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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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Dragon Ball is one of the most famous anime series ever made. Ever since the first episode aired on February 26th, 1986, fans have been mesmerized by the adventures of Goku and his friends. When the show is airing, millions of fans tune in weekly to learn what the gang will do next and if they can overcome their latest foe. One reason for this immense success is the quality of the voice acting, as the Japanese cast of Dragon Ball features several prolific and beloved voice actors.

An interesting thing about Dragon Ball's Japanese voice cast is that, unlike the American dub casts that have had several performers take each role, the vast majority of the Japanese voice cast has been there since the franchise's earliest days, with many playing the same character in Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball Gt, and Dragon Ball Super. But which of...

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...

The Tokyo Gap-Financing Market (Tgfm) has revealed the 20 projects selected for financing and development at Tiffcom, the content market of Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF).

The 5th edition of Tgfm is set to take place from October 30 to November 1 and includes five more projects than last year due to a special focus on Italy. This follows the signing of a co-production agreement between Italy and Japan in 2023, which came into effect last month.

Scroll down for full list of titles

Several international projects hail from successful producers who have teamed with young directors.

They include family drama 9 Temples To Heaven,...

Additional reporting from Mikikazu Komatsu The voice actor Tarako, most known as the leading voice in the Chibi Maruko-chan anime, passed away at the age of 63 on March 4, 2024. A cause of death was not confirmed at the time of reporting. The official Chibi Maruko-chan website, along with Nippon Animation , released a statement on Tarako’s passing: “We regret to inform you that Tarako-san, who had played the role of Maruko in Chibi Maruko-chan , passed away on Monday, March 4 in the early hours of the morning. We would like to express our sincere condolences and gratitude to her for her great contribution to the show. The last episode of Tarako-san's appearance on Chibi Maruko-chan , "Maruko, Do You Know the Taste of Water?" will air on Sunday, March 24 during the one-hour broadcast. Except for this episode, we will air the previously aired episodes from March 10 onward for the time being. We are...

Netflix has ordered a new kids animated series, “Dino Girl Gauko,” Variety has learned. The program is from creator and showrunner Akira Shigino, who previously served as a director on a number of popular Japanese animated TV series, including “Crayon Shin-chan,” “Line Town,” “Osomatsu-kun,” and a remake of “Yatterman.”

The comedy series is set in Japan and follows Naoko Watanabe, a typical tween girl aside from the fact that she possesses strange and sometimes troubling powers. When her anger exceeds a maximum level, she turns into Gauko, the fire-breathing dinosaur girl.

An episode of “Dino Girl Gauko,” entitled “Dad’s Little Secret,” will screen in competition at the 2019 Annecy International Animation Film Festival. The first season of the series is expected to launch on Netflix in late 2019.

The move comes as Netflix is amping up its kids and family content. With Disney set to launch its own streaming service, Disney Plus,...