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Exclusive: London-based Sc Films International has picked up Brillante Mendoza’s latest film project, Chameleon, for worldwide sales ahead of the Cannes market.

Currently in post-production, the Philippines-Japan crime drama focuses on a Filipino transgender dancer named Marie (played by Mariko Ledesma) who joins the Japanese Yakuza underworld. Set in early 2000s Sapporo, Japan, Marie becomes entangled with the dangerous Yakuza world after an immigration raid pushes her into the orbit of the deadly Yakuza. Desperate, she takes a job at the Chameleon club and quickly becomes a favorite of the Yakuza boss, named Shimamura. Marie must find a way to escape even though the promise of freedom may be fleeting.

First footage from the film will be available during Cannes, with the film receiving support from Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs. Production took place over two years in Japan.

Chameleon stars veteran Japanese actor Eiji Okuda as Yakuza boss Shimamura, alongside Tsuyoshi Ihara, Rina Takeda (Attack on Titan) and Shogen (Gensan Punch).

Besides Ledesma, Filipino actors in Chameleon include Ruby Ruiz, Gigi Hernandez and Vince Rillon.

Mendoza won Best Director at the Cannes Film Festival in 2009 for his feature film Kinatay.

Troy Espiritu, who also served as a writer on Mendoza’s 2016 Cannes entry Ma’ Rosa, penned the screenplay for Chameleon alongside Mendoza.

Chameleon is produced by the same group of producers who previously collaborated on boxing biopic Gensan Punch, which won the Kim Jiseok Award at the 2021 Busan International Film Festival. Producers include Takahiro Yamashita from Japan’s Yaman Films, Krisma Maclang Fajardo of The Philippines’ Center Stage Productions, UK-based Fumie Suzuki Lancaster of Sc Films International and Bobo.

The film is also executive produced by Yoshi and Hironobu Arai , with music composed by Yoshihiro Hanno (Mountains May Depart).

“We’re thrilled to reunite with director Brillante Mendoza and his outstanding team,” said Lancaster, who serves as one of the film’s producers. “This powerful comeback film is deeply rooted in Mendoza’s unique vision, shedding light on the untold stories of Filipinos who came to Japan in the early 2000s with hopes and dreams of a better life. Following our successful collaboration on Gensan Punch, an HBO Original that won acclaim at the Busan International Film Festival, we are proud to continue supporting Brillante’s bold storytelling on the global stage.”...

Some moments from Attack on Titan are forever etched in the fandom’s hearts, and that includes the Reiner and Bertholdt reveal as well. I still wonder how such an important revelation was made in the most nonchalant way possible. But that casual and unbothered energy probably added to the shock. As much as this particular plot twist is fondly remembered, its aftermath deserved better.

The shock of Reiner and Bertholdt’s true identity hadn’t even worn off, and we already had another predictable turn of events awaiting us. The fight that followed between Eren and Reiner’s Titan form was spectacular and interesting. When I recall that fight, I am amazed at how it’s not the highest-rated episode in the series.

Attack on Titan’s “Close Combat” didn’t even come close! Eren transforms into the Attack Titan and immediately charges towards Reiner | Credits: Studio Wit

Right...

Stock prices for major Japanese anime and content-related companies have seen remarkable growth over the past decade, significantly outperforming the broader market.

Their position continues to remain strong despite the concerns over U.S. tariffs under the Trump administration, according to an analysis published by Anime Eiga (Tadashi Sudo).

Leading anime producer Toei Animation (known for One Piece) is a perfect example of this trend. The company’s stock price stood at 3,530 yen as of April 24, 2025, a more than 15-fold increase from its adjusted price of 236 yen on March 31, 2015.

Over the past year alone, while the Nikkei index fell significantly from its peak, Toei Animation’s stock rose 35%. The company’s market capitalization recently exceeded 700 billion yen.

Similarly, Ig Port saw its share price increase sixfold over the same 10-year period, reaching 2,047 yen by April 24, 2025.

Other content-focused companies like Sony Group, Bandai Namco Holdings, Kadokawa, and film giant Toho have...

Since its inception over a decade ago, the “Boonie Bears” franchise has become a cultural mainstay, with 11 standalone installment movies that have collectively grossed nearly $1.2 billion at the box office, 14 animated series with over 700 episodes, and an impressive 200 billion online views across its content. Its influence extends far beyond the screen, encompassing theme parks, immersive family entertainment centers, and extensive merchandise. “Boonie Bears” also collaborates with educational partners to promote themes such as sustainability, ecological awareness, holistic well-being, and emotional growth, principles thoughtfully embedded throughout its storytelling. The latest installment in the franchise, “Boonie Bears: Future Reborn”, is currently screening in Ireland and the UK.

Boonie Bears: Future Reborn review is part of the Submit Your Film Initiative

When a mysterious time traveler named Saylor arrives in the forest, Bramble, Briar, and their old frenemy Vick find themselves hurled 100 years into a bleak future. The Earth they once knew is now a devastated wasteland,...

Endings. Endings. Endings. It’s not a good feeling when a show that you very much like reaches its finale. That’s where several shows and movies fail miserably, and they go from the best thing you’d ever see to the worst show in all of humanity (*cough* Game of Thrones).

Well, another show that has been doing so great so far is Amazon Prime Video’s The Boys, and that has me worried. With 4 iconic seasons to its name, the show has received worldwide fame and acclaim, and the final season is upon us. So naturally, we decided to write an article on how The Boys could screw it up (hopefully not).

The Boys can have three terrible endings

The obvious choice would be Antony Starr’s Homelander winning it all (and that would be an amazing ending), but for the sake of this article, we will be eliminating that potential ending.

Anime has risen in popularity in recent times, with series like One Piece, Attack on Titan, and many more carrying the legacy. The unique stories and genres in the anime industry allow something for everyone. It can cater to anybody’s taste, from romance to gore. It’s a limitless medium of entertainment.

That being said, animation is also the toughest creative industry. The work conditions are terrible and unsustainable for the people producing the series we love so much. The production companies in Japan, too, are notorious for this exact issue. Most are short-staffed, and the passion is declining. This is exactly what Hideaki Anno warned us 10 years ago.

However, despite Anno’s skepticism, I don’t see the anime industry falling apart. Creativity is the root of this line of work, and while work conditions do need to get better, I can see how much love and effort...

Hey, do you recall when being a geek was like having a secret identity, but without all the superhero coolness? Man, those were awful times. If you even mentioned that you liked anime, comic books, or anything kinda nerdy, it was like having a big ‘Bully Me’ sign on your forehead. However, Aizen’s voice actor from Bleach, Kyle Hebert, feels things have changed a little lately.

Fast forward to today, and guess what? That same guy who was getting thrown into lockers for being Dragon Ball Z-crazy is flexing his Naruto tattoo on social media, and raking in followers. Somewhere along the line, being a geek went from a shameful secret to an absolute superpower. And honestly? It’s about time.

Marvel, DC, and Anime: The cross-pollination of modern geek culture

In the old days, if you were seriously into something such as Gundam, Marvel Comics, or (God forbid) Yu-Gi-Oh!

Attack on Titan fans are usually busy mulling over the ending, unresolved mysteries, or defending the series. As a result, the fandom is mostly unproblematic, except for the times when the discussion turns to Gabi Braun. In such cases, Attack on Titan fans are no better than Star Wars fans. Okay, that might be a stretch, but the hate for Gabi is intense.

It’s not very difficult to make out the reasons that make her such a hated character, but her character arc is strangely similar to Eren’s. Their similarities make the immense love and the extreme hate a bit confusing, as they’re essentially tweaked versions of the same character.

Why do fans hate Gabi so much?

Gabi Braun was introduced during the final arc of Attack on Titan. She was a young Eldian from Marley who aspired to inherit the Armored Titan. Her main goal was to become an honored warrior,...

There’s no anime quite like Vinland Saga as it redefines narrative power, charged with rich emotions, impactful themes, and a raw, heart-warming storyline. What originally started as a brutal tale of Vikings, revenge, and survival evolved into a moving story about redemption, peace, and human emotion.

It gives the viewers an insight into the human mind and the workings of society at large. Thorfinn’s journey is extremely powerful, and his character is one of the most complex in all of anime history.

But creator Makoto Yukimura revealed that the character that was most difficult to create was not Thorfinn, but Arnheid. A character that represents both simplicity and freedom. She was the one who lit the spark within the hearts of both Einar and Thorfinn.

Arnheid’s pain was necessary for Vinland Saga’s message

Makoto Yukimura is undoubtedly a maestro at expressing emotions and weaving complex elements...

We are in 2025, and we are going to check out the most anticipated anime of 2025, which includes great anime like Kaiju, One Piece, Jjk Move, and many others.

Anime fans have much to anticipate in 2025. This year’s schedule has something for all tastes, from action-packed fight scenes to romantic dramas to mind-bending mysteries.

Teaser Image of Solo Leveling, which is the Most Awaited Anime 2025. [ Image Credit: A-1 Pictures ]

Some anime are new and open up new worlds and characters, and others are sequels and carry forward much-loved tales from past seasons. From the action-packed battles in Solo Leveling and Jujutsu Kaisen to the emotional depth of Attack on Titan’s last film, 2025 will be a year to remember.

Here in this guide, we will discuss every anime in-depth, describing their plots, what has occurred previously (if it’s a sequel), and what the fans can look forward to next.

List of Anime Releasing...

At this point, there is no denying it: concert movies are a thing and fans love it. And even though we've seen everyone from Taylor Swift to BTS make a splash at the box office with their shows, Japan proved recently that it's not only flesh-and-bone artists that can lure legions of fans into movie theaters. Last year, Strawberry Prince The Movie became a standout when it premiered, and now Crunchyroll announced that it's bringing the phenomenon to subscribers all over the world. The concert movie is slated to debut on platform this summer.

Strawberry Prince is a boy band that was formed in 2016 in Japan. Following in the footsteps of artists like Gorillaz and Daft Punk, the six members of the group use avatars to represent them in music videos and publicity material. They only reveal their faces in live performances and meet-and-greet events. Their use of anime iconography...

An ambitious new game project by the world's most popular VTuber agency is underway. Wit Studio, the anime studio behind Spy x Family, brought Hololive's video game vision to life in a stunning anime preview.

Wit Studio, the Japanese animation studio behind the early seasons of Attack on Titan and the upcoming anime reboot of One Piece, produced an animated preview of Hololive's new video game project, known as Holoearth. The preview depicts an isekai-like scenario, where an apathetic girl is transported into a fantasy world filled with wonder, finding new meaning in her former ordinary life. The everyday girl, who goes by the new title "Pathfinder," is accompanied by an informative sidekick robot and a beautiful digital girl on par with the virtual girls of Hololive.

Holoearth Will Bring Hololive Fans Closer to Their Favorite Streamers & More

Holoearth is described as an aspiring video game project made for the Metaverse platform.

We are up for a Shorty Award! Vote for us daily through April 30 . This week on The Anime Effect: LeAlec, Leah and Haley are joined by VTuber Matara Kan to discuss her tktkt, how to come back to anime after a long break, and more! In our audio-exclusive episode, we fill you in on the latest news in the anime world, including Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train getting a re-release, All Might getting all armored up, plus other headlines! Episode 61 of The Anime Effect is now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and anywhere else you listen to your podcasts! If you're waiting to watch the video episode, it'll be live on Crunchyroll and YouTube at 7 p.m. Et. Listen or Watch on: News Featured in Episode 61 - Audio Only Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train North America Re-Release Announced Starting May 14 My Hero Academia...

With the release of The Darkest Place I’ve Ever Been , French nu-metalcore giants Landmvrks have firmly planted their flag as one of the most powerful creative forces in all of heavy music. The album blends elements of metal, hardcore, and hip-hop flows, while also telling a riveting, terrifying story. This is the genre at its peak. So of course, there has to be anime involved somewhere, right? I had the chance to speak with Landmvrks frontman Florent Salfati about pushing the limits of their sound, anime fandom in France, and the ways that anime has affixed itself into his creative mind. To start things off, it’s been about four years since your last album! It seems like your fanbase has grown a lot since then, so how does it feel to have such a sense of anticipation for a new release of yours from fans around the world?...

In recent years, many popular anime series have disappointed their audience because of their poor endings. Attack on Titan has garnered mixed feelings for how unsatisfying it was, with fans accusing Hajime Isayama of rushing the storyline, but a good portion of them also found it appropriate.

The controversial ending, combined with how dragged out the anime adaptation was, ruined the reputation of Attack on Titan. It’s still considered one of the complex and brilliant series in the anime community, a masterpiece that could potentially ruin other anime for fans, but flawed nonetheless.

Many fans blame Hajime Isayama for it, but the mangaka was only following what he planned for the storyline. Most masterpieces will not be perfect. You might not agree with some choices, and the same applies to Attack on Titan. Isayama had already decided how it ended since its inception.

Despite what fans think about Attack on Titan’s ending,...

As the world was busy celebrating and streaming Devil May Cry on Netflix, anime fanatics missed the quiet premiere of a potential scene-stealer. The series in question is Moonrise, an original net animation (Ona) that Studio Wit helmed. The series was poised to be the next big anime hit, but alas, only a handful of anime fans came to know about it.

Netflix is being held responsible for Moonrise’s state. With Netflix quickly on its way to becoming an anime-streaming giant, people had hope that it would do justice to Moonrise. But alas, Moonrise did not receive any such treatment. Netflix is also being accused of minimal promotion for Moonrise.

Moonrise was supposed to be an apt rival for Devil May Cry

Netflix released Devil May Cry animated series on April 3, and Moonrise just a week later on April 10. Yet, while everyone is busy streaming Dmc, Moonrise‘s launch was barely known to anyone.

CGI in anime is a controversial topic, and rightfully so, given how easily the blend of computer-generated imagery and hand-drawn visuals can go wrong. Attack on Titan fans are no strangers to this discourse. This was a major issue when the anime switched studios post AoT season 3. When Studio Mappa first took over the animation production, fans were skeptical of how the conclusion of the story would be handled.

Fans found the overuse of CGI quite problematic; there were numerous discussions about the same. During an interview, the director of Attack on Titan, Yuichiro Hayashi, shared his surprise at the entire debate surrounding CGI in AoT. And, his words are worth revisiting given how the animation improved dramatically in the final parts.

AoT Director shares his thoughts on the reception of season 4

Initially, fans didn’t trust Studio Mappa with Attack on Titan, especially because of Studio Wit’s brilliant work on the series.

Netflix is cordially inviting you to the royal anime event of the year. Today, the streamer decided to announce the release date of The Rose of Versailles with the two main characters front and center. The story centers around Oscar François de Jarjayes (voiced by Miyuki Sawashiro) and Archduchess Marie Antoinette (Aya Hirano) as they go about their royal commitments in the 18th century. While the Archduchess is falling in love with the French scenery and culture, she also starts to have contact with lower-ranking individuals who have their own struggles and battles to deal with. The anime movie is set to premiere next week, on April 30.

The Rose of Versailles is a bit of a different take on the anime genre. The setting strays away from the Japanese landscape, which translates to a different look for the production, and there is also an uncommon theme that will be addressed:...

Looking back, Attack on Titan’s season finale episodes were quite epic, especially the first one. The first season of Attack on Titan concluded with a high-stakes fight between Annie and Eren’s Titan forms. Eren went berserk and Annie crystallized herself in her defense. At that point, it didn’t seem like an action that would last for the entirety of the story.

Three seasons later, Annie was still in her crystal form. Her crystallization came undone as soon as Eren initiated the Rumbling. However, Hajime Isayama never delved into the specifics of the Female Titan’s crystallization. It’s still an interesting but mysterious concept, because we don’t know how Annie survived for all those years.

Annie’s crystallization in Attack on Titan and the lingering questions

The Survey Corps already suspected the Female Titan’s identity before Eren sparred with her. During the fight, Eren suddenly lost his calm,...

Most plot twists and revelations in Attack on Titan fit in the narrative like puzzle pieces, almost never seeming out of place or abrupt. For that reason, Hajime Isayama is highly regarded when it comes to a well-planned storytelling approach. No matter which part of the story you pick, there will be subtle instances of foreshadowing or explicit signs hinting at its potential introduction.

However, I’d not say that in a discussion about the Titans and their origins. That is simply because the Titans are the most significant yet the most confusing aspect of Attack on Titan. Even revisiting the story only helped me in revising what I already knew about the genesis of the Titan powers.

The origin of Titans is still as confusing as ever

At first, Titans were merely mindless monsters who devoured humans for no apparent reason. Later, it was revealed that there are Titans...

Anime opening songs are more than just an intro to any anime because they can make you feel more attached to the anime, which is why we will check out the top 10 best and worst anime opening songs today.

A single anime series has multiple intro songs that defend the storyline because the intro contains many scenes that are going to happen, which makes viewers feel excited. To keep the viewer stuck to the anime, the industry uses the best song to fit it.

Image showing Attack on Titan and My Hero Academia. Image Credit: Toho Animation/Crunchyroll

We are going to list the top 10 best and worst anime opening songs, which we picked based on many aspects, such as the streaming number, the love it gained from the listeners, the lyrics of the song, and the songs that justify the scene.

Top 10 Best Anime Opening Songs Still Image from Op 1 (Unravel) of Tokyo Ghoul,...

With those gigantic creatures known as Titans, epic battles, and insane twists and turns, Attack on Titan is undoubtedly a straight-up phenomenon. The series is near perfect, as the bittersweet ending might be the only contentious point.

It was almost as if fans were either hailing it as something really amazing or screaming “What?!” And believe it or not, the creator Hajime Isayama could’ve taken the end to even darker places – more like a version of ‘The Mist’, where we would all be crying in a corner. So, where did it change?

Perhaps an unexpected wake-up call? It was we fans. As Attack on Titan was gaining popularity, especially during the rapid success of the anime that was released in 2013, Isayama was really feeling the love and, more importantly, the pressure that came from the fandom that developed around the world. It really was overwhelming for him, and really,...

In all honesty, when Gojo Satoru faced off against Ryomen Sukuna, the Jujutsu Kaisen fandom completely lost their minds. This was not a normal fight, this was The clash of the titans. The strongest sorcerer of modern times vs. the ancient King of Curses. Fans were expecting a wild, no-holds-barred, planet-shaking fight where the winner would barely crawl out alive.

But then, Gojo lost. Oh boy, seatbelt up for the drama. Twitter exploded. Reddit was in chaos. Folks were tossing around terms like ‘plot armor,’ ‘nerfed,’ and ‘Gojo slander.’ How could the guy with Limitless and Six Eyes, literally the walking cheat code, just fall like that? Well, guess what? Gege Akutami, the mastermind behind it all, finally spilled some behind-the-scenes scoop, and it’s totally a game-changer.

Gege spills the tea: Gojo got played, not overpowered

An official Jujutsu Kaisen exhibition was held in Osaka on April 19, 2025, where Gege...

Masashi Koizuka, the co-director of the second and third seasons of Attack on Titan, has revealed a unique approach taken during the production of his latest anime, Moonrise.

In a recent interview with Mantan Web, Koizuka shared that the voice actors for the Netflix-exclusive series were deliberately kept unaware of their characters’ future.

They were only given scripts for the episodes they were recording, leaving them just as uncertain about their characters’ fates as the audience.

This method, while unconventional, allowed the actors to perform with raw intensity, embodying the same unpredictability that their characters experienced in the anime.

“Recording went sequentially from Episode 1, and the cast only understood the story as they received their scripts. They didn’t know what came next, and we didn’t tell them. They had to perform with the same uncertainty as their characters—unsure if they would live or die.“

Related:

Wit Studio...

Netflix Japan will release Bullet Train Explosion on April 23, a modern retelling of the 1975 film The Bullet Train. Directed by Shinji Higuchi and starring Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, the film updates the original’s premise with a present-day setting, new characters, and large-scale practical effects. The timing coincides with Netflix’s tenth year of operations in Japan and reflects its efforts to back high-budget Japanese projects outside the anime space.

The film centers on a Tokyo-bound bullet train carrying passengers unaware of a planted explosive system. If the train’s speed drops below 100 kilometers per hour, the device will detonate. The bombers demand a ¥100 billion ransom while authorities and passengers alike scramble to respond. While the storyline draws direct influence from Junya Satō’s 1975 original, Bullet Train Explosion places stronger attention on those inside the train, pushing character decisions to the forefront.

Kusanagi plays one of several passengers facing immediate consequences as the situation unfolds.

Directed by veteran filmmaker Shinji Higuchi and starring singer-actor Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, Bullet Train Explosion is the latest lively, highly-charged tentpole title on Netflix’s Japanese slate. Higuchi has made some of Japan’s biggest blockbusters, including Shin Godzilla, Shin Ultraman and Attack on Titan.

Bullet Train Explosion follows a ‘shinkansen’ (bullet train) bound for Tokyo, which soon comes under a bomb threat. The bombs on the train will explode if the train slows below 100 kph, leaving the passengers and crew in peril. The film is a reboot of the original 1975 movie The Bullet Train, which inspired the Hollywood blockbuster Speed — with the latter starring Keanu Reeves, Dennis Hopper, and Sandra Bullock.

Amid the high-octane, action-filled sequences, Higuchi’s film also offers up several moral questions about life’s dignity and worth.

“When we make a film, we can do many things,” Higuchi tells Deadline. “We’re like God — we can...

Attack on Titan director Masashi Koizuka has opened up about leaving actors completely in the dark in the new Nextflix anime series Moonrise.

Speaking to Mantan Web, Masashi Koizuka, who wrote and directed Moonrise after previously co-directing the second and third seasons of Attack on Titan, discussed how the new Netflix series developed tension between and even within its core cast of characters -- namely, by not telling the voice actors who would live or die throughout the series up until their respective final moments. "We recorded in order starting from the first episode, but the actors only understood the story when they were given the script," Koizuka explained.

Moonrise Anime Cast 'Didn't Know What Would Happen Next' With Their Characters Image via Wit Studio

"They didn't know what would happen next, and we didn't tell them either," Koizuka continued. "As the characters were thrown onto the battlefield, they worked under tension,...

The hostile world of Attack on Titan left barely any room for heartwarming concepts like romance. So what was the need for Hajime Isayama to make Mikasa and Eren’s love story an integral theme, especially when he was planning to end it in such a horrid way! Mikasa was obsessed with Eren from the beginning, but the latter barely showed his feelings throughout the story.

The gradual yet sudden romance intensified in the final installments of the series. When the tension was at an all-time high and stakes were through the skies, reality hit us all–a sad conclusion was awaiting the two characters. The heartbreak would have been more bearable if the mangaka had delved a little bit into Mikasa’s life post-Eren.

Hajime Isayama left us high and dry with Eren and Mikasa’s romance

Eren saved Mikasa’s life, and everything about him concerned her deeply in Attack on Titan.

Mostly, words of endearment or praise come to mind when one chooses to describe Levi Ackerman from Attack on Titan. And, that is no surprise given his role in the fight against the Titans. From guiding and supporting the Survey Corps up until the end to fulfilling the promise he made with Erwin, he persevered like no other. All his great qualities aside, one moment in the series highlighted how Levi had serial killer tendencies.

Even though killing was a crucial part of survival in the Aot world, many characters flinched when they were up against other humans. But, not Levi. Nobody expected him to be as nonchalant about killing other humans as he was. However, this discussion might not be as simple as stamping him as a serial killer.

The first time Levi faced up against humans in Attack on Titan

Levi was an exceptional fighter, and his skills...

“It was said that women would not be recognized unless they worked two or three times as hard as men.” That’s not some soap opera line, it’s the real deal from Crunchyroll’s boss lady in charge of the anime production division, Emiko Iijima. And let’s be honest: if you’ve been paying even the slightest bit of attention to how the anime community works, this doesn’t sound shocking.

It’s more of a sad truth that fans and creators have been quietly well aware of for ages. So, Iijima just got listed again as one of the most influential women in international television by The Hollywood Reporter, which is pretty cool! However, she is not only producing hits like Solo Leveling and Bye Bye Earth, she’s also revealing how hard it’s been for women in anime, both behind the scenes and in front of the camera.

In the last decade, a plethora of anime and manga series have been released, but only a few of them have been able to reach the hype and fame of Hajime Isayama’s Attack on Titan. The series is a gem that is loved and appreciated by almost every anime fan, and while there were some controversies around it, it still managed to be one of the greatest stories in history.

The success of Attack on Titan can be attributed to a variety of elements, but Eren Yeager, Mikasa Ackerman, and Armin Arlert are unquestionably the most important factors. The three characters and their overall development within the series helped the narrative build a solid structure around it and use it as the main force to form a connection with anime fans.

However, what Attack on Titan fans don’t know is that Eren, Mikasa, and Armin were never supposed...

SawanoHiroyuki[nZk] is a project focusing on vocal music developed by composer Hiroyuki Sawano , who also provides music to artists and produces music for TV dramas, anime movies, and other visual media. The project's official YouTube channel has released a music video for its 13th single song, "Inertia," which is now used as the opening theme for the spring 2025 TV anime To Be Hero X . The music video features Sawano and the song's guest vocalist, Rei (Newspeak). SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]:Rei "Inertia" Music Video To Be Hero X Creditless Opening Video The CD single of "Inertia" is set to release in Japan on June 11. Prior to the CD release, the title tune is now available on digital platforms for streaming and download. Time-limited production edition CD jacket Regular edition CD jacket Hiroyuki Sawano Rei Related: To Be Hero X Anime Locks in April 6 Release Date, Shares New Key Visual To Be Hero X...

The anime industry is by far one of Japan's most lucrative enterprises, with many popular studios amassing millions -- or even billions -- of yen in profit each year. A newly-surfaced data report has revealed the most recently disclosed net profit of 25 prominent individual studios, including Studio Ghibli, Bandai Namco Filmworks (Mobile Suit Gundam), CloverWorks and more.

This data was initially largely published in Japan's Official Gazette, a public journal that contains detailed financial disclosures from Japan-based companies. A Redditor known as Mazen141 shared the data via the R/anime subreddit. The resulting chart provides anime lovers with an overview of how much their favorite studios have earned from their respective IPs. The total profit margins of the top 12 highest-earning studios (of those included in the report) are listed below.

New Anime Studio Data Shows How Much Profit Ghibli, A-1 Pictures & More Really Earn So, How Much Money Do Anime Studios Actually Make?...

Adapting manga and anime series into live-action is always tricky, but it can immensely pay off if fans warm up to it. Today, Netflix is rolling out the first trailer for Bet, a new series that brings another manga story to life. The story centers around a girl named Yumeko (Miku Martineau) who enters the gambling underworld of a boarding school for elite students while forwarding a secret revenge plan. The series premieres on May 15.

The trailer for Bet makes it clear that Netflix is keeping the manga energy up and betting on over-the-top visual elements that worked so well with One Piece. We will see eye patches, masks and a protagonist who uses a distinct behavior during gambling sessions in order for people not to suspect she has a plan in motion. However, her talent in games shakes up the entire school's hierarchy, which makes her a target of...

I Prevail have brought heavy music to millions of people around the world. Catchy choruses, ripping riffs, and an energy that makes you want to Kamehameha everyone in your way have made the twice Grammy-nominated band one of the most unmissable acts in all heavy music. I had the opportunity to speak with vocalist Eric Vanlerberghe and guitarist Dylan Bowman about their love of Dragon Ball Z , musical inspiration, and getting inked up, anime style. Can you tell me a little about your anime journey? How it started and where you are now? Eric : Growing up I was the oldest child, so I didn't have any big brother or sister introducing me to anything cool. It was my next-door neighbor and his older siblings that showed me all the cool stuff. Among all the things I learned from them, Dragon Ball Z was a huge one. After I'd get...

Crime thriller Yadang: The Snitch, led by Kang Ha-neul, opened in first place at the South Korean box office over the weekend of April 18–20, drawing $4.1 million from 608,149 admissions. The film was released on April 16 and played across 1,832 screens, taking 69.8 percent of weekend revenue, according to data from Kobis, the Korean Film Council’s tracking service. Its cumulative total reached $5.26 million from 786,077 admissions by the end of the weekend.

Directed by Hwang Byung-gook, the film follows a paid informant, or “yadang,” who becomes entangled in a criminal conspiracy following a drug raid involving wealthy individuals. Kang is joined by Yoo Hae-jin as a prosecutor and Park Hae-joon as a detective. Both actors have been featured in recent box office titles, including Exhuma and 12.12: The Day.

The strong launch contributed to a lift in total weekend revenue for the top 10 films, which reached $5.4 million, up from $3.4 million the previous weekend.

The Match...

Dandadan is one of those wild series that makes you go, “What the heck did I just see?” in the best way possible. You’ve got aliens attacking people’s privates, psychic battles, ghost possessions, and characters that are both laugh-out-loud funny and profoundly heart-wrenching all at the same time.

And yet, in the midst of all the wildness, there are some actually emotional, deep moments, if you know where to look. One of the best-kept secrets in the series is the subtle but powerful relationship between Aira Shiratori and the tragic ghost ballerina we all love: Acrobatic Silky (or Acro Silky).

The name that dances: Aira Shiratori as a hidden Swan Lake reference

Aira Shiratori’s name may look like another anime character name at first glance, but it’s actually a neat poetic gem with lots of meaning. ‘Ai’ means ‘love.’ ‘Ra’ signifies ‘silk.’ ‘Shiratori,’ literally ‘white bird,...

The South Korean box office welcomed a new leader as crime thriller “Yadang: the Snitch” opened in first place with $4.1 million, commanding 69.8% of weekend revenues.

Directed by Hwang Byeng-Gug and starring “Squid Game 2″ actor Kang Ha-neul, “Yadang: the Snitch,” is from the producers behind record-breaking hit “12:12 The Day” and “Inside Men.” It follows a professional informant called “yadang” who provides covert information about the drug world to prosecutors and police. When a drug bust at a party attended by high-profile second-generation VIPs leads to a dangerous conspiracy, the yadang must fight to survive. The film pairs Kang with “Exhuma” star Yoo Hai-jin and “The World of the Married” actor Park Hae-joon.

The April 16 release drew 608,104 admissions from April 18 to 20 across 1,832 screens, according to Kobis, the tracking service operated by the Korean Film Council. The film’s cumulative total already stands at $5.2 million with 786,032 total admissions, marking one of the...

While Hello Kitty might be the most well-known of the bunch, she's far from the only prominent Sanrio mascot. Now, with the popularity contest raging to determine the cream of the company's crop, fans can put it all on the line and stake their claim by showing their fandom in a fashionable way.

A new line of U-Treasure necklace charms features imagery of the legion of Sanrio characters seen in the current popularity contest. Not only can fans physically manifest their fandom by showing off a necklace with their favorite Sanrio mascot, but each purchase goes toward putting the corresponding character higher up in the polls. With only a month left for pre-orders, customers should hurry to get theirs now and cast a different kind of ballot.

Sanrio Fans Can Vote for Hello Kitty, Kuromi, Cinnamoroll & More in 2025 With New U-Treasure Charms

The current Sanrio 2025 popularity contest has numerous possible winners,...

The popular anime-inspired VTuber group hololive is heading stateside this summer for a 'fishy' new merchandise collaboration involving Ninomae Ina'nis, Ouro Kronii and Gigi Murin to the United States.

Sushi restaurant chain Kura Sushi has announced an upcoming collaboration with hololive English this July. Details are sparse, but the site is giving away a limited-time "Exclusive Gear Pass" that fans can redeem for the exclusive Kura Sushi x hololive English merch at the event, taking place at up to 76 locations statewide. Readers can check out the new hololive collaboration artwork below. According to a Reddit post, one of the merch items may include a hat.

Hololive's Ninomae Ina'nis, Ouro Kronii & Gigi Murin Serve Up a 'Fishy' Collab With Kura Sushi

Fans have just two more days for the Exclusive Gear Pass promotional campaign. The pass can be obtained by downloading the Kura Sushi Rewards app, dining in the restaurant by...

Just before it ended, Star Wars Celebration 2025 (which was celebrated in Japan) announced the third installment of Star Wars: Vision. Fans who couldn't get enough of the animated anthology that showed Star Wars from different perspectives and art styles will only have to wait a bit longer for the series to continue. Three of the nine episodes were confirmed to be sequels to fan-favorite shorts, while the remaining six are original stories from different anime studios.

The most exciting thing about this announcement is that all nine episodes of Star Wars: Visions Volume 3 will be made by some of Japan's best anime studios. This includes some rising studios, and even industry giants who made some of the most beloved anime of recent memory. That said, it's worth spotlighting Star Wars: Visions Volume 3's six upcoming original stories because of how much they will expand what Star Wars can and should...

It was many years ago that I read The Beginning After the End and fell in love with it. There was something unique about the narrative; it was different from the usual rushing and thrill, it had a structure to it, the development was extremely detailed, and the world-building was such that I could see the story play out in my mind vividly.

Back then, I didn’t think that non-Japanese novels would have a chance at becoming an anime, because let’s be real, the projects are chosen based on their popularity and not potential. TurtleMe wrote the story in English, meaning Japan was not going to be his target area.

When I heard that The Beginning After the End was getting an adaptation, I was extremely excited. I knew, in the back of my head, that it couldn’t be a big budget studio like Mappa, Ufotable, or A-1,...

Attack on Titan proves to be a massive moneymaker for Ig Port, with an official financial report revealing the anime franchise as the highest-grossing over the past decade.

Ig Port's recent FY2025 financial report (first three quarters) revealed how much copyright income its productions had generated between June 2015 and February 2025. Ig Port is the parent company of Wit Studio (Attack on Titan Seasons 1-3) and Production I.G. The copyright income includes money from licensing anime to streamers, Blu-ray sales, merchandising, games, stage plays and more. Attack on Titan led the list with 2.188 billion yen (~US$15.4 million), followed by Haikyu!! and Ghost in the Shell. Readers can check out the rest of Ig Port's highest-grossing titles below, grouped by whole franchises, as well as individual entries, such as seasons.

Attack on Titan Anime Franchise a Major Winner in New Official Financial Data Image via Kodansha Ig Port's highest-grossing titles (entire franchise...

The Beginning After the End anime isn’t faring well, especially with the recent stir on social media and fans calling for the series’ cancellation. Such reactions affected both the author as well as the animation studio. This is true for the subpar animation, which makes it lackluster for the most part.

The graphics and the visuals don’t do justice to TurtleMe’s webnovel in any case. It’s the same for the fight scenes, too; those are straight up slipshod. But in the grand scheme of things, the audience is overlooking the series’ silver lining that makes it authentic.

To be specific, the anime has a key component, which is the redeeming grace for the most part. It is this core trait that deserves to be praised and appreciated. And while it seems remarkable, this glimmer cannot overshadow the blatant criticism the series faces.

There’s light at...

After the previous theatrical release of the Attack on Titan: The Last Attack omnibus movie earlier this year, you can now watch it right here on Crunchyroll with a wide selection of subtitles and dubs! Read on for everything you need to know about the release. Attack on Titan: The Last Attack Subs : English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, Italian, Castillian, Polish Dubs : English, Spanish, Portuguese, German Synopsis : Attack on Titan: The Last Attack brings together the last two episodes of the highly acclaimed anime series in the franchise’s first-ever theatrical experience delivering the epic finale in a colossal-sized omnibus film. Humanity lived quietly behind massive walls built to protect themselves from the threat of monstrous creatures called Titans. Their century of peace was shattered by an attack on their city that left a young child, Eren Yeager, motherless and vowing revenge on the titans. Years after joining the Survey Corps,...

Will this be the last time I ever have to write about Attack On Titan? Every time I figure I’ve written my last ever piece, a new Eren-related news item pops into the inbox. This time, I have to report that the film Attack On Titan: The Last Attack has been made available on the Crunchyroll app. The feature, released in the US last February for one day, is a re-sewing of the two extended-length episodes that ended the series on television. Those two episodes are already on Crunchyroll. I guess whether you watch those or this is up to your personal preference. Once again, and potentially for the very last time, here’s the plot synopsis: Humanity lived quietly behind massive walls built to protect themselves from the threat of monstrous creatures called Titans. Their century of peace was shattered by an attack on their city that left a young child,...

It’s a great day to be an Attack on Titan fan. Attack on Titan: The Last Attack, the theatrical anime movie that concludes the epic battle between man and Titan, is now available to stream comfortably at home.

As of April 17, 2025, Attack on Titan: The Last Attack is becoming available to stream exclusively on Crunchyroll, with the stream dropping at 5 p.m. (Pt). The film, which premiered in Japan on Nov. 8, 2024, adapts the final two episodes of the anime TV series into a cinematic experience worthy of the big screen. An English dub starring Bryce Papenbrook as Eren Yeager is available, along with the original Japanese release with English subtitles.

Crunchyroll Pushes Play on Attack on Titan: The Last Attack in New Streaming Release

Attack on Titan: The Last Attack is directed by Yuichiro Hayashi, who also directed the fourth and final season of the anime TV series for studio Mappa.

The Beginning After the End used to be one of those rare series that did fantasy right. The webnovel established the base, and the webtoon took it a step further. It had solid art, clean storyboarding, and mystical characters that felt like they belonged in a fantasy storyline. But in the anime, all that goodwill is being quietly buried under what fans are calling one of the worst designs in anime.

The anime was not running blind, and it had Tapas as a reference; it was tried and tested art that the fans loved and enjoyed immensely. But The Beginning After the End anime not only got the most generic art style that isekai anime use, but also butchered the imposing and intriguing magical creatures in the story.

Tbate’s magic turns a dragon into a donkey

When we’re talking about the changes being horribly unfaithful to the source,...

Even at the end of everything, one hotel in Ginza keeps running! Apocalypse Hotel presents a very different view of life after humanity, and you can get to know the show's many colorful characters in new creditless cuts of the opening and ending movies. Check out the opening theme song, featuring a dancing Yachiyo and set to "skirt" by aiko: Related: Apocalypse Hotel Anime Checks In 8 More Cast Members in New Trailer And the ending theme song, set to "Capsule" also by aiko: Related: Original TV Anime Apocalypse Hotel Reveals April 2025 Broadcast Kana Shundo ( Luminous Witches episode director) directs Apocalypse Hotel at CygamesPictures. Shigeru Murakoshi ( Zombie Land Saga ) is writing the series composition, and Natsuki Yokoyama ( Attack on Titan Final Season costume design) is drawing the anime character designs based on Izumi Takemoto’s original designs. Yoshiaki Fujisawa ( Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation ) is composing the music. The series premiered in...

Trading in Tokyo for New York City, Godzilla will be stomping into the Marvel Universe to face off against the combined might of The Avengers, X-Men, and The Fantastic Four, along with the entire cast of characters that have come out of the panels of Marvel comics.

The comic, a five-issue run that will be written by Gerry Duggan, with art from Javier Garron, is set to feature a slew of great moments, such as Godzilla facing off against an Eternal, the King of the Monsters fighting The Strongest Avenger, The Hulk, and a symbiote getting hold of the terrible Kaiju menace.

Godzilla (the IP) notably crossed over with DC comics as well, facing off against the Justice League along with Kong from Legendary’s line of films. However, the Godzilla that seems to be making landfall in the pages of Marvel comics is going to be the more traditional,...