While Ash Ketchum has always been an important figure in the Pokémon franchise, viewers have also been yearning for an anime series consisting of new protagonists and other cast members. Luckily, with the currently untitled upcoming anime following Liko and Roy’s adventures set to arrive in April 2023, this wish is not far off. However,…
Music has always been a core element of the anime industry, whether it’s used in opening or closing songs, inserted in the background during certain scenes to heighten the dramatic impact or even as part of the anime’s storyline itself. The latter has contributed a great deal to idol anime, which has a large variety…
Friendship power, or nakama power, is a prominent concept in anime, particularly those aimed at the shonen demographic. Shonen anime is primarily geared at young male audiences, with characters motivated by a desire to defend their friends and loved ones. They draw strength from the friendships they’ve formed during their experiences. Regrettably, the execution is…
Much of the beauty of One Piece stems from Eiichiro Oda’s construction and balancing of a whimsical, absurdist exterior that belies a frightful and vibrant interior. Following along with the often sensitive cast as they become aware of the world’s cruelty produces powerful, emotional gut punches. Sweet souls like Luffy or Nami exemplify the potency…
This year’s Crunchyroll Anime Awards pulled out all the stops to make the 2023 event the biggest in the anime distributor and multimedia producer’s history. Set in the heart of Tokyo, the event featured an all-star line-up of presenters, including Cobra Kai star Jacob Beltrand and WWE Superstar Zelina Vega, honoring the biggest and best…
Chainsaw Man Chapter 84 revealed Denji’s true power. With the deaths of Aki and Power still fresh in his mind, the subsequent gut punch of discovering that Makima had been playing him from the start left the chainsaw-wielding hero a shell of his former self. While veteran Devil Hunter Kishibe leads an all-out assault on…
Monkey D. Luffy regularly visits new islands throughout One Piece’s epic story, and that often means adding someone new to his crew, especially in the “East Blue” saga. It’s always thrilling to meet another fascinating new character and see how Luffy can convince them to join his crew to fill a vital role, from navigator…
Ghost Hunt, an anime series that debuted in 2006, masterfully combines comedy and horror. The titular ghost hunters, who serve as the show’s protagonists, are tasked with looking into and eliminating whatever force is responsible for the paranormal activity in about eight cases. Kazuya Shibuya, a 17-year-old who works with Lin Koujo as his assistant,…
My Hero Academia’s Katsuki Bakugo has been a cherished fan favorite ever since his debut in the series. Beyond just being strong, Bakugo is one of My Hero Academia’s most emotionally complex characters and a fresh take on the traditional shonen rival archetype. At least, that’s what he should be. His quirk is amazing and…
Every story has a cast of main characters, and most of the time, there is a designated central or protagonist character who plays the most important role. The protagonist must be capable of doing the heavy lifting in the story to make the narrative and morals stick. This storytelling rule applies to anime series as…