Avatar: The Last Airbender's composer had some praise for the attention to detail in the new Netflix show. Takeshi Furukawa took some time to speak at length about the musical choices in the live-action adaptation. ComicBook.com asked the composer about some favorite moments in Avatar: The Last Airbender. While the Netflix show does manage to capture a lot of what people loved about the Nickelodeon animated classic, there are some details that live-action allows to flourish. Furukawa had to single out the sequences of Omashu and how they worked with small touches in the score.

"Absolutely. It's really the small details," he began. "You know, I think we were amazed when we first started seeing the first visuals. I was talking to my music editor and we were saying like, 'My gosh, the details on this.' And my music editor is a very seasoned. His name is Micha Lieberman. He's worked on many, many big epics. It's like these small things."

"Like someone in the costume department paid attention to that button right there, where like no one is gonna notice the button, except probably the costume people who put a lot of care and attention in detail to the authenticity," Furukawa added. "But it's these small things that really add up and just makes the difference. And that's where the craft is. That's where the difference is and that's where the craft is. And, that's where the expertise is. It's very important, so we made sure we paid attention to that as well in the music side."

Live-Action Avatar's Best Moment

Furukawa took some time to discuss his favorite moments from Season 1 as well. There's a whole lot of stuff jammed into the first outing on Netflix. Despite the pressure from our interviewer, the composer did point out that everything that happens in Omashu was a highlight for him. Episode 4 seems to be the personal highlight for Furukawa. However, he would go on to mention the finale's climactic battle as well. Check out what moments he decided to single out.

"This is this is such a difficult unfair question almost as if you're asking me to pick a favorite child," Furukawa laughed along with us. "Can I just give you some random highlight for me? Highlights for me: I loved Omashu. I loved scoring that entire world building and that arc."

"There is a couple of really high points in episode 4. There are a couple of, really high points in Episode 4. You'll know what I'm referring to when you watch it, I think," he added. "And then also Episode 6, for me, is is the highlight. It's a very very emotional episode. I know I sound like a broken record, but emotion to me is everything in score and music. I think it really is the key. And whenever I'm able to cut loose with the emotional arcs, emotional moments of the music, that's just the highlight for me. But then also, you know, I'd be remiss to not mention the epic battles that take place towards Episodes 7 and 8, at the end of season one. So yeah, I love everything."

What's your favorite detail from Avatar? Let us know down in the comments!

Kaiju No. 8 will be making its official anime debut later this Spring, and it has finally announced its release date with the launch of a new trailer! Naoya Matsumoto's original Kaiju No. 8 manga series has been a major standout in Shueisha's Jump+ app in Japan, and now the series is gearing up to reach a whole new world of fans with the premiere of its official anime adaptation. Kaiju No. 8 is likely going to have the biggest premiere of the Spring 2024 anime schedule, and thankfully it's not too much longer until it launches in full.

Kaiju No. 8 previously announced it would be premiering some time this April as part of the Spring 2024 anime schedule, but the newest update for the anime has confirmed that it will be premiering on April 13th. This anime will be having a groundbreaking premiere that fans can look forward to, however, as it not only will be simultaneously available around the world with Crunchyroll but will also be debuting with the social media site, X, at the same time as well. You can check out the newest trailer for Kaiju No. 8 celebrating the release date below.

How to Watch Kaiju No. 8

Kaiju No. 8 will be premiering on April 13th with both Crunchyroll and X. Starring the likes of Masaya Fukunishi as Kafka Hibino, Wataru Kato as Reno Ichikawa, Fairouz Ai as Kikoru Shinomiya, Asami Seto as Mina Ashiro, and Kengo Kawanishi as Soshiro Hoshina and more, Kaiju No. 8 begins to tease itself as such, "In a world plagued by threatening creatures known as Kaiju, Kafka Hibino aspired to enlist in the Japan Defense Force to defeat them. 'Let's wipe out the Kajju together.' Kafka pledged to his childhood friend, Mina Ashiro. Over time, life circumstances forced them to go their separate ways and caused him to abandon his lifelong ambition. He found himself employed by Monster Sweeper, Inc., a professional cleaning company that specialises in cleaning up the aftermath of Kaiju battles."

The synopsis continues with, "Meanwhile, Mina Ashiro is now the Captain of the Defense Force's 3rd Division. As it stands, he is currently unworthy of fighting Kaiju alongside her. At work, Kafka crosses paths with the highly motivated Reno Ichikawa. Reno's undying determination to join the Defense Force leaves no room for failure. His perseverance reawakens Kafka's ambition of standing next to Mina as they protect humanity from Kaiju together. A dream frozen by time, thawed by a burning promise."

Are you ready for Kaiju No. 8's April premiere? Let us know all of your thoughts about it in the comments! You can even reach out to me directly about all things animation and other cool stuff @Valdezology on X (formerly known as Twitter)!

Rick and Morty Season 7 ended with the titular duo reaching a new status quo as characters, and series co-creator Dan Harmon teased how that finale could be seen as a "rebirth" heading into Season 8! Rick and Morty Season 8 is currently in the works for a release some time next year, and there is currently no gauging where the two of them will be heading in the new episodes. With Rick defeating Rick Prime and Morty reaching a new understanding of himself as Season 7 came to an end, the duo is now heading into a new kind of status quo.

Rick and Morty co-creator Dan Harmon opened up to Variety about where Season 7 left the titular duo when it came to an end, and noted how the team wants to continue to balance the inclusion of a serialized narrative while making sure to have fun with its episodic stories. Teasing what is coming in Season 8 of the series, Harmon explained that with the end of some of its major canonical storylines the series is now open to have more ideas spark further serialization down the line.

Rick and Morty's Rebirth After Season 7

"There's obviously been a lot of shakeups and transitions that have happened that are luckily coinciding with some of these canonical storylines being resolved," Harmon began. "If I could set a framework for fans of the show, it's the old characters and all these things, but it's like, this is an opportunity for a rebirth. I mean, the kind of canonical things like searching for Rick Prime, these are things that come out of the ether, and then they acquire this gravity, and then they become a canonical serialized story."

Elaborating further, Harmon noted that this "rebirth" means that more of the new random ideas could end up becoming huge canonical storylines of their own, "I think people should expect more random embers shooting off of that fire and turning into organically gigantic serialized things of their own." But still, Harmon is still aiming for episodic stories. "I will always target the episodic personally. Because, like, your job is to fight gravity. And gravity is serialization. That's what happens organically; gravity is a great thing. But you're supposed to want to fly."

What kind of stories are you hoping to see more of in Rick and Morty Season 8? Let us know all of your thoughts about it in the comments! You can even reach out to me directly about all things animation and other cool stuff @Valdezology on X (formerly known as Twitter)!

HT - Variety

Avatar: The Last Airbender has debuted its live-action series with Netflix, but the new adaptation really missed out by not including a very important scene with Sokka and the Kyoshi Warriors. When Avatar: The Last Airbender was getting closer to its release, the staff and cast behind the series made sure to note that they were taking out the more sexist elements from Sokka's character that were seen in the original animated series. This caused a major debate among fans as his early sexism is what formed the core of his character arc for the series, and the live-action series has offered a different story for Sokka in its place.

In the original animated series, Aang and the gang's journey to played out much differently than seen in the live-action show. Sokka's run in with Suki started out a lot more prickly as he ridiculed the Kyoshi Warriors' strength. But eventually his learning respect the Kyoshi Warriors' training is the first major step in changing Sokka as a character. It's then cemented with his giving full respect to them by dressing like a Kyoshi Warrior himself. But that didn't happen in the Netflix series, and it's something that could come back to bite this adaptation later.

Why Sokka Needs to Be Sexist

Removing Sokka's sexism might seem like a good idea on the outside, but it completely misreads the function of his character arc in the grand scheme. The live-action version of Sokka is much different than the animated series. In the original, Sokka was loud and boastful but was ultimately ridiculed at many moments to undercut his comments (to further demonstrate to the audience how ridiculous he was being). His losing to Suki was humbling, and it was the kind of initial jostling he needed to get on that path of maturity we see by the end of the third season.

Sokka then realizes his mistake and instead of running from his weakness, he humbles himself before the Kyoshi Warriors and completely dons their garb (as Suki forces him to) in order to properly train with someone stronger to get on the path to being a true warrior. This was the first real indication that Sokka was at least open to change, and his first real experience with someone outside of the Southern Water Tribe helped him start that path to true growth. It's why Suki's eventual romantic feelings for him felt earned because Sokka realized the error of his initial ways.

It's not the same in the live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender at all. While Sokka does not ridicule the Kyoshi Warriors for being girls, his loss to Suki has a completely different vibe. When he loses to her and gets embarrassed, it's almost as if Suki has to help him realize how strong he already was. She needed to tell him he was already competent, and that's not really supposed to be Sokka's function at all. His role in Team Avatar is to steadily learn to be a proper warrior and leader, but the live-action show seems to start him out at this point.

His loss to Suki then sees her almost catering to him and raising him up rather than the other way around. Suki loses her initial function as a warrior, and instead seems like she's there just to tell Sokka he's doing great. Sokka's never humbled to the point of needing to fully immerse himself in a new culture, and thus means he'll likely be less challenged in other ways as the live-action series continues.

Sokka's journey reflects the world's changing as Aang and Team Avatar continue to impact the lives of those they come across. His path to maturity as an adult is one of the big reasons the original animated series success, and missing out on big moments like this seems to indicate that the live-action series might be misreading Sokka's journey in their adaptation as well. It's just a different character entirely.

But what do you think? Let us know all of your thoughts about it in the comments! You can even reach out to me directly about all things animation and other cool stuff @Valdezology on X (formerly known as Twitter)!

The Isekai genre is an ever-growing part of the anime world, with Mushoku Tensei Jobless Reincarnation being one of the forerunners in the field. On its face, the story of Rudy does not necessarily break the wheel, but it does present an exceptional story that remains one of Isekai's finest. Thanks to the anime adaptation so far, fans are quite interested in the second half of season two, and luckily, Studio Bind has some good news to share. The musical acts for the upcoming opening and ending themes have been revealed for the Jobless Reincarnation.

The opening theme for the second half of Mushoku Tensei's second season will be performed by musical act Hitorie, with the song "On The Frontline". Here's what Hitorie had to say about joining the anime adaptation, "We are truly honored that Hitorie's "On the Frontline'' has been selected as the theme song for the second season of the TV anime "Mushoku Tensei''. This song is about the helplessness of the main character, Rudeus Greyrat, before he became Rudeus, his strong feelings of not repeating that in this life, and the front lines he goes to in order to carry out those feelings, and even then, he is sometimes forced to face them.

"As a result of comparing various parts of myself, such as the inherent weaknesses that lie within me, and asking various questions about what I really need to protect and what are the reasons why I need to be strong, I have become quite strong. I think the song is finished. This year marks the 10th anniversary of our major debut. I hope that the band sound that we have honed on the front lines of the live stage will become the igniter that will further accelerate this work."

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Jobless Reincarnation Opening, Jobless Reincarnation Closing

The ending theme of Jobless Reincarnation's second half of season two will see singer Yuiko Ohara return to the franchise. Here's what Ohara had to say about returning to the story of Rudeus, "I'm really happy to be able to continue to be in charge of the ending of the second season of Mushoku Tensei II. As the story progresses from season 1 to season 2, I feel like the melodies and lyrics have become more straightforward. Continuing from the first season, MANYO will be arranging the song, and the band members will deliver the same familiar sound. Just like all the viewers, I am also very much looking forward to the anime broadcast!"

Jobless Reincarnation will return for the second half of its second season on April 7th this spring.

Via Official Mushoku Tensei Website

Rick and Morty is now at work on returning to Adult Swim with Season 8 of the animated series next year, and the co-creator and showrunner debunked a major villain theory heading into the new season! Rick and Morty Season 7 ended some big stories for Rick with the defeat of Rick Prime, and had essentially reset the table for the next wave of episodes to come as Rick and Morty are now at much different places heading into the future. But that also means that with a new status quo also comes the potential for some new major villains.

A major villain that fans had expected to see was Mr. Poopybutthole, who left Rick and Morty Season 7 with an ominous post-credits scene that teases him seemingly going backward on his growth. With the YouTube channel the Film Theorists taking this theory to a new level and expanding on it further, Variety asked Rick and Morty co-creator Dan Harmon and series showrunner Scott Marder on their thoughts of that theory and the two explained that while it's a great theory, it's not the plan they have in mind for the character.

Rick and Morty: Is Mr. Poopybutthole the Next Villain?

"Shit. Well, now we can't do that, or he can sue us, right? Good job, internet! You blew it again!" Rick and Morty co-creator Dan Harmon stated to Variety when asked about the Mr. Poopybutthole villain theory. "No, in all seriousness, I do love that guy so much; I want to encourage those kinds of theories. I love, love that stuff. I love him, particularly the amount of energy he puts into that stuff," Harmon stated. Marder added that while he thinks it's an interesting theory and that he "always love[s] what fans take and run with in any show" he clarified that it's "not their plan for him."

Rick and Morty Season 8 is currently in the works for a release with Adult Swim in 2025, and you can check out the first seven seasons of the series now streaming with Max and Hulu. Rick and Morty: The Anime will be hitting Adult Swim some time later this year, and will likely be introducing all kinds of unique new villains and characters to the wider multiverse for the franchise.

Do you think Mr. Poopybutthole would make a good Rick and Morty villain in the future? Let us know all of your thoughts about it in the comments! You can even reach out to me directly about all things animation and other cool stuff @Valdezology on X (formerly known as Twitter)!

HT - Variety

The Demon Slayer Corps has returned to the big screen once again thanks to Demon Slayer: To The Hashira Training film. Despite the movie once again being a compilation, taking episodes from the anime's third and fourth seasons, there were still plenty of anime fans who made their way to theaters to support Tanjiro and company. In a surprising turn of events, the latest Demon Slayer movie might have seen more support from countries that aren't Japan than the place where the shonen franchise first debuted.

Demon Slayer's time in theaters hit the ground floor running with its first outing, Demon Slayer: Mugen Train. To this day, the first film of the shonen franchise remains the number one anime movie of all time, as its time on the silver screen warranted hundreds of millions of dollars for studio Ufotable. To The Swordsmith Village and To The Hashira Training haven't managed to hit those same heights, though this most likely isn't thanks to a waning interest for the series, but rather as the past two movies were compilations of anime episodes.

Demon Slayer's Box Office Tally

In Japan, To The Hashira Training is around $10 million USD, meaning that Tanjiro's latest silver screen adventure has earned more in North America with a total of over $11 million USD. In terms of its worldwide box office, Demon Slayer's latest movie has earned a little over $28 million USD, showing that there is a hunger for anime projects around the globe.

If you are thinking about making your way to theaters to check out the latest Demon Slayer film, here's an official description for the third film of the shonen franchise, "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba -To the Hashira Training- will feature 'A Connected Bond: Daybreak and First Light' (Episode 11) from the Swordsmith Village Arc, featuring the conclusion of the fierce battle between Tanjiro and Upper Four demon Hantengu, as well as Nezuko's triumph over the sun. Seamlessly followed by Episode 1 of the highly anticipated Hashira Training Arc, featuring the start of training conducted by the Hashira in preparation for the forthcoming final battle against Muzan Kibutsuji, an episode never before seen by audiences."

Do you think Demon Slayer will one day create an entirely original movie for the silver screen as it did with Mugen Train? Feel free to let us know in the comments or hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics, anime, and the world of the Demon Slayer Corps.

Via Box Office Mojo

Avatar: The Last Airbender debuted a new live-action take on elemental bending with its new series on Netflix, and fans have gotten to see a look at how they made it all happened with a new behind-the-scenes video! Avatar: The Last Airbender has been dominating Netflix's charts ever since it made its debut around the world last week, and fans are already sharing their hopes of seeing the series return for a new season. One of the major reasons why is how the new live-action series interprets the various bending styles of the original animated show.

Avatar: The Last Airbender fans have been sharing their love of how Netflix's series showcases its own take on the various bending styles, and it's a blend of visual effects and stunts that helped pull it all together. Sharing a better look at how Avatar: The Last Airbender brought all of its bending to life, Netflix has shared an in-depth behind the scenes video of the steps they took to bring the bending styles to life. You can check out the special Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender behind the scenes video below:

Will Avatar: The Last Airbender Get a Season 2?

It has yet to be announced if Avatar: The Last Airbender will be getting a second season as of the time of this writing. The end of the first season seems to drop some big cliffhangers for the future, however, and with all of the support the series has been getting on Netflix so far, there could very well be a new season of the series before long. For now, you can check out the original eight episode series on Netflix as it adapts the first season of Nickelodeon's original animated series.

ComicBook.com's own Megan Peters said the following about Avatar: The Last Airbender in our official review, "...Avatar: The Last Airbender deserves to move forward. The live-action adaptation is the antithesis of Hollywood's blighted attempt from years ago. The adaptation takes big risks with its changes, but they all serve the story in an authentic way. Despite its gritty aesthetic, Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender realizes a new and faithful take on Nickelodeon's greatest series, but if you are an Avatar purist, this bold adaptation might not be up your alley."

What did you think of the bending in Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender? Let us know all of your thoughts about it in the comments! You can even reach out to me directly about all things animation and other cool stuff @Valdezology on X (formerly known as Twitter)!

Rick and Morty isn't done with Evil Morty yet - as series showrunners Dan Harmon and Scott Marder are now confirming in no uncertain terms.

Harmon and Marder are doing a deep-dive into Rick and Morty Season 7 (which finished its run in December and is streaming on Max), and painting a teaser-style roadmap into Season 8. During that talk with Variety, Marder states that when it comes to Evil Morty, "We can expect to see him in the future. We certainly have plans and grand designs with him, for sure."

That quote comes in the larger context of Harmon and Marder discussing the balance of the show, going forward. Harmon has maintained that he's still very much an anti-canonized, serialized, kind of storyteller, while Marder assured fans that Rick and Morty's advancement of core storylines in recent seasons won't be changing:

"[Season] Eight will have a lot of similar flow and vibes to six and seven, which is like a cool balance of silly and one-up canonical stuff," Marder said. "That's the stuff I want as a fan. And that's the stuff that Harmon and I work on all jammed together. I'm really proud of these last couple of seasons; they're sort of the perfect blend of what I look for as a fan."

SPOILERS: Rick and Morty seemingly made the evil version of Morty its primary villain, as far back as Season 1. He came into the show under the mask of being an Evil Rick's assistant, before a cliffhanger ending revealed it was Evil Morty who was the real wolf, hiding in sheep's clothing. In Season 3, fans got the surprise twist of an entire episode dedicated to Evil Morty, as he rose to power through a coup at the Citadel of Ricks. As "President Morty," Evil Morty lured Rick-137 and his Morty into a trap during the Season 5 finale, using the knowledge in Rick's head to complete a portal gun that helped him achieve his master plan: escaping the Finite Curve of reality that Rick sectioned off, where he is always the smartest man in the universe.

In Rick and Morty Season 7, we got another big shock twist: Evil Morty returned from his new home outside the reality curve and allied with Rick-137 and Morty to take out Rick Prime, the true canonical nemesis of the series. We got the full origin story of Evil Morty, and the episode ended with Evil Morty furthering his agenda: namely stealing Rick Prime's "Omega Device," which can erase a person from every reality.

With all that on the table going into Rick and Morty Season 8, fans should be prepared for Evil Morty's next move to be his biggest and best move yet - and it can only mean bad things for Rick and Morty.

Rick and Morty is streaming Season 1-7 on Max.

If you have been out of the loops for awhile, you should know AI is all over headlines these days. From generative artwork to copyright strikes, artificial intelligence has as many doubters as it does proponents. When it comes to the anime fandom, fans are admittedly wary of how AI could dull the industry, so all eyes are on Crunchyroll now that it is looking into the tech.

Recently, the president of Crunchyroll sat down with The Verge for an interview about all things tech. It was there Rahul Purini confirmed generative AI is being tested behind the scenes.

According to Purini, Crunchyroll is looking into how AI can bolster subtitling creation and closed captions. The internal tests are being done to "optimize processes" behind the scenes in an effort to release anime even closer to its Japanese release. Purini said AI could also become a tool to better suggest titles to users. And for employees, generative AI can be used to create different workflows.

As you can imagine, this confession has Crunchyroll users and anime fans doing double takes. It would put things lightly to say AI is controversial, and that stance is doubled in creative fields. AI and anime have not mixed well to date, so netizens are admittedly confused about why generative AI is being tested for subtitles.

After all, AI is still a juvenile tech, and subtitling is anything but easy. From translating to localizing, there is great nuance in subbing an anime. Back in October, Crunchyroll faced harsh criticism for its so-called lazy subtitles on The Yuzuki Family's Four Sons. After complaints were lodged, Crunchyroll fixed the subs, and the incident has fans on high alert. So as you can imagine, netizens aren't sure what to make of this latest confession.

What do you think about this Crunchyroll update? Let us know what you think in the comments below as well as on Twitter and Instagram. You can also hit me up @MeganPetersCB to share your take!

When it comes to Bleach, the shonen anime stands leagues above its peers. Back in the day, the hit series was often dubbed one of anime's biggest series, and creator Tite Kubo oversaw its solid start. Sadly, things for Bleach began to wobble in its later years as the anime indulged in filler content. These days, Bleach is back in business thanks to a special sequel, but it seems Kubo hasn't given up hope on the original series.

After all, Kubo reached out to fans recently through his blog where he often takes questions from fans. When asked about the legacy of Bleach's original anime, the creator said he would like to see a remake happen.

"I'd like to make that happen," he shared. Continuing, Kubo said he wants a Bleach remake that "faithfully follows the original work". So as you can imagine, the creator of Bleach is probably more eager in a remake than he's let on.

Of course, there are no official plans for Bleach to get a remake, but that doesn't mean the series is dead. The manga wrapped a few years ago, but not all of it was adapted for the screen. These days, Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War is airing as a way to adapt the manga's final act. You can catch Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War on Disney+ as well as Hulu. And as for the manga, Viz Media oversees the publication of Bleach in English.

Want to know more about Bleach? No sweat! You can read up on the series below courtesy of its official synopsis:

"Ichigo Kurosaki never asked for the ability to see ghosts-he was born with the gift. When his family is attacked by a Hollow-a malevolent lost soul-Ichigo becomes a Soul Reaper, dedicating his life to protecting the innocent and helping the tortured spirits themselves find peace."

What do you think about this Bleach update? Let us know what you think in the comments below as well as on Twitter and Instagram. You can also hit me up @MeganPetersCB to share your take!

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure has earned its "Bizarre" title more times than anime fans can count. Stardust Crusaders decided to inject Stands into the series, whereas Phantom Blood and Battle Tendency did not, and showed that humans weren't the only ones that could call on these ethereal beings. Iggy, the coffee-chewing-gum-loving canine, had a Stand of its own as it aided in the quest to defeat Dio Brando by joining Jotaro Kujo's crew. Now, one cosplayer has created a hilariously creepy take on the Stand-wielding dog.

Like so many other characters and Stands in the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure franchise, Iggy got his name from the world of rock and roll. Named after famous singer, Iggy Pop, it was ironic that the dog's Stand was not named for a musical act but rather, took its name from tarot cards. Stardust Crusaders had many Stands that took their titles from the tarot cards, with Iggy's "The Fool" being anything but foolish. Iggy's Stand was one that had the ability to transform itself into Stand, making for a powerful ally in the arsenal of Jotaro's group aiming to take down the villainous vampire.

Iggy Makes His Unsettling Real Life Debut

Unfortunately, Iggy was ultimately unable to survive to aid Jotaro and his friends in fighting against Dio in Stardust Crusaders' finale. In the fight against the villain known as Vanilla Ice, both the Stand-wielding pooch and Avdol were killed. Ironically enough, the video game, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Eyes of Heaven, actually resurrected the characters, though it's unclear if these events are considered canon in the main anime franchise.

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Despite dying during the events of Jotaro's story, the anime franchise did bring back Iggy for his own short manga story. In 2022, Hirohiko Araki teamed up with mangaka Otsuichi to create a new tale for the anime canine in "Iggy The Stray Dog". While the short story didn't feature Iggy returning from the dead, it gave readers the chance to see Avdol's first meeting with Iggy and how the bond was formed between the Stardust Crusaders.

Do you want to see Iggy make a comeback in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure's future? Feel free to let us know in the comments or hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics, anime, and the world of Stands.

Godzilla Minus One saw the king of the monsters taking a departure from many other tales focusing on the kaiju. Instead of being a force that would often help humanity, Godzilla spent the majority of his latest movie destroying a good portion of Japan. The latest Toho movie by director Takashi Yamazaki is up for an Academy Award, though a sequel has yet to be confirmed. In thinking about what is to come for the kaiju's future, Yamazaki discusses the challenges of giving it a giant opponent.

Godzilla Minus One took a lot of influence from the first Godzilla movie that landed in theaters in 1954. Should Yamazaki decide to follow Godzilla's original course, he might look to Godzilla Raids Again, the second film that featured the king of the monsters. In the movie, Godzilla fought against his first kaiju opponent in Anguirus, a giant monster that hasn't hit the same level of popularity as other parts of 'Zilla's rogues gallery such as Mothra, King Ghidorah, and Rodan. While a "Godzilla Minus Two" has yet to be confirmed, Yamazaki appears to have plenty of ideas and the current film certainly plants several seeds as to what the sequel might cover.

A Kaiju Civil War For Godzilla Minus One Part 2?

In a recent interview with Empire Online, Yamazaki discussed the challenges when it comes to focusing on a kaiju battle while keeping the human drama front and center, "I don't know if anyone has achieved a more serious tone of kaiju vs kaiju with human drama, that challenge, is something I would like to explore."

Audiences and critics alike fell in love with Yamazaki's take on the king of the monsters. At this year's Academy Awards, Godzilla Minus One is up for "Best Visual Effects", becoming the first film in the kaiju series to receive this nomination. On top of the critical acclaim, Godzilla Minus One ended its box office run by pulling in over one hundred million dollars worldwide, showing just how many viewers were anxious to see this new take on the classic kaiju.

Which kaiju do you think would work best for a sequel to Godzilla Minus One? Who has been your favorite giant monster besides the reigning king of the monsters? Feel free to let us know in the comments or hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics, anime, and the world of Godzilla.

Via Empire Online

Luffy's ultimate form, Gear Fifth, has had a major part in One Piece's recent storylines in both the shonen franchise's anime and manga. Thanks to his fight against Kaido in the War For Wano Arc, Monkey can now change his body into that of a living cartoon. To help in celebrating this new transformation, the shoe producers at Puma are once again hyping up the Straw Hat Pirates with a new shoe and clothing line that will be landing at retailers next month.

While Gear Fifth might be Luffy's ultimate form, it doesn't make him entirely invincible. Thanks to the cartoon-ish like transformation, Monkey can survive attacks and scenarios that might have otherwise killed the Straw Hat captain, but it can also drain his stamina rather quickly. Despite only having a grasp on the form since fighting against Kaido, Luffy has already relied on it a few times since departing the isolated nation. As the final saga continues to ramp up in both One Piece's manga and anime, Luffy is going to have to continue working on Gear Fifth as tougher opponents are being hurled his way from both the World Government and the outlaws of the Grand Line.

One Piece x Puma: Gear Fifth Triumphant

Beginning on March 23rd, the collaboration between Puma and One Piece will begin. Focusing on Luffy's Gear Fifth, this new team-up is far from the first time that Puma has entered the world forged by mangaka Eiichiro Oda. However, thanks to Netflix's live-action adaptation and the groundswell that has continued to push the Straw Hats to the forefront, now is as good a time as any to once again honor Luffy and his crew.

Ready to go treasure-hunting? ????

The @PUMA x #OnePiece official collab combines the worlds of manga and sports, with streetwear-relevant styling.

The classic Suede sneaker has been completely decked out!

Available March 23! pic.twitter.com/KLto4YGdrr

-- One Piece US (@OnePieceAnimeUS) February 28, 2024

Take another look at the official #OnePiece x @PUMA collab!

The decked outSuede sneaker collection designs will be take inspiration from the Four Emperors:

Luffy, Shanks, Buggy, & Blackbeard???

Available March 23rd! pic.twitter.com/CVRUR697Fz

-- One Piece US (@OnePieceAnimeUS) February 28, 2024

The official #OnePiece x @PUMA collab will also include hoodies, jackets, pants, & more! ????

Available March 23d! pic.twitter.com/4XcNSdTCNd

-- One Piece US (@OnePieceAnimeUS) February 28, 2024

While Gear Fifth might be a big deal in both One Piece's anime and manga, fans of the Netflix series will most likely have to wait for quite some time to see it hit the streaming service. As the creators of the live-action adaptation have stuck to the source material, it will most likely be years, if ever, that viewers are able to see a live-action take on Luffy's ultimate form.

What has been your favorite Gear of Luffy's to date? Feel free to let us know in the comments or hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics, anime, and the world of the Grand Line.

Dragon Ball Super might be the big game in town when it comes to the Z-Fighters, but it's far from the only story focusing on Goku, his allies, and his enemies. Dragon Ball SD, for those who might not be familiar, is a re-telling of the original shonen series that adds a new art style and some big twists in its story. Thanks to the "Dragon Ball Super Gallery Project", the artist responsible for "SD" is once again returning to lend some new art to the beloved series.

For those who might not be familiar with Dragon Ball SD, the series first began in 2010 and continues to this day. Artist Naho Ooishi has taken the helm since the series debut, offering a new take on the story of Goku from Dragon Ball to Dragon Ball Super. What sets SD apart from the story that helped spawn it is a far more "chibi-esque" art style that aims at a younger audience. On top of the different art style from the main series, SD will also often include a far "jokier" aesthetic that helps to make some of the darker moments of the franchise appeal to an all ages audience.

Dragon Ball SD Meets Z

Naho Ooishi's next cover for the Dragon Ball Super Gallery Project will arrive this April 4th. Ooishi will join other heavy hitters that have shared their takes on the world that sprang from the mind of Akira Toriyama. So far, the special project has seen the mangaka responsible for the likes of Naruto, Bleach, Chainsaw Man, Undead Unluck, Death Note, and many more share their takes.

While Dragon Ball Super's anime future remains a mystery following the release of Super Hero, the Z-Fighters will return to the small screen this fall with Dragon Ball Daima. The new anime adaptation is on the way thanks to a new idea from creator Akira Toriyama which will see Goku and his friends transformed into children. Luckily, the story of Goku and company has continued in the pages of the manga, as the main Z-Fighter is sparring against his son Gohan in a fight for the ages.

Which manga artist would you love to see take on the Z-Fighters in the future? Feel free to let us know in the comments or hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics, anime,a nd the world of the Z-Fighters.

Via Manga Mogura RE

Laios and his fellow adventurers are still on their journey that doesn't just involve defeating monsters but using their bodies to create some killer recipes. With eight episodes available on Netflix, the ninth installment will throw a new wrinkle into the dungeon crawling adventer that is Delicious in Dungeon. To get fans prepped for this week's release, the streaming service has released new images of the Studio TRIGGER hit.

Delicious in Dungeon will have, reportedly, twenty-four episodes in its first season. Despite the fact that the original manga has already brought its story to a close, the anime adaptation will still have the potential to create several seasons should it want to cover all the events of the source material.

Delicious in Dungeon Episode 9 Preview

Delicious in Dungeon's ninth episode will arrive on Netflix on Thursday, February 29th. Here's how the streaming service describes the next installment of TRIGGER's runaway hit, "Marcille was injured in the battle with Undine, and her blood and magical power are running low. As the group tries to recover with grilled meat from Kelpie, a party of Mr. and Mrs. Tansu appears, escorted by her former companion Namari. Receiving Tansu's offer to treat Marcille if she helps with the investigation as an escort, Laios and his friends decide to accompany Tansu on his investigation."

If you have yet to catch one of the best new anime adaptations of 2024, here's how Netflix describes the series, "Delicious in Dungeon. That is, 'to eat', or 'to be eaten' --- Within the depths of the dungeon, his younger sister was eaten by a Red Dragon - and adventurer Laios barely made it back to the surface with his life. He attempts the dungeon again, but money and food are deep within its bowels... Faced with the critical situation where his sister may be digested at any moment, Laios decides: 'Food shall be self-providing from within the dungeon!' Slimes, basilisks, mimics and even dragons! While eating those that attack you, aim to traverse the dungeons, adventurer!"

What do you think of the first season of Delicious in Dungeon so far? Do you think Laios and company will return for a second season on Netflix in the future? Feel free to let us know in the comments or hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics, anime, and the world of anime dungeon crawling.

Studio Ghibli's amusement park opened its doors in 2022 and ever since, the attraction-filled locale has been attempting to recreate some of the best and brightest environments from the studio's catalog. Next month, Ghibli will open a new part of its park, "Witch's Valley" that will have a rather amazing mode of conveyance for anime fans. Ghibli has recreated My Neighbor Totoro's Cat Bus in the real world, and the park has released a new video showing how the beloved anime bus will travel.

The Cat Bus was a major part of one of Ghibli's most beloved films to date, My Neighbor Totoro. While the felina mode of transportation didn't have a speaking role, it did make quite an impression on the characters of the film and anime fans alike. Ironically enough, there is a lesser-known sequel to My Neighbor Totoro titled "Mei And The Kitten Bus" that remains exclusive to Japan. In the past, the short film has only played at both the Studio Ghibli Museum and the theme park, though with anime's continued popularity in the world, perhaps one day anime fans will get the chance to catch the anime sequel.

The Cat Bus Enters The Real World

The Cat Bus will be a part of Ghibli Park beginning on March 16th, when Witch's Valley officially swings open its doors. For those looking for more details on the "APM Nekobus", it is an electric vehicle that was made for the park thanks to Toyota. When it comes to the new valley of Ghibli Park, the section will feature recreations of environments from the likes of Howl's Moving Castle, Kiki's Delivery Service, Earwig And The Witch, and Castle in The Sky.

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https://t.co/X9qwdcRUfo pic.twitter.com/CDVIJU1d7h

-- ???? (@chunichi_denhen) February 27, 2024

Aside from the arrival of the Cat Bus, Ghibli is looking to have a big 2024. The latest anime film from Hayao Miyazaki, The Boy And The Heron, is up for an Academy Award for this year's "Best Animated Feature" at the Oscars. While the production house has yet to confirm what it's next movie will be, Miyazaki has pushed his plans to retire to the side, hinting that he is brewing new ideas for future films.

Do you want to see the Cat Bus make its way to North America in the future? Feel free to let us know in the comments or hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics, anime, and the world of Ghibli.

Believe it or not, Dragon Ball has been around for 40 years now. The hit manga went live in 1984 under the care of Akira Toriyama. Over the decades, Dragon Ball has become one of the most famous IPs in the world, and today's top manga creators were inspired by Son Goku. That is why a number of top artists have gifted Dragon Ball special covers, and now the artist behind Death Note has joined the movement.

The update comes from the Dragon Ball Super Gallery project now that March is around the corner. The team posted a new cover for Dragon Ball volume 29 which Takeshi Obata inked. The Death Note creator is the latest to team with Dragon Ball, and their tribute is nothing short of gorgeous.

DRAGON BALL Volume 29 by Takeshi Obata (DEATH NOTE).

This is part of the DRAGON BALL Super Gallery Project to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the series. Every month, different mangaka will redesign one of the 42 covers of the series until November 2024. pic.twitter.com/de2YNhe7MM

-- Shonen Jump News (@WSJ_manga) February 28, 2024

This new piece of cover art makes the 39th addition to the Dragon Ball Super Galley. By the project's end, a total of 42 covers will have been released. To date, the campaign has roped in some of manga's top artists, and we do mean the best of the best. From Kohei Horikoshi (My Hero Academia) to Tite Kubo (Bleach) and Tatsuki Fujimoto (Chainsaw Man), the tributes have been impressive. So if you want to check out the full list of gallery entries, you can find them here.

Obviously, Obata is turning the heads of Dragon Ball fans, and the same goes for Death Note lovers. It has been ages since the artist posted any new Death Note work, but the supernatural thriller remains a hit to this day. Released in December 2003, Obata worked with writer Tsugumi Ohba to bring Death Note to life. With a number of live-action projects under thumb and a hit anime, Death Note reigns supreme with millennial anime lovers. And now, Obata is drawing their eyes to Dragon Ball.

What do you think about this tribute to Dragon Ball? Let us know what you think in the comments below as well as on Twitter and Instagram. You can also hit me up @MeganPetersCB to share your take!

Avatar: The Last Airbender has found a new home at Netflix, and we have its live-action adaptation to thank. After years of work, the project went live this month to solid reviews from fans. While critics were more reserved about the live-action feat, Avatar: The Last Airbender is a hit at Netflix, and all eyes are on its future. After all, many fans want a season two, and it seems like work is already underway on it.

The report comes from Forbes as the publication broke down Avatar: The Last Airbender's success in a feature. It was there Forbes said a source informed its team that season two of Avatar: The Last Airbender is already being written.

"While Netflix hasn't announced anything official yet... the second season of the show has already been worked on in the writers' room for several months now... it indicates faith that the show will be renewed," Forbes shared.

Of course, this update is hardly surprising. Netflix has put significant resources into Avatar: The Last Airbender. From its costuming to its visual effects, there is no denying the quality of Netflix's adaptation. The main gripe critics took with Avatar: The Last Airbender was its writing to be honest. So hopefully, the crew behind Netflix's writers room is listening.

Beyond the investment Netflix has made, Avatar: The Last Airbender has also performed very well. Not long ago, data from Netflix confirmed the show amassed over 21 million views in its first four days. This record thrust Avatar: The Last Airbender beyond Netflix's One Piece which earned 15 million views in its first four days. Plenty of people tuned in to Avatar: The Last Airbender upon its debut. And given One Piece's season two order, you can see why fans are confident in Avatar's chances.

If you have not seen Avatar: The Last Airbender on Netflix, the live-action series is available to watch now. As for the original show, you can catch the animated series on Paramount+ as well as Netflix. Next year, Avatar's animated series will make a comeback thanks to Nickelodeon. The team at Avatar Studios will release the show's first film in 2025 starring Aang and his friends as young adults.

What do you think about this latest Avatar update? Have you checked out the Netflix series yet? Let us know what you think in the comments below as well as on Twitter and Instagram. You can also hit me up @MeganPetersCB to share your take!

One Piece has been setting up Blackbeard and his crew as most likely the final obstacle Luffy and the Straw Hats will need to overcome before it's all over, and one artist has awesome brought all of them to life through cosplay! Marshall D. Teech has steadily become one of the most interesting antagonists to watch as Eiichiro Oda has begun to set the stage for whatever grand plan he has for the finale. Blackbeard has quickly taken his place as an Emperor, and is now angling himself towards the One Piece treasure itself with the newest manga chapters and anime episodes.

One Piece has only seen Blackbeard's crew grow stronger as each of the already fearsome members have started to gain powerful Devil Fruit abilities since the last time we had seen them in action, and it's clear that they are going to be a pain to deal with if Luffy and the Straw Hats are going to have any chance of reaching Laugh Tale themselves. Reminding fans of just how fierce the members of Blackbeard's crew are is artist kappy_w on TikTok, who has awesome shown off a cosplay for each of the members. Check it out:

@kappy_w

You wanna know my gang ??? I still don't realize I cosplayed all these weirdos ahah- but hello ? #BlackbeardPirates #MarshallDTeach #OnePiece #anime #cosmaker #cosplay

? Purple Lamborghini - Skrillex & Rick Ross

How to Catch Up With One Piece Anime

Blackbeard has begun to make his move in the newest chapters of One Piece's manga, and the newest episodes of the anime so it's the best time to catch up with it all as the Final Saga continues to take shape. If you wanted to catch up with the manga, you can find the three most recent chapters of the series for free with Viz Media's digital Shonen Jump library (and the entire back catalog with a paid subscription). If the anime is more your speed, One Piece: Egghead Arc has begun to adapt the first arc of the final saga.

One Piece: Egghead Arc is now streaming the newest episodes of the anime with both Netflix and Crunchyroll, and with Crunchyroll you can find the entire back catalog of episodes, movies, OVA specials and more with both Japanese anf English dubbed audio offered. It's the best time to check it all out as things are going to get more intense than ever before.

What are you hoping to see from Blackbeard's crew before One Piece's anime and manga come to an end? Let us know all of your thoughts about it and everything One Piece in the comments!

One Piece has a few characters who have had a massive impact on the series like Ace, and one awesome cosplay is helping to heat him back up! First introduced to Eiichiro Oda's manga and anime franchise as Luffy's brother who went out to sea before him, Ace ended up being at the center of some of the biggest developments in the first half of the series. And as the One Piece franchise works its way through the Final Saga of its story, Ace continues to have an impact on what Luffy has planned for his own potential future as well.

One Piece continues to showcase how much Ace still leaves an impression on many characters in the franchise despite losing his life ahead of the New World saga, and it goes to show how big of a character he really was. Luffy makes his choices with the idea of it being something Ace might have done a few times throughout his fights in Wano Country arc and more, and will likely use Ace as a guidepost when things get even fiercer before it all comes to an end. Artist yuekelele on TikTok manages to burn just as bright with Ace through some awesome cosplay! Check it out:

@yuekelele

be prepared to be sick of this cosplay -- I'm so excited to wear this on Saturday for AnimeNYC!! ? #onepiece #portgasdace #onepiececosplay #firefistace #hikennoace #portgasdacecosplay

? sonido original - (Bryan's version) ?

How to Catch Up With One Piece

One Piece's anime and manga will likely continue to show love to Ace long after his death as the franchise continues, and it won't be long before we get to see a new incarnation of the character with Season 2 of the live-action series now in the works with Netflix. Ace is one of the very important characters the live-action series will be introducing with its take on the Alabasta Saga when it returns to Netflix, but a casting for this very important figure has yet to be announced as of the time of this writing.

You can catch up with the eight episode live-action One Piece now streaming with Netflix, and you can also find the newest arc of the anime, One Piece: Egghead Arc, streaming there as well. If you wanted to catch up with the anime's releases thus far (including more of the OVAs, movies, specials and more), you can also check out One Piece's back catalog (in both Japanese and English language dub) streaming on Crunchyroll.

Where does Ace rank among your favorite characters in One Piece overall? Let us know all of your thoughts about it and everything One Piece in the comments!

My Hero Academia seems to be bringing Eri to the battlefield with the cliffhanger from the newest chapter of the series, but just how will she help Izuku Midoriya to defeat Tomura Shigaraki in their final battle? It's been an intense back and forth for Deku and Shigaraki as the two have reached an impasse. Deku has been giving every effort he can, but Shigaraki's body has been able to fight off each and every one of Deku's attacks. But at the same time, Deku's now found a way to use One For All to really hit Shigaraki where it hurts.

With Deku now using One For All to launch Vestiges within Shigaraki's body in order to create an opening within his mental state (and thus allow Deku to actually hit the villain with an attack), Deku now has a plan of attack to wear down Shigaraki. But things aren't going fast enough and as of the end of the newest chapter of My Hero Academia's manga, Eri is worried enough to try and make her way to the battlefield. It's now just a matter of figuring out how she factors into the final battle to come.

My Hero Academia: Eri's Role in the Final Battle

The final moments of My Hero Academia Chapter 415 sees Eri seeing Deku struggle against Shigaraki and rushing out of the evacuation center to help, and it's likely that her Rewind ability is going to play a huge role in how the battle ends. There are two major ways it could go, however. Either Eri uses her Rewind ability to make Shigaraki's body weaker and regress from all of the upgrades that All For One's power had given him, and thus makes him weak enough for Deku to fight on an even playing field.

The other is the chance to rewind Deku's own body and reverse his damages much like she did when he was fighting at full strength against Overhaul. That was still the only real time that Deku was able to fight at One For All's peak capacity without harming himself, and that could very much come in handy here. Maybe there would even be a way to restore the lost quirks of One For All's lost Vestiges as we've seen Eri restore quirks in the past. These are two ways her Rewind could be used, but there's still very much a chance for surprise.

What are you hoping to see from Eri in her helping Deku in My Hero Academia's final battle? Let us know all of your thoughts about it in the comments! You can even reach out to me directly about all things animation and other cool stuff @Valdezology on X (formerly known as Twitter)!

Avatar: The Last Airbender is absolutely dominating Netflix around the world with the debut of its new live-action series adaptation, and one big moment proved that Kyoshi needs her own spin-off show next! Avatar: The Last Airbender fans have been waiting to see how the Netflix series would bring the classic animated original to life, and it's because there are some elements of the animated original fans were hoping to see more of. One of these aspects is more of the past Avatars before Aang, and the one with the most intriguing history of all happens to be Avatar Kyoshi.

Kyoshi has been a fan favorite among classic Avatar: The Last Airbender animated fans because of the impact she had on the original and how different of a ideology she had from Aang. It's gotten to the point where the years since have seen spin-off novels and comics fleshing out more of Kyoshi's life story, and after her live-action debut in the Netflix series, it's even more clear now that there is quite a lot of potential to explore with a solo spin-off show.

Why Kyoshi Needs an Avatar: The Last Airbender Spin-Off

Kyoshi makes her debut in Episode 2 of Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender as the first Avatar of the past that Aang comes into contact with on his journey. Wondering about the path he should take next, he seeks out her advice only for this past Avatar to chastise him for his lack of power and holding back aggression. As Aang continues to fight back against the idea that he needs to be the Avatar, Kyoshi decides to show him what the Avatar's power is truly capable of by taking over his body.

Avatar: The Last Airbender then showcases Kyoshi's command over all four elements through Aang's body, and through the series' later episodes it's revealed that Kyoshi's a much different Avatar than the others. It's clear that she has more extreme views on the use of her power, and it's why she was such a standout character in the original despite getting so little screen time. Now that this live-action version has brought her back to the spotlight, it's time to finally see more of that mysterious past in her own show.

Would you want to see Kyoshi get her own Avatar: The Last Airbender spin-off with Netflix? Let us know all of your thoughts about it in the comments! You can even reach out to me directly about all things animation and other cool stuff @Valdezology on X (formerly known as Twitter)!

McDonald's has been going "all-in" on their current anime initiative, creating an entire universe of characters in its "WcDonald's" world. Set to launch a real-life WcDonald's next month in California and creating four short anime segments with Studio Pierrot, best known for the likes of Naruto and Bleach, the fast food chain didn't stop there. McDonald's employed talented artist Acky Bright to help create this new world and we here at ComicBook.com had the opportunity to talk with him about forging a new anime universe.

To start our interview, we asked Acky about his approach to creating over twenty new anime characters for the WcDonald's campaign, "I was aware that this campaign would be global and that many people all over the world would look at these characters, so it wasn't just a domestic audience. I really wanted to pay attention to how diverse, cultural, and international aspects could be placed into all the characters so that anyone from any background could find their favorite character."

With the new WcDonald's campaign, Bright had a big challenge ahead of him not just in forging a variety of characters, but touching on several genres from the anime medium. Acky explained that his background as an artist helped in forging figures that called upon genres including shonen, seinen, shojo, mecha, and more, "I have a traditional manga background as well as work on DC Comics and graphic novels. Compared with artists who strictly do manga, I have a more broad artistic background. What I pay attention to here is what the story demands, what the stories' themes are whether they're romance or action. I created something that the theme would demand and I put all the ingredients in to compliment the story."

An Anime Golden Arches Age?

Of the many anime characters that Bright created, we drilled down which of the menagerie of McDonald's figures he most preferred, "I think I like Mr. Bev the best. Also, the Berg, simply because he has a hamburger head. I'm actually drawing him as we speak!"

With McDonald's entering the anime game, we asked Acky, a veteran in the medium, whether he believed we were in a golden age for anime. Bright responded by saying that we're almost there, but not quite yet, "I go to Anime Expo and anime conventions quite often. I really feel the heat has been hotter every year, but nevertheless, I feel that the golden age is about to arrive. It's not there yet, but in America, there are a lot of people who haven't seen manga or anime. Doing this kind of campaign with McDonald's, I am expecting that anime and manga will be seen by more people, which might make them fans in the future. In that sense, this campaign is very meaningful."

To cap off the interview, Acky Bright had a message for fans who might be traveling to 'WcDonald's' soon, "I just want them to have fun. Eating the chicken nuggets and the fun manga, I want everyone to have fun. Eating something delicious while looking at something interesting and fun, it's very simple but it's also very needed, to appreciate the simple things. It's wonderful that this campaign can provide such a moment."

If you want a refresher on the upcoming anime shorts, and the first short that has been released as a part of WcDonald's, here is a breakdown of Pierrot episodes inspired by Acky Bright's creations:

• The Race to WcDonald's (Out Now): A rivalry strong enough to withstand the test of time as our two heroes embark on an epic race to WcDonald's.
• Love from Across the Booth (drops March 4): Our two protagonists discover the WcDonald's Sauce and WcNuggets aren't the only perfect pairing.
• WcNuggets Space Frontier 3000 (drops March 11): A team of WcDonald's pilots must protect the last WcNugget against an ominous force.
• The Wisdom of the Sauce (drops March 18): Three women are transported to a distant land to unravel the mystery surrounding the elusive sauce before it's gone forever.

Ninja Kamui has been bloodying up Adult Swim since the original anime series premiered earlier this month, and fans have gotten the first look at what to expect from Episode 4 of the series! Ninja Kamui has been steadily setting the stage for its real story as Higan has been diving more into the brutal world of shinobi that fans had been teased with in the first few episodes. But as he continues to do so, he's got an even bigger target on his back than ever before and is on a collision path with some equally as unique ninja fighters.

Ninja Kamui then teased that Higan will be facing off against a series of unique assassins with their own skills, and the promo for the next episode of the anime further showcases how he has gotten their attention. But as we see this new group of deadly fighters who seem to each have their own unique skills and technology, Higan has some huge fights to come. You can check out the promo for Ninja Kamui Episode 4 below as shared by Swimpedia on X (formerly known as Twitter):

Tune into #Toonami on Saturday, March 2nd at midnight to catch the next brand new episode of Ninja Kamui, "Episode 4"! pic.twitter.com/1tV8x5uVLC

-- Swimpedia (@swimpedia) February 25, 2024

Where to Watch Ninja Kamui Episode 4

Ninja Kamui Episode 4 premieres with Adult Swim's Toonami block on Saturday, March 2nd at midnight ET/PT with broadcasts for both the English dubbed and Japanese dubbed audio planned throughout the evening. If you miss the initial premiere, you can find the episode (along with the first three episodes) streaming with Max the day after. As for the story itself, Adult Swim what to expect from Ninja Kamui anime as such:

"Ninja Kamui follows Joe Higan who is a Nukenin - a former ninja who escaped his clan and is hiding from his violent past in rural America with his family. One night, he is ambushed by a team of assassins from his former organization who exact a bloody retribution on Joe and his family for betraying their ancient code. Rising from his seeming "death," Joe will re-emerge as his former self - Ninja Kamui - to avenge his family and friends. Kamui is a 21st century ninja, a shadowy anachronism who pits his ancient skills against high-tech weaponry with brutal finesse. He must face off against trained assassins, combat cyborgs, and rival ninjas to bring down the very clan that made him."

What are you hoping to see in Ninja Kamui's next episode? Let us know all of your thoughts about it in the comments! You can even reach out to me directly about all things animation and other cool stuff @Valdezology on X (formerly known as Twitter)!

Solo Leveling's anime is gearing up to return for the final episodes of its debut season, and the animation producer behind it all is teasing fans about what to expect! Solo Leveling is likely the biggest new anime adaptation of the Winter 2024 anime schedule overall as it takes on Chugong and DUBU's original webcomic. There is quite a lot of material the anime could cover, but the first season of the anime is currently listed for a single cour run of 12 episodes despite some rumors to the contrary. So it means that fans should be getting ready for the end regardless.

Solo Leveling's anime took a brief break for a week to air a recap episode as the team gets ready for Episode 8 of the anime, and will be coming back fairly soon. Fans have been curious to see what comes next as Sung Jinwoo is ready to take on his next major journey, and animation producer Atsushi Kaneko teased fans about what kind of action that's coming in the final episodes of the anime's debut season in a recent interview with Animate Times ahead of the next new episode of the series.

What's Coming in Solo Leveling Season One?

"I would like you to not only watch the action scenes get even hotter, but also see where Sung's growth will take him through the encounters, farewells, and battles with powerful enemies that await him," Kaneko began when coyly teasing fans about what to expect for Solo Leveling Episode 8 and beyond. While not being able to go into much detail for the future, Kaneko is hoping fans appreciate what the team has been able to accomplish with the anime thus far, "We hope you will enjoy it even more while rewatching the passion and thoughts of the staff for each episode up to episode 7, which we couldn't talk about here!"

If you wanted to catch up with Solo Leveling, you can find the anime streaming with Crunchyroll. They tease the anime as such, "It's been over a decade since the sudden appearance of the 'gates'--the paths that connect our world with a different dimension. Since then, certain humans have awakened to supernatural powers. We call these individuals 'hunters.' Hunters make their living by using their powers to conquer dungeons inside the gates. In this world of tough customers, the low-ranked hunter Jinwoo Sung is known as 'the weakest hunter of all mankind.' One day, Jinwoo gets fatally injured when he runs into high-rank double dungeons hidden within a low-rank dungeon. Just then, a mysterious quest window appears in front of him. On the verge of death, Jinwoo decides to accept the quest and starts leveling up... while the others aren't."

What are you hoping to see in Solo Leveling's final episodes? Let us know all of your thoughts about it in the comments! You can even reach out to me directly about all things animation and other cool stuff @Valdezology on X (formerly known as Twitter)!

Tiny Toons Looniversity is coming back for Season 2, and has finally announced its release date for Max that will be hitting sooner than expected! Tiny Toons Looniversity debuted last year as Amblin Entertainment and Warner Bros. Discovery teamed up on a brand new rebooted take on the classic Tiny Toons Adventures animated series. This rebooted take offered new versions of Babs and Buster Bunny along with the rest of the second generation of toons, and ended its first season with fans hoping there would be more someday. Luckily, it's finally been confirmed that new episodes of the series will be coming soon.

Tiny Toons Looniversity is coming back for Season 2, and Warner Bros. Discovery has announced that Season 2A of the rebooted animated series will be streaming with Max beginning on March 8th. It has not been revealed how many episodes will be included the with the first half of this new season, but it has also been announced that a new special titled Tiny Toons Looniversity: Spring Break will be streaming on the same day as the new season so there will be plenty for fans to enjoy.

How to Watch Tiny Toons Looniversity

If you wanted to check out the first season of Tiny Toons Looniversity before the new episodes hit on March 8th, you can now stream the series with Max. Warner Bros. Animation and Amblin Television tease the reboot animated series as such, "At the esteemed institution of higher hijinx learning, they form long-lasting friendships with one another and perfect their cartoony craft while studying under the greatest cartoon characters in history, the Looney Tunes."

The voice cast for the series includes the likes of Ashleigh Hairston as Babs Bunny, Eric Bauza as Buster Bunny, David Errigo Jr. as Hamton J. Pig and Plucky Duck, and Tessa Netting as Sweetie Bird. They are joined by returning Looney Tunes mainstays such as Jeff Bergman as Bugs Bunny, Sylvester and Foghorn Leghorn, Bob Bergen as Porky Pig, Eric Bauza as Daffy Duck and Gosamer, Candi Milo as Dean Granny and Witch Hazel, Fred Tatasciore as Taz and Yosemite Sam, and Cree Summer returning to reprise Elmyra.

Will you be tuning into Tiny Toons Looniversity when Season 2 hits Max next month? Let us know all of your thoughts about it in the comments! You can even reach out to me directly about all things animation and other cool stuff @Valdezology on X (formerly known as Twitter)!

If there is one thing My Hero Academia fans can count on, it is cliffhangers. Time and again, the series has pushed ahead with seriously suspenseful teasers, and that has never changed. In fact, the My Hero Academia manga just reminded readers why it is the best with cliffhangers. Its latest chapter ended with a teaser involving Deku, and it seems Eri is ready to make herself known as sidekick.

The whole thing kicked off in My Hero Academia chapter 415. The big update checked on Deku as he continued his epic fight with Shigaraki. With vestiges of One For All attacking Shigaraki from within, the world is now watching Deku grapple with villain. Everyone at home is rightly stunned by the battle, and in the chaos, it seems Eri was all to slip away from Ectoplasm.

The pro hero was left in charge of Eri after All Might and Mirio went into the final battle. This move left Eri unsettled for good reason. Deku is her hero, and of course, she couldn't just watch him fight Shigaraki without doing anything to help. Chapter 415 ends with Eri rushing away from Ectoplasm towards the unknown, and fans are terrified about her whereabouts.

After all, the battlefield is no place for a girl as young and untrained as Eri. Her quirk is incredibly powerful, and there is no doubt Shigaraki would use it for himself if given the chance. So while Eri's power may be able to help out Deku, fans know My Hero Academia well enough to spot a fake out. It doesn't seem likely this final war will be solved simply. But if Eri needs to relay a message to her hero, well - who are we to get in her way?

If you are not caught up with My Hero Academia, the manga is ongoing, and it can be found on the Shonen Jump app. As for the anime, My Hero Academia season seven will debut this May, and you can find its current episodes on Crunchyroll. So for more info on My Hero Academia, you can read its official synopsis below:

"Izuku has dreamt of being a hero all his life-a lofty goal for anyone, but especially challenging for a kid with no superpowers. That's right, in a world where eighty percent of the population has some kind of super-powered "quirk," Izuku was unlucky enough to be born completely normal. But that's not enough to stop him from enrolling in one of the world's most prestigious hero academies."

What do you think about this latest My Hero Academia cliffhanger? Let us know what you think in the comments below as well as on Twitter and Instagram. You can also hit me up @MeganPetersCB to share your take!

When it comes to live-action adaptations, Avatar: The Last Airbender was one that many fans believed could not be successfully brought to life. While the reception to the latest Netflix series has been mixed, the first days of Avatar's new television show have been a big winner for the streaming service. While bending fans might agree that this new take on the bending world doesn't surpass the source material entirely, there is one aspect of Avatar: The Last Airbender's live-action series that does outpace the Nickelodeon series.

Warning. If you have yet to watch Netflix's new Avatar: The Last Airbender series, be forewarned that we'll be touching on spoiler territory. One of the biggest changes that Netflix's series made when it came to Aang's story was a closer look at the inner workings of the Fire Nation. Daniel Dae Kim had much more to work with in this interpretation of the Fire Nation, and the first season had Elizabeth Yu introducing Azula far earlier than her initial season two debut. Thanks to these changes, viewers get the opportunity to learn more about the villains in the background, while also giving fans a scene that wasn't featured in the original series.

Lu Ten's Funeral

A pivotal moment takes place in episode four of the live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender that didn't arrive in the original series. For the first time, bending fans are able to see the funeral of Uncle Iroh's son, Lu Ten. During this scene, we are not only shown a heart-breaking scene of Iroh attempting to come to grips with his loss but a closer look at Prince Zuko's character as well.

In attempting to ease his uncle's pain, Zuko first states that it is a great honor for Lu Ten to die in honor of the Fire Nation. Stopping himself, the son of Ozai returns and tells his uncle a story about Lu Ten giving Zuko a special pendant to increase one's bravery. Saying that Lu Ten would never need the item as he was the bravest person he had ever met, the moment not only affects Iroh, but it lays the seeds for the relationship between the uncle and nephew.

What elements from the live-action series do you think overcame the source material? Feel free to let us know in the comments or hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics, anime, and the world of bending.

Overlord is coming back with a brand new movie, and fans have gotten a new look at what to expect with a new poster for Overlord: The Sacred Kingdom! Overlord wrapped up the fourth season of the TV anime series with Ains Ooal Gown officially creating a new kingdom, and this meant he now has to deal with a whole new society of potential allies and foes from here on out. When the fourth season ended without a potential announcement for a fifth season fans were a bit bummed, but it was soon announced that the anime would be returning with its first movie effort instead.

Overlord: The Sacred Kingdom is a new movie taking place after the events of the fourth season adapting Volume 12 of the original light novel series, and will be releasing in Japan some time later this year. With a new update teased for Anime Japan 2024 later this March, Overlord: The Sacred Kingdom has released a new poster teasing that Ains Ooal Gown might be on the losing end of something for the first real time in the franchise. You can check out the newest poster for Overlord: The Sacred Kingdom below:

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What Is the Overlord Movie?

Overlord: The Sacred Kingdom is currently scheduled for a release some time in Japan later this year, but has yet to announce a concrete release date as of the time of this writing. There has also yet to be an announcement for a potential international release as of this writing either, nor have there been any concrete details revealed for its potential returning staff, cast. But it will be produced at studio Madhouse once more. You can catch up with Overlord's four seasons streaming with Crunchyroll. If you wanted to read through the novels before Overlord's movie premieres instead, Yen Press has licensed Volume 12 of the series (which the new movie adapts) for an English language release.

They describe Overlord: Holy Kingdom Arc as such, "The Sacred Kingdom has enjoyed a great many years without war thanks to a colossal wall constructed after a historic tragedy. They understand best how fragile peace can be. When the terrible demon Jaldabaoth takes to the field at the head of a united army of monstrous tribes, the Sacred Kingdom's leaders know their defenses are not enough. With the very existence of the country at stake, the pious have no choice but to seek help wherever they can get it, even if it means breaking taboo and parlaying with the undead king of the Nation of Darkness!"

What do you think of this newest look at Overlord's new movie? Let us know all of your thoughts about it in the comments! You can even reach out to me directly about all things animation and other cool stuff @Valdezology on X (formerly known as Twitter)!

Re:Zero -Starting Life in Another World- is gearing up to return for Season 3 in the near future, and now fans have gotten a new look at the coming season with a new poster! Re:Zero -Starting Life in Another World- left fans on quite the huge cliffhanger at the end of the second season, and while there were a few movie and specials released in the time sense, fans have been anxiously waiting to see what's coming next in the proper season of the anime. Thankfully, it won't be too much longer until we get to see more.

Re:Zero -Starting Life in Another World- is one of the many anime franchises that will be participating in the upcoming AnimeJapan 2024 event on March 24th, and it has teased that there will be new information revealed at that time. Preparing fans for the next major update for the anime, Re:Zero -Starting Life in Another World- has shared an intense new poster for Season 3 teasing the complex new struggle that Emilia and Subaru will be finding in the next wave of episodes when they hit. Check it out below:

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How to Watch Re:Zero Season 3

Re:Zero -Starting Life in Another World- Season 3 has yet to announce when it will be releasing, nor has there been a confirmation of the production staff, studio, and potential returning or new cast members as of the time of this writing. But that also means there is plenty of time to catch up with the first two seasons of the anime and Frozen Bond OVA special now streaming exclusively with Crunchyroll. They tease Re:Zero -Starting Life in Another World- as such:

"Natsuki Subaru, an ordinary high school student, is on his way home from the convenience store when he finds himself transported to another world. As he's lost and confused in a new world where he doesn't even know left from right, the only person to reach out to him was a beautiful girl with silver hair. Determined to repay her somehow for saving him from his own despair, Subaru agrees to help the girl find something she's looking for..."

What do you think of this newest poster for Re:Zero Season 3? Let us know all of your thoughts about it in the comments! You can even reach out to me directly about all things animation and other cool stuff @Valdezology on X (formerly known as Twitter)!

All For One might have been imprisoned for a good portion of My Hero Academia, but his shadow loomed large in the story of Deku and UA Academy. While the main antagonist has molded the young antagonist known as Shigaraki to carry his villainous torch, he still strikes fear in the hearts of heroes and civilians alike. Thanks to one of his past defeats fighting All Might, All For One's face has been destroyed and one cosplayer has managed to bring that look to life.

While the anime adaptation is still playing catch-up to the events of the manga, the printed story recently took the opportunity to explore All For One's backstory. Marked as one of the first Quirk wielders, if not the very first, All For One came to the twisted mentality that the world was his playground and everyone living within it should bend to his whims. Luckily, All For One made a major mistake when he tried granting his brother powers of his own, as the villain's sibling was able to create One For All in the process. My Hero Academia might not get into this flashback in its upcoming seventh anime season, but it will be amazing for anime fans to see these scenes animated.

All For One: A Creepy Anime Villain For The Ages

Without diving too deeply into spoiler territory, My Hero Academia's final battle has seen a very different take on All For One. Fighting against a good number of heroes in the last encounter, All For One has earned his place as one of the best examples of a villain in the shonen world. When the story of UA Academy does end, it's a question whether or not the heroes will be able to pick up the pieces of the elements shattered by the big bad.

All For One from My Hero Academia final arc
by u/yureicreative in cosplay

One of the biggest conflicts of the final battle has been Deku once again fighting Shigaraki, as the young inheritors of One For All and All For One will be the main fight to watch. Whoever wins this confrontation will most likely be front and center in changing Hero Society forever, as Kohei Horikoshi has quite a few threads to tie up before the end.

Is All For One one of the scariest shonen villains in the history of the anime world? Feel free to let us know in the comments or hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics, anime, and the world of UA Academy.

One Piece has been around for decades now, and its cast has kept steady since day one. Few of the main players in the One Piece anime have tagged out since the start. Of course, fans have long admired this consistency though some have wondered privately how One Piece will continue when its leads retire. And after a recent episode, Japanese netizens made their worries public about Franky's voice actor.

The situation, as detailed by Jisin, came to light when One Piece fans hit social media after One Piece began its new arc. The site documents reactions to episode 1090 as it followed Franky and Jinbei argue over the steering the Thousand Sunny. When forced to take the helm, Franky said he's "gotta do it", and the line stirred up fans.

After all, netizens say Franky's line was downright hard to understand. The scene wasn't articulate in terms of line delivery, and other fans went on to question its quiet volume. Taking to social media, netizens began speculating whether actor Kabuki Yao is doing alright.

"Franky, or rather Kazuki Yao's performance, seemed quite taxing. Is he okay," one fan asked. In recent weeks, this concern has continued on social media has netizens say Kazuki's performance has yet to improve between episodes 1090 and 1094. And given Franky's role in the Egghead Island arc to date, he has some big moments coming up.

Of course, fans are wishing Kazuki the best as his work as Franky moves forward. It isn't easy acting, and Kazuki has been at the gig for decades. The 64-year-old actor began working around 1970, and he's worked on a number of high-profile shows. From Mobile Suit Gundam to Death Note and Hunter x Hunter, Kazuki is no stranger to acting. Of course, his work with One Piece stands firm as he's overseen characters like Franky and Bon Clay for ages. So hopefully, his performance as Franky gets back to normal before long.

If you are not caught up with One Piece these days, the anime is easy to watch. From Netflix to Hulu and Crunchyroll, the One Piece anime is everywhere. So for more information on the hit series, you can read its official synopsis below:

"Monkey. D. Luffy refuses to let anyone or anything stand in the way of his quest to become the king of all pirates. With a course charted for the treacherous waters of the Grand Line and beyond, this is one captain who'll never give up until he's claimed the greatest treasure on Earth: the Legendary One Piece!"

What do you think about this latest One Piece debacle? Let us know what you think in the comments below as well as on Twitter and Instagram. You can also hit me up @MeganPetersCB to share your take!

Sh?gun is now streaming on FX on Hulu, and there's a lot of hype surrounding the show after the first glowing reviews called it the next Game of Thrones. With many viewers coming to Shogun expecting the next big mainstream TV series hit, they may be surprised to find out that much of the series features Japanese dialogue conveyed through English subtitles.

So is there an option to watch Shogun with an English Dub instead of subtitles?

In short answer: Yes. yes there is.

How to Watch Sh?gun English Language Dub

If you want to watch Sh?gun with English Dub voices instead of the Japanese dialogue and subtitles, you just have to select that option from the menu on Hulu. The homepage for Shogun actually offers the main "Episodes" column for the standard Japanese subtitled version of the show, and then an "English Dub" column that offers the dubbed version of the series. There is also an additional column for the official podcast attached to Shogun - although, you can also get that here on our ComicBook Nation podcast!

Obviously, cinephiles and "purists" will want to advocate for the Japanese dialogue version - but it is a smart move on the part of FX and Hulu to make the English Dub available, as well. Since 2020 and the Squid Game phenomenon, television productions from the Eastern region (Japan, China, Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, India) have garnered exponentially more fame. Netflix, Hulu, and other streaming platforms have offered English Dub options to a lot of those TV shows and movie imports; a show like Shogun, with this much hype behind it, definitely wants to appeal to the widest audience possible - and language shouldn't be a barrier.

The two lead actors of Shogun - Cosmo Jarvis and Hiroyuki Sanada - told ComicBook.com that actors overcoming their language barriers during production only helped to enhance their performances in the show:

"In the beginning, despite the language barrier that was prevalent in the beginning, it was a good thing to use to the advantage of the scenes... because that's what they demanded," Cosmo Jarvis explained. "So there was a lot of just communicating without using language, which was very useful."

Sh?gun: How to Stream + Cast & Crew Info

Sh?gun will be a 10-episode limited series and is now streaming on Hulu.

Shogun stars Hiroyuki Sanada, Cosmo Jarvis, Anna Sawai, Tadanobu Asano, Hiroto Kanai, Takehiro Hira, Moeka Hoshi, Tokuma Nishioka, Shinnosuke Abe, Yuki Kura and Fumi Nikaido. It was created for television by Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks - with Marks serving as showrunner and executive producer. Michaela Clavell, Edward L. McDonnell, Michael De Lu and Kondo all executive produce, and Hiroyuki Sanada also serves as a producer.

Sh?gun will premiere on FX on February 27th.

It's happening, like it or not. Years ago, Hollywood made an infamous misstep with Avatar: The Last Airbender with a live-action movie. Now, Netflix has reclaimed the show with an impressive live-action adaptation. The show has been met with mostly favorable reviews, and now, Netflix has confirmed the adaptation racked in some serious ratings after going live.

The update comes from Netflix as the company released its data on Avatar: The Last Airbender. It turns out season one earned 21.2 million views globally in its first four days. That number pushes past Netflix's One Piece last year. Back in August, the live-action anime drew in 18.5 million views which was impressive to say the least. So of course, you can imagine Team Avatar is stoked right now.

Adding on to those ratings, Netflix confirmed Avatar: The Last Airbender is the #1 show in the world on its platform. This information tracks given what we've seen from Netflix's Top 10 charts. The adaptation topped Netflix's chart in 84 different countries. There is no denying the power of Avatar: The Last Airbender, and fans are enjoying the view.

Of course, Avatar: The Last Airbender has a long way to go if it wants to live up to Netflix's most famous originals. Squid Game still reigns supreme at Netflix as fans watched 1.6 billion hours of the series in its first 28 days of release. Stranger Things season four followed with 1.3 billion hours watched while Wednesday, Dahmer - Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, and Money Heist followed.

Avatar: The Last Airbender is no doubt a solid reimagining of the original series, and interest in the animated show has risen in the wake of Netflix's release. It is satisfying to see the Avatar Universe make a comeback after so many years lying low. As far as this adaptation goes, well - the future is unclear. No word has been given on Avatar: The Last Airbender season two, but reception to Netflix's series has been pretty solid. And if One Piece earned a season two order with its ratings, it is hard to see Avatar: The Last Airbender fading into black.

What do you think about Netflix's latest original? Let us know what you think in the comments below as well as on Twitter and Instagram. You can also hit me up @MeganPetersCB to share your take!

There is no denying the might of Crunchyroll. The streaming service is the go-to home of anime online, and that title was solidified a few years back with Funimation's help. The latter announced it was being folded into Crunchyroll under Sony's umbrella, and now that merger is nearly done. On April 2nd, Funimation will sunset its services, and Crunchyroll made headlines as it revealed Funimation users' digital libraries will not be supported. So in a recent interview, Crunchyroll president Rahul Purini addressed the situation.

Speaking with Verge, Purini talked about the nuances of Funimation's inlay at Crunchyroll. It was there the president said the company plans to compensate users who lose their digital libraries in this final merger.

"It could be that they get access to a digital copy on any of the existing other services where they might be able to access it. It could be a discount access to our subscription service so they can get access to the same shows through our subscription service," Purini shared when asked about the potential compensation for users.

Of course, no official word has been shared by Crunchyroll on compensation for Funimation users. For years, anime fans would split their fandom funds between Crunchyroll and Funimation given their hold on the industry. The two brands worked together on streaming deals well before Sony moved to merge Crunchyroll and Funimation. With this merger nearly complete, Crunchyroll will be the de facto face of anime streaming, but Funimation spent decades building a fanbase. For those fans, their digital libraries are sacred, so you can imagine how upset they were to learn Crunchyroll would not be supporting these collections. Headlines about the migration quickly went viral online as television lovers reiterated the important of physical media.

Now, Crunchyroll's president has responded to the situation. It is still unclear how Funimation users with digital libraries will be compensated if at all for the loss. Crunchyroll has until April to follow up with fans before Funimation's services close. So hopefully, we get official word before long.

What do you make of this anime ordeal? Let us know what you think in the comments below as well as on Twitter and Instagram. You can also hit me up @MeganPetersCB to share your take!

Mobile Suit Gundam has earned its place as the biggest mech franchise of all time, with its latest movie, Mobile Suit Gundam: Seed Freedom, scoring big at the Japanese box office. Unfortunately, a major pillar to the anime franchise that first began in 1970s is about to close its doors. If you wanted to see the Walking Gundam with your own eyes, you might want to book a ticket to Japan as soon as possible, but luckily, we have the details for how you can attend the last days of the mech.

The Walking Gundam began taking its first steps in 2020, and has continued moving at the behest of anime fans at the Gundam Factory Yokohama. In creating a statue for the franchise, it should come as no surprise that Bandai Namco Filmworks, the owners of the franchise, decided to take spectators back to the past. The "Rx 78-2" Gundam was the first mech that Amuro piloted in the initial anime series, using its powers to fight against Char and the Principality of Zeon. While the franchise has introduced countless mechs, a good number of them would harken back to the initial design that kicked off the ever-expanding mech universe.

When Will The Moving Gundam Stop Moving?

The Walking Gundam at the Gundam Factory Yokohama will be closing its doors on March 31st next month. If you want to make the trip to see the mech take its final steps, you can visit the official website by clicking here. Tickets for the final showings of the Moving Gundam will be sold beginning on March 1st, and at present, the locale has yet to confirm if we'll ever see the life-sized statue take steps in the future.

The facility will close on Mar. 31, 2024.https://t.co/6tWeZxfz5O#GFY #MovingGundam

-- GUNDAM FACTORY YOKOHAMA(GFY) ?? (@gfy_official_) February 15, 2024

Luckily, while the statue might be ending its three-year run, the Gundam franchise has marched forward. Seed Freedom has been a major hit in Japan, though the latest Gundam movie has yet to receive confirmation of a North American release. Here's how Bandai Namco Filmworks describes the sequel movie,

"C.E. (Cosmic Era). An era in which there are human beings called Coordinators, born with superior physical and mental abilities thanks to genetic modification, and humans called Naturals who are born naturally. With their respective existence at stake, the ideological clash between Coordinators and Naturals escalated into war using armed force. Along the way, the Destiny Plan was proposed, which would forcibly assign a role to each individual and create a world free of competition. But amid the fighting, this Destiny Plan was rejected in order to protect humanity's aspirations and future freedom."

My Hero Academia's final arc isn't just a fight for Hero Society's future, it's a fight of ideologies. Perhaps no battle in this battle royale is bigger than the confrontation featuring Izuku Midoriya and Shigaraki, who are the current wielders of the Quirks known as One For All and One For All. While Deku has created a new strategy to defeat the dark young villain, it is coming with a heavy price as the shonen star has lost another big ally rattling in his head.

Warning. If you have yet to read the latest My Hero Academia manga chapter, Chapter 415, you might want to steer clear as we'll be diving into serious spoiler territory. Deku's plan has been a risky one as the young hero aims to transfer the Vestiges of One For All into Shigaraki to launch a psychic assault on the biggest villain still standing. What makes the plan even more difficult now is that Shigaraki has erected a wild defense, spawning several large hands that are blocking Deku's blows. As Midoriya hopes to transfer all the Vestiges via physical contact, his initial plan of doing so in one blow falls to the wayside, though one voice in Izuku's mind made the leap.

Which Vestige Has Left The Building?

Deku finds himself reeling after his initial attempt to transfer all the Vestiges to Shigaraki fails. The fifth wielder of One For All, Diagoro Banjo, reveals that En, the sixth user, was able to gain entry into Shigaraki's mind, "The scumbag rejected us! Shoulda known this might happen, considering his will was strong enough to steal one of us away. Only the sixth, En, got through and just barely! We have him to thank for that latest damage."

There's a lot of mystery surrounding En, the professional hero who gave All Might's mentor, Nana Shimura, the wildly powerful Quirk. Now that he has arrived in Shigaraki's head, My Hero Academia fans might get a brief look into his life, though nothing is assured. Now that En has jumped ship, it will be interesting to see if the Vestige will do serious damage to the villain or if this plan might not work the way that Midoriya had hoped.

Do you think Deku's plan will ultimately prove to be a success? Feel free to let us know in the comments or hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics, anime, and the world of UA Academy.

Avatar: The Last Airbender has been doing big numbers for Netflix so far, becoming one of the top-ranking shows for the streaming service for its opening days. In staying true to the source material, it was clear that the showrunners were calling on many of the elements that made the original series a success. In helping to prepare for their role as one of the biggest benders of the series, an Avatar star watched the animated show a good amount before the cameras started rolling.

Gordon Cormier isn't the first Hollywood star to take on the world of Avatar in a live-action format. Noah Ringer took on the role in 2010's The Last Airbender, a controversial film that many fans thought was unable to live up to the source material. Since the release of the Netflix series, bending fans have debated the pros and cons of creating a live-action adaptation, though the show has won fans over with both its storytelling and martial arts. Considering how believed the animated series is, it's no surprise to hear that Cormier took the opportunity to revisit Aang and his fight against the Fire Nation dozens of times.

Gordon Cormier's Devotion To Bending

In a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Cormier discussed how he could not stop watching Avatar: The Last Airbender when he was confirmed to be a part of the live-action adaptation, "After I booked the role, I looked up the animated series. I watched it 26 times, because I became a giant fan. I didn't even really watch it to study my character -- the first time was for that. Then I watched it again for the fun of it, and again, again, again, again. I feel like I really got to know Aang, to see what he's going through and hopefully bring that into the live action, with a little bit deeper and darker tones."

Cormier also took the opportunity to comment on what he hopes to do with Aang should Netflix confirm a second season and beyond, "I really want to do that episode right before I go fight the fire lord and Aang won't sleep. I start to see all these visions, and Momo and Appa start talking. It'd be so awesome."

What do you think of Gordon Cormier's take on the Last Airbender? Feel free to let us know in the comments or hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics, anime, and the world of bending.

Via THR

The bundle includes 36 books for as little as $18 ($410 value). You can also opt for smaller 15 and 5 title bundles for $10 and $1 respectively. As always, a portion of Humble Bundle's proceeds will go to support charity. In this case the Starlight Children's Foundation, and you can choose to pay more for the bundles if you would like additional funds to go to to this worthy cause. A full breakdown of the titles available in the bundle can be found below.

• Saint Seiya: Knights Of The Zodiac - Time Odyssey #3
• Saint Seiya: Knights Of The Zodiac - Time Odyssey #2
• Saint Seiya: Knights Of The Zodiac - Time Odyssey #1
• Space Pirate Captain Harlock #6
• Space Pirate Captain Harlock #5
• Space Pirate Captain Harlock #4
• Space Pirate Captain Harlock #3
• Space Pirate Captain Harlock #2
• Space Pirate Captain Harlock #1
• Crueler Than Dead Vol 2
• Crueler Than Dead Vol 1
• Centaurs Vol 1
• Zombie Makeout Club Vol. 2: Deathhead
• Zombie Makeout Club Vol. 1: Deathwish
• Wakfu Vol. 2: The Legend Of Jiva
• Wakfu Vol. 1: The Quest For The Eliatrope Dofus
• The Idhun Chronicles Vol. 2: The Resistance - Revelation
• The Idhun Chronicles Vol. 1: The Resistance - Search
• Versus Fighting Story Vol. 2
• Versus Fighting Story Vol. 1
• Trese Vol. 6: High Tide At Midnight
• Trese Vol. 5: Midnight Tribunal
• Trese Vol. 4: Last Seen After Midnight
• Trese Vol. 3: Mass Murders
• Trese Vol. 2: Unreported Murders
• Trese Vol. 1: Murder On Balete Drive
• Cagaster Vol. 6
• Cagaster Vol. 5
• Cagaster Vol. 4
• Cagaster Vol. 3
• Cagaster Vol. 2'
• Cagaster Vol. 1
• Zerocalcare's Forget My Name
• Virtual Hero
• Gannibal Vol 1 - Preview
• Zerocalcare's Tentacles At My Throat

Chainsaw Man is ready to kickstart a new arc, and it looks like this new era is going to get bloody. To date, series creator Tatsuki Fujimoto has gone the distance with their Chainsaw Man arcs. From epic battles to violent deaths, the series has it all, and now Chainsaw Man chapter 156 has launched a new war that puts our fave devil hybrid at stake.

The whole thing went live this week as Chainsaw Man put out its new chapter. It was there fans checked on Denji as the man awoke from a week-long coma. We see Denji out of sorts asking for Nayuta as the girl was last seen in a mob. After getting to his feet, Denji is taken out with a sedative, and he is taken to a high-security jail for devils. It turns out the state wants to dissect Denji's body for security reasons, but that is not going happen in peace.

After all, the chapter ends with a mysterious person standing out the prison, and they do so against some ominous text. One of the prison's execs says the jail was made to house the most dangerous devils in Japan, so every escape option has been planned for. They go on to say a war would need to be waged to break someone out. And of course, you can bet Yoru is eager to break Denji out.

If you are not caught up with Chainsaw Man right now, no sweat! You can always check out Fujimoto's hit manga on the Shonen Jump app. As for the anime, the show's first season is complete and streaming on Crunchyroll. Right now, MAPPA Studios is working on a Chainsaw Man movie adapting the manga's Reze arc. So for those wanting more info on the manga, you can read up on its official synopsis below:

"Denji is a young boy who works as a Devil Hunter with the "Chainsaw Devil" Pochita. One day, as he was living his miserable life trying to pay off the debt he inherited from his parents, he got betrayed and killed. As he was losing his consciousness, he made a deal with Pochita, and got resurrected as the "Chainsaw Man": the owner of the Devil's heart."

What do you think about this latest Chainsaw Man teaser? Let us know what you think in the comments below as well as on Twitter and Instagram. You can also hit me up @MeganPetersCB to share your take!

Super Dragon Ball Heroes has been scratching the itch for many Z-Fighter fans that have been waiting for Goku and company to return to the small screen. With the arrival of the Meteor Mission, Universe 7's heroes once again team-up with the Time Patrol to take on a brand new villain fresh from the Dark Demon Dimension. As the latest arc continues, episode three has made its way online and shows Goku and Vegeta once again tapping into their power to take on villains old and new.

One of the biggest selling points of the Dragon Ball Heroes series is its unabashed ability to be "fan service". The spin-off series might not be considered canon to Dragon Ball Super, but this is more a strength than a weakness. Heroes can bring in heroes and villains that appeared in the outside-of-continuity movies of the franchise, while also introducing new transformations to fan-favorite characters. Meteor Mission made a big change from the previous arcs that populated the side story, using computer-generated animation that looks closer to the arcade game's graphics than the Toei Animation seasons that came before it. It will ultimately be interesting to see if Heroes sticks with this new animation or returns to the original 2-D style.

The Meteor Mission Continues

One major element of Heroes has been the inclusion of the Dark Demon Dimension, a perpetual thorn in the side of the Z-Fighters that is also the homeland of the Dragon Ball Z villain Dabura. The latest villain threatening the world, Ozotto, hails from this world and holds powers similar to Majin Buu wherein he can absorb opponents and add their strength to his own. Thanks to the arcade game's continued success, we might be seeing new anime stories in the Heroes universe for years to come.

#SDBH Meteor Mission CG PR Anime Episode 3 "Fight In Ozotto's Palace! Let It Explode! Saiyan Power!" English Sub

Fights featured:
- Super Saiyan Blue Evolved (SSBE) Vegeta vs Ozotto Janemba
- Ultra Instinct Sign Goku vs Ozotto Metal Cooler

Translations: @peraperayume pic.twitter.com/06CJ7DqySJ

-- SUPER ?????? (@SupaChronicles) February 25, 2024

2024 is set to be a big year for the Dragon Ball franchise. In the manga, Goku and Gohan are sparring to determine whether Gohan Beast or Ultra Instinct will come out on top. This fall, Dragon Ball Daima will offer fans a new anime series that sees Goku and his friends transformed into kids. Heroes has a lot of Dragon Ball competition, but the side story still has plenty of twists and turns to offer anime fans.

What do you think of the Meteor Mission so far? Feel free to let us know in the comments or hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics, anime, and the world of the Z-Fighters.

McDonald's has been going "all anime" in recent days, as their "WcDonald's" promotion has quite a few moving pieces to celebrate the medium. The fast food chain has promised to release four anime shorts with the studio responsible for the likes of Naruto, Bleach, and Black Clover to name a few. On top of the various initiatives making up this anime collaboration, McDonald's is set to open up a real-life "WcDonald's", the anime counterpart to the restaurant that blends several genres into one.

Several participating McDonald's restaurants around North America will be injecting some serious anime into their branding and ingredients, changing packaging from anime artist Acky Bright along with Savory Chili sauce. Only one restaurant will be changed into an official "WcDonald's" however, as an establishment in California will transform itself into a place that is focused strictly on merging anime and food. The promotion is set to happen from March 9th to 10th, specifically at the McDonald's restaurant at 8505 Santa Monica Blvd.

What's A WcDonald's Anyway?

In promoting this upcoming location, McDonald's describes the WcDonald's as a "multi-sensory dining experience with a genre-bending fusion of entertainment and food." The fast food chain also has gone on record stating that the WcDonald's will merge our world with the anime world "through 360 projection mapping and immersive tabletop projections."

get to McDonald's bc it's now the epic anime world of WcDonald's. new sauce! new weekly anime & manga! the flavors of a lifetime!

-- WcDonald's (@McDonalds) February 26, 2024

One of the biggest parts of this anime initiative is the creation of four anime shorts on the WcDonald's website, the first of which is already available. Here's how McDonald's describes the anime productions made by Studio Pierrot,

• The Race to WcDonald's (drops Feb. 26): A rivalry strong enough to withstand the test of time as our two heroes embark on an epic race to WcDonald's.
• Love from Across the Booth (drops March 4): Our two protagonists discover the WcDonald's Sauce and WcNuggets aren't the only perfect pairing.
• WcNuggets Space Frontier 3000 (drops March 11): A team of WcDonald's pilots must protect the last WcNugget against an ominous force.
• The Wisdom of the Sauce (drops March 18): Three women are transported to a distant land to unravel the mystery surrounding the elusive sauce before it's gone forever.

In a new interview, McDonald's USA Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer Tariq Hassan had the following to say about the restaurant's new anime project, "Anime is a huge part of today's culture, and we love that our fans have been inviting us into the conversation for years. The WcDonald's universe is a reflection of what fans have created. It honors their vision and celebrates their creativity, while authentically bringing it to life in our restaurants for the first time ever."

Elden Ring is one of the biggest video game drops in recent years, and now the manga community is ready to embrace the hit title. After all, the team at Kadokawa has announced the launch of Elden Ring Become Lord. The web comic will go live on March 29th in Japan, and it will feature Hand Punch at the helm as artist.

Currently, Elden Ring Become Lord is slated to go live in Japan through Tatesc Comics. A limited number of print copies will also be published by Kadokawa. At this time, the publisher says the web comic will only be released in Japanese, but other translations could be in the work in the future.

As for the manga itself, Elden Ring Become Lord will feature a member of the Tarnished who dreams of becoming the next Elden Lord. So for those wanting more info on the series, you can read its official synopsis below:

"Adventurous tale of The Tarnished seeking to become the Elden Lord. The grand adventure of the action RPG ELDEN RING is now available in full-color comic. The story follows one of The Tarnished who, guided by blessings, reached the Lands Between and sets out on a journey to become the next Elden Lord. Along the way, the Tarnished encounters charming characters, explores various dungeons, battles mighty bosses, and more."

Of course, this is not the first time Elden Ring has been roped into the manga industry. Over a year ago, Elden Ring: The Road to Erdtree was released. The series has amassed nearly 40 chapters to date, and creator Nikiichi Tobita has experienced great success with the adaptation so far. Currently, the manga's first volume has been released in English, and you can find it on online stores like Amazon right now.

What do you think about this Elden Ring order? Let us know what you think in the comments below as well as on Twitter and Instagram. You can also hit me up @MeganPetersCB to share your take!

Avatar: The Last Airbender has a brand new spin with Netflix's live-action adaptation, and the re-telling has thrown in some curveballs for fans of the source material. Leading up to the series, the showrunners haven't been shy about the fact that this live-action series will be making big changes from the original Nickelodeon series. In one particular change, Aang is given a story beat that benefits the character in ways that animation fans didn't experience in the initial animated series.

In an interview last year, Avatar showrunner Albert Kim hinted at the changes that were being made from the source material, "We don't start the show the way the animated series starts. That was a conscious decision to show people this is not the animated series. We had to sometimes unravel storylines and remix them in a new way to make sense for a serialized drama so I'm very curious to see what'll happen in terms of reaction to that." One of the biggest changes to the new live-action series was the inclusion of the Air Tribe's story and its fight against the Fire Nation, which gave Aang a big moment that did not take place originally.

Aang Gets a Live-Action Break

Thanks to giving more time to the Airbender Gyatso, Aang is confronted with the idea that the loss of the Air Tribe wasn't his fault. Even if the Avatar was to stand up to the Fire Nation before he was frozen in a ball of ice, Gyatso assures him that he would have ultimately failed to save his friends. It's a big change for the live-action series, giving Aang relief that he didn't have in the animated series.

Currently, Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender has yet to confirm if a second season is on the way, but the streaming service will have plenty of material to adapt should it return. "Book 2" of the animated series saw Aang and his friends further exploring the Earth Kingdom, running into the blind Earth-bender Toph. Since Aang and company's live-action series hit the top spot for Netflix with its debut, there's a decent enough chance that we'll see the live-action Avatar return.

What do you think of this big change for the live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender? Feel free to let us know in the comments or hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics, anime, and the world of Aang.

Avatar: The Last Airbender has been taking over Netflix since the live-action series made its debut, and one of its big moments recreated Azula's Lightning Bending in real life! Avatar: The Last Airbender made some key changes to its adaptation of the original Nickelodeon series for Netflix, and many of those changes included showcasing more of Azula and Fire Lord Ozai than seen in the first season of the original work. The live-action series reveals more of how Azula had an influence over things that went down with Zuko, and queued up some of the big moments she gets later.

One of the big reveals it made with Azula was the fact that she seemed to be the only Fire Bender capable of wielding lightning. Revealed in Episode 7 of Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender as Fire Lord Ozai continues to put her through trials, Azula showed her father that she could use this elevated form of Fire Bending in a destructive matter. It's something that likely impressed Ozai, and will be showcased even more if the live-action series comes back with a second season in the future.

AZULA USING LIGHTNING SO EFFORTLESSLY LIKE THAT #AvatarTheLastAirbender pic.twitter.com/K4Dkw7u5RP

-- jolt (@meltborne) February 22, 2024

Avatar: The Last Airbender - What Is Lightning Bending?

Lightning generation was explained to be a rare form of bending that uses the inner energies of a person and flows it through their fingertips, and in the original Avatar: The Last Airbender it was revealed to be a skill that Azula had easily acquired despite how rare it was supposed to be. In Netflix's version, it's just something that Azula is able to do without any explanation of how it works just yet. But if the series returns for more episodes, it's likely a technique we'll see much more of.

Avatar: The Last Airbender has yet to announce whether or not it will be returning for Season 2 with Netflix in the future, but it's currently getting some impressive ratings with the streaming service in the first few days of its debut. Taking the top spot in over 80 countries as of the time of this writing, you can check out the eight episode first season for yourself now streaming with Netflix to see more of Azula and the other Fire Benders.

How do you feel about Lightning Bending in Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender? Let us know all of your thoughts about it in the comments! You can even reach out to me directly about all things animation and other cool stuff @Valdezology on X (formerly known as Twitter)!