Answerman – What’s Actually Happening at Kadokawa?
With everything from an oversaturation of isekai stories in the market to activist investors trying to decide the future of FromSoftware, a lot is happening over at one of Japan’s biggest multimedia companies.
― DeliciousDungeonMaster25 asks: Dear Answerman, I keep seeing headlines saying Kadokawa is in trouble because of isekai. Now I am reading that an activist shareholder is getting involved and …
This Week in Mobile Games – Seeking Summer Smartphone Succor
This week, we take a look at the mobile game news coming out of the Summer Game Fest and other similar showcases.
― Hello, and welcome once again to another installment of the column! Despite the rainy season soon approaching over here, the summer is still as hot as ever. All the more reason to hide indoors and watch the game industry make it rain new game announcements and previews, thanks to the ye…
CLAMP’s xxxHOLiC: Rei Manga Teases Plan for ‘Final Battle’
CLAMP launched xxxHOLiC sequel manga in 2013
― This year’s 29th issue of Kodansha’s Young Magazine teased on Monday that Watanuki, the protagonist of CLAMP’s xxxHOLiC: Rei manga, is planning a strategy for the “final battle.”xxxHOLiC: Rei is the latest manga in CLAMP’s xxxHOLiC series, and it launched in Kodansha’s Weekly Young Magazine in 2013 after an initial delay. The series went on hiatus in Jul…
Red River Omnibus 2-5 Manga Review
Red River is a work of epic fiction, shoujo manga style, and it’s still worth reading thirty years after its original publication.
― Historical fiction doesn’t always owe history fidelity, but Chie Shinohara absolutely gives it more than its due in Red River. Although she fudges history a bit – the inspiration for Yuri was likely the wife of one of Kail’s successors, a woman named Puduhepa – and chan…
Dara-san of Reiwa Volume 1-3 Manga Review
Dara-san of Reiwa feels like two manga stitched together, not unlike its monstrous central character.
― How should readers approach Dara-san of Reiwa, a story that feels like two manga stitched together, not unlike its monstrous central character? Creator Haruomi Tomotsuka shared at the end of volume one that the story originated as a web manga and was, at least at first, an outlet for his own fetish…
Your Anime Rankings – Best of Spring 2026, June 3-9
Akane-banashi finally has its turn in the weekly limelight, and Needy Girl Overdose catches up in the cumulative chart thanks to steady high marks since week 3. Check out our weekly user rankings!
― Let’s have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season,
based on the polls you can find in our Daily Streaming Reviews
and on the Your Score page with the latest simulcasts. Ke…
Reform with No Wasted Draws – The Legend of Koizumi Volume 1 Manga Review
When a manga has a two-page disclaimer, you know you’re in for a good time.
― When a manga has a two-page disclaimer, you know you’re in for a good time. And let me tell you, Reform with No Wasted Draws – The Legend of Koizumi‘s first volume is a hell of a ride. My initial thought was, “Why bother with using real people?” but after reading this volume, I’ve come to understand why it was a much more e…
This Week in Games – Summer Showcase Slamfest – Save Room For Aincrad
It’s a smorgasbord of new announcements from a variety of showcases! Jean-Karlo’s got the details from the Japanese side of gaming.
― Welcome back, folks! I took up the challenge of playing Kirby: Return to Dream Land Deluxe over the weekend. It is as charming as you’d expect. Also deeper than I expected. I’m used to the Copy abilities in a Kirby game having varied move lists; they’ve done that since…
Creating Visual Spectacle in Nippon Sangoku with Director Kazuaki Terasawa
It’s easy to miss a true seasonal anime highlight, but you’ll regret leaving the beautiful Nippon Sangoku on your “watch later” list.
― With more anime than ever to choose from and high-profile series split among several streaming services, it’s easy to miss a true seasonal highlight. Nippon Sangoku The Three Nations of the Crimson Sun first caught my attention while preparing for the Spring 2026 Ani…
Akiwashi’s ‘Living in a World Without Magic’ Music Video Has Animated Film Project in the Works
Kasagi Labo has overseas plans for film of indie music video
― Illustrator Akiwashi and Euluca Lab’s self-produced music video “Living in a World Without Magic” (“Mahō no Nai Sekai de Ikiru to Iu Koto” or Mahoseka for short) has an animated feature-length film project in the works. The original music video is below: Akiwashi served as the director, scriptwriter, character designer, animator, backgrou…
Monster’s Naoki Urasawa to Launch New Manga Series on August 12
Creator of Yawara, Master Keaton, 20th Century Boys, Pluto, Billy Bat starts Saigo no Manga Kyōshitsu
― The July issue of Shogakukan’s Big Comic Original Special (Big Comic Original Zōkan) magazine announced on Friday that Naoki Urasawa will launch the new manga series Saigo no Manga Kyōshitsu (The Final Manga Classroom) in the September issue on August 12. The announcement teased, “What’s Urasawa tr…
Dandelion Anime Series Review
Traces of Gintama‘s heart and hilarity are definitely here, but each episode goes on five minutes too long in service of a tacked-on climax.
― Gintama is one of the most celebrated comedy manga of all time. Hideaki Sorachi smashing aliens into the tail-end of the Sengoku era was every bit as bold as when Akira Toriyama dropped dinosaurs and mechs (and eventually aliens) into Journey to the West. What…
