in Tokyo, the disc also includes footage from rehearsals and behind-the-scenes of each show as bonus. Blu-ray jacket Source : Mamoru Miyano official YouTube channel © 2025 Himawari Theatre Group Inc.

Shōnen anime often has the most hit-or-miss main characters out of any genre. More often than not, shōnen anime protagonists are more naïve and energetic to represent their desired target audience. However, characters that break away from this mold are often labeled as boring, like Ichigo Kurasaki. Yet, many of these disliked individuals are undeserving of the hate they receive.

Many of shōnen anime's various protagonists are often held to unfair standards because of their popular predecessors. The anime genre's main characters constantly suffer from being consistently compared to one another, like Shinra Kusakabe. He is often described as an amalgamation of other protagonists' personalities. Several of shōnen anime's most iconic protagonists are equally disliked, but this hate is mostly unjustified.

Death Note's Light Yagami Is Purposefully Different From Most Shōnen Anime Protagonists Streaming on Netflix

Light Yagami's actions are truly terrible, and his character is largely disliked by the overall fan-base.

The anime medium has become increasingly popular over the past few decades, and around the world, there are now millions of fans who are familiar with the Japanese art form. As these fans are likely aware, anime features a long list of widely-used tropes, one of which is rivalries between the protagonist and other characters.Anime rivals are a staple of several genres, and for every character like Dragon Ball Z's Goku, there are several characters who view them as a rival. In some rare cases, these rivals even surpass the hero in terms of raw strength, proving that even plot armor and main character bias can't stop the strongest adversaries. Sasuke Uchiha's Strength in Naruto Is Innate to Him (Unlike His Rival) Streaming on CrunchyrollWhen it comes to anime rivals, arguably no deuteragonist is more iconic than Sasuke Uchiha of the Naruto franchise. The prodigious young shinobi begins...

The official website for the upcoming live-action film adaptation of Yuto Yotsuba (story) and Ryo Ogawa's (art) comedy manga Ya Boy Kongming! (known as Paripi Koumei in Japan) announced that voice actor Mamoru Miyano will appear in the film. Miyano will play Mc Mamo, a host of the music festival “Music Battle Awards 2025,” the main setting of the film's story. In the festival, Takanori Iwata (Exile / Sandaime J Soul Brothers from Exile Tribe), enka singer Kaori Mizumori and hip-hop unit Komorebi appear as themselves. Additionally, dance group Avantgardey teams up with Ryo (played by Win Morisaki in the film) and perform under the unit name “Avantgardey feat. Ryo from Jet Jacket.” Three-member dance unit Power Puff Boys , who have worked on choreography for artists such as West. and Sekai No Owari, also joins the festival to perform. The site is now streaming a special performance clip narrated by Miyano,...