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Westernizing anime and manga, literally translating some of the eccentricities of the medium into live action without caring for nuances, has resulted in disastrous consequences in the past. Netflix’s old releases like small screen adaptations of Cowboy Bebop, or live action Death Note movies hold testament to that. The recently released Netflix series, Bet, inspired by Kakegurui manga/anime, repeats similar mistakes in its narrative treatment – resulting in some caricature-ish characterization. However, amidst all the characters that have appeared in the series, the oft silent, mask wearing member of Black Jackets student council, Riri, seems quite interesting. Possibly because she isn’t blabbering obnoxious and nonsensical stuff most of the time like most of the other players, and shows a bit of complexity which contrasts with the overly comical nature of the rest of the bunch.

Spoilers Ahead

Exploring Riri’s Past

Riri in Netflix’s Bet is inspired...

There are more than 170 Astro Bot cameos in the latest PlayStation title and if you were hoping the game would cue you in on the more obscure characters, think again. The sequel to Astro’s PlayRoom references heroes and villains from both first-party and third-party games, adding to the challenge of identifying certain bots.

Instead of providing actual names, Team Asobi has included clever nicknames like “Dad of Boy” for Kratos or “Aristocratic Archaeologist” for Lara Croft.

It is not hard to tell that the developers behind Astro Bot put a lot of care into crafting these cameos, and it is that level of quality that explains why the game has garnered universal acclaim. Without further ado, here is our list of the nine most obscure Astro Bot cameos you will come across in the game.

9. Ulala – Space Channel 5 Ulala is a space reporter from the 25th century. Image Credit:...

Fans of supernatural shows on Netflix have many options, from action-packed demon hunters to quirky horror shows. The best supernatural shows offer a mix of new ongoing series and finished ones for binge-watchers to enjoy. Top filmmakers like Mike Flanagan and Guillermo Del Toro contribute to Netflix's diverse supernatural content.

For fans of the best supernatural shows on Netflix, there is a lot to choose from. Not only is there a show named after the phenomenon, but there are several options with both Netflix originals and shows licensed from other networks, many airing their entire run on the streaming giant. These also run the gamut of fantasy, from action-packed shoot-em-up demon hunters to more quirky drama and horror shows, meaning that the streaming giant has something for everyone.

It is always a good time to jump into a new show, with some of the best supernatural shows on Netflix. The...

Although the anime medium doesn't have a history of well-received live-action adaptations, one franchise seems to have finally bucked this trend — One Piece. The series' new remake is a smash hit for the Netflix platform, and while there is no official confirmation, it seems destined to receive a second season in the near future.

However, as great as the live-action One Piece is, there are still several moments and scenes that are handled far better in the original anime series. These range from character introductions to pivotal plot points, once again proving that it's exceedingly difficult for any live-action adaptation to surpass its source material.

Related: 10 Famous Anime Characters Even Non-Fans Would Recognize

Rika Tries To Feed Roronoa Zoro

Roronoa Zoro is one of the most feared men in the East Blue when he is first introduced in One Piece, but underneath his steely exterior lies an individual with a surprisingly kind heart.

Spoilers ahead for Skip and Loafer Season 1.

Throughout the Spring 2023 anime season, Skip and Loafer remained within the Top 10 best anime and gained a fairly sizeable fanbase. While no one expected such a wholesome coming-of-age story from a seinen series, this anime became the season's dark horse. After the end of Season 1, fans are certainly hyped for more.

Under the guise of a typical high school anime, Skip and Loafer introduces viewers to the lovable Mitsumi Iwakura, an inspirational freshman-year high school student with big aspirations and a resilient spirit. The 12 episodes show how the countryside-native Mitsumi navigates the pressures of high school in the big city of Tokyo and inspires her classmates to be themselves and live their best lives. Composed of a large cast of characters, each with their own original personality quirks and character journeys, this first season builds up many subplots. It leaves the audience with many thrilling cliffhangers.

When most anime fans think of dark magical girl anime, they immediately picture Puella Magi Madoka Magica. But though this iconic series revolutionized the subgenre, it's far from the only subversive magical girl series out there. Plenty of other titles have put a dark spin on the genre as well, and some even do it better than Madoka Magica.

From classic titles like Revolutionary Girl Utena to modern hits such as Kill la Kill, the magical girl genre is filled with many incredible series that use darker elements to tell their stories. Many of these amazing series blow Madoka Magica completely out of the water with their emotional depth, stunning visuals, and lovable heroines.

Related: 20 Cutest Anime Magical Girls

My-HiME

My-HiME is a criminally underrated magical girl series predating the dark magical girl craze. Much like modern titles nowadays, this classic series takes a surprisingly grim turn, focusing on the...

A hallmark of the international horror scene, Takashi Shimizu’s legendary Ju-On served as a lightning rod when it was first released in 2002. This came about not only for the effect it had on drawing warranted attention at Asian genre cinema who discovered other similar titles from Japan produced in the wake of its success, but also cultural acceptance as many of those efforts were given US reboots and remakes. While the franchise that spawned has had its ups and downs over the ensuing near-two decades, this new adaptation on Netflix Japan takes a new and unique look at the iconic series by moving away from Kayako and looking at a newfound aspect of the series.

Appearing on a TV show together, paranormal researcher Yasuo Odajma (Yoshiyoshi Arakawa) and actress Haruka Honjo (Yuina Kuroshima) become intertwined when she relates a story that intrigues him. New student Kiyomi Kawai (Ririka) arrives...

Netflix subscribers are in for a horrifying surprise. The long-running “Ju-On” franchise, also known as “The Grudge,” is getting adapted into a television series that will hit the streaming service on July 3.

Here’s the upcoming Japanese-language series’ synopsis, per Netflix: The J-horror classic franchise “Ju-On” was actually based on real events that occurred over four decades — and the truth is even more terrifying. Can the people haunted by this house escape from its curse? And what kind of grim incident occurred in this cursed house in the past?

The series stars Yoshiyoshi Arakawa, Yuina Kuroshima, and Ririka. Most other details, such as episode directors, executive producers, and episode numbers, are unknown. IndieWire reached out to a Netflix representative for further details about the series.

The “Ju-On” franchise was created by Takashi Shimizu via two short films in 1998. The “Ju-On: The Curse” feature film was released two years later and...