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Out of all the Straw Hat Pirates, the one crew member whom I have loved and admired since the beginning is Roronoa Zoro. Zoro is the swordsman of the crew and the second strongest member of the Straw Hat Pirates in One Piece. He dreams of becoming the strongest swordsman in the One Piece world and is getting close to his dream with each episode.

One Piece fans might not know this, but Zoro’s character is voiced by legendary Japanese voice actor Kazuya Nakai, who has voiced many prominent roles within the anime industry. In fact, he is one of the few voice actors who has been a part of the One Piece franchise since the beginning, as he has voiced Zoro from episode 2 of the anime.

However, what shocked me even more was the fact that Nakai’s voice acting talent is not limited to anime. He has...

The official website and accounts for the Backstabbed in a Backwater Dungeon: My Trusted Companions Tried to Kill Me, But Thanks to the Gift of an Unlimited Gacha I Got Lvl 9999 Friends and Am Out For Revenge on My Former Party Members and the World anime released a teaser trailer and visual today, while also confirming a Fall 2025 broadcast and the series' main cast and staff. Backstabbed in a Backwater Dungeon Teaser Trailer Backstabbed in a Backwater Dungeon Teaser Visual The anime's confirmed cast is as follows: Light voiced by Nina Tamaki Mei voiced by Ikumi Hasegawa Light Mei Related: Mistress Kanan is Devilishly Easy Anime Announced for 2026 Release Based on the light novels by Shisui Meikyo and tef, Katsushi Sakurabi ( Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?: Arrow of the Orion ) directs Backstabbed in a Backwater Dungeon at studio J.C.Staff, with series composition...

My Hero Academia fans are in for a special treat in mid-April. The 2024 animated theatrical movie My Hero Academia: You're Next will soon be available to stream on Netflix.

Netflix announced the streaming release date of My Hero Academia: You're Next on its official X account (formerly Twitter). The fourth animated movie based on the My Hero Academia franchise will premiere on April 20, 2025. The film was released on digital video stores like Amazon near the end of February and became available on home media via Crunchyroll on April 1, 2025. However, this marks the film's debut release on any major U.S. streaming service.

My Hero Academia: You're Next Anime Movie Lands New North American Streaming Home My Hero Academia: You're Next premieres April 20 💥Deku and his friends must band together to defeat a new threat—a mysterious figure claiming to be the new Symbol of Peace.Coming to Netflix in the US,...

There is no denying that One Piece holds a special place in the hearts of a plethora of anime/manga fans. It all started with Eiichiro Oda’s manga in ’97, and it was later brought to the big screen as an adaptation in 1999. Since then, the stellar storyline, rich world-building, and those compelling ‘pirate’ characters have made this show an unstoppable force.

One Piece has been sailing the anime seas for more than 25 years, and it has more than 1,100 episodes of Luffy and the gang pursuing their dreams! But here’s the thing: Unlike most anime, which have the advantage of a finished story, One Piece is currently airing alongside a manga that is being written as its episodes are airing.

A still from One Piece [Credit: Toei Animation]

“How do they keep this up?” is a question many fans have in their mind. Well, it’s a wild ride, but not without some hiccups.

Anime fans -- and in particular, fans of 2025 Anime of the Year nominee Frieren: Beyond Journey's End -- now have another way to watch the acclaimed fantasy series. While Frieren began as an anime available exclusively on Crunchyroll when it was first released in North America in the Fall 2023 season, followed by Netflix availability in early March 2025, viewers are now able to see the series in full via another major streaming service.

Arriving fresh today on Hulu in the U.S., Frieren: Beyond Journey's End can now be enjoyed in both English subbed and dubbed form on the streaming platform thanks to the new Crunchyroll sublicense. Comprising 28 episodes in total for its first season, the anime follows the titular Frieren, an elf mage traveling to reunite with the soul of her former party member Himmel, who died nearly 30 years ago. Along her journey, she is joined by Fern, an orphan...

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhoodstands as one of the best-written anime series of all time, but it's not just the strong, deep themes driving the story forward. The anime is also a gripping adventure because of how well-written its characters are, with remarkably few of them being basic archetypes or stock characters. Even minor characters like the chimeras have heart, and main cast members have some of the strongest writing of all.

Good writing in an anime like Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood call for more than funny one-liners in the dialogue or a basic backstory to explain where the character came from. The best-written cast members of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood are designed with a balance of heartwarming values, inspirational strength, realistic flaws, and sympathetic insecurities. Such robust writing is even more effective when it's worked into a dynamic personal arc as the character grows and changes, showing more sides of themselves over time.

Fullmetal Alchemist takes place in a world where alchemy can be used to turn everyday materials like pavement, buildings, or even just air into tools of usefulness or weapons of destruction. These transactions can be done in an instant. One second there's a normal street, and the next second there are spikes jumping out of the concrete as State Alchemists fight to stop a villain. Fans know these things can't be done in the real world, so the time period of Fullmetal Alchemist may not correlate directly to the time periods of this world, but which time period from this universe does Fullmetal Alchemist represent the best?

As Ed and Al Elric navigate their nation and those surrounding it throughout the series, the audience learns the deep history of their world, including the fall of an ancient civilization through mass human sacrifice in order to create a philosopher's stone, which...

The following contains spoilers. Proceed with caution.

When it comes to anime adaptations of manga, some changes to the characters' personalities and backgrounds are both necessary and understandable. Sometimes an old story just needs a bit of updating, while some mangaka use the animated adaptation of their work to rewrite a character. But in the case of these anime characters, they might as well be entirely new people since they bear so little resemblance to their manga selves.

These anime characters may look, act and sound like how they were in their source manga, but a lot changed during the translation from print to animation. As bad and controversial as this may sound, these changes were actually pretty compelling. Whether they were heroes or villains or somewhere in between, these manga characters benefited a lot from the animation crew's creative divergences from the original work.

Führer King Bradley Was an...

Decades after the original manga was released, Fullmetal Alchemist remains one of the most renowned narratives in anime and manga history. This popular shonen manga has gained not just one, but two anime adaptations, as well as several movies. However, each version of the anime works with Hiromu Arakawa's original narrative quite differently.

Although both anime adaptations share several similarities, especially at the start, everything diverges later on. The original 2003 anime, for instance, starts by following the first few chapters of the manga, all while adding extra detail. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, however, appears to follow the manga almost exactly, though it too has its own extra details.

Are Fullmetal Alchemist & Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood the Same Anime & Story? Fullmetal Alchemist (2003) Only Adapts Part of Hiromu Arakawa's Manga Image via Square-Enix

Everything began in 2001, when Fullmetal Alchemist first began its serialization in Monthly Shonen Gangan. Written and illustrated by Hiromu Arakawa,...

The Dragon Ball franchise could be headed to a full-scale reboot. A new interview suggests a fully rebooted anime for the 40-year-old series could be on the way.

KosoKoso, a Japanese podcast series co-hosted by Kazuhiko Torishima and Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii, shared a brand-new interview with those who worked closely with the late Akira Toriyama on Dragon Ball. Yu Kondo, Fuyuto Takeda and Torishima were all editors for the Dragon Ball manga during its 11-year run in Weekly Shonen Jump. Like their previous conversation, the legendary trio discussed their history with the popular action series and their relationship with Toriyama. During the latest discussion, the possibility of a Dragon Ball anime reboot was acknowledged as they contemplated the franchise’s future without Toriyama.

Toriyama’s shift from mangaka to scriptwriter🧵15/n pic.twitter.com/EhzYKYTyRA— Enomis (@Venixys) March 24, 2025

Social media user @/Venixys translated the latest episode of...

A classic anime series with a long-lasting legacy would inevitably be remade to suit modern audiences. Fans can clamor about using it as a means to fix plot holes from the original series. Others may just want an updated version of the story they're all familiar with. Whatever the case, anime remakes are bound to happen eventually, and not all of them can be winners.

For every good remake, there are bound to be dozens of bad ones. Not every old series can get the same treatment as Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood or the 2024 Ranma 1/2 remake. Instead, these retreads of iconic series can suck out all the appeal they once had and simply cater to nostalgia. These entries leave their franchises with damaged reputations among fans and critics, tarnishing series once famous for their quality.

Mewtwo Strikes Back - Evolution Does Little to Expand on the Original Movie Streaming on Netflix...

Each major anime studio in Japan has at least one or two mega-hit anime they can boast about, such as Toei Animation making Dragon Ball Z, Studio Pierrot making Naruto, and Studio UFOtable with Demon Slayer. Then there is Studio Bones, a reputable and well-regarded anime studio responsible for making action/adventure hits like My Hero Academia. The question is how Studio Bones will top all that.

Every year, there are plenty of manga series and light novels ripe for anime adaptations, and certain manga are mega-hits in the making if they can get a terrific anime adaptation. That was what happened to the likes of Jujutsu Kaisen and Demon Slayer, so it's up to Studio Bones to find another strong manga to turn into an even stronger anime. After all, the long-running My Hero Academia is almost over, and Studio Bones can't drop the ball now — it needs a...

There was a time when a 25-episode anime seemed like it was not enough, as longer formats were the norm. More episodes meant more material and that’s exactly what fans wanted from a franchise.

Gon from Hunter x Hunter (2011) [Credits: Madhouse]

However, as times changed and attention spans thinned, more anime adapted to a shorter format of episode release. Now, 12 or 13 episodes have become the most followed pattern, with some even breaking a 12-episode season into halves for convenience.

This definitely helps the production company to work at their pace, but it also affects the overall storytelling of the anime.

We hardly even get a 25-episode anime now

We all grew up watching long and continuously running anime like Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood or Hunter × Hunter. These shows did not care about breaking their releases down to multiple seasons and followed a non-stop release schedule until they either completed the...

It's been nearly nine years since My Hero Academia first aired, and now the popular shōnen series will end in its eighth season. My Hero Academia's final season was first announced at AnimeJapan 2025, and its first episode will premiere in late 2025. The show will be released weekly on Crunchyroll on the same day as Japan.

A trailer for the final season was released on the Crunchyroll YouTube channel, featuring old clips from previous episodes, showcasing Izuku Midoriya and his classmates' journey at U.A. High School. It ends with teasing a potential clash between Deku and Shigaraki, as the two characters narrate the final season's trailer.

According to an official press release, Naomi Nakayama, the director of My Hero Academia Season 7, will return to work on the final season. The show will be produced by Bones Studio, known for its work on FullMetal Alchemist: Brotherhood andMob Psycho 100. It's still...

As an S-Rank Hunter, Cha Hae-In is one of the strongest Hunters in Solo Leveling. She is a master swordsman with enhanced physical abilities. Her dance-like movements can overwhelm most opponents, and she can cut through S-Rank monsters by transforming her sword into light. It's true Hunter Cha can clear high-level Dungeons by herself, but there are several villains from other anime series who can easily crush her in combat.

Most of these anime villains are not human, and several of them possess extraordinary regenerative abilities that would render Cha's attacks meaningless. Some of these villains are human, though, and one villain is part of an actual God. Each of these anime villains can crush Hunter Cha with their overpowered abilities and immense strength.

Hunter x Hunter's Meruem Is Another Powerful Ant King Who Would Easily Crush Cha Streaming on Netflix

The Chimera Ants from Hunter x Hunter are...

This post contains spoilers for the "Fullmetal Alchemist" franchise.

"Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood" endures as one of the most beloved anime ever made, and with its recent return to Netflix, there's no better time for Fullmetal novices to take the plunge.

Set during an alternate history's 1910s in the German-ish country Amestris, "Fullmetal Alchemist" stars the eponymous Edward Elric. He and his little brother Alphonse are on a quest to find the Philosopher's Stone. After they tried to use alchemy to bring their mother back to life, Edward lost an arm and leg while Al's soul was trapped in a suit of armor. The Stone can bypass alchemy's equivalent exchange principle -- that to gain, you must give up something.

On their journey, the Elrics stumble onto a sinister conspiracy masterminded by a group of homunculi, or alchemically-created humans. Dressed all in black, these homunculi each embody one of the seven deadly sins that their Father,...

Get ready, because the end is near for one of the biggest superhero anime out there. I’m talking about ‘My Hero Academia’, which is gearing up for its final season. This October, we’re all in for a treat as the show lands on Crunchyroll, streaming worldwide except in Asia. New episodes will drop weekly, hitting the platform the same day they air in Japan. It’s the perfect setup for us to catch the action as it unfolds.

The story’s been building to this for a while now. ‘My Hero Academia’ follows Deku, our determined hero, as he takes on Shigaraki in what’s shaping up to be an epic clash. This final season promises to settle the score and decide the world’s fate. Over at AnimeJapan 2025 in Tokyo, Toho Animation dropped a fresh teaser trailer and some slick key art to get us pumped. The...

The ultimate confrontation between good and evil is set to unfold as the long-running superhero anime sensation “My Hero Academia” prepares to take its final bow.

At the AnimeJapan 2025 expo in Tokyo, Toho Co., Ltd. revealed a teaser trailer and key art for the eighth and final season, which will pit protagonist Deku against the villain Shigaraki.

Set in a world where approximately 80% of the population possesses supernatural abilities known as Quirks, “My Hero Academia” chronicles the journey of Izuku Midoriya and his classmates at U.A. High School as they train to become professional heroes who protect society from villains who use their powers for nefarious purposes.

“My Hero Academia Final Season” will make its global debut this October, with Crunchyroll securing worldwide streaming rights (excluding Asia). The platform will continue its simulcast tradition, delivering new episodes to international audiences on the same day they air in Japan.

Returning...

Several different elements must come together to craft a fantastic anime. A wonderful story is a necessity, as are likable characters. Stellar animation is always a bonus, although anime like Mob Psycho 100 proved style isn't everything. Of course, great voice actors always have a role to play as well.

However, not all voice actors stick around for the series' entire lifetime. While the reason for not remaining for an entire series may vary, from retirement to being let go for controversial reasons, a new voice actor has to come in to replace the original. This transition can sometimes be quite jarring for fans. Yet, there are times when the new voice actor that takes over the role does so with flying colors.

Kagome's New Voice Feels Slightly More Professional in Inuyasha: The Final Act Voice Actor: Kira Tozer; Streaming On Hulu

Inuyasha is a classic fantasy adventure that fans keep coming back to,...

The anime community has undeniably gotten bigger in the past few years, and some series in particular are responsible for it. Most seasoned anime fans grew up watching either Naruto, Bleach, or One Piece. Recently, most new fans have started their journey with Hajime Isayama’s Attack on Titan.

Eren Yeager from Attack on Titan. [Credit: Mappa]

I personally grew up watching Fairy Tail and One Piece, but I still remember watching the first episode of Attack on Titan in 2013. From the get-go, it was a unique, one-of-a-kind series. I also never would’ve predicted Eren’s arc would go the Lelouch route. It’s what makes Attack on Titan so amazing.

That, however, is the downside of having Attack on Titan as your first-ever anime. This industry has several genres to explore, from slice-of-life to horror. Not all of them will live up to the high-quality animation and intense storytelling of Isayama’s story.

The key to plot armor is to make it subtle, allowing fictional heroes to survive with their own wits and resourceful thinking. Or, like Game of Thrones' Jon Snow, a character's plot armor may be both thick and obvious. Not even death itself could keep Jon out of the picture while countless other characters got killed off, and anime has plenty more Jon Snows.

These anime characters refuse to die or stay dead, because the plot twists around to keep them safe or because they have inner power that shields them from certain doom. Fortunately, the stories of these plot-favored characters are cool and fun, so fans don't mind the thick plot armor that much, but it's still conspicuous just how safe these characters are from mortal danger.

Gaara Returned to Life Thanks to Chiyo's Sacrifice in Naruto Streaming on Crunchyroll

It was practically a given Naruto Uzumaki would...

Whoever said remakes aren’t perfectly done needs to take a good look at Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. The 2009 series is a reboot of the 2003 anime of the same name, but it is so much better. It lived up to the idea and expectations of a reboot, but there’s one anime that needs to do the same.

Edward Elric from Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood | Credit: Studio Bones

In particular, this gothic series was all the rage back in the 2000s, and for the right reasons. This is the era of remakes, especially with Fruits Basket, Sailor Moon and others getting their reboots. It only makes sense for this macabre anime to jump on the bandwagon and here’s why.

A 2000s manga that deserves the Fullmetal Alchemist treatment

Hiromu Arakawa is one of the finest mangaka who reshaped the shonen genre through her opus Fullmetal Alchemist. The series is an interesting take on alchemy,...

When Sakamoto Days was first announced for an anime adaptation, fans were really hyped up about it. A lot of them referred to it as one of the most anticipated new-gen shows, blending action, comedy, and some nice fight scenes that could actually shake up the anime scene. But here we are today, Cour 1 received a lukewarm reception and Cour 2 is set to drop amidst one of the most competitive anime seasons in recent memory, the reality is grim.

Shin Asakura, Taro Sakamoto, and Lu Xiaotang from Sakamoto Days. | Credit: Tms Entertainment

If you thought Solo Leveling was a tough competition, then you can just imagine what’s going to happen when Dandadan, Gachiakuta, Kaiju No. 8, The Summer Hikaru Dies, and other highly anticipated adaptations all arrive at the same time. It’s like this wild battlefield where Sakamoto Days, which is already doing badly with a pretty mediocre adaptation,...

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhoodfeatured a variety of homunculi to serve as the antagonists, with those homunculi varying greatly in their design. There were only a few rules to these artificial creatures, such as their generally human shapes and their reliance on the Philosopher's Stone to function, but even then, there is some variance to how they are designed on the inside and outside. Even if there are only a few homunculi, they have remarkable diversity in how they look and function.

All of the homunculi served an important purse in Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood and had some cool ideas factored into their designs, with a few homunculi actually having more than one design. Still, some of the homunculi had much cooler designs than others, with some merely being token villains and others being the most memorable, coolest homunculi of all.

Ling Greed Was Just Ling Yao With Hardened Claws Debut Episode: "Father" Image by studio Bones.

Crunchyroll has announced its exclusive acquisition of the Gachiakuta anime adaptation, revealing a new trailer, visuals and official streaming release window for the upcoming shonen hit series.

Via a press release, Crunchyroll announced it will exclusively stream the highly anticipated Gachiakuta anime this July for the Summer 2025 season, adapting the manga of the same name by Kei Urana in Kodansha's Weekly Shonen Magazine. Bones Film is in charge of animation production. The story follows Rudo, a young outcast framed for murder and exiled into this wasteland known as The Pit. After surviving his descent into this new world, he must now fight to survive against monstrous Trash Beasts while navigating a brutal world, hoping to return to his home and seek vengeance. Readers can check out Gachiakuta's official trailer and stills below.

Fullmetal Alchemist Studio Gets New Trailer for Dark Fantasy-Action Anime Gachiakuta

All above images credited to ©Kei Urana,...

Plenty of shonen anime heroes like to act first and think later, with immature anime heroes like Goku and Luffy thinking with their fists, but not all anime leads are like that. For the sake of variety, and to give anime fans some clever surprises, certain anime heroes would rather treat a battle like a puzzle to solve. Those heroes need to think things through before they throw a punch, and some of them might even ask an ally to throw that punch instead.

Brainy anime heroes like these are sometimes famous for their resourceful and tactical thinking, or at least, it's a major part of how they operate. Often, those smart anime heroes have a role or occupation befitting their intelligence, since plain punches aren't enough to live up to those roles' expectations. Sometimes, these smart anime heroes serve as a much-needed foil for their himbo ally and round out the team nicely.

Solo Leveling is a world packed with formidable hunters, some of whom can rival Sung Jinwoo’s strength, but never his aura. His presence alone sends chills, even to the characters of the series. However, there is one man who rivals both his strength and appearance: Choi Jong-In, the strongest mage-type hunter.

Choi Jong-In from Solo Leveling. [Credit: A-1 Pictures]

From the start of Solo Leveling, Sung Jinwoo’s natural opposite was Choi Jong-In. The latter is a top-tier S-Rank and the strongest mage-type hunter, while the protagonist used to be the weakest of all hunters.

The way Jong-In uses his fashion and fire magic rivals Jinwoo’s cold aura when using his necromancy. His proficiency proves why he’s the strongest mage in South Korea, but his fashion is certainly a choice. It makes him equally as dramatic as Sung Jinwoo, just more expensive.

Choi Jong-In and Sung Jinwoo might be opposites...

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood has a complex plot filled with comedy, mystery, and action. It is the jack of all trades. There is a reason behind why it ruled as the #1 anime on My Anime List for years.

The anime has gone to great lengths to give the audience the best experience. Thus, it has also received an original character called Isaac McDougal, who was not present in the original source material. But he is still considered one of the greatest additions to the anime.

One minor Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood villain is finally getting the recognition he deserves Isaac MdDougal was a minor villain in Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood | Credits: Bones

As stated before, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood has a complex plot. There is a huge underlying mystery about the Homunculus and Ametris that is revealed in the finale of the anime. However, on the way, there are a few well-scattered hints,...

Tokyo Ghoul is one of the most tragic anime adaptations in recent times. The manga had set up a grim-dark reality and attracted many fans, but the anime was unable to depict its essence properly. By heading in an anime-original direction, the anime disappointed fans by being highly disappointing and was a massive failure.

Tokyo Ghoul Anime Series | Credit: Studio Pierrot

These are the anime that went down the wrong path and brought an ill reputation to the original work as well. Tokyo Ghoul is one of the biggest examples as due to its anime’s reputation for being just plain bad, the manga has lost out on its popularity as well.

There is a need to do justice to the source material (Tokyo Ghoul manga), which, compared to the anime adaptation, was many miles better. Sui Ishida (the author) himself said it could have been so much better and...

Every anime has at least one shocking cliffhanger that changes the course of its plot, and it isn't a happy cliffhanger for the characters involved. Many cliffhangers feature heartbreaking moments, shocking revelations or stunning events that leave the characters forever changed from then on.

These cliffhangers often mark the turning point for the anime and leave a lasting impact on viewers, since it's the point of no return for the characters. Whether it's a character's death or a torturous event that the main character goes through, these cliffhangers drastically shift the anime's initial tone.

Ai Hoshino’s Death Changes This Idol Anime Into Something Darker Season 1, Episode 1: “Mother and Children”

Right from the very beginning, with Oshi no Ko's brilliant colors and bright lights that perfectly match Ai Hoshino's aesthetic. The last thing viewers expect is for her to die in the very first episode. For most of the episode,...

Solo Levelingstars not just Jin-woo Sung, but also Cha Hae-in as an incredibly powerful hunter tasked with fighting monsters in the dungeons. Even if Cha Hae-in doesn't have unlimited level-up potential like Jin-woo, she is still a top-tier fighter and has earned her S rank. Cha Hae-in boasts mastery of the sword, super strength and speed, and incredible agility and endurance, making her a match for even the nastiest critters found in those dungeons.

Cha Hae-in's overwhelming skill and power in battle also means she is ready to take on an assortment of fighters from other anime universes to prove herself worthy of S-rank all over again. Cha wouldn't last long against overwpoered character who can bend reality or control time, but if her enemies rely on physical combat such as swordplay or fists, Cha is bound to win. If Cha commits her full strength to the fight, she can...

Netflix has continued its quest to become a streaming destination for anime fans in 2025, regularly adding popular series to the service's library. Whether it's old favorites returning to the service, like Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood or new shows that friends have been telling you to watch, like Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, Netflix's offering of popular anime has steadily grown. This continues next month with the first season of the ongoing series The Apothecary Diaries arriving on the platform.

Since the anime's debut in 2009, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood has remained one of the most beloved series in history. The anime, based on Hiromu Arakawa's manga of the same name, had a second anime released before Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, though the 2003 anime later diverts from the manga's narrative; in comparison, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood follows the manga's original storyline. Following the long and perilous journey of the Elric brothers, the narrative explores not just the many mysteries of alchemy, but also human nature itself.

Alongside the main 2009 anime, a series of original video animations, or OVAs, were released in order to give the audience even more insight into the world of Fullmetal Alchemist. One Ova, titled "The Blind Alchemist", is based off of an extra manga chapter of the same name. In this story, Edward and Alphonse hear rumors about an alchemist named Judo, who successfully brought a young girl back to life using human transmutation.

Anime fans have an interesting relationship with the villains and antagonists in anime series and movies. It's easy to like an anime hero as a relatable underdog and kind person, but villains are meant to be repulsive and wrong, so it takes a lot for an anime fan to actually like them. It may help, though, if the villain is written to have a hidden good side or at least be cool enough so fans can admire their style.

Some major or minor anime villains never won over fans, such as the minor antagonist Shou Tucker or Admiral Akainu, but other villains in anime managed to become weirdly likable much later. Anime fans might appreciate those villains if they redeem themselves a little, or if those villains end up seeming not so bad in light of an even nastier, more dangerous villain who showed up later. And a few hated...

It's sometimes a rare treat to see an anime series actually finish its story, since it's rather common for an anime to either go on hiatus or never finish the original manga's story at all. Recent anime titles, meanwhile, haven't even had a chance to finish their stories yet, such as My Hero Academia and Jujutsu Kaisen, so anime fans end up with a lot of unfinished stories. However, there are some wonderful exceptions to that trend.

In past decades, fantastic anime like Neon Genesis Evangelion and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood finished their stories, and more recently, other great anime titles have done the same. From 2020 to the present, fun anime series in all different genres crossed the finish line and aired their final seasons or concluded with anime movies. Anime fans can either watch these series for the first time or revisit them so they can get a complete viewing experience.

From the perspective of many in the world of Fullmetal Alchemist, alchemy is capable of life-changing miracles just as it is capable of unspeakable horrors. The latter is exactly what brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric face after the two attempt to bring back their deceased mother using alchemy, only to have their lives forever changed for the worse. Though alchemy is what nearly killed them, the two siblings vow to research the art even more in hopes of finding a way to restore what has been lost.

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, the adaptation of Hiromu Arakawa's beloved story that follows the manga closely, is a must-watch for any anime fan. Each episode is one that ties into the overall narrative, even if it does not appear that way at first. However, there are naturally many episodes that no one can afford to skip, as they are not only crucial to the story,...

Seeing a beloved anime series come to a satisfying conclusion is one of the best things a fan can ask for. Seeing the full journey of fan-favorite characters conclude makes anime like Naruto, Fullmetal Alchemist, and Sailor Moon even more memorable. Even more polarizing series like Dragon Ball Gt can still deliver a gut-wrenching ending to viewers to end the story on a high note. Unfortunately, not all anime have this luxury.

For every great end to an anime, there are plenty of examples that rush their final arcs. It only helps soil the reputation of a series that would otherwise be well-regarded. Sometimes, a poor ending can even have fans demand the show be rebooted altogether. It's these scenarios that make fans groan, wondering where it all went wrong towards the end.

Soul Eater's Anime-Only Ending Still Makes Fans Wish The Series Was Remade Streaming on Crunchyroll

The...

The perception that anime is for children is devoid of any valid reasoning when they present possibly the most emotionally intense stories. While anime can be vibrant, underneath it all lay storylines packed with lore, nuance, and complexity.

For example, without watching One Piece, it looks deceptively silly. However, once you start the series, you quickly find it handles very heavy themes and does it better than most Western television. Some anime that don’t hold back or present themselves differently would be Vinland Saga and Attack on Titan.

Eren from Attack on Titan. [Credit: Mappa]

So when dealing with dark themes, one of the most common emotional storytelling devices employed by mangaka is sacrifice. Some sacrifices we’ve seen were fairly predictable, some genuinely shocked us. This list will contain the noblest and heroic sacrifices in anime history.

Lelouch vi Britannia’s sacrifice brought peace to the world

Code Geass is the original complex,...

Crunchyroll’s anime library has both long series like Naruto and One Piece and shorter shows that are worth rewatching. Whether it’s a fun cast or exciting action, some anime stay just as enjoyable every time fans watch them.

Many of Crunchyroll’s most rewatchable anime are short, making it easy to revisit favorite moments without slogging through hundreds of episodes or filler. These series span all genres, from action-packed shonen anime to hilarious isekai comedies and heartfelt dramas or romances. There's no doubt that all fans of anime will find a series that they'll want to revisit more than once.

Jujutsu Kaisen's Fights Alone Are Worth Sitting Through a Rewatch Streaming on CrunchyrollImage by studio Mappa.

Many action-adventure anime on Crunchyroll are highly rewatchable, mainly for their incredible fight scenes. In Jujutsu Kaisen, studio Mappa went all out with Yuji Itadori’s battles from the moment he became a cursed sorcerer.

Predominantly, the Shonen genre has always maintained a clear dominance when it came to the popularity and good quality of anime. On top of that, very few have reached the level of perfection that the Fullmetal Alchemist franchise has achieved, let alone a romance.

Lady Anshi from The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 [Credits: Olm, Toho animation Studio]

Now, it is safe to say that The Apothecary Diaries has managed to become one of the best anime despite being different from the norm. At its core, we get an element of romance, but it also covers some other key features that make it great.

It has finally led to an era where a show that almost falls in the category of Shojo is getting the same fame as major anime names enjoy. But the reason behind it is far more complex than just a good plot.

The realistic and dark themes of The Apothecary Diaries...

Complex, nuanced storylines aren't what fans come to Dragon Ballfor. Compared to other, more narratively driven battle Shonen anime, like Hunter X Hunter and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Dragon Ball's stories are simplistic, and the appeal of the series lies in its action and its comedic charm. Even still, nearly all installments in the franchise are at least able to successfully tie up all their loose ends.

Despite only running for 20 episodes, Dragon Ball Daima has one of the messiest stories in the franchise. The anime is bloated with characters, concepts, and plots, and there just isn't room for all of them to be addressed by the end. Dragon Ball Daima succeeded in many ways, but many of the storylines it introduced were absolutely pointless.

Arinsu's Masterful Scheming Amounts to Nothing Arinsu's Shift in Characterization in the Final Episodes Comes Out of Nowhere

For a large portion of Dragon Ball Daima,...

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.

People love anime because of all the possibilities it holds. Anime series are not bound by rhyme, reason, or physics, allowing magic and other astounding things to occur. That sense of endless possibility has led to some of anime's most flawless episodes, showcasing gripping storylines, enchanting characters, exciting animation, and unforgettable moments that leave anime fans talking about them long after they air.

The most incredible anime episodes grab audiences from the start, and ramp up their emotions through to the final credits. They inspire fans to watch even more of the series or let them cheer for their favorite characters’ victories. Other perfect episodes are so full of action (and potentially devastation) that fans can’t forget about them even if they try. While not every anime can claim to have this kind of power, there are some standouts that provoke the kind of emotion in fans that take...

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,...

Avatar: The Last Airbender has become iconic and earned its legendary status as one of the best animated shows in history. By blending both western cartoon practices and eastern anime storytelling, Avatar almost feels like an anime. Even, perhaps, an isekai? Through the lens of a typical isekai anime, Avatar: The Last Airbender fits almost too perfectly into the mold, but can it really be considered an isekai?

Aang is an overpowered protagonist who gets "reborn" after over a century of being frozen in ice. He quickly becomes the most important character in the series, being the Avatar and the only one capable of bending all four elements. He even has to defeat the equivalent of the Demon King and stop the forces of evil from taking over the world. From a certain perspective, Avatar: The Last Airbender is an isekai anime.

Avatar: The Last Airbender is Heavenly Influenced by...

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Castlevania is an adult animated dark medieval fantasy action-horror drama series created by Warren Ellis. Based on the Japanese Castlevania video game series developed by Konami, the Netflix series follows Trevor Belmont, the last surviving member of the disgraced Belmont clan, who joins hands with vampire Alucard and a Speaker magician to save Eastern Europe from the wrath of vampire Vlad Dracula Tepes. Castlevania’s voice cast includes Richard Armitage, James Callis, Graham McTavish, Alejandra Reynoso, Matt Frewer, Emily Swallow, and Tony Amendola. So, if you loved the dark fantasy elements, brutal action, and compelling characters in Castlevania, here are some similar shows you should check out next.

Castlevania: Nocturne (Netflix) Credit – Netflix

Castlevania: Nocturne is an adult animated historical dark fantasy action-horror series created by Clive Bradley. Based on the video game Castlevania: Rondo of Blood, developed by Konami,...

The Niigata International Animation Film Festival returns to the Chubu region city in spring for a six-day event from March 15 to 20. The festival will be full of talks, screenings and retrospectives on the history of anime in Japan. Today, the festival revealed the line-up for the Satoshi Kon retrospective, the first screening in Japan of the Studio Bones documentary Bones 25: Dreaming Forward and the first screening of Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within since 2001 and more. As part of the festival’s Satoshi Kon retrospective, which already includes screenings of all his feature films, Niaff also confirmed that Roujin Z (which Kon worked as Art Director) will also recieve a screening. There will also be talks after the screenings of Millennium Actress , Paprika and Perfect Blue . On March 15, the A Turning Point in Japanese Anime CG event will be held all night . It will include a screening of Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within...

Most seasonal and classic anime titles are more accessible than ever these days. Crunchyroll, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and many other streaming platforms offer anime titles for fans to binge-watch. It's not uncommon for many people to discover their new favorite show after browsing through Tubi or Freevee to watch something that appeals to them. However, there are still certain anime that are notorious for being pirated.

Well-known series like Sailor Moon,Yu Yu Hakusho, and Sword Art Online have been available on streaming platforms for years. Yet, plenty of other popular shōnen, shoujo, and isekai titles are easily some of the most viewed on illegal pirating sites. While these shows are available to watch legally, not everyone may have access to these services. These titles will make fans sail the high seas to get a taste of their favorite franchises.

The Original Fullmetal Alchemist Anime Has Few Options to...

Getting new fans into anime as a whole calls for some intro-level anime that don't feel too excessive in their style and presentation. There are plenty of introductory anime to choose from, including shonen and seinen, and there are plenty of shonen anime that should not be used to welcome new fans to the anime community. If someone is on the fence about anime as a whole or is skeptical of the whole thing, there are some shonen anime that will just make the situation worse.

A non-fan might be convinced to check out something like Violet Evergarden or Vinland Saga, while certain shonen anime would just push non-fans away. While these shonen anime titles have plenty to offer for mainstream anime lovers, those shonen anime titles would just reinforce a non-fan's perception of why anime isn't suitable entertainment for them. Excessive fan service, over-reliance on the power of friendship,...

Power levels in anime aren't always a feature, but a byproduct of narrative choices and power scaling. Not all power systems or levels are created equal, however. Some anime over-complicate power levels to seem more complex and detailed than actually being a well-designed power system. A deep pond is better than a shallow ocean when dealing with power levels and showcasing them in the right way.

Nuance is often unnecessary when the end goal is to showcase a believable hierarchy of characters and their power levels. But, some anime take the extra step by implementing a logical and balanced way to understand power levels. By creating a power system which breaks down a character's power level through rank, ability, or magical power, power levels can become easily digestible for audiences to understand at a glance.

Re:Zero Starting Life in Another World Features Contracts and Witches Authority Streaming on Crunchyroll...