My Adventures With Superman's first season gave makeovers to quite a few legendary villains in the Man of Steel's rogues gallery. Deathstroke, Parasite, Live Wire, and more were all given new anime aesthetics to match the likes of Clark Kent, Lois Lane, and Jimmy Olsen. The second season of the Adult Swim hit wasted little time in bringing in new threats and giving them some major makeovers to boot.

Of the new villains that we witnessed in the first two episodes of season two, we were able to see new takes on Atomic Skull and Damage. The former has long been a big villain in Superman's roster, but the latter has always been more of a hero than a villain during his DC Comics' career. Regardless, the two were put to good use thanks to Amanda Waller, who has continued to build quite the Task Force X. As viewers witnessed during the second episode finale, we also received confirmation that the "Alex" of the series was none other than Lex Luthor. Needless to say, Clark and company have some big threats ahead.

The Superman Villain You Might Have Missed

On top of both Atomic Skull and Damage, you might have missed a villain in disguise in "Hank". While not confirmed, Lois had a friend at S.T.A.R. Labs named Hank, who might just be the character known as Hank Henshaw. Hank Henshaw turns out to be the major villain, Cyborg Superman, who not only looks like the spitting image of Superman, but has both the Kryptonian's powers and an array of technological advantages.

If you want to learn more about the latest season focusing on the Man of Steel, here's how Adult Swim describes Season Two of My Adventures With Superman, "In the latest season, the three best friends face a host of new threats. Powerful foes will emerge from Clark's alien past, Amanda Waller will take aim at Superman, Lois will grapple with the future, and Jimmy Olsen will spend an unbelievable amount of money. Krypton is coming for our young heroes, and its arrival will test their strength, loyalty, and love like never before."

Want to see which DC villains make the jump to the Adult Swim series? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook for all the latest updates on the Man of Steel and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics, anime, and the world of Krypton.

Naruto Uzumaki is a powerful little man. For decades now, the shonen industry has bowed before the ninja and his insane abilities. Despite being raised as a pariah, Naruto has risen from the bottom to become one of the most respected heroes to ever grace Shonen Jump. And now, a new Naruto promo has revealed the hero's new Rasengan... and it looks like an actual Spirit Bomb.

No, we're totally serious. Get Goku on the phone if you don't believe us. The latest update for Naruto x Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections is live, and the promo reveals Naruto's devastating new attack.

BRO NARUTO ACTUALLY MAKES A RASEN SPIRIT BOMB pic.twitter.com/fIVldslfAZ

-- R?naldo ? (@Renaldo_Saiyan) May 29, 2024

As you can see above, the fan-dubbed Rasen-Bomb puts Naruto on the battlefield, and he's got some friends with him. On either side of Naruto, we can find Ashura Otsutsuki and Hashirama Senju ready for battle. It is there the two men lend Naruto their power to feed a massive Rasengan Bomb, and from there, our hero can launch his attack.

Now, according to the game itself, this ability is called Six Paths: Shins Rasen Shuriken, and it can be performed with Naruto's two allies. However, anime fans were quick to point out just how similar this technique looks to the Spirit Bomb we met in Dragon Ball. The only difference is that Goku channeled energy from thousands into his Spirit Bomb while Naruto leans heavily on chakra from just two allies.

Still, the damage has been done, and now Naruto fans are eager to see more of this new Rasengan in action. If we are lucky, the actual manga will find a way to make this Rasengan canon. But for now, netizens will only be able to enjoy the move if they've purchased the third DLC pack for Naruto x Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections.

What do you think about this wild Naruto tribute? Let us know what you think over on Twitter and Instagram. You can also hit me up @MeganPetersCB to share your take!

It looks like Netflix is gearing up for another live-action anime adaptation. With hits like One Piece and Yu Yu Hakusho on hand, the service has another big project in mind. Today, Netflix revealed its cast for a new series BET, a live-action adaptation of Kakegurui.

According to Netflix, BET will be headed up by a solid cast including Miku Martineau, Ayo Solanke, Eve Edwards, Clara Alexandrova, Hunter Cardinal, Anwen O'Driscoll, Aviva Mongillo and Ryan Sutherland. As for the show's story, it will draw inspiration from the original Kakegurui manga and anime. Set an an elite boarding school, BET follows a group of students who navigate the school's cutthroat hierarchy and find themselves dabbling with underground gambling.

Currently, BET is in production in Toronto, Canada. No release window has been given for the live-action adaptation at this point. As for its crew, Simon Barry is directing and writing the drama. With ten episodes to its name, BET hopes to bring the world of Kakegurui outside of Japan and into a new world. So for those wanting to know more about BET, a short synopsis of the series was posted by Netflix today:

"In BET, the boarding school's hierarchy is upturned when Yumeko, a mysterious transfer student arrives from Japan with a dark secret and a gambling prowess that puts her in the crosshairs of the powerful Student Council. Ultimately, her revenge quest threatens to upend the school's status quo entirely."

If you are not familiar with Kakegurui on its own, the original series began in March 2014 under Homura Kawamoto and Toru Naomura. The manga is ongoing, and thanks to MAPPA, Kakagurui was given a hit anime adaptation starting in September 2017. A live-action drama for Kakegurui was released in Japan in 2018 which became a hit on Netflix. And now, the site is investing in a Hollywood adaptation of the high-stakes thriller with BET.

Will you be checking out Bet when it debuts on Netflix? Let us know what you think over on Twitter and Instagram. You can also hit me up @MeganPetersCB to share your take!

HT - THR

Blue Lock's second season is set to take the anime world by storm this October, continuing the quest of many Japanese soccer players to become a part of the country's premier team. While the players won't die should they fail the "Blue Lock Program", they'll never be able to be a part of Japan's top team, meaning that their lives might as well be over for many of the participants. To give fans a closer look at the hard-hitting adventures to come, Blue Lock has released a new poster for its next season.

Blue Lock has also released a new synopsis for the second season, showing that the participants of the project still have some major challenges ahead, "In order to develop the world's best striker who can lead Japan to victory in the World Cup, the Japan Football Association launches the "Blue Lock" project. 300 high school students were invited to the project, all of whom were forwards. In the extreme situation where dropping out would mean losing their eligibility to join the Japanese national soccer team in the future, the selected talented players one by one awaken their egos as strikers. 35 people survived the harsh selection process, sometimes by kicking others down and sometimes by evolving themselves. Having overcome the frenzy of survival swirling with egos, they will bet on the survival of the "Blue Lock" project as they take on the U-20 Japan National Team in the craziest match in history!"

Blue Lock Season 2 Poster

For season two, Eight Bit Studio will return after the successful first season. Prior to the second season, Blue Lock fans have another big project to look forward to as the first film of the franchise, Blue Lock: Episode Nagi, will arrive in North American theaters next month following a successful run in Japan.

?Teaser Visual?
BLUELOCK Season 2
Scheduled for October 2024!

?More: https://t.co/3R6bXihQB3 pic.twitter.com/WxS44BBQvo

-- AnimeTV ???? (@animetv_jp) May 30, 2024

If you haven't had the chance to check out Blue Lock, the first season is available to stream on Crunchyroll. Here's how the streaming service describes the series, "Japan's desire for World Cup glory leads the Japanese Football Association to launch a new rigorous training program to find the national team's next striker. Three hundred high school players are pitted against each other for the position, but only one will come out on top. Who among them will be the striker to usher in a new era of Japanese soccer?"

Want to stay up to date on anime's most popular soccer team? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook for all the latest updates on Blue Lock.

Jujutsu Kaisen has fans on edge right now, and while that is hardly surprising for the series, the manga's intensity is staying strong. Creator Gege Akutami is in the midst of the Shinjuku Showdown arc, and to date, it has taken a number of lives. Months ago, fans were stunned when Gojo Satoru met his fate at the hands of Sukuna, but things are now different. In the latest chapter of Jujutsu Kaisen, Gojo Satoru made their comeback, and we're breaking down how Yuta's cursed technique made it possible.

So let's address the elephant in the room, yeah? Jujutsu Kaisen killed off Gojo Satoru just over a year ago, and it was a bloody show. Sukuna managed to cleave time and space itself to take out Gojo. Now, the sorcerer is back on the battlefield, but it isn't the Gojo we know. Instead, the body of Gojo is fighting once more, and Yuta is the one controlling him.

The revelation just about broke the Internet, and now fans are breaking down the impact Yuta's decision will have on the series. In every physiological sense, Gojo is dead - he was bisected at the hip, and his brain has been removed from his body. Yuta's own brain is now occupying Gojo's body in order to control it, and that is because Yuta used his cursed technique to copy Kenjaku's own before the ancient sorcerer was killed.

We know Yuta has the incredible ability to copy the cursed techniques of others. His innate ability is called Copy, you know? When Yuta is tied to Rika, he can copy the innate abilities of others, but there are limits. Certain conditions must be met for Yuta to copy an innate ability, and for some, he can only use them for a short period of time. This has led many fans to question if Yuta (and Gojo) will only be around for about five minutes, but that likely isn't the case.

After all, Yuta's use of innate techniques is impacted by what kind of cursed technique it leans into. There are one-time activation techniques as well as continuous types and intermittent type. If Kenjaku's body-hijacking ability is a single activation, Yuta may be able to stick around longer than anticipated. But either way, fans are still uncertain of whether Yuta can use other copied techniques while using Copy to pilot Gojo's body.

For now, all eyes are on the future of Yuta (Gojo) vs Sukuna. The showdown is ongoing as the pair just laid their domains against one another. So hopefully, Jujutsu Kaisen will keep fans roped in with Gojo as the sorcerer's future with Yuta looks more uncertain than ever.

What do you think about Jujutsu Kaisen's latest cliffhanger? Let us know what you think over on Twitter and Instagram. You can also hit me up @MeganPetersCB to share your take!

During Dragon Ball Z's Majin Buu Arc, a new element was added to the lives of the Z-Fighters in the Fusion Dance. First performed by Goten and Trunks to create Gotenks, Goku and Vegeta would eventually get in on the "fun" in the twelfth movie of the Dragon Ball Z series. "Fusion Reborn" wasn't considered a part of the main canon of the franchise, meaning that Gogeta of Dragon Ball Super: Broly was the first time the fused character would appear.

While the fusion dance creates a being that is far stronger than the sum of its parts, the fusion only lasts for thirty minutes. Once the fusion ends, the two players involved will only be able to perform the dance once an hour has passed. Considering how complicated the dance is and how wrong it can go if not performed perfectly, it's always a risk when it comes to using the technique to fight a strong opponent. It took Goku and Vegeta three tries to get it right when they teleported away from Broly during the Dragon Ball Super movie, but ultimately, Gogeta was able to take down the Legendary Super Saiyan to cap off the film.

Super Saiyan Blue Gogeta Hits The Real World

The Broly movie was the last time that we witnessed Gogeta in the Dragon Ball Super series, though there have been quite a few instances where the fusion character was needed. During both the Moro and Granolah The Survivor Arcs, the Z-Fighters found themselves with their backs against the wall. Neither storyline has had the opportunity to be adapted to the small screen, though should they ever hit the anime, the news will send shockwaves through the anime fan community as a result.

@xeplay_cosplay

Fuuuuuuusioon!!!! Goku: Yo Vegeta: @josiito? #gokucosplay #gokublue #vegetacosplay #gogeta #gogetacosplay #gogetablue #salondelcomicymangacyl #dragonball #dragonballsuper #dragonballsuperheroes #dragonballcosplay #cosplaygoku #dragonballlatino #dragonballsupersuperhero #gokublue #wig #cosplaywig #goku #gokucosplay #gokussjblue #vegeta #dragonballlegends #dragonballgt #dragonballz

? sonido original - CLUB MISTERIO ?

This fall, Dragon Ball will return to the small screen via Dragon Ball Daima though it seems unlikely that Gogeta will be making an appearance. Thanks to the main premise being that Goku and company are transformed into kids, and taking place before the start of Dragon Ball Super, Daima most likely won't see Goku and Vegeta performing a fusion dance. Even Goten and Trunks might not get the chance as the two young fighters are turned into babies thanks to the nefarious wish made on the dragon balls.

Want to hear more about the future of Dragon Ball Super? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook for all the latest updates on the Z-Fighters.

The anime fandom is sending all its best wishes to one of its fave actors these days. Thanks to a new report, we have learned Kappei Yamaguchi has been laid low. The voice actor found himself hospitalized this week, and according to Yamaguchi, they will be needing surgery ASAP after they injured themselves working out.

"I'm going to be hospitalized for a bit starting today. It's for surgery on my shoulder because I overdid it weightlifting. I'll come back with a cyborg shoulders. Let's stay lively and energetic," the One Piece and Inuyasha star shared. Taking to social media later, Yamaguchi admitted he had reached the hospital, and he thanked fans for all of their support.

"Thank you everyone for your supportive words. I overdid it while weightlifting and ended up with a torn tendon in my shoulder. It won't heal naturally so surgery is necessary. It's not that serious, so I'm sorry for worrying anyone. From tomorrow onwards, my shoulder will be a cyborg!"

Clearly, Yamaguchi is in good spirits, and he isn't expecting to be waylaid by his surgery. This update is good as the voice actor oversees Usopp in One Piece. Beyond that, the actor oversees Shinichi Kudo and Kaito Kid in Detective Conan, so the actor stays busy. Plus, he's got quite the legacy with other hit series such as Inuyasha, Ranma 1/2, Death Note, and more.

If you are not familiar with Yamaguchi's work, you can always give One Piece a shot. The voice actor has been overseeing Usopp for decades, after all. For those curious about the anime, you can find One Piece streaming everywhere from Netflix to Hulu and Crunchyroll. So for more info on One Piece, you can read its official synopsis below:

"As a child, Monkey D. Luffy was inspired to become a pirate by listening to the tales of the buccaneer "Red-Haired" Shanks. But Luffy's life changed when he accidentally ate the Gum-Gum Devil Fruit and gained the power to stretch like rubber...at the cost of never being able to swim again! Years later, still vowing to become the king of the pirates, Luffy sets out on his adventure...one guy alone in a rowboat, in search of the legendary "One Piece," said to be the greatest treasure in the world..."

What do you think about this latest One Piece update? Let us know what you think over on Twitter and Instagram. You can also hit me up @MeganPetersCB to share your take!

Dragon Ball may be on a hiatus these days, but the manga is still keeping busy. While we wait for Dragon Ball Super to return, all eyes are on the manga's ongoing Super Gallery project. In honor of the manga's 40th anniversary, Shueisha has been posted tributes to Dragon Ball since 2021, and it seems the project's next piece is coming from a true legend.

After all, Slam Dunk has been called to the court. Artist Takehiko Inoue has been drafted by the Dragon Ball Super Gallery, so fans will get to see their take on Son Goku soon enough.

Of course, fans are eager to see how this tribute to Dragon Ball goes. Takehiko is one of manga's most revered artists given the success of Slam Dunk. The creator is also in great company as the Super Gallery project has catered to dozens of artists. So if you want to read up on the artists who've previously partnered on this Dragon Ball campaign, you can find the list below:

• Masashi Kishimoto
  
• Tite Kubo
  
• Osamu Akimoto
  
• Ryuhei Tamura
  
• Tatsuki Fujimoto
  
• Koyoharu Gotogue
  
• Shinohara Kenta
  
• Tatsuya Endo
  
• Hiroshi Shibashi
  
• Mitsotoshi Shimabukuro
  
• Yusei Matsui
  
• Hirohiko Araki
  
• Kyosuke Usuta
  
• Koji Inada
  
• Mikio Ikemoto
  
• Tadatoshi Fujimaki
  
• Akira Amano
  
• Kentaro Yabuki
  
• Hideaki Sorachi
  
• Posuka Demizu
  
• Boichi
  
• Shun Saeki
  
• Yuki Tabata
  
• Kazue Kato
  
• Yasuhisa Har?
  
• Shuichi Aso
  
• Katsura Hoshino
  
• Gege Akutami
  
• Sui Ishida
  
• Yusuke Murata
  
• Yoshifumi Tozuka
  
• Takeshi Obama
  
• Naho Oishi
  
• Hiroyuki Asada
  
• Toyotaro
  

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

Attack on Titan might be over, but the franchise continues to find new ways to make a comeback to the public eye. While anime fans have yet to be able to purchase real-life maneuver gear to sail through the skylines, the anime franchise is offering some wild merchandise all the same. In teaming up with knife producers, Attack on Titan is getting into the kitchen business with a new knife that will be made available later this year.

Attack on Titan's anime and manga brought the Scout Regiment's story to a close in such a way that it is still considered one of the most controversial endings to an anime series to this day. Despite the fight against Eren Jaeger ending, creator Hajime Isayama was more than willing to expand on his universe. In a recent artbook, Attack on Titan: Fly, the manga artist brought fans back to the earlier days of Captain Levi, once again showing that one of the strongest scouts had to go through some tough times even before he was cutting down Titans.

Attack On Titan: That's Not a Knife, This is a Knife

In teaming up with producer Garrack, the official Attack on Titan knife is patterned after the design of the swords wielded by the Survey Corps and the soldiers inside of the walls. Retailing for a little over $125 USD, the knives will be shipped out this September. This merchandise might be wild, but it goes to show how Attack on Titan continues to resonate with fans to this day following its epic conclusion.

TV????????????????????????????????!

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GARRACK??????????????????????????6?10????????!https://t.co/rk017VxmwJ#garrack #shingeki pic.twitter.com/kcgMT0N52H

-- ????????????????? (@anime_shingeki) May 30, 2024

If you want to learn more about this new anime knife, here's how Attack on Titan describes the wild merchandise, "This knife combines sharpness with design, and was created in collaboration with NiNJA, a knife brand from Seki City, a world-renowned knife production area. NiNJA's blades are not sharpened by machine, but by craftsmen who sharpen each knife one by one, creating a genuine double-edged blade. Made of easy-to-maintain molybdenum vanadium steel and coated with titanium, it maintains its sharp cutting edge for a long time. With this knife, you can devote your heart to cooking."

Want to see what other wild merchandise is spawned from your favorite anime franchises? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook for all the latest updates on the Scout Regiment and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics, anime, and the Survey Corps.

Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War is gearing up for its next cour. With two outings under its belt, the adaptation of Tite Kubo's hit manga is living large. It won't be much longer before Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War returns to the air, and now, we know the anime will make a special outing at Anime Expo 2024.

The update went live today as Anime Expo and Viz Media announced Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War has plans for the event. So if you want a special peek at Bleach's new batch of episodes, the premiere will go down on Saturday, July 6.

"BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War - The Conflict Panel - Presented by VIZ Media. Join voice actors Derek Stephen Prince, Robbie Daymond, and Xander Mobus as they revisit Parts 1 & 2. Don't miss major announcements around BLEACH and a sneak peek of Part 3 during the panel," Anime Expo announced. "The Premiere and Panel will take place on July 6, 2024 - 10:00AM - 11:20AM at the Main Stage Events."

As you can imagine, fans of Bleach are eager to see this first look at Thousand-Year Blood War cour three. The show made its debut back in October 2022, and since its launch, Bleach has done no wrong. In its last outing, Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War left fans on edge as Ichigo found himself facing Uryu. With the Quincy army pulling against the Soul King, alert has never been higher amongst the Soul Reapers, and Ichigo is no exception. Yhwach will not rest until the Soul King is destroyed, so the question now is whether Ichigo can stop the Quincy prophet.

If you are not caught up with Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War, no sweat! The hit anime is streaming on Hulu and/or Disney+ depending on your region. So for more info on the series, you can read the official synopsis of Bleach below:

"Ichigo Kurosaki has always been able to see ghosts, but this ability doesn't change his life nearly as much as his close encounter with Rukia Kuchiki, a Soul Reaper and member of the mysterious Soul Society. While fighting a Hollow, an evil spirit that preys on humans who display psychic energy, Rukia attempts to lend Ichigo some of her powers so that he can save his family; but much to her surprise, Ichigo absorbs every last drop of her energy. Now a full-fledged Soul Reaper himself, Ichigo quickly learns that the world he inhabits is one full of dangerous spirits and, along with Rukia--who is slowly regaining her powers--it's Ichigo's job to protect the innocent from Hollows and help the spirits themselves find peace."

What do you think about this Anime Expo update? Let us know what you think over on Twitter and Instagram. You can also hit me up @MeganPetersCB to share your take!

What is the difference between light novels and manga when both help to spawn countless anime? Light novels will typically incorporate images that would fit right in with manga publications, though the light novels will typically include far more prose to help tell their stories. In a recent report, the biggest light novels of 2024 have been revealed, and some of the biggest anime franchises are well represented in this ranking. As anime continues to grow in popularity, expect far more light novels to be released as a result.

Anime franchises will often make use of both light novels and manga mediums to help push their stories to the masses on multiple fronts. Some big examples of anime franchises that first began as light novels include Konosuba, Re:Zero, Sword Art Online, Fate/Zero, Overlord, and many more. Sometimes, anime that were adapted from manga will take the opportunity to present their stories in a light novel format, adding major details that weren't available in either previous medium. To this day, light novels remains a big part of the anime world in Japan, as is evident from the number of copies that the top-selling light novels of 2024 can attest.

The Top Light Novels of 2024

As researched by Oricon, here are the top-selling light novels of the year so far and how many copies each franchise has pushed,

1.) The Apothecary Diaries - 1,092,510
2.) Haikyuu - 689,554
3.) Classroom of The Elite 2nd Year - 238,635
4.) Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Freedom - 177,883
5.) The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten - 145,861
6.) Roshidere - 109,179
7.) Heaven Official's Blessing - 81,3030
8.) That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime - 76,679
9.) Detective Conan: The Million Dollar Pentagram - 68,807
10.) Kirby - 68,164

You might be surprised to see The Apothecary Diaries take the top spot, and if you want to see what all the commotion is about, the first season is streaming on Crunchyroll. Here's how the streaming service describes the series, "Maomao lived a peaceful life with her apothecary father. Until one day, she's sold as a lowly servant to the emperor's palace. But she wasn't meant for a compliant life among royalty. So when imperial heirs fall ill, she decides to step in and find a cure! This catches the eye of Jinshi, a handsome palace official who promotes her. Now, she's making a name for herself solving medical mysteries!"

Via Oricon

If there is one thing the Rick and Morty team knows how to do, it is making us laugh. Series co-creator Dan Harmon helped shepherd Rick and Morty into the hit we know today, and now, it seems the executive has a new project in the works. Harmon has teamed up with Matt Roiler on a new Netflix series, and The Undervale looks like a hit already.

Netflix announced the upcoming animated series, and The Undervale shared a poster for good measure. As you can see below, the key visual is filled with color, and it has tons of supernatural flair. After all, The Undervale is set in a world where ghosts are very much real, and we meet several who are helping run a hotel.

According to Netflix, this new animated series will tell the story of a single mother and her two kids as they move into a haunted hotel. The family begins managing the hotel with the mother's estranged and very deceased brother. With ghosts scattering the hotel, The Undervale will follow its leads as they try to make a home out of a haunted hotel, and they are bound to run into issues along the way.

Right now, The Undervale has no release window set, but Netflix is definitely eager to bring Harmon's new work to life. After all, the Rick and Morty co-creator has quite the resume. Harmon has been in the industry since 1996 but became a household name with Community as its creator and producer. In the wake of Rick and Morty, Harmon has gone on to oversee productions like HarmonQuest. And now, Harom is ready to undertake a new series with Roiler at Netflix.

What do you think about this latest Netflix announcement? Will you be watching The Undervale? Let us know what you think over on Twitter and Instagram. You can also hit me up @MeganPetersCB to share your take!

My Hero Academia season seven is working through its first few episodes, and we are on the cusp of a new release. It will not be long before the superhero shonen returns to air this weekend, and it will bring season seven episode five to life. "Let You Down" will mark the debut, and we have been given our first look at the release.

As you can see below, the first stills for My Hero Academia's new episode are tense to put lightly. In one shot, we can see Deku and Uraraka together as they look off into the distance. Their faces look rather tight which is hardly surprising. The kids of Class 1-A are preparing for war, and they just learned one of their friends is a traitor.

It wasn't long ago My Hero Academia confirmed Aoyama was the mole in U.A. High School, and we can see a shot of him here. The boy looks incredibly down as he holds a phone to his face. It seems Aoyama is about to call All For One, and the chat will spark the next phase of Japan's fight for freedom.

As for the other shots, we can see Toga and Dabi doing their own thing. It seems the League leaders are eager to fight the heroes once more. If anything, Dani has been waiting years to show up his father for good, and he will take on anyone who gets in the way of his vengeance.

If you are not caught up with My Hero Academia, season seven is now streaming on Hulu and Crunchyroll. So for more info on the series, 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 My Hero Academia promo? Let us know what you think over on Twitter and Instagram. You can also hit me up @MeganPetersCB to share your take!

The Dragon Ball Super Gallery project assembles some of the biggest artists from the manga world to contribute to the world of the Z-Fighters. Among the many artists that have contributed so far are Bleach's Tite Kubo, Naruto's Masashi Kishimoto, Chainsaw Man's Tatsuki Fujimoto, Demon Slayer's Koyoharo Gotouge, and JoJo's Bizarre Adventure's Hirohiko Araki to name a few. The most recent cover has made its way to the internet, and it is drawn by none other than Toyotaro, the artist who draws Dragon Ball Super.

Dragon Ball Super wasn't the first time that Toyotaro was a part of the shonen universe, as the artist had long been portraying Goku and company. One of his first unofficial works was creating fan manga for the series, "Dragon Ball AF", wherein he would then be chosen to draw the spin-off series, Dragon Ball Heroes: Victory Mission. Thanks to his work on the side story, Toyotaro would be chosen by Akira Toriyama himself to be a part of the latest sequel series. Throughout the latest arcs, Toyotaro worked closely with Akira Toriyama to help continue the Z-Fighters' story as the pair have created some major battles and new transformations for the franchise.

Dragon Ball Super: Toyotaro Returns To The Manga

Following the tragic passing of creator Akira Toriyama, the manga went on an indefinite hiatus. As it stands, it has yet to be revealed if Dragon Ball Super will continue with Toyotaro at the helm and/or if the artist will be working on scripts and ideas that were created by Toriyama. Should Dragon Ball Super continue with its manga, it's a safe bet that Toyotaro will be involved with the Z-Fighters' future.

DRAGON BALL Volume 39 Cover drawn by Toyotarou for the 40th DRAGON BALL SUPER Gallery Tribute. pic.twitter.com/g0tLPjckLd

-- SUPER ?????? (@SupaChronicles) May 30, 2024

While Toriyama might be gone, his legacy remains. This fall, Dragon Ball Daima will arrive on the small screen, as the new anime is using ideas from Akira Toriyama to help tell a new story for Goku and his fellow Z-Fighters. Transforming Son and his friends into children thanks to a nefarious wish made on the dragon balls, a release date has yet to be revealed for Daima but it remains one of the most highly anticipated anime releases of the year.

Want to stay up to date on the Z-Fighters? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook for all the latest updates on Son Goku and his fellow shonen fighters.

Following some V-Jump scans which hinted at more Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero characters from Dragon Ball Z and beyond as well as another themed video, a new trailer dropped this week to confirm not just a few but 21 different characters. This trailer is all about fused characters, so Goten, Kid Trunks, and their fusion, Gotenks, of course make an appearance alongside Vegito, Kefla, and more. Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero still does not yet have a confirmed release date even after this newest trailer, however.

In typical Dragon Ball fashion, many of the characters confirmed for Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero today are ones that are basically different versions of existing characters. Though the full list of fighters announced today totals 21 different playable characters, there were technically only nine different people confirmed for the game's massive roster.

That said, you can find each of those 21 different characters listed out below, and you can see them in action in the trailer here as well:

New Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero Fighters

• Trunks (Kid)
• Trunks (Kid), Super Saiyan
• Goten
• Goten, Super Saiyan
• Caulifla
• Caulifla, Super Saiyan 2
• Kale
• Kale, Super Saiyan
• Gotenks
• Gotenks, Super Saiyan
• Gotenks, Super Saiyan 3
• Kefla
• Kefla, Super Saiyan
• Kefla, Super Saiyan 2
• Vegito
• Vegito, Super Saiyan God Super Saiyan
• Gogeta (Super)
• Gogeta (Super), Super Saiyan
• Gogeta (Super), Super Saiyan God Super Saiyan
• Fused Zamasu
• Fused Zamasu, Half-Corrupted

With these characters now revealed, it's becoming more evident now how Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero could possibly hope to fill up the huge roster since most of these characters are different versions of each other or fusions combining them together. Below is a graphic showing what the roster looks like now that these characters are confirmed, though there are still plenty more spots to fill before Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero releases.

When the game will release remains to be seen, but a release date leak from not long ago suggested that the game would be out in October. Bandai Namco has not indicated as much yet, but we may find out more come soon during the summer gaming events.

Blue Lock has become a force of nature for both the sport anime genre and the anime industry as a whole. Becoming the most highly-sold manga series in 2023, it should come as no surprise that not only is the soccer series returning for a second season, but a feature-length film as well. Set to arrive in North America on June 28th next month, the first subtitled trailer has arrived on the internet to focus on the story of Nagi Seishiro.

Blue Lock has taken the world by storm since the manga first arrived in 2018 from creators Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Yusuke Nomura. One of the biggest examples of this was Nomura aiding in creating the uniforms for Japan's soccer team at the Olympics, going to show how paramount the franchise has become in a relatively short amount of time. With the manga continuing to this day, the anime adaptation most likely will have a bright future ahead of it.

Blue Lock: Episode Nagi's Subtitled Trailer

The "Blue Lock" project is one that sees the anime soccer players fighting for their futures, wherein should they fail the "games", they lose their chance at being a part of Japan's top team. While this new movie doesn't focus on the main character of the first season, it further explores the anime world with a supporting character.

If you want to learn more about Episode Nagi, here's an official description of Blue Lock's first movie, "That's a hassle.' That was second-year high schooler Nagi Seishiro's favorite phrase as he lived his dull life. Until Mikage Reo, a classmate who dreamed of winning the World Cup, discovered Nagi's hidden skill, inspiring him to play soccer and share his outstanding talent. One day, he receives an invitation to the mysterious BLUE LOCK Project. What awaits him there is an encounter with the finest strikers assembled from across the country. Nagi's dream of becoming the best, alongside Reo, will take this prodigy to a world he's never known. A prodigy can only be shaped when someone discovers him....now, striker Nagi Seishiro's incredible talent and persona will set the soccer world ablaze."

Want to stay updated on all things Blue Lock? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook for all the latest updates on the world of sports anime and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

Makoto Shinkai has become a major name in the anime universe, with many anime fans considering the director to be a spiritual successor to Studio Ghibli's Hayao Miyazaki. As it stands, Shinkai has created some of the most well-known and successful anime films to hit theaters with the likes of Your Name, Weathering With You, and most recently, Suzume. Like many other anime creators in the industry, Makoto is a fan of many projects in the medium and recently was more than happy to share one of his picks.

Makoto Shinkai's career first began in 1998, where the director began as an animator on a short film, "The World Be Enclosed". Not simply relegated to the anime industry, Shinkai would then be a part of several video game cut scenes including The Legend of Heroes IIII, Ys II Eternal, and Ef: A Fairy Tale of The Two. While Shinkai has yet to reveal his next project, it's sure to gain a lot of attention in the anime world.

Shinkai Is Off To The Races

Surprisingly, Shinkai has gained an affinity for the franchise Uma Musume Pretty Derby, and its latest movie New Era's Door. Here's what the anime director had to say, "I just watched the movie 'Uma Musume Pretty Derby: New Era's Door' without knowing anything about it, and it was absolutely stunning. It exemplified how cel animation should be, with truly remarkable visuals. The sound, direction, and storytelling were all executed with a confident touch. What moved me the most was the color design. The interplay of light and shadow in the opening underground tunnel scene and the race scenes, which made the view feel narrow and almost suffocating, were electrifying. I was also taken aback by the sudden live performance, but it was incredibly enjoyable, like encountering a different culture. I'm so glad I watched it!"

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-- ??? (@shinkaimakoto) May 29, 2024

If you have never heard of the bizarre anime series known as Umamusume: Pretty Derby, the first season is currently available to stream on Crunchyroll. Here's how the streaming service describes the series, "This is a tale of a world where "horse girls"; with glorious names and incredible running abilities live alongside humanity. Horse girl Special Week has moved from the country to the city to attend Tracen Academy. There, she and her classmates compete to win the Twinkle Series and earn the title of "The County's #1 Horse Girl."

Want to see what other anime creators recommend? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook for all the latest from Makoto Shinkai and the anime industry.

Netflix's One Piece has a lot on its plate right now. For weeks now, rumors have circulated that One Piece season two is gearing up for filming, and it seems those reports were right. Down in South Africa, the set where One Piece is filmed is buzzing with life once again. The Going Merry is back in business, and thanks to a new set photo, we know season two of One Piece will feature a very big crew who fans will recognize off the bat.

So be warned! There are likely spoilers below for Netflix's One Piece. Read on with caution!

As you can see below, the team at OP Netflix Fan sourced set photos from Cape Town, South Africa. This locale houses the set for One Piece, and as you can tell, the location has a new ship on hand. The massive ship may not look like much from afar, but after looking at its figurehead, well - things should become apparent.

Rumbar Pirates Ship (Brook's Crew) spotted at Cape Town Film Studios. pic.twitter.com/Yu771xHgwY

-- ONE PIECE NETFLIX FAN (@OP_Netflix_Fan) May 29, 2024

The ship photographed on set for One Piece is none other than the Rumbar Pirates' ship. It is hard to mistake the ship's skull figurehead, and of course, the ship's paint job lines up. It seems the Rumbar Pirates will be featured in One Piece season two, and fans are admittedly surprised by the whole push.

After all, the Rumbar Pirates do have quite the legacy in One Piece. The group does appear in a brief flashback during the Arabasta saga, but for the most part, the Rumbar Pirates are explored during the Thriller Bark saga. After all, the crew hosted Brook years ago, and we all know the musician becomes a member of the Straw Hat crew down the line.

As for why season two is tapping the Rumbar Pirates, well - there is reason. The crew is closely tied to a whale named Laboon that we meet during the Arabasta saga. In the manga, we get a tiny flashback of the Rumbar Pirates when the Straw Hat crew meets Laboon, but it is hardly worth noting. If Netflix took the trouble to build a Rumbar Pirates ship for season two, well - One Piece fans are thinking the manga's flashback might be expanded in live action.

What do you make of this peek at One Piece season two? Let us know what you think over on Twitter and Instagram. You can also hit me up @MeganPetersCB to share your take!

These days, manga is making money like nothing else. The industry has always been rather large, but thanks to technology, manga has become all the more accessible. From same-day publishing to digital apps, manga has become one of the top-earning sections in publishing. And now, a new report has revealed which manga series are selling the best in 2024.

The update comes from Oricon as the Japanese organization posted its data for the first half of 2024. It is there we can see which series have been selling the best, and as it turns out, Jujutsu Kaisen snagged first place while Frieren: Beyond Journey's End followed in second place.

Want to know what the top ten picks are? You can read the Oricon list of best-selling manga titles of 2024 below:

• Jujutsu Kaisen - 4,630,685
  
• Frieren: Beyond Journey's End - 4,350,795
  
• The Apothecary Diaries - 3,790,236
  
• One Piece - 2,189,898
  
• Blue Lock - 2,149,862
  
• Haikyu - 1,863,720
  
• Spy x Family - 1,607,838
  
• Kingdom - 1,607,465
  
• Mashle - 1,275,234
  
• My Hero Academia - 1,265,073
  

As you can see, Jujutsu Kaisen held on to first place with an impressive haul, but it has very close competition. Frieren: Beyond Journey's End almost usurped Jujutsu Kaisen, and The Apothecary Diaries sold at least a million copies more than One Piece this year so far. You may be surprised by this surge in sales, but Frieren and The Apothecary Diaries deserve the hike. Both titles released top-tier anime adaptations in the past year, and the shows have clearly sparked an interest in their manga series.

When it comes to unique volumes, Oricon made sure to shout out the best-selling pieces of 2024. Jujutsu Kaisen came in first place again with volume 25, but the list changes from there. One Piece took second place with volume 108. And as for the top five, Jujutsu Kaisen appears again with volume 26 while Spy x Family and Frieren join the fun.

What do you think about this Oricon update? What manga titles are you reading this year? Let us know what you think over on Twitter and Instagram. You can also hit me up @MeganPetersCB to share your take!

The Annecy International Animation Film Festival is an event that often touts some big premieres. This year, the festival will feature the likes of The Lord of The Rings: The War of The Rohirrim, Creature Commandos, Look Back, and many other animated projects that fans are looking to dive into. The studio known as Fortiche is also planning to have a role at Annecy as the production house responsible for Netflix's Arcane has plans to reveal a new animated series that is surrounded by mystery.

Arcane is a fan-favorite animated series that presents a story focusing on Jinx and Vi, two characters that first got their start in the beloved video game, League of Legends. The series took the world by storm by incorporating some eye-popping animation with a compelling story that didn't pull any punches. Fortiche might be best known for Arcane, but it isn't the only project that the studio has done in the past. The production house created Rabbids Invasion, another project based on a video game, along with Marvel's Rocket & Groot.

Fortiche's New Animated Endeavor

The upcoming Annecy event will take place on June 11th, wherein Fortiche will reflect on its fifteen years of work in the animation industry and reveal a new project in the works. Here's how the upcoming panel is described, "During its Studio Focus, Fortiche Production will reflect on 15 years of diverse collaborations, including the resounding success of Arcane and other productions developed in partnership with Riot Games. The purpose of this session is to share the studio's unique vision and creative trademark as well as explore its development prospects."

If you have yet to jump into the world of the animated series that documents the world of League of Legends, Arcane is currently available to stream on Netflix. Here's how the streaming service describes the fan-favorite animated series, "Set in Utopian Piltover and the oppressed underground of Zaun, the story follows the origins of two iconic League Of Legends champions and the power that will tear them apart. The delicate balance between the rich city of Piltover and the seedy underbelly of Zaun."

Want to stay updated on Arcane and the studio responsible for the series? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook for all the latest updates on Fortiche and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics, anime, and the world of Arcane.

It's happening, guys! Back in 2018, the world was introduced to a new type of superhero with Batman Ninja. The ambitious anime adaptation gave Bruce Wayne an all-new makeover, and now it seems a sequel is on the way. Warner Bros. Japan has confirmed Batman Ninja vs Yakuza League is in the works, and we've been given a peek at its logo.

As you can see below, the official logo for Batman Ninja vs Yakuza League is incredibly sleek. We have a bit of blood splattering which is hardly surprising given Batman's line of work. When push comes to shove, the Gotham hero will do anything to protect his people, and that includes knocking heads.

At this time, Batman Ninja vs Yakuza League has yet to land a release window, but fans are hoping the movie goes live sometime this year. We will have to wait for more info from Warner Bros. Japan in that regard. But while you wait, you can always check out the first film of the series.

After all, Batman Ninja is available online thanks to services like Prime Video, YouTube, Apple TV, and more. If you are not familiar with the 2018 film, the anime feature is directed by Junpei Mizusaki with animation by Kamikaze Dough and Yamato Works. The film follows Batman after he is sent to feudal Japan following a run-in with Gorilla Grodd. It is there Batman comes face-to-face with some familiar foes who are causing havoc across Japan. It falls to Batman to put these villains in line now that he's joined the feudal era.

Want to know more about Batman Ninja? You can read its official synopsis below for all the details:

"Japan's finest artists reimagine Batman and his adversaries in this ground-breaking anime feature. In an all-new story, The Dark Knight travels to a land ruled by sword-wielding samurai and ninja assassins. Beginning in Gotham City, Gorilla Grodd's time displacement machine malfunctions sending a crazed cast of tyrannical villains back in time to terrorize medieval Japan. The most depraved is Lord Joker, who seeks total domination of the feudal states and the final elimination of the legendary Batman. Can The Caped Crusader gain the advantage-without his signature tech- to keep Lord Joker and the others from rewriting history? Watch as an ancient legend comes to life in this stunningly realized, adrenaline-fueled addition to the Batman saga."

Are you excited for this sequel to Batman Ninja? Let us know what you think over on Twitter and Instagram. You can also hit me up @MeganPetersCB to share your take!

Minecraft is being adapted into an animated series that'll air on Netflix, the streaming platform announced this week. The show will introduce new characters beyond the likes of Steve and Alex which players have become accustomed to playing as over the years, and according to Netflix, it'll boast an original story presenting the world of Minecraft in a "new light." A release date has not yet been announced for Netflix's Minecraft series, but a teaser trailer for the show says that it's coming soon.

That teaser trailer can be seen below, though it's hard to discern any actual details from it since it's basically just Minecraft, but animated, with no new characters revealed yet. We see a Creeper creeping up to blast away the background in order to reveal an underground cave system brimming with lava until the teaser trailer confirms that this will indeed be an animated series.

It's also been confirmed that WildBrain will be working on this Minecraft adaptation for Netflix. WildBrain is the same studio that's worked on other Netflix projects in the past including the Sonic the Hedgehog series Sonic Prime as well as Ninjago: Dragons Rising. No cast members have been announced for the Minecraft series, however, nor have any names at all been attached to it beyond WildBrain. A page has been set up on Netflix's site for the Minecraft show which'll presumably offer some more info as it's released, but the page isn't working at this time.

Minecraft is already getting an adaptation other than the one that's been announced today. Minecraft is also being turned into a movie, and a live-action movie at that, though the director, Jason Hess, is very aware of how these blends of live-action and animation can turn out and is being conscious not to fall into the same trap with the Minecraft movie. Jason Momoa and Jack Black are both set to start in the Minecraft movie.

Netflix's announcement of this Minecraft series comes in the midst of Minecraft's 15th anniversary celebration that's so far given players free capes, sales on Minecraft and its spin-offs, and other incentives to hop back into the best-selling game of all time. The anniversary celebrations are ongoing, so expect more from the world of Minecraft in the near future while we wait on more news related to this animated series.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is now working its way through the Hashira Training Arc of Koyoharu Gotoge's original manga series, and a wild cosplay has put a new spin on the Tanjiro and Nezuko Kamado sibling duo! Demon Slayer Season 4 has premiered this Spring to take on a major training arc as Tanjiro and the other members of the Demon Slayer Corps, and it won't be too much longer before the final fights against Muzan Kibutsuji's powerful final forces begin in full. But this training period means we won't get to see much of Nezuko in action this time around.

Demon Slayer: Hashira Training Arc will have plenty of Tanjiro as he takes part in each of the Hashira's special training, but Nezuko will be on the sidelines this time around as there won't be any kind of major conflict to be seen this season. It's going to be a brief break for the siblings, but it won't be too long before they get thrown right back into the chaos once more. But the duo has come back together once more with a wild cosplay from artist Low Cost Cosplay on Instagram. Check it out below:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Lonelyman (@lowcostcosplayth)

Where to Watch Demon Slayer Season 4

You can now stream the first three episodes of Demon Slayer: Hashira Training Arc with Crunchyroll (which has yet to confirm how many episodes it will last this Spring), but can also catch up on the first three seasons of Demon Slayer along with the Demon Slayer: Mugen Train Arc movie streaming there as well while we wait for what's next. There has yet to be an announcement for the release of the new season's English dub as of the time of this publication. They tease what to expect from the anime on a whole as such:

"It is the Taisho Period in Japan. Tanjiro, a kindhearted boy who sells charcoal for a living, finds his family slaughtered by a demon. To make matters worse, his younger sister Nezuko, the sole survivor, has been transformed into a demon herself. Though devastated by this grim reality, Tanjiro resolves to become a 'demon slayer' so that he can turn his sister back into a human, and kill the demon that massacred his family."

If you wanted to check out the now complete original manga and read ahead instead, you can find Koyoharu Gotoge's Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba its entirety (with a paid subscription) with Viz Media's digital Shonen Jump library or Shueisha's MangaPlus service.

One Piece is now working its way through the Final Saga of Eiichiro Oda's long running manga, but the series should really give fans a Void Century flashback arc before it all comes to an end! One Piece's manga has begun to reveal some massive pieces of history that fans have been theorizing about for the past couple of decades as Dr. Vegapunk's revealing what he's learned to the world in the newest chapters. But with each of his statements about the Void Century, it's only made this piece of history itself all the more intriguing.

One Piece's manga has been steadily setting up a piece of history that has been wiped from record as 100 years of civilization had been wiped from the map, and it's starting to take shape as of the new reveals in the latest chapters. But Dr. Vegapunk also stresses that he's still not aware of the full picture, and the clues we have been given only entice fans about a proper look into the past that should reveal how the seas continue to rise and how One Piece's world is in danger thanks to that missing 100 years.

One Piece: Why We Need a Void Century Arc

One Piece Chapter 1115 sees Dr. Vegapunk explain that Joyboy came from a civilization that was far more advanced than even his own futuristic technology. He then amassed a faction that fought a war against the 20 Kingdoms alliance that eventually went on to form the World Government. This war within the missing 100 year history then led to such man made destruction that the world itself sank 200 meters into the sea. It was due to powerful weapons that still exist as the war itself is still fought to this day.

This is all putting together what fans have already learned about the three mystical weapons deciphered from the Ponegliffs, Joyboy being confirmed as the very first pirate, Vivi's ancestor originally standing against the 20 kingdom alliance, Zunesha having a connection to Joyboy as well, and all of these clues within the Void Century's missing timeline.

It's hard to imagine that Oda would drop even more of these clues than ever before, and make a clearer picture of the missing 100 years without plans to show fans the entire thing. We're going to need a full Void Century flashback, no matter how long it takes. Flashbacks come in the middle of major arcs and further emphasize current events, so we'll likely get to see the Void Century gaps right when it's needed the most.

It's not a question of whether or not we should, but when we'll get to see the Void Century. As One Piece draws closer to its end, it's going to be soon.

Yu Yu Hakusho's creator has given fans a rare behind the scenes look at the classic manga with some behind the scenes sketches! Yu Yu Hakusho has gone down with fans as one of the most fondly remembered series to ever run with Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine. The anime adaptation's success then took the franchise even further as fans still hold it in very high regard even with the recent celebration of the Yu Yu Hakusho's 30th anniversary. It's hard to debate how much of an impact it's had, and its creator only went on to share even more popular work later.

Yu Yu Hakusho creator Yoshihiro Togashi might be more fondly recognized by fans for his later work with Hunter x Hunter depending on the generation, but Yu Yu Hakusho still hits after all these years. The creator recently took to social media to share a cool behind the scenes look at some of the early sketches for the manga featuring a rare look at many of the characters fans got to see in action during the series' run. You can check out the special Yu Yu Hakusho sketches below.

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???????5??UP-BEAT???? pic.twitter.com/fOpGn1aNJU

-- ???? (@Un4v5s8bgsVk9Xp) May 25, 2024

How to Read and Watch Yu Yu Hakusho

Thankfully, there's a great way to go back and check out both the classic Yu Yu Hakusho manga and anime. You can find all chapters of Yoshihiro Togashi's original manga with a paid subscription to Viz Media's digital Shonen Jump library. As for the anime, you can find the entire series' run in both English dubbed and Japanese language releases streaming with both Crunchyroll and Hulu.

They tease Yu Yu Hakusho as such, "From cutting classes to brawling in the streets, Yusuke Urameshi is not your typical role model. In fact, this kid's nothing more than a fourteen-year-old delinquent with a talent for trouble. But in a single selfless act Yusuke dies while saving another. For such noble sacrifice he is given a second chance at life, but it's to be a life far different than the one left behind. Now a Spirit Detective, the young man must track down demons and humans alike who desire to rule over the three realms of reality."

There's also a live-action Yu Yu Hakusho TV series now streaming with Netflix that offers a different take on the classic manga series if you wanted more action after.

Smiling Friends is back in action with Season 2 of the animated series, and the Adult Swim original has taken the top spot on Max's Top TV Shows chart with its latest episodes! Smiling Friends was one of the most anticipated returns of the year for Adult Swim fans, and this was proven following the debut of the new episodes earlier this Spring. Each new episode of the season thus far has gone viral in one way or another, and it seems that this has further fueled both older and newer fans to check out the series as it airs.

Smiling Friends Season 2's new episodes hit Max the day after their initial broadcast with Adult Swim, and it seems like the new series is taking over as it has reached the number one spot on Max's Top TV Shows list over the likes of recently premieres hits like The Jinx Part Two, Hacks Season 3, Fallen Idols: Nick and Aaron Carter, 90 Day Fianc?: Happily Ever After? and more. Smiling Friends co-creators Michael Cusack and Zach Hadel celebrated the news with a special sketch you can check out below.

smiling friends just hit #1 on @StreamOnMax! thank you to our incredible hardworking team and everyone for watching our silly little cartoon

-michael & zach pic.twitter.com/WxAy6kdduF

-- Smiling Friends (@SmilingFriends) May 29, 2024

How to Watch Smiling Friends Season 2

New episodes of Smiling Friends Season 2 premiere with Adult Swim on Sunday evenings at midnight. If you wanted to go back and check out the first season of Smiling Friends for yourself, along with the first four episodes of the newest season so far you might have missed, you can find all currently available episodes (and "Go to Brazil" special released in between seasons) now streaming with Max (with the first season also available on Blu-ray).

As for what could be coming our way in the next season of the animated fan favorite, Adult Swim teases what to expect from Smiling Friends Season 2 as such, "In season two of 'SMILING FRIENDS,' Pim, Charlie, Zongo, Allan and Glep continue their mission to bring happiness to the world, whether it's a washed-up retro video game character, a troubled marriage, or even the president of the United States."

The series has been such a standout for Adult Swim that it was also announced that Smiling Friends will be submitted for competition as part of the Annecy International Animation Film Festival later this Summer as well. Co-creators Cusack and Hadel will be in attendance in a panel along with Unicorn: Warriors Eternal creator Genndy Tartakovsky teasing world premieres and first looks at new Adult Swim projects.

My Adventures with Superman Season 2 is teasing Superman's next power up with the first look at the next episode of the series! My Adventures with Superman's debut season introduced fans to a whole new take on Clark Kent as he starts out his career at the Daily Planet and becoming the iconic DC superhero. But with this new take, we have also seen some major switch ups in terms of what Clark has to deal with so early into his hero career. This also comes with learning about his various powers as he continues to tap into more of his strength.

Clark's beginning to see more of the abilities he has at his disposal, and it seems like he's already tapping into a new one from the first look at the next episode. My Adventures with Superman Season 2 Episode 3 sees Clark saving someone from a burning building, only for a blue aura to activate around him like a shield to keep him safe from the flames. It's yet to be revealed what this new ability could be, but we'll likely see it explored further in the episode to come. Check out this new Superman power in action below:

When to Watch My Adventures with Superman Season 2 Episode 3

My Adventures with Superman Season 2 Episode 3 is titled "Fullmetal Scientist" and the synopsis for the episode teases it as such, "Clark's life falls apart as The General goes into hiding...in Clark's apartment! Meanwhile, Jimmy struggles with being a leader, and Lois goes toe-to-toe with Vicki Vale as they track down missing scientists!" My Adventures with Superman Season 2 Episode 3 will be premiering on Adult Swim on Saturday, June 1st at midnight EST. If you wanted to catch up with the first season and Season 2's available episodes so far, My Adventures with Superman can also be found streaming with Max the day after their initial debut.

As for what to expect from the new season, Adult Swim teases what is coming our way in the upcoming My Adventures with Superman Season 2 episodes as such, "In the latest season, the three best friends face a host of new threats. Powerful foes will emerge from Clark's alien past, Amanda Waller will take aim at Superman, Lois will grapple with the future, and Jimmy Olsen will spend an unbelievable amount of money. Krypton is coming for our young heroes, and its arrival will test their strength, loyalty, and love like never before."

When it comes to streaming, no name is bigger than Netflix. For years, the service has been at the forefront of streaming, and it has gone from simple licensing to full-blown productions. As far as anime is concerned, Netflix has become one of the field's top champions, and now a new report is breaking down how much anime was watched in 2023.

The whole breakdown went live thanks to Netflix as it released a report on what was watched in the second half of 2023. As it turns out, anime was a massive pul for the streaming service. During the latter half of 2023, Netflix users binged 3.5 billion hours of anime content, and that is up from the hours watched in the first half of 2023.

So yes, you read that right. Well over 3.5 billion hours of anime was watched at the tail end of 2023. In the first half of the year, Netflix roped in over 3.1 billon hours watched, so that leaves us with a whopping total of 6+ billion hours of anime watched in 2023.

As you can see above, Miles Thomas broke down more data about Netflix's report for Anime News Network with a clever chart. The roster highlights anime's peaks with Netflix at the end of last year. Clearly, it seems the industry is treating Netflix well, and that is hardly surprising. As anime has become more easily accessible, the medium has become a global threat, and Netflix has been investing in the industry heavily since 2018.

As we move through 2024, even more anime is slated to hit Netflix, so we will have to see what numbers for this year look like. We are about halfway done with 2024, and thanks to hits like Delicious in Dungeon, we're sure anime is treating Netflix really well.

What do you make of this latest report from Netflix? Are you one of the users who put in anime hours last year? Let us know what you think over on Twitter and Instagram. You can also hit me up @MeganPetersCB to share your take!

Scavengers Reign will be launching with Netflix in just a couple of more days, and one of the creators behind it all has shared a special poster for its release! Scavengers Reign will be making the jump to Netflix, but it's going to be very crucial for as many eyes to get on it as possible because the future of the original animated series is at stake. It was announced earlier this month that Max would not be moving forward with Scavengers Reign, but there's still hope of a potential second season thanks to its upcoming release with Netflix.

Scavengers Reign will be making its debut with Netflix on May 31st as part of a non-exclusive release deal with Max, and it was previously reported by Variety that there is still potential for a second season of the animated series despite its cancellation but that the decision won't be made until after its debut with the streamer. But with Netflix gearing up for this new animated series, Scavengers Reign co-creator Charles Huettner is getting ready for its debut with a special poster shared with fans on social media.

Season 1 of SCAVENGERS REIGN is streaming this friday on NETFLIX! pic.twitter.com/bPzpN51hbO

-- Charles Huettner (@charleshuettner) May 29, 2024

What to Know for Scavengers Reign

Scavengers Reign is an original animated series created by Joseph Bennett and Charles Huettner (which is further expanding their original Scavengers short film from 2016) for Green Street Pictures and Titmouse, Inc. Releasing with Netflix on May 31st in the United States, the United Kingdom and Ireland, the series currently runs for 12 episodes as of the time of this publication. The original series is teased as such, "Scavengers Reign is about the surviving crew of a damaged deep space freighter who are stranded on a beautiful yet unforgiving planet. They begin to learn the true nature of this planet as they try to survive long enough to escape or be rescued."

Scavengers Reign co-executive producer James Merrill teased ComicBook in a previous interview last year there was more to see to the story in a potential second season should the series continue, "I do feel like we tried to tell a complete story, not a puzzle box that tries to lure people back. That being said, we do have some big ideas as to what could come next. I hope that we get to do it because we want to explore what comes next. We only saw a little bit of the planet."

Science SARU recently made headlines thanks to Toho acquiring the anime studio, as the latter is looking to corner the market when it comes to the anime medium. This acquisition isn't stopping SARU from creating new anime television series and movies, as the studio has a brand new movie hitting theaters in Japan this summer. Your Colors has dropped a trailer to give fans a closer look at the story that came from the mind of director Naoko Yamada.

While the film will arrive in Japan on August 30th, the movie's premiere will take place at the Annecy Film Festival. Your Colors, or Colors Within, will be in good company for this year's festival as Annecy has already announced that it will house first looks at the likes of The Lord of The Rings: The War of The Rohirrim, Warner Bros' Creature Commandos, and many more animated projects. At present, the movie has yet to announce when it will arrive in North America, though like so many other anime features, Your Colors will most likely arrive in some form or fashion.

Your Colors Trailer

Your Colors isn't the only big anime release from Science SARU this year, as the anime studio will also be teaming up with Netflix for a highly anticipated anime adaptation. Dandandan will hit the streaming service this fall, and if the SARU follows the manga's story, the television series will be unlike anything airing today.

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-- ???????? (@kiminoiro_movie) May 23, 2024

If you want a breakdown of the upcoming film from Naoko Yamada, Your Colors released an official description to prepare fans for the movie's release on August 30th, "Totsuko is a high school student with the ability to see the 'colors' of others. Colors of bliss, excitement, and serenity, plus a color she treasures as her favorite. Kimi, a classmate at her school, gives off the most beautiful color of all. Although she doesn't play an instrument, Totsuko forms a band with Kimi and Rui, a quiet music enthusiast they meet at a used bookstore in a far corner of town. As they practice at an old church on a remote island, music brings them together, forming friendships and stirring affections. Will they discover their true 'colors'?"

Want to stay afloat on the works of Science SARU? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook for all the latest updates on SARU and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

One Piece's anime has been setting up for the next major phase of the Egghead Arc, and the newest episode of the series has shared the first look at Bartholomew Kuma's past! Although the main focus of the Egghead Arc thus far has been the current conflict to save Dr. Vegapunk from the World Government as Luffy and the Straw Hats are trying to escape from the future island laboratory, one of the most emotional through lines of the arc has been quietly brewing on the back burner. Now that Jewelry Bonney is getting closer to answers, she's about to learn a ton about her father.

Bonney has been seen in this arc wanting to take out Dr. Vegapunk for all of the experiments he ran on her father, and attacked the scientist to find out what he was keeping a secret. But as the scientist refused to reveal why he did the Pacifista experiments on Kuma, Bonney refused to listen to him and found a giant version of Kuma's pain transference ability within Vegapunk's laboratory. On touching this bear paw, Bonney began to see into Kuma's memories and started to unlock Kuma's tragic past.

my heart can't take this. pic.twitter.com/huHTi7bpsQ

-- Pew (@pewpiece) May 26, 2024

One Piece: First Look at Kid Kuma

One Piece Episode 1106 follows up after Bonney's attack on Dr. Vegapunk, and it sees her touching Kuma's left over bear paw. It's a bit tough for her to connect to it at first, and soon she soon dives into what is revealed to be Kuma's memory. It's here that fans are introduced to Kuma as a child, and his been chained, beaten, and crying over the life he has to suffer through. Voiced by Nobuhiko Okamoto (Katsuki Bakugo in My Hero Academia, Genya Shinazugawa in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba), it's a heartbreaking first look.

It's far from the only look we'll get to see at Kuma as One Piece: Egghead Arc will be showcasing a much deeper look at Kuma's tragic past through Bonney's eyes. As the current Kuma is seemingly fighting across the world for an unknown mission, all of these elements will cross paths in the coming months. Fans will find out more about this key piece of Bonney, Kuma, and Dr. Vegapunk's shared pasts with one another before the arc reaches its boiling point.

You can find the newest episodes of One Piece: Egghead Arc now streaming with Crunchyroll and Netflix.

Studio Trigger has been an anime powerhouse for more than a decade. Created in August 2011, the studio has managed to roll out some true hits like Kill la Kill and Promare. Year after year, Studio Trigger finds itself expanding with more titles, and a recent interview saw co-founder Hiroyuki Imaishi tease a mysterious new anime of theirs.

The update comes from The River as the publication brought Imiashi in for an interview with Wes Ball, the director of Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. It was there the pair talked craft and animation as Ball is a big anime fan. At some point, the pairs' schedules came up, and it was there Imaishi admitted he is working on a brand-new anime that has yet to be announced.

"I'm currently working on a comedy for the first time in a while. I can't officially reveal the title yet, but it should be available overseas," he shared.

Of course, the confession has sent the anime fandom into a tizzy. Studio Trigger has a loyal fanbase, and right now, the community is looking forward to its next release. We have already been told Panty & Stocking is returning to life with a new anime though a release date has not been set. Since we already know about the revival, Imaishi's mysterious project must concern something else. For now, netizens can only speculate what Studio Trigger is up to, but fans are eager to hear Imaishi is doing something with comedy behind the scenes.

While Studio Trigger carries on work behind the scenes, the company has plenty of front-facing publicity these days. Delicious in Dungeon made its debut on Netflix earlier this year, and thanks to its weekly release, it has become a bonafide hit. With a few episodes left in season one, Delicious in Dungeon has put Studio Trigger back on the map. And once it is done, the gang will have plenty to work on behind the scenes with Imaishi.

What do you think about this latest teaser from Imaishi? Let us know what you think over on Twitter and Instagram. You can also hit me up @MeganPetersCB to share your take!

One Piece is a force of nature, and by now, manga readers know the series is ramping up for something big. It has been more than a year since Eiichiro Oda began work on the manga's final saga, and it seems like it is going to be massive. There is plenty to go before One Piece closes including the more thorough rundown for the Void Century. And this week, One Piece helped flesh that history out with the first appearance of its original Joy Boy.

Yes, that is right! Luffy is not the only Joy Boy we know. At last, One Piece has posted a silhouette shot of the original Joy Boy, and their profile is incredibly familiar.

As you can see above, the original Joy Boy has a striking resemblance to Luffy in shadow. We have no idea what the Great Kingdom legend looks like in detail, but when it comes to broad strokes, Luffy and the original Joy Boy are very similar. After all, their Nike forms look the same, and we have been told that this original Joy Boy had similar manners to Luffy. They were all about being free, so it seems that fixation has traversed the ages.

The manga's debut of the original Joy Boy also heralded in new info about the Void Century. The One Piece manga confirmed Joy Boy was a great power during the Void Century, and they had allies in Zunesha and the Iron Giant. However, the worlds' powers were not eager to let Joy Boy do as he wanted. The Twenty Kingdoms ended up defeating Joy Boy during a huge battle at the end of the Great Kingdom, and his fall ushered in the start of the Void Century.

Clearly, Joy Boy is a title of incredible importance, and its original bearer made quite the mark. Now, it seems Luffy is set to carry on the will of Joy Boy. The World Government is about to have a big fight on its hands, and given Luffy's infectious optimism, fans expect the pirate will fulfill the mission the original Joy Boy began centuries ago.

What do you think about this peek at Joy Boy? Let us know what you think over on Twitter and Instagram. You can also hit me up @MeganPetersCB to share your take!

The Shibuya Incident Arc might have garnered the lion's share of attention in Jujutsu Kaisen's second season, but the Hidden Inventory Arc was essential in learning more about the past lives of Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto. Showing anime fans the days when the future enemies were the best of friends while students at Jujutsu Tech, the flashback storyline didn't pull any punches in showing how brutal the supernatural series could be. As Studio MAPPA prepares for season three, the production house has released a new look at the arc that kicked off season two.

One of the main tasks that Gojo and Geto were looking to accomplish their goal of protecting the Star Plasma Vessel. The young girl was set to merge with Master Tengen, an immortal sorcerer. Unfortunately for the duo, their mission crashed and burn thanks to Toji, Megumi's father, eliminating the vessel and nearly eliminating both Geto and Gojo in the process. While Gojo was looking to burn everything down thanks to the series of events that resulted in Riko's death, the franchise would flip the script as Geto would become the villain and Gojo would go on to become one of the world's most powerful heroes.

The Hidden Inventory Arc Revisited

The Shibuya Incident Arc brought anime viewers crashing back into the present, as the Hidden Inventory Arc introduced several characters and elements that would make a comeback in Jujutsu Kaisen's second season. Creator Gege Akutami hasn't been shy when it comes to killing major characters, and the battles that took place in Shibuya were proof positive of this fact. As it stands, the tally of casualties includes the likes of Mahito, Nanami, Nobara, Jogo, and countless others.

NEW GOJO'S PAST ARC ILLUSTRATIONS!! pic.twitter.com/PWdQTZu0ZA

-- Myamura (@Go_Jover) May 19, 2024

Studio MAPPA has confirmed that a third season is in the works for Jujutsu Kaisen, though anime fans might be waiting some time to see it. MAPPA has a full dance card in terms of anime projects, but once Yuji Itadori does make a return to the small screen, expect things to pop off in the supernatural shonen series immediately.

Want to keep up to date on the latest casualties of Jujutsu Kaisen, of which there are many? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook for the latest updates on Jujutsu Tech and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics, anime, and the world of Yuji Itadori.

The 4K remaster for Mamoru Oshii's classic Angel's Egg film will be getting an official release in North America thanks to GKIDS! Angel's Egg remains one of the most legendary anime releases of all time as the original OVA special was a collaboration between famed creators Ghost in the Shell director Mamoru Oshii and Final Fantasy illustrator Yoshitaka Amano. But while the film has made waves with fans in the decades since its original release, it wasn't a hit with critics at the time. It's meant that it's been hard to actually legally revisit the special ever since.

But that's going to change very soon as Angel's Egg is making a massive return as part of the celebration of its 40th Anniversary. It was announced that Angel's Egg would be getting an official 4K remastered release, overseen by director Mamoru Oshii himself, for a scheduled launch some time in 2025 in Japan. Now GKIDS has officially announced that they have licensed the Angel's Egg 4K remaster for a release in North America, so fans outside of Japan will get their chance to check it out too!

What Is Angel's Egg?

Originally released in Japan back in 1985, Mamoru Oshii directed Angel's Egg for Studio DEEN. Oshii collaborated with Yoshitaka Amano on the OVA's original story, with Oshii also writing the screenplay and Amano handling the art direction. Yoshihiro Kanno composed the music for the film with Hiroshi Hasegawa, Masao Kobayashi, Mitsunori Miura, and Yutaka Wada serving as producers. The new remaster is based off a new scan of the original 35mm film print, with Oshii overseeing its development.

GKIDS has noted that they also plan to release the remaster some time in theaters next year, but a release date or narrower window has yet to be announced as of the time of this publication. While Angel's Egg was not received well on its original release, it's become huge with fans in the decades since. As for what to expect, GKIDS teases its story as such:

"In an underwater city, a young girl takes care of a large egg she holds carefully in her arms - a treasure that she believes is an angel's egg. A boy with a gun arrives in search of a bird he saw in his dream. At first it seems as if feelings of sympathy are developing between the two. Then, one night, the boy crushes her precious egg."

Sasuke Uchiha has had a wild trip in the Naruto series, changing quite drastically over the course of the original Naruto, Naruto: Shippuden, Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, and most recently, Boruto: Two Blue Vortex. Regardless of when he appeared, the last remaining member of the Uchiha Clan has always played a significant role in the history of the Hidden Leaf Vilage. Now, one cosplayer has decided to travel back into the past to bring one of Sasuke's best, and scariest, looks to life during his time following in Orochimaru's shadow.

There were several factors that came into play in terms of Sasuke making his decision to leave the Hidden Leaf Village behind him. The Uchiha had nothing on his mind outside of getting revenge on his brother Itachi and was more than willing to join up with Orochimaru to increase his own power. Ultimately, Sasuke would become strong enough to defeat Orochimaru and finally gain the vengeance that he had so desired, but the truth behind why Itachi had eliminated the Uchiha Clan made it a bittersweet victory. Since the conclusion of Shippuden, Sasuke has been looking for redemption by not only doing "wet work" for Konoha but teaching the son of the Seventh, Boruto Uzumaki, some useful techniques.

Sasuke Unchained

Sasuke was never closer to being considered a villain than Shippuden, as the Uchiha was more than willing to throw friendships on the fire if it would help him achieve his goals. At the end of the sequel series, anime fans were able to witness the long-awaited rematch between Naruto and Sasuke and it was one that was well worth the wait. As a result of the confrontation, both Sasuke and Naruto lost one of their arms but that hasn't stopped the pair from remaining two of the most powerful ninjas in Konoha's roster.

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A post shared by ?? / Ruko (@rukochiii)

In Two Blue Vortex, Sasuke has been taken off the board in an unexpected way. The latest Boruto series has him becoming a victim of the Divine Trees, as his body is being used as a vessel for the sentient plants. Luckily for the ninja world, there is still one Uchiha in the wild as Sarada is looking to free her father and save the village she calls home.

Want to see if Sasuke is able to survive the latest events of the Two Blue Vortex? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook for all the latest updates on the Hidden Leaf Village.

It's official, guys. Attack on Titan is ready to bring its thrilling musical to the United States. The show has announced its stateside premiere is slated for October 2024, and tickets for the Attack on Titan musical will go up soon!

Thanks to Crunchyroll, tickets for four Attack on Titan: The Musical shows are already live. It turns out the anime play will hit New York City between October 11-13.

"The story of Hajime Isayama's Attack on Titan series is heading to the stage in style in Attack on Titan: The Musical, and four performances are officially lined up for New York City this October. Ahead of that, Crunchyroll is offering an exclusive presale, giving fans a chance to score tickets in advance using a special code," Crunchyroll revealed. As for the presale code, CRUNCHYROLLNY24 can be used to buy tickets before general sales kickstart on June 3.

If you are not familiar with Attack on Titan: The Musical, the project was announced a few years back. The show premiered in Japan in early 2023 to rave reviews. With Kurumu Okamiya playing Eren Yeager, the world of Attack on Titan was brought to the stage with music in tow. Now, New York City is ready to embrace the ambitious production, and Attack on Titan fans are eager to get seats.

For those not caught up with Attack on Titan, well - it is easy to check out Hajime Isayama's series. The manga and anime are both complete, after all. You can read Attack on Titan courtesy of Kodansha stateside, and its anime is streaming in full on Crunchyroll. So if you want more info on Attack on Titan, you can read its official synopsis below:

"In this post-apocalytpic sci-fi story, humanity has been devastated by the bizarre, giant humanoids known as the Titans. Little is known about where they came from or why they are bent on consuming mankind. Seemingly unintelligent, they have roamed the world for years, killing everyone they see. For the past century, what's left of man has hidden in a giant, three-walled city. People believe their 50-meter-high walls will protect them from the Titans, but the sudden appearance of an immense Titan is about to change everything."

What do you make of this Attack on Titan announcement? Will you be checking out this stage performance? Let us know what you think over on Twitter and Instagram. You can also hit me up @MeganPetersCB to share your take!

Heavenly Delusion was one of the wildest and darkest new anime adaptations of 2023. Following a pair of young travelers exploring the countryside while encountering some of the creepiest creatures in any anime series, the Production I.G. anime has yet to be confirmed for a season two. Despite this fact, the television series continues to make headlines as new details have arrived for just how early the anime director was aiming to get into the story of Maru and Kiruko.

Heavenly Delusion first began in its manga format in 2018 and has continued to release new chapters to this day. The anime adaptation was brought to life by Production I.G., who has had a very busy 2024 thanks to the recent releases of Haikyu: The Dumpster Battle and Kaiju No. 8. Later this year, the production house will be releasing a new anime for Netflix in Terminator Zero, so the anime studio's dance card is quite full.

Heavenly Delusion's Anime Was Inevitable

In a new interview, director Hirotaka Mori stated that he had planned to create an anime adaptation for Heavenly Delusion when the first volume of the story's manga was released, "I was always a fan of the manga artist Masakazu Ishiguro. I started reading Heavenly Delusion when the serial started, but then I got swept away with work and was too busy to continue to follow the series. It was when volume 1 came out that I got to read Heavenly Delusion again, and I immediately pitched this project."

If you haven't caught the first season of Heavenly Delusion, the anime adaptation from Production I.G. is exclusive to Hulu in North America. Here's how the streaming service describes the anime series, "Within the safety of the walls, youths are raised in a nursery-style setting by robots. While life there may appear stale on the surface, the children are full of potential and curiosity. In many ways it is like a slice of heaven. The outside world is a hell-scape. It is almost entirely void of anything mechanical and is now inhabited by bizarre, yet powerful super-natural beings. Maru, with the aid of Kiruko, is out there crisscrossing what was once Tokyo for heaven. But after searching for so long, maybe heaven is more of an untenable dream than a potential reality."

Want to see if Heavenly Delusion is renewed for a second season? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook for all the latest updates on this unsettling series.

Via AniNews

Today, the animation fandom is rallying behind one of its beloved stars. This week, reports surfaced that Francesca Marie Smith was in need of help. The actress, who is known best for voicing Helga on Hey Arnold, is fighting a difficult diagnosis of multiple sclerosis and needs some help.

Over on SpotFund, the voice actress launched a fundraiser asking for donations to keep them afloat as they continue their fight against MS. Smith says she has been living with the condition since 2019 after a debilitating attack led to her diagnosis. But in early 2024, Smith's life with MS took a dramatic turn for the worse.

"Over the span of 4 days, I began experiencing an onslaught of rapidly growing symptoms such that, on April 12th when I was driven to Keck for MRIs, I collapsed in the lobby (always one to make a dramatic entrance) and was immediately admitted as an emergency inpatient to deal with what quickly became clear was some sort of "severe" MS event," Smith shared.

"I continued to decline while hospitalized and did not respond to initial treatments; I certainly couldn't walk, but I also could no longer eat solid foods, I was having trouble breathing, I couldn't speak (could only vaguely wail in ways that my blessed mother was, usually, able to translate due to her impressive mind-reading abilities).... We would eventually learn that the new lesions on my brain were mimicking the effects of a stroke; I also had pseudo-bulbar palsy, so my left hand had curled into a claw. I am very lucky in that I was not really in pain, but any number of other weird feelings were definitely part of the MS roulette during this time."

Thankfully, Smith says she is on her way to recovery from this recent attack, but her fragile health is making regular work impossible. As such, the actress has launched a SpotFund with the goal of using any donations to keep themselves in their home and address bills.

"I would never want to impose or make anyone feel obligated in any way, but if you find yourself with a few dollars you could willingly spare, it would so help to keep me in my home right now, and ease the transition when I've lost so much time to things outside my control, yet bills continue to accumulate," Smith shared.

"I hope that my sharing this bit of news can help increase awareness and understanding-about MS, about (dis)ability, about precarity, and so on. I retain the awe, the gratitude, and the optimism that characterized my initial diagnosis; I've learned so much, and I have so much appreciation for the many specialties that have helped me along this journey. It is with that same optimism and appreciation that I now turn to you all, hopeful that we can get through this patch together and excited about what comes next."

Currently, Smith has earned an impressive $11,000+ USD in donations, and their crowdfunding campaign is still open. Plenty of animation lovers and colleagues have already pitched in to the fund. So for more information on Smith's medical journey, you can find their SpotFund here.

My Adventures With Superman has already introduced quite few members of the Man of Steel's rogues gallery. The likes of Parasite, Mr. Myxyzptlk, Live Wire, Deathstroke, and more have received makeovers to match the anime aesthetic of the Adult Swim series. While hinted at in the first season, season two has confirmed that one of the Man of Tomorrow's greatest villains, Lex Luthor, has fully entered the series in a surprising new way.

Lex Luthor first appeared in My Adventures With Superman's first season, presenting himself as simply "Alex" and not holding back his hatred of the Man of Steel when he was interviewed by Gotham's Vicki Vale. In the second season's premiere episodes, viewers witnessed Lex having a chance encounter with Jimmy Olsen, as the latter inadvertently gives the future villain advice that sets him forth on his path of villainy. Thanks to a prison break, Amanda Waller found herself about to be eliminated by a freed Parasite, but luckily, "Alex" steps in to both save her and be welcomed into the fold as Task Force X's top scientist.

My Adventures with Lex Luthor

Of course, it was understandable that fans didn't recognize this Lex as Clark's number one villain, considering the new iteration of Lex Corps' CEO had all of his hair intact. Alex might look different from his comic book counterpart, but his hatred of Superman and his genius-level intellect remain. As the second season is already planting seeds for the likes of Darkseid and Cyborg Superman, expect Lex to have some company as the Adult Swim series continues.

If you want to learn more about the latest season focusing on the Man of Steel, here's how Adult Swim describes Season Two of My Adventures With Superman, "In the latest season, the three best friends face a host of new threats. Powerful foes will emerge from Clark's alien past, Amanda Waller will take aim at Superman, Lois will grapple with the future, and Jimmy Olsen will spend an unbelievable amount of money. Krypton is coming for our young heroes, and its arrival will test their strength, loyalty, and love like never before."

Want to see what other villains make an appearance in the second season of My Adventures With Superman? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook for all the latest updates on the animated Man of Steel and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics, anime, and the world of Krypton.

During its tenure, Dragon Ball has done a lot. The series is well over 30 years old now, and in that time, Son Goku has shown up competition time and again. From his early years to his latest romps, Goku doesn't known how to back down from a fight. And thanks to a recent interview, the shonen fandom learned Dragon Ball did play a role in ending one of Weekly Shonen Jump's biggest hits.

Now let's be clear. Dragon Ball was not the only reason Shonen Jump brought Kinnikuman to an end. There was a lot of drama going on behind the scenes, and as it just so happened, Dragon Ball put a final nail in the coffin for Kinnikuman co-creator Takashi Shimada.

Recently, the artist broke down the entire saga while speaking with Weekly Osakanichinichi overseas. The newspaper wanted to dig into Shimada's history as a manga creator, and of course, that means Kinnikuman would be put in the spotlight. It was there Shimada broke down the three main reasons the original Kinnikuman series ended at Shonen Jump.

The first reason falls to Shimada as the artist was experiencing chronic back pain. The second reason fell to mounting fan pressure. And finally, reason number three came courtesy of Dragon Ball and its mounting success.

"You can't take a break from Weekly Shonen Jump serialization. If you take a break, you will be fired immediately," Shimada explained, reflecting on the tough decision he made with co-creator Yoshinori Nakai to put Kinnikuman on a brief hiatus. The break did wonders for the artists, but during its absence, Kinnikuman found itself position on the Shonen Jump chart slipping. It did not take long for Dragon Ball to take the magazine's top spot, and when Kinnikuman returned, it was unable to shake Son Goku.

By May 1987, Shimada and Nakai felt more than discouraged by Kinnikuman's turn. In the face of Dragon Ball, nothing could usurp it. This disappointment pushed the creators to weigh a finale for Kinnikuman, and before long, Shimada admitted the pair were ready to part ways with the series.

"When I was at Jump, I got a one-year contract from Shueisha, so I could live well enough even if I didn't draw manga. But from the fans' point of view, they would say, "What's up with these guys? They don't draw manga at all". So suddenly Nakai-kun said, "Let's quit Jump and draw for other magazines". I was single, so it was fine, but Nakai-kun had a family to support, so I asked him, "Are you going to be OK?" I asked back. Nakai-kun said, "It's no good if readers forget about Yudetamago as a manga artist, so I'll draw for other magazines," he shared.

Of course, the story of Kinnikuman did not stay down for long. While Dragon Ball continued to lead Weekly Shonen Jump for years after 1987, Shimada and Nakai did their own thing. Eventually, the pair were asked to resume work on Kinnikuman in 2011 by Shueisha, and before then, the pair were staying current with the IP. After all, the duo kickstarted a sequel to Kinnikuman in 1998 under Weekly Playboy. So while Son Goku may have helped tip Kinnikuman into an early grave, the manga's creators found a way to revive the action comedy for a new audience.

Did you ever piece together Dragon Ball's connection to Kinnikuman? Let us know what you think over on Twitter and Instagram. You can also hit me up @MeganPetersCB to share your take!

Naruto's franchise has continued by handing the baton from father to son, as once Naruto Uzumaki became the Seventh Hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village, the shonen franchise followed the life of his offspring, Boruto Uzumaki. While the anime protagonist might not be dealing with a nine-tailed fox, he continues to have more than a few challenges in his life. As anime fans wait for the series to make a comeback on the small screen, Hulu is giving fans the chance to relive the latest series this summer.

As mentioned earlier, Boruto Uzumaki might not be struggling with Kurama for ownership of his body, but he is sharing his physical form with a far more odious figure. Thanks to the Otsutsuki's Karma seal, Boruto is sharing his body with the villainous Momoshiki, a member of the alien ninjas that are looking to absorb the energy of entire worlds to prolong their lives. While the Akatsuki is no longer a threat to the world, the Kara Organization has offered the Hidden Leaf plenty of troubles. Luckily, the next generation of anime ninjas might manage to overcome their predecessors as they have continued to up their game across the board.

Boruto: Hulu Next Generations

Beginning on June 1st this week, Hulu has announced that all 293 episodes of Boruto: Naruto Next Generations will be available on its streaming service. The inclusion to the platform will be the English Dub of the series, rather than the original Japanese language version. Hulu might not be entirely focused on the anime world, but recent exclusives and acquisitions prove that the platform is looking to carve out a niche in the anime world.

At present, Boruto: Naruto Next Generations remains on hiatus as Studio Pierrot ended the previous run once Boruto Uzumaki teamed up with Kawaki to take on the new leader of the Kara Organization, Code. Pierrot had previously teased four new original episodes of the first Naruto series for the fall of 2023, but the installments were indefinitely delayed. Luckily, a recent report hints that the quartet of anime episodes might be arriving sooner than many anime fans think.

Want to see if the Hidden Leaf Village returns to the small screen in 2024? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook for all the latest updates on Konoha and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics, anime, and the world of Naruto.

Via Hulu

My Hero Academia's seventh season has just begun, sharing four episodes as the students of UA Academy prepare themselves for the final battle against All For One and Shigaraki. Despite season seven only starting to unload its episodes, a Blu-Ray is already in the works to compile the installments that will start the final battle of the shonen series. With promotional material finding its way online, Izuku Midoriya is front and center when it comes to a poster that will be a part of the upcoming physical release.

The first volume of My Hero Academia's seventh season will hit Blu-Ray and DVD in Japan on July 17th this summer. Since this is the first of two volumes, the physical release won't house the entirety of season seven but will compile some of the biggest moments we've witnessed in the latest season. Besides featuring Star And Stripe fighting Shigaraki, the seventh season also revealed the true identity of Class 1-A's traitor.

My Hero Academia: Deku Arrives in Season Seven

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-- ???????????/???? ????? (@heroaca_anime) May 29, 2024

Here's how My Hero Academia breaks down the story of the seventh season making its way to Blu-Ray this summer in Japan, "In the spring of Deku and his classmates' second year at UA. The heroes decide to conduct a cleanup operation against Shigaraki and other "villains," and a fierce battle unfolds that can truly be called an all-out war. Both sides sustain heavy damage and the all-out war comes to a temporary end, but trust in heroes is shaken and society is devastated. Deku leaves UA Academy to fight alone, driven by his sense of duty as the heir to the OFA, which is the target of the All for One (AFO), and his desire not to put the people around him in danger."

The description continues, "His classmates in Class A of Year 1 reach out to him as he grows frustrated and weary. The students and heroes renewed their resolve to fight not alone, but together. The villains, such as Shigaraki Mourning and AFO, aim to make their next move to destroy the heroes. The time for the "Final Battle" approaches. And a hero flies in from America....Will Deku and his friends be able to bring back the days when everyone could smile?"

Want the latest updates on My Hero Academia's final arc? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook for all the latest updates on Class 1-A.

Sports anime are becoming a bigger part of the medium in recent years. Series such as Blue Lock, Haikyu, Slam Dunk, and countless others have taken the anime mentality and applied it to a variety of physical activities, but there is always room for more. In an upcoming manga contest sponsored by Shonen Jump, the company isn't just assembling some of the biggest creators in the genre, but it is also bringing in a celebrity guest who just so happens to be a major baseball player on the LA Dodgers.

Many anime franchises, sports-related or otherwise, got their start thanks to Weekly Shonen Jump. For decades, the publication has been a springboard for series such as Dragon Ball, My Hero Academia, One Piece, Naruto, Bleach, and too many others to count. With some of their biggest series inching toward their grand finales, it should come as no surprise that Shueisha is looking at the next generations of stories that will fill its pages. For the upcoming "Jump Sports Manga Award", the combined judges from both the manga world and the sports world will be breaking down which new series might just take the crown for the next big thing in sports anime.

Jump Sports Manga Award Details

The upcoming award ceremony won't just see the LA Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani acting as a judge, but will also include some major players in the anime sports world. Slam Dunk creator Takehiko Inoue, Eyeshield 21 creator Riichiro Inagaki, and Kuroko's Basketball creator Tadatoshi Fujimaki will be judging new contestants in the sports anime genre. Submissions will be open from May 27th to October 31st, and the results themselves are set to be revealed this December.

In terms of sports anime hitting North America, a steady stream continues to make its way to streaming services, but a few are also set to hit the silver screen. This week, Haikyu: The Dumpster Battle will hit theaters in the West, as the film will act as the first of two films bringing the franchise to an end. Later this summer, Blue Lock: Episode Nagi will arrive on June 28th, proving that sports anime are only growing in popularity.

Want to see which sports anime takes home the gold later this year? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook for all the latest updates on the world of sports anime and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

In Japan, there are many anime events and performances that never make their way to North America. In recent years, some of the biggest franchises have created their own live-action musicals that will retell an anime story with some catchy new tunes. This summer, Yona of The Dawn is the next big franchise on the list of creating a new live-action adaptation that follows Princess Yona and Su-Won in a totally new way.

As it stands, some of the biggest anime franchises such as JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, Attack on Titan, Bleach, Death Note, and My Neighbor Totoro have received musicals performed on the stage. Unfortunately for Western anime fans, many of these musicals never make their way to the West. Luckily, the continuing rise of popularity of the anime medium means that the possibility of these musicals crossing the sea increases exponentially.

Yona of The Dawn Musical First Look

The upcoming live-action musical will arrive at Tokyo's Theater H from July 20th to the 28th. The current cast list includes Yona played by Mirei Hoshina / Aya Akane, Hak Son played by Keisuke Kaminaga / Ryono Kusachi, Ki-Ja played by Rui Kihara, Shin-Ah played by Shion Yoshitaka, Jae-Ha played by Sho Kato, Zeno played by DION, Yun played by Tsukasa Hiryu,Tae-Jun played by Hisanori Sato, Kum-Ji played by Daisuke Yanase, Soo-Won played by Shinji Rachi, and Gi-Gang played by Miyuki Tsurugi.

"Akatsuki no Yona" Musical Stage Play first key visual

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-- Shoujo Crave (@shoujocrave) May 28, 2024

If you haven't experienced the story of Yona of The Dawn, the anime is currently streaming on Crunchyroll. Here's how the streaming service describes the anime's story, "Princess Yona lives an ideal life as the only princess of her kingdom. Doted on by her father, the king, and protected by her faithful guard Hak, she cherishes the time spent with the man she loves, Su-won. But everything changes on her 16th birthday when tragedy strikes her family! Yona reels from the shock of witnessing a loved one's murder and having to fight for her life. With Hak's help, she flees the palace and struggles to survive while evading her enemy's forces. But where will this displaced princess go when all the paths before her are uncertain?"

Want to see if anime musicals start making their way outside of Japan on the regular? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook for all the latest updates on the world of live-action anime adaptations.

One Piece has been an anime juggernaut for decades, and these days, the franchise is testing its limits across other industries. Last year, the series made its biggest jump yet as Netflix's One Piece made its debut. The live-action adaptation earned rave reviews from fans across the board, so it didn't take long for a season two order to come in. And now, one show executive is teasing the new powers destined for One Piece season two.

The update comes from Eric Litman, an editor on Netflix's One Piece. The executive chatted with the Gold Derby team on YouTube recently, and it was there the Netflix hit came up in conversation. Litman took a moment to address One Piece season two, and according to the editor, the show has big plans for its comeback.

"I have read some of the scripts for [One Piece] season two. I am pretty excited about where things are going. There are some pretty cool powers coming," the editor explained.

Of course, the overall progression of One Piece season two has been laid out already. In fact, it has been for decades. The first season of Netflix's hit brought the East Blue saga to life, and now, the series is slated to embark on the Arabasta saga. From Drum Island to Loguetown and Little Garden, One Piece season two has a lot to story to parse through. As Litman hinted, the show will also introduce some cool new powers in season two. After all, no Devil Fruit is the same, and Luffy's crew runs into a number of users during their time in Arabasta.

If you are not caught up with Netflix's One Piece, the show's first season is streaming now. You can also find the One Piece anime streaming on Netflix as well as Hulu and Crunchyroll. So for more info on Luffy, you can read up on One Piece below courtesy of its official synopsis:

"As a child, Monkey D. Luffy was inspired to become a pirate by listening to the tales of the buccaneer "Red-Haired" Shanks. But Luffy's life changed when he accidentally ate the Gum-Gum Devil Fruit and gained the power to stretch like rubber...at the cost of never being able to swim again! Years later, still vowing to become the king of the pirates, Luffy sets out on his adventure...one guy alone in a rowboat, in search of the legendary "One Piece," said to be the greatest treasure in the world..."

What do you think about this latest One Piece update? Are you excited for the Netflix show to return? Let us know what you think over on Twitter and Instagram. You can also hit me up @MeganPetersCB to share your take!

The anime world is one that is constantly expanding by adapting manga and light novels into television series, while sometimes creating entirely new original works as well. Thanks to the medium's continuing rise in popularity, there are plenty of series that are being greenlit to hit the small screen and it seems that a fan-favorite battle anime might be getting its chance to shine. Rumors are beginning to spread that Gachiakuta might have an anime adaptation in the works, which based on its manga, would be a feast for the eyes if done right.

If you've never heard of Gachiakuta and are wondering if you might want to check out its manga, the series first arrived in 2022 from mangaka Kei Urana. The series follows its young protagonist Rudo as he is framed for a crime he didn't commit and exiled from his home to a locale that is far less accommodating. Fighting against terrifying creatures, Rudo learns that he has the abilities of a "Giver" and is now forced to take up a new occupation as a "Cleaner" to make a living fighting otherworldly beasts.

Gachiakuta: The Next Big Anime Hit?

While nothing has been set in stone, a new website has been registered for Gachiakuta that has many believing that an anime adaptation is on the way. Since the manga currently has ten volumes under its belt and is continuing to release new chapters to this day, there is more than enough material for a first season. The potential anime might not have a studio attached, but there are more than a few production houses that would work quite well at adapting Rudo's story.

If you haven't heard of this dystopian battle series, here's how Kodansha describes the story of Gachiakuta, "In this highly-anticipated new action manga, a young boy is framed for murder and cast off the edge of a floating city into the abyss, where he grapples with the monsters that the elite high above would rather forget. The more the rich glitter, the higher the price paid by the poor... With a premise that recalls Battle Angel Alita and kinetic battles reminiscent of Attack on Titan, Gachiakuta is a must-read for fans of dark, dystopian fantasies like Deadman Wonderland!"

Want to learn which manga are on their way to getting anime adaptations of their own? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook for all the latest on Gachiakuta.

Via Manga Reporter

It looks like Blue Period is ready to tackle its next era. Not long ago, the hit manga made waves on screen as its anime went live, and now a new adaptation is coming for Blue Period. A live-action film is on the horizon, and the project just posted its first trailer.

As you can see below, the first trailer for Blue Period is nothing short of gorgeous. The film, which stars Gordon Maeda, brings the world of fine arts to life. Slated for an August premiere, Blue Period has a big responsibility on hand as it must realize Tsubasa Yamaguchi's vision in real life. But given what we can see in this trailer, well - Blue Period is off to a good start.

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If you are not familiar with Blue Period, you should know the Kodansha title began back in June 2017 by Yamaguchi. The ongoing series has become a fave with readers as its coming-of-age tale deals with everything from mental health to gender identity. Back in October 2021, Blue Period found a new audience when it was given a TV anime by Seven Arcs. Now, the introspective series is ready to tackle the big screen. Its live-action adaptation will open Blue Period to yet another audience. So for those who want more info on Blue Period, you can read its official synopsis below:

"Yatora is the perfect high school student, with good grades and lots of friends. It's an effortless performance, and, ultimately... a dull one. But he wanders into the art room one day, and a lone painting captures his eye, awakening him to a kind of beauty he never knew. Compelled and consumed, he dives in headfirst--and he's about to learn how savage and unforgiving art can be..."

What do you think about this Blue Period preview? Let us know what you think over on Twitter and Instagram. You can also hit me up @MeganPetersCB to share your take!

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is working through its fourth season, and all eyes are on its training schedule. Our heroes know the final battle with Muzan is around the corner, and as such, the Hashira have come together to whip their peers into shape. The Hashira Training arc is in full swing, and this week, the anime suggested an original fight is on the horizon courtesy of Iguro and Shinazugawa.

Yup, you read that right. Two of the Hashira are ready to throw down in Demon Slayer season four. Following their confusing run-in with the Infinity Castle, the two Hashira have been contemplating their own power, and the two decide the best way to hone their skills is a one-on-one match.

Of course, Demon Slayer fans are already amped about this battle as it will expand our knowledge of the Hashira. Back in the day, the Demon Slayer manga was pretty brisk as it handled the Hashira Training arc; The story was fast paced with little excess, leaving readers at a loss. Many fans expected to see more of the Hashira and their inner workings during the training arc. Now, it seems Demon Slayer season four is going to make that time for audiences, and it will start with this Hashira skirmish.

If you are not caught up with Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba season four, the new outing is easy to find. The anime is streaming on Hulu as well as Crunchyroll. So for those wanting to know more about Demon Slayer as its anime gears up for an epic final act, you can read its official synopsis below:

"It is the Taisho Period in Japan. Tanjiro, a kindhearted boy who sells charcoal for a living, finds his family slaughtered by a demon. To make matters worse, his younger sister Nezuko, the sole survivor, has been transformed into a demon herself. Though devastated by this grim reality, Tanjiro resolves to become a "demon slayer" so that he can turn his sister back into a human, and kill the demon that massacred his family."

What do you think about this Demon Slayer teaser? Let us know what you think over on Twitter and Instagram. You can also hit me up @MeganPetersCB to share your take!