Decades before Peter Jackson’s live-action The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Ralph Bakshi rendered the epic in striking animation. (Rotoscope is cool, eh?) Now, a new project from New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. returns J.R.R. Tolkien’s sprawling story to animated form. And this time, they’re going the way of anime. This trip into Middle-earth will be The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, fostered by filmmaker Kenji Kamiyama. And now, we finally have our first-look images which show us what The War of Rohirrim will look like. In addition, the first voice cast for The Lord of the Rings anime has been revealed, alongside more story details, concept art from the film, and the movie’s release date. It has even been announced that the story will be narrated by Éowyn, Shieldmaiden of Rohan.

Here Is Our First Look at the Art of The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim

We finally know what The Lord of the Rings: The War of Rohirrim will look like. Four first-look images of this anime-style The Lord of the Rings movie have been released.

In the images, we see main character Héra, antagonist Wulf, and the legendary king of Rohan Helm Hammerhand and his family, Héra, Haleth, and Hama.

Click To View Gallery

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim Synopsis and Stars

Miranda Otto reprises her role as Éowyn in The War of the Rohirrim. She serves as the movie’s narrator as she tells the tale of Rohan’s history. Alongside Otto, Brian Cox, Gaia Wise, and Luke Pasqualino have been cast as the leads in the Lord of the Rings anime. Cox will voice the protagonist Helm Hammerhand. Wise will voice his daughter Hera. And Pasqualino will voice Wulf, the presumed antagonist.

The Lord of the Rings: The War of Rohirrim Synopsis

A press release describes the new film as an exploration of “the untold story behind the fortress of Helm’s Deep.” The material adds that this feature will “delv[e] into the life and bloodsoaked times of one of Middle-earth’s most legendary figures; the mighty King of Rohan – Helm Hammerhand.” And new synopsis further shares that this Lord of the Rings anime will take place 183 before the events revealed in The Lord of the Rings movies.

The anime movie’s description notes, ” Set 183 years before the events chronicled in the original trilogy of films, “The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim” tells the fate of the House of Helm Hammerhand, the legendary King of Rohan. A sudden attack by Wulf, a clever and ruthless Dunlending lord seeking vengeance for the death of his father, forces Helm and his people to make a daring last stand in the ancient stronghold of the Hornburg— mighty fortress that will later come to be known as Helm’s Deep. Finding herself in an increasingly desperate situation, Héra, the daughter of Helm, must summon the will to lead the resistance against a deadly enemy intent on their total destruction.”

Deadline‘s article also reveals more of The War of the Rohirrim‘s plot. It notes that “A sudden attack by Wulf, a clever and ruthless Dunlending lord seeking vengeance for the death of his father, forces Helm and his people to make a daring last stand in the ancient stronghold of the Hornburg – a mighty fortress that will later come to be known as Helm’s Deep. Finding herself in an increasingly desperate situation, Hera, the daughter of Helm, must summon the will to lead the resistance against a deadly enemy intent on their total destruction.”

More About The Lord of the Rings: The War of Rohirrim

Director Kamiyama shares of this The Lord of the Rings anime movie, “This is the story of the most powerful king in Rohan’s history, someone who defeated his enemies with his bare fists. Why did his lineage have to end with him? I think there is a lesson in hubris there and also for a need for responsibility and awareness in their power. We live in an age where, all over the world, we face the reality of war again. What, then, is power? What is the responsibility of those who possess it? It is something they need to think about by thinking together with those who don’t.” 

Of Helm’s daughter Hèra, producer Philippa Boyens notes, “In the appendices where the story is drawn from, we get these quite interestingly drawn male characters, and then we get this young female character who is never named — and that was really interesting to me. We know Helm has a daughter, and we know that she was central to the conflict that happened. But myself, and especially screenwriter Phoebe Gittins, were drawn to her. We could feel the weight of being that unnamed daughter, which immediately piqued our interest: Who was she? How did she live?”

Finally, who is the antagonist of The Lord of the Rings: The War of Rohirrim, Wulf, who is “leading the armies of Dunlendings against Helm’s kingdom.” Boyens shares, “We have an exceptionally great antagonist in this story. He’s been one of my favorite antagonists to have written across all of the films I’ve worked on.”  Wulf is no wizard or powerful being, instead he’s just a human in The Lord of the Rings world. And Boyens reveals, “He speaks so directly to a lot of the crises that we’re facing today. He’s a really fascinating character and exciting too. You don’t know what he’s going to do, and some of the choices that he makes are just breathtaking in a good way.” 

Concept Art From The Lord of the Rings Anime Movie

The below concept art by Weta Workshop certainly hints at those blood-soaked times. That Oliphaunt doesn’t look like it’s there for a good cuddle.

Helm, the ninth king of Rohan, was famously defeated—but not killed—at the Crossings of Isen. However, he would survive for just another year, following a lengthy siege alongside his brother. Despite his defeat, Helm maintained a ferocious reputation; he was even thought to live on in some form following official decree of his death. You can check out the rest of The War of the Rohirrim‘s concept art below.

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim Director and Other Cast

The War of Rohirrim‘s director, Kamiyama, has been imbuing the anime world with color and story since the 1980s. Among his most noteworthy credits, we find several Ghost in the Shell series, as well as the 2019 Ultraman show.

Additional cast for the movie include Lorraine Ashbourne, Yazdan Qafouri, Benjamin Wainwright, Laurence Ubong Williams, Shaun Dooley, Michael Wildman, Jude Akuwudike, Bilal Hasna, and Janine Duvitski.

Peter Jackson will serve as an executive producer of the film.

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim Release Date

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim will debut in theaters on December 13, 2024. At present, Warner Bros. touts Rohirrim as a stand-alone story; as such, we shouldn’t necessarily expect a trilogy born of this project. But given that The Hobbit was originally only supposed to be one film, we might not wish to count anything out, either.

Originally published June 10, 2021 with reporting from M. Arbeiter.

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Season two of Netflix’s One Piece will soon set sail. And that means we’ll be seeing more familiar faces come to life on our screen. Recently, Netflix has shared a string of new casting announcements for season two of live-action One Piece. But who are the new cast we’ll see on the high seas? From Smoker to Baroque Works Agents to everyone else in between, here the actors joining the cast of One Piece season two and the new live-action characters they’ll play.

One Piece Season 2 Casts Smoker, Tashigi, Wapol & Dalton

A very anticipated casting for One Piece season two is that of Smoker. This villainous figure was teased at the end of One Piece season one. In One Piece‘s world, Smoker is a marine on a mission… A mission to capture Luffy. And now we know that Monarch‘s Callum Kerr will play Smoker in One Piece season two as the character arrives in full.

Additionally, Netflix has cast Tashigi, Wapol, and Dalton to join the pirate-fun. Tashigi is also a marine who serves under Smoker. Tashigi is a skilled swordsman and we’ll no doubt see her clashing blades with Zoro in One Piece season two. Julia Rehwald has been cast as this new One Pieces season two live-action character.

Wapol, meanwhile, is a selfish character who used to be the king of his kingdom (called Drum). However, when pirates attacked, he fled his people in a cowardly way and became a pirate himself. He’s eaten of the Baku Baku no Mi Devil Fruit which allows him to eat nearly everything and then take on the characteristics of whatever he’s consumed. No doubt, Luffy will be a bit jealous of this eating ability. Rob Colletti will join the cast as Wapol.

Finally, One Piece season two has cast the live-action character of Dalton. Dalton is the new King of Wapol’s former kingdom and a friend to the Straw Hat Pirates. Ty Keogh has been cast as Dalton.

Crocus, Brogy, and Dorry’s Actors Join Live-Action One Piece Season 2

Additionally, One Piece revealed that actors Clive Russell, Brendan Murray, and Werner Coetser will join the season two cast as Crocus, Brogy, and Dorry.

Crocus, Clive Russell’s new character on One Piece season two, is an ally of the Straw Hat Pirates. He’s a lighthouse keeper, but also an exceptional doctor who was a part of Gol D. Roger’s crew.

Meanwhile, Brendan Murray, who has been cast as Brogy in One Piece season two, will play a giant on the series. He’s one of the two captains of the Giant Warrior pirates alongside Dorry. Dorry, also a giant, will be played, as mentioned, by Werner Coetser.

David Dastmalchian Will Play Mr. 3 in One Piece Season 2

We’re particularly excited to see David Dastmalchian cast in One Piece season two. Dastmalchian will play the devious Mr. 3, a member of the Baroque Work Agent crime syndicate. Mr. 3 has consumed the Wax Wax devil fruit and has total control over candle wax. This is definitely a unique and terrifying ability, especially in Dastmalchian’s hands.

One Piece Casts Three Other Baroque Work Agent Characters

But David Dastmalchian’s Mr. 3 isn’t the only Baroque Works Agent to join the cast of One Piece season two. Jazzara Jaslyn will play Miss Valentine, who has the Devil Fruit power of manipulating her body weight. Camrus Johnson joins the cast of Netfix’s live-action One Piece as Mr. 5. Mr. 5 has the deadly ability to create explosions from his body without harming himself. And finally, Daniel Lasker has come aboard as Mr. 9. The newly cast Mr. 9 will bring his metal bats to One Piece season two.

We’re sure these number/holiday-named agents will be up to no good in the season.

More New Characters and Cast Are On the Way for One Piece Season 2

One Piece teases that they’re just getting started with new season two cast announcements. We can’t wait to see who will appear on the horizon next.

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One Piece season two is starting to show signs of life, which means new cast announcements are on the horizon line. First up for the season, we have the casting of some One Piece season two villains. Yes, the Baroque Works Agents are arriving on the scene. These numbers/holidays-for-names villains are agents of a criminal syndicate in One Piece‘s world. Netflix revealed the new One Piece cast members in a Twitter post.

In some very exciting news, we learn that David Dastmalchian will play live-action One Piece‘s Mr. 3. Mr. 3 is a character who has taken a bite of the Wax Wax devil fruit and thus can control candle wax. Considering Mr. 3 was part of an earlier One Piece season two tease from Netflix, we feel his role may be significant in the next chapter of the live-action show, especially with this casting. We can’t wait to see what horror icon Dastmalchian will do with the role. There’s undoubtedly something terrifying about being able to control wax… after all, wax has long been an object of fascination in horror movies. Dastmalchian’s casting as Mr. 3 in One Piece season two is sure to bring a bit of campy terror to the table.

In addition to the announcement of Mr. 3, Jazzara Jaslyn will play Miss Valentine. Camrus Johnson joins the cast of Netfix’s live-action One Piece as Mr. 5. And finally, Daniel Lasker has come aboard as Mr. 9.

Those who find the names a little funny will be interested to know that the Baroque Works Agents pair off in teams of men with numbers for names and women with holidays for names. That’s anime for you! We previously met a member of the Baroque Works team in season one. Zoro killed Mr. 7 early in the season. And no doubt, we’ll see much more from the criminal organization very soon.

We can’t wait to see who Netflix’s live-action One Piece season two casts next.

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It’s our dream, and the dream of many a One Piece fan, to join the Straw Hat Pirates. For 25 years, Luffy and his merry band of misfits have been sailing the Four Blues, taking us on many adventures along the way. But while Luffy probably won’t show up to recruit us to the Thousand Sunny in real life, it doesn’t mean we can’t join in the One Piece fun. RSVLTS invites us to wear our One Piece love on our sleeves (literally) as we search for whatever the One Piece is to us in our realities. Now, we can carry Luffy’s spirit into our daily existence, and we can do so in style. Let’s take a look at RSVLTS’ new One Piece collection of signature shirts.

RSVLTS’ New One Piece Collection Features Five Designs

A release from RSVLTS shares more about these new One Piece shirts. It reveals, “With this release of incredibly designed button-downs, fans can now hop aboard the Thousand Sunny for a swashbuckling 25th Anniversary ode to the coolest pirates sailing the Four Blues. From Straw Hats to love for Luffy – uh, we mean Lucy – to Den Den Mushi and more, this high seas haul of gear is the ultimate treasure trove for all “One Piece” fanatics.”

The RSVLTS collection features five designs, “Two Years Later,” “Lil Straw Hats,” “Puru-Puru-Puru,” “Shh! I Am Lucy,” and “We Go!” You can check them out below.

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Our favorite of the One Piece RSVLTS shirts has to be “Lil Straw Hats.” Who can say no to lil straw hats? And, Luffy’s hat, after all, is one of his proudest possessions. We also love RSVLTS’ description of the shirt which shares, “Inspired by the East Blue, this KUNUFLEX™ button down featuring Luffy’s signature shade maker amongst a sea of his Jolly Roger proves that even little things – and characters – can be absolutely epic.” Our hearts!

More About RSVLTS’ One Piece Shirts

RSVLTS’ One Piece collection is available in classic (unisex) and women’s styles/sizes. Each shirt/style retails for $70 and is available at www.rsvlts.com and on the RSVLTS app. The shirts, of course, come in RSVLTS’ signature KUNUFLEX™ material. From experience, we can tell you this material feels incredible nice. We bet even Sanji would approve.

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The Dark Knight is finally set to make his anime return. Warner Bros. Japan LLC has announced it is already in production on Batman Ninja vs. Yakuza League, a sequel to 2018’s Batman Ninja.

Batman Ninja brought Bruce Wayne back to Japan’s Warring States period to defeat some of his most famous enemies-turned-feudal lords. Now, the same team behind that film—director Jumpei Mizusaki, writer Kazuki Nakashima, character designer Takashi Okazaki, and composer Yugo Kanno—are back for the sequel.

This time around, Shinji Takagi will co-direct alongside Mizusaki. And the Batman Ninja movie will also see Koichi Yamadera return as the voice of Batman in the Japanese-language version.

While the new Batman Ninja movie’s announcement didn’t include an official synopsis, the movie’s title reveals who Batman will take on this time. And no matter what time period the Caped Crusader takes on the Yakuza, it’ll be a battle worth watching.

The post BATMAN NINJA Anime Sequel Movie Announced, Titled BATMAN NINJA VS. YAKUZA LEAGUE appeared first on Nerdist.

We love the trend of bringing nerdy properties to the stage. Nerds love theater too! The latest of these is the Attack on Titan musical. If you love the anime, don’t delay though, because there are currently only four performances of the Attack on Titan musical scheduled.

A release shares, “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.” You can pre-order your tickets through Crunchyroll now. Otherwise, general tickets to the Attack on Titan musical will go on sale June 3.

You can check out the trailer for Attack on Titan: The Musical above.

A release further shares, “Based on the manga by Hajime Isayama and its anime adaptation, ATTACK on TITAN: The Musical will be performed with a mix of conventional musical theater techniques and state-of-the-art technology. Breakdance world champion Go Ueki (HYPNOSISMIC -Division Rap Battle) directs the musical adaptation, which premiered with sold out runs in Osaka and Tokyo in January 2023.”

So don’t delay and snag your tickets today.

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From many villainous Star Wars excitements to Buttery-er Ritz Crackers to a Dragon Ball theme park coming soon to the announcement of Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3, a new Jurassic World animated series, and more; here are some of our favorite odds and ends from the entertainment world.

• Buttery-er Ritz Crackers Want You to Win a Golden Bar of Butter
• Camp Cretaceous Sequel Series, Jurassic World: Chaos Theory, Releasing in May
• Denis Villeneuve to Reportedly Helm Nuclear War: A Scenario Adaptation with Legendary Pictures
• The Poohniverse‘s Next Entry Bambi: The Reckoning Shares Teaser Trailer
• Make Yourself Up Like a Rocking Zombie with a Dreamy Corpse Paint Collection from Liquid Death x e.l.f.
• Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3 Is Confirmed
• Star Wars: Thrawn Collection From Heroes & Villains Has Arrived
• A Dragon Ball Theme Park Is On the Way
• New Marvel Game, Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra, Showcases Captain America, Black Panther, and More
• Strange Way of Life Is Heading to Netflix
• Godzilla Became Police Chief for a day in Tokyo
• Michael Rosenbaum Is Still Thinking About That Smallville Animated Series
• D&D Converse Are Coming
• David Schwimmer Will Star in Season Two of the Goosebumps Anthology Series
• Star Wars Lit Up the Empire State Building

Buttery-er Ritz Crackers Want You to Win a Golden Bar of Butter

Could Ritz Crackers be any more delicious? We would have said no! But new Buttery-er Ritz Crackers want to prove us wrong. A release shares, “The RITZ Buttery-er Crackers capture the buttery flavor that fans know and love, elevating the flaky and irresistible crackers with an extra boost of decadence in every bite.”

Not to mention, these delicious snacks come with a chance to win a butter bar made of gold.  Mayte Killeen, RITZ Senior Brand Manager shares, “The RITZ brand has become synonymous with golden buttery flavor… With the new limited-edition Buttery-er Crackers we’re taking it to the next level for our buttery-flavor loving fans by offering one lucky winner the ultimate prize of a 24-karat gold bar in the shape of a traditional stick of butter, all in homage to the extra buttery flavor they know and love.”

Yum! To win this gold butter bar worth $100,000, “fans can showcase their Buttery-er selves by creating a TikTok video using the Live Buttery-er TikTok effect created by RITZ brand starting May 1^st at 12:00 a.m. ET and ending May 20^th, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. ET. To enter, fans should post their video to TikTok and in the caption tag @theritzcrackersofficial and include the hashtags #livebutteryer and #RITZcontest. There is also a mail-in, alternative entry method.* One lucky winner will receive the coveted butter-inspired 24-karat solid RITZ-branded gold bar, because RITZ brand is *extra* like that!”

We love it! The more butter the better!

Camp Cretaceous Sequel Series, Jurassic World: Chaos Theory, Releasing in May

If you love Camp Cretaceous or any part of the Jurassic World universe, it’s time to get ready for more dino fun. Jurassic World: Chaos Theory is a new Netflix series that picks up six years after the events of Camp Cretaceous to continue the story of “The Nublar Six” and, of course, everyone’s favorite dinosaurs. The series will arrive on May 24.

You can check out the Jurassic World: Chaos Theory teaser trailer and synopsis below.

Jurassic World: Chaos Theory‘s synopsis shares:

Set six years after the events at Camp Cretaceous, members of “The Nublar Six” are struggling to find their footing off the islands, navigating a world now filled with dinosaurs and people who want to hurt them. Reunited in the wake of a tragedy, the group comes together only to find themselves on the run and catapulted into a global adventure to unravel a conspiracy that threatens dinosaur and humankind alike and finally learn the truth about what happened to one of their own.

For more Jurassic World fun, check out what we know about the new live-action movie.

Denis Villeneuve to Reportedly Helm Nuclear War: A Scenario Adaptation with Legendary Pictures

Reportedly, Denis Villeneuve and Legendary Pictures are teaming up again after the success of the Dune movies. This time, Villeneuve will helm an adaptation of the non-fiction book, Nuclear War: A Scenario. Deadline notes, “The book explores a ticking-clock scenario about what would happen in the event of a nuclear war, based on dozens of exclusive new interviews with military and civilian experts who built the weapons and have been privy to the response plans and have been responsible for those decisions should they need to be made.”

The Poohniverse‘s Next Entry Bambi: The Reckoning Shares Teaser Trailer

Strap in for the next horror retelling of a childhood favorite. Bambi is now a vicious killing machine in the trailer for Bambi: The Reckoning, the next movie in the Poohniverse which also contains Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey.

The synopsis shares, “We follow Xana (Roxanne McKee) and her son Benji (Tom Mulheron) who find themselves in a car wreck and soon hunted down by the vicious killing machine, Bambi.”

Learn more about the Poohniverse‘s plans, here:

Make Yourself Up Like a Rocking Zombie with a Dreamy Corpse Paint Collection from Liquid Death x e.l.f Cosmetics

It’s the age of the Goth Ghoul. And Liquid Death and e.l.f. cosmetics have collaborated to help you slay your look! (It even involves a keepsake coffin!) The official description shares, “It’s the new makeup trend everyone’s living for—and it’s only available from e.l.f. and Liquid Death. Slay the viral corpse paint look with this limited-edition, five-piece kit.”

Liquid Death even released a hilariously on-point ad for the collaboration, which aims to replicate retro-informercials hilariously. (And totally succeeds!)

The kit includes a “Limited-edition, 5-piece makeup set includes Matte Magic Mist & Set, O FACE Satin Lipstick, No Budge Cream Eyeshadow, H2O Proof Eyeliner Pen and Putty Applicator in drop-dead gorgeous packaging.”

Click To View Gallery

This will help you create drop-dead gore-geous looks. We adore it. The vibe here honestly reminds us of Nerdist favorite Lisa Frankenstein, but encapsulated in a makeup kit! More make-up kits need to come in coffins.

The Corpse Paint kit is available until supplies sell out! But never fear—even when the set is no longer alive, Liquid Death and e.l.f. have curated a whole set of suitably slay-tastic substitutes. You can take a look at the whole collection here. And who knows, maybe we’ll see it rise from the dead again sometime soon!

Hell yes! We love a unique makeup collaboration!

Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3 Is Confirmed

More murderous Pooh mayhem is coming our way. Variety has revealed that Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3 is confirmed and will be hitting our screens eventually. Although we have no specific timeline for the release of Blood and Honey 3 yet, we do know that “Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey 3’ will have a bigger budget than the previous films and will introduce new characters from the original Winnie-the-Pooh stories, including Rabbit, the heffalumps and the woozles. All will no doubt be given sadistic, murderous twists.”

Jagged Edge is also planning a massive “Poohniverse” crossover movie with all kinds of childhood villains gone wrong.

Star Wars: Thrawn Collection From Heroes & Villains Has Arrived

Heroes & Villains are always outfitting us in the latest and greatest in nerdy-wear. And their recent Star Wars: Thrawn collection is no different. Star Wars‘ villains are having a huge moment, and the Admiral deserves some love. Check out what’s on offer below, and then head over to Heroes & Villains’ site for more.

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Check out some cool watches to go with this Thrawn collection.

A Dragon Ball Theme Park Is On the Way

One of the most beloved anime and manga series ever is now getting a theme park. The official Dragon Ball website announced that the theme park would be coming to Saudi Arabia. A release shares more about the park, noting:

The Dragon Ball theme park will boast a whopping size of over 500,000 square meters and feature seven different areas that recreate various iconic locales from the original series, such as Kame House, Capsule Corporation, and Beerus’s Planet. At the park, visitors will be able to join an adventure with Goku and pals as they enjoy the world of Dragon Ball, from the very beginning of the anime all the way up through Dragon Ball Super!”

This theme park will feature five state-of-the-art rides as part of a lineup of 30+ attractions! And if that wasn’t already exciting enough, construction of a 70 meter-high Shenron is also planned, with this landmark containing a large-scale roller coaster inside!

Dragon Ball‘s legacy is unparalleled.

New Marvel Game, Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra, Showcases Captain America, Black Panther, and More

A new video game from Marvel is bringing to life some of our favorite heroes in a whole new way. Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra takes us back to, you guessed it, 1943. There “an original story that takes players on a WWII-era adventure with an ensemble of four heroes playable at different points in the game.” These four heroes are “a young Steve Rogers, AKA Captain America; Azzuri, T’Challa’s grandfather and the WWII-era Black Panther; Gabriel Jones, a U.S. soldier and member of the Howling Commandos; and Nanali, a Wakandan spy embedded in Occupied Paris.”

Captain America and Black Panther are two of our favorite Marvel heroes, and we can’t wait to see them come to life in this new game. The results will undoubtedly be epic.

The game comes from Skydance New Media, helmed by award-winning writer and director Amy Hennig, and Marvel Games.

Here’s what we know about Captain America’s next adventure in the MCU.

Strange Way of Life Is Heading to Netflix

Want to see Pedro Pascal and Ethan Hawk in their queer, western short directed by Pedro Almodóvar? Well, get excited; it’s coming to Netflix on April 12.

Take a look a the trailer here.

Godzilla Became Police Chief for a day in Tokyo

Godzilla is known for crushing Tokyo, but recently, he recanted his ways and became the protector of Tokyo’s traffic. As Police Chief for a day, Godzilla set out to promote street safety.

It’s a good time to be Godzilla.

Michael Rosenbaum Is Still Thinking About That Smallville Animated Series

The Smallville animated series isn’t dead yet. Michael Rosenbaum recently revealed the following to Screen Rant:

All I could share is that it’s a great idea. We have Al and Miles, the creators of Smallville backing us up. When it’s the right time, we’d like to go and do this; pitch to Warner Bros. It has to be the right time, and right now is not the right time. We had the strike, we had a change of executives at DC — one being one of my best friends in the world, James Gunn. When the time’s right, I think it’s something that’s a no brainer, unless they have other ideas. We’d like to do it — the whole cast would like to do it. They would voice their own character from the show, and we have a concept of what the show is.

Fingers crossed!

Rosenbaum also recently spoke to the DCU’s newest Lex Luthor, Nicholas Hoult.

D&D Converse Are Coming

Get ready to roll for extra cool kicks. Converse is teaming up with Dungeons & Dragons for a line of sneakers and more to celebrate D&D‘s 50th anniversary. The color scheme is pretty cool, and we love the designs. With these on our feet, we’ll have all the initiative we need. Take a look at what’s on offer below. These Dungeons & Dragons Converse will go on sale on April 11.

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We’re also big fans of these nerdy One Piece PUMAs.

David Schwimmer Will Star in Season Two of the Goosebumps Anthology Series

The second season of the Goosebumps anthology will see a friendly face arrive (or perhaps not so friendly). David Schwimmer is set to star in the second season of the Disney+ show. According to Deadline, “Schwimmer will portray Anthony, a former botany professor and divorced parent of teenage twins whose world takes a tumultuous turn as he juggles the responsibilities of overseeing an aging parent while having his kids for the summer.”

Check out what the first season looked like:

Star Wars Lit Up the Empire State Building

What’s that, the Empire on the Empire? Star Wars recently lit up the Empire State building with a light show showcasing its many iconic villains. This is a part of its “March to May 4th” initiative. And we’re excited to march along.

Blue Milk is also involved.

Originally published on March 22, 2024.

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If you’ve already collected all seven of Reese’s Puffs Dragon Ball Z cereal boxes, then you’re in luck. In celebration of Goku Day, May 9, Reese’s Puffs added one more new Dragon Ball Z cereal box, and this one is a limited edition.

A release shares, “To keep Dragon Ball Z’s 40th anniversary celebration going all year long, REESE’S PUFFS cereal and Dragon Ball Z are dropping a brand new REESE’S PUFFS x DRAGON BALL Z Limited Cereal Box featuring the legendary Super Saiyan Goku. Tilt your box from side to side to see Goku go Super Saiyan for REESE’S PUFFS cereal! On the back, face off with the beautifully embossed Shenron, the Eternal Dragon.”

We love some holographic Super Saiyan cereal box action. While all the other Reese’s Puffs x Dragon Ball Z collectible boxes can still be found in stores, this newest one is available only on shop.reesespuffs.world. So don’t delay if you want to complete your collection.  

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Ready for even more of Rick and Morty‘s wild world? Well, you’re in luck because we’re about to see the show in a whole new way. Adult Swim has officially ordered a Rick and Morty anime series. Of course, we’ve seen Rick and Morty anime shorts before, but they’ve been, well, short. This time, Rick and Morty: The Anime will get a full ten episodes, according to Deadline. And now, we have a new look at what’s in store for us in Rick and Morty: The Anime. Adult Swim has released an “Early Look” clip that gives us a tease of the series as well as other clips and trailers. All of these offer us a good glimpse of the animation and a sense of what this Rick and Morty anime will unleash.

Rick and Morty: The Anime Clips, Teasers, and More

Rick and Morty: The Anime: Our Latest Look

If there’s one thing Rick and Morty: The Anime is giving to us, it’s sneak peeks galore. You can check out the latest sneak peek below.

Rick and Morty: The Anime Clip: Tammy vs. Space Beth

Another look at Rick and Morty: The Anime reveals an epic battle between well-known Rick and Morty villain Tammy Gueterman and the sharp-shooting Space Beth. (Plus some trigger-happy insect-like alien creatures.) It’s definitely one excellent fight, and incredibly well animated, too. We can’t wait to see what else this series has in store.

Rick and Morty: The Anime Clip: Philosophical Rick

Our next look at Rick and Morty: The Anime is a fairly meditative one, especially compared to the galactic fight we just witnessed. Although there may be a lot of shenanigans in store, there will also be some quiet moments of contemplation. And we’d expect nothing else. Although we live in infinite possibilities, we only get one life that we choose. And how are we spending it? Watching Rick and Morty: The Anime. We regret nothing.

Rick and Morty: The Anime Clip: Parallel Universes

Meanwhile, the description of Rick and Morty: The Anime‘s other latest sneak peek clip shares, “While flying near space distortion, Rick finds himself surrounded by multiple versions of himself from parallel universes.” This one brings a little more action to the table.

Rick and Morty: The Anime Teaser Trailer

Finally, our last teaser trailer for the Rick and Morty anime comes with some insights from director Takashi Sano. Take a look at what he has to say about bringing Rick and Morty into this whole new world.

Although there’s no release date yet, we’re excited to see the progress on the show. Eventually, this Rick and Morty offshoot will air on Adult Swim and Max. As far as where it stands in canon, Rick and Morty: The Anime will remain separate from the main series. But it will, however, “adapt themes and events from the original title.” The teaser trailer doesn’t reveal much more to us than that. The show does not yet have an official synopsis.

Rick and Morty: The Anime‘s Release Date

As mentioned, there is no exact release date for this series yet. However, Adult Swim has confirmed that Rick and Morty: The Anime will arrive in 2024.

Rick and Morty‘s Anime History and Future

As mentioned, Takashi Sano, who directed Tower of God, will also direct this series. Sano led two of the aforementioned Rick and Morty anime shorts already. He directed both “Rick and Morty vs. Genocider” and “Summer Meets God (Rick Meets Evil).”

We’ve greatly enjoyed both these previous Rick and Morty anime outings. They’ve been touching, confusing, weird, and really excellent additions to the franchise as a whole. Clearly, Adult Swim thought so too.

Sano’s Rick and Morty anime shorts accomplished so much with so little space, we can’t imagine what he’ll do with a full ten episodes. We wonder if each episode will stand alone or if there will be a throughline connecting them all together. It’s too early to tell, but at least we know the series is in safe hands. Not just anyone could adapt Rick and Morty‘s world successfully.

Sano recently shared at SDCC 2023 (via Comicbook.com), “What I’ve tried to accomplish in 10 episodes is to take all of my favorite parts of Rick and Morty…compress them down to extract their essence, and then add a unique Japanese twist. I’d like you to enjoy Rick and Morty‘s adventures as they’re whisked through time and space, tangled up in all sorts of chaos… And after all 10 episodes I think you’ll find yourself in a particular state of mind. And that state, I believe, best reflects the feelings I get watching Rick and Morty. I hope you enjoy the new series. Please, do check it out!”

This Rick and Morty Outing Will Be Subbed

Rick and Morty: The Anime will also be subbed and not dubbed, like the show’s anime shorts before it.

As we wait for this new show, we’ll be rewatching the shorts that already exist and pondering the infinite possibilities this upcoming series offers to us. We have a feeling our minds are about to be blown.

Originally published on May 18, 2022.

The post RICK AND MORTY: THE ANIME Coming in 2024, New Teaser Clip Revealed appeared first on Nerdist.

Ah, Red-Haired Shanks. The all-powerful legend. The carefree jokester. The inspiration behind one of the shoes in One Piece x Puma‘s sneaker collaboration. (Naturally, his most important claim to fame.) One Piece fans the world over love the character of Shanks (or at least are begrudgingly charmed by him). And now, as mentioned, they can declare their allegiance to One Piece‘s Red-Haired Pirate Crew and its captain by donning Shanks’ colors in PUMA shoe form. Of course, if red is not your color, the One Piece x PUMA collaboration will also let you come aboard with the three other One Piece Emperors, Luffy, Buggy, or Blackbeard. But Nerdist was lucky enough to get a closer look at the Shanks PUMA shoe. And so, let’s dive deep into the ins and outs of the One Piece sneaker.

Jump to: One Piece References in the Shanks PUMA Shoe // Are the One Piece PUMAs Comfortable? // Where Can You Buy the One Piece PUMAs?

One Piece References in the Shanks PUMA Shoe

One Piece fans are probably wondering just how these PUMA shoes relate to the series itself. And that is an important question. Personally, I love nerdy fashion that’s both aesthetic and referential. And these Shanks PUMAs certainly accomplish that goal for me. The Shanks shoes are subtly fannish in both big and small ways but restrain themselves from going too far overboard. And that keeps this One Piece Puma sneaker looking fashionable and gorgeous.

Jump to: The Box // The Colors // The Scars // The Jolly Roger // Shanks’ Pants Design From One Piece Film: Red // The Puma Belly Coin // The Wanted Poster // The Man Himself!

One Piece‘s Map Decorates the PUMA Box

Before we see the shoes, we already know that this One Piece x PUMA collaboration is going to be great. The box and wrapping paper that house the Shank sneakers are both One Piece-themed. After all, we can’t set sail to be King of the Pirates without a map. And this shoe box will help us find our heading.

Click To View Gallery

The Colors of Shanks’ One Piece PUMA Shoes

Well, he ain’t called Red-Haired Shanks for nothing! One Piece is known for its colorful assortment of hair colors, and Shanks is no different. But, of course, Shanks’ hair isn’t actually pure red; it’s really more of a wine color—a fitting choice for a pirate. Happily, PUMA nails the exact shade of the captain/Emperor’s tresses in its homage to Shanks. Dark red is the main color of this One Piece PUMA shoe, and if you look at side-by-side images of Shanks and his PUMA, it really is like the sneaker has been dyed to match. We love it.

The Shanks shoes also have a silvery white streak running through them. And that nicely represents both the natural draw of a pirate to something shiny and the fact that Shanks’ main outfit includes a white shirt. At times, Shanks’ eyes are also depicted as silver throughout his franchise appearances(although the color sometimes changes). So in a way, this silver streak is actually a fairly deep cut.

Of course, in the world of One Piece, silver can also refer to the flash of a sword. And that makes a lot of sense, too, since the turquoise green piping on this One Piece x PUMA shoe actually represents Shanks’ saber, Gryphon. Gryphon is known for its famously green (and long) hilt. This is another super fun color choice.

These Puma Sneakers Show Off Shanks’ Scars

Red-Haired Shanks has a very specific set of scars that graces his face. Three long, vertical marks pass straight over Shanks’ left eye but don’t affect it. One Piece fans will know that the pirate Blackbeard gave Shanks these scars before the start of the series proper. However, the circumstances of Shanks’ scarring remain mysterious. Still, as far as Shanks goes, it’s somewhat of a trademark part of his character’s design.

In an incredibly fun, if you know, you know, kind of way, Shanks’ three scars are embroidered onto the heel of his One Piece x PUMA shoe. We love seeing this obvious reference done in a very deft way.

The Red-Haired Pirates’ Jolly Roger Symbol

Having a unique Jolly Roger is very important to the different pirate factions on One Piece. After all, Luffy would tell you, the Jolly Roger sets the tone for a ship and its pirate crew. While PUMA could have simply used the general One Piece logo on all of its shoes, the Red-Haired Pirates and Shanks’ specific Jolly Roger feaures throughout the sneaker. Like Shanks, the Red-Haired Pirates’ Jolly Roger has three long scars running over its left eye. On the One Piece PUMA, Shanks’ Jolly Roger can be found on the tongue of the shoe and on the back of the right heel. (Sharing a location with the PUMA logo on the left heel.)

The shoe even gets the specific design of the swords decorating the skull right. Seeing the perfect miniature replica of Shanks’ Jolly Roger on the PUMA makes for a delightful surprise.

The Design of Shanks’ Pants From One Piece Film: Red

Now this One Piece x PUMA collaboration really cuts deep in its franchise references. I admit, I squinted for quite a while at the paisley-like design that decorates the shoe. It was incredibly hard to place the origin of the pattern. But eventually, it came to me. The pattern references the design on Shanks’ pants from the movie One Piece Film: Red. Wild.

One Piece Film: Red actually centers Shanks and his adopted daughter Uta, in its story so it makes all the sense in the world for his PUMAs to refer to it. But still, that is quite a slice into the world of One Piece. Well played, PUMA.

One Piece‘s Belly Gone PUMA

What’s a pirate shoe without a little pirate booty? In One Piece, the going currency for pirates is the Belly coin (also known as Berry, Beli, or Beri). The One Piece collaboration with Pum features a Puma-fied Belly that hangs from the edge of the sneaker. Instead of the iconic One Piece “B” decorating Belly, now there’s a “P.” Guess Shanks and co. will need to get after “Pelly,” now.

Shanks’ Wanted Poster Appears on the PUMA Shoes’ Tongue

Wanted posters are also a big deal for One Piece‘s pirate set. Getting a wanted poster means you’re in the club, and the higher the bounty, the better. Shanks, naturally, is an incredibly wanted man. And in a fun surprise, when you go to put on your PUMA, you’ll find a glittery version of Shanks’ One Piece wanted poster on the tongue. The mini-wanted poster even details the iconic text “Wanted—Dead or Alive.” The Marines have signed off on it as well, of course. The PUMA even contains the swirls that decorate One Piece‘s official wanted posters. Of course, the sneaker gets Shanks’ going rate exactly right. That’s 4,048,900,000 Belly/Pelly, please.

The Man, Himself!

Surprise! Shanks himself makes an appearance on his shoe. Yep, there he is, grinning up at you from your right PUMA sneaker, leg hair and all. It’s a fitting final Easter egg twist for the One Piece x PUMA collaboration. We love that the last One Piece reference you find when you go to put on your shoe is Shanks in the flesh (kind of). Just go easy when you step on him.

Are the One Piece PUMA’s Comfortable?

Yes! The One Piece x PUMA collaboration has yielded a shoe that is fabulous but also functional. The external suede is soft, the interior lining is smooth, and your foot feels well-supported in these sneakers. 10/10 would wear on adventures across the high seas.

Where Can You Buy the One Piece x PUMA Shoes, Clothes, and More?

The One Piece x PUMA collaboration is available on PUMA’s websites. It contains shoes, clothing, and more. Although some pieces have sold out online, it’s also worth checking local stores to see what’s in stock. And hopefully, with great demand, the One Piece PUMA shoes will return for another season. (Much like the One Piece live-action.) We also hope more characters beyond just One Piece‘s Emperors will be featured in future collaborations. Zoro and Sanji PUMAs, we NEED those.

The post Take a Closer Look at Shanks’ Shoe From ONE PIECE x PUMA’s Collaboration appeared first on Nerdist.

To understand the philosophy of the late Akira Toriyama (who died at age 68 on March 1, 2024) and why his work resonates across languages, borders, and cultural experiences, there’s one thing from his beloved Dragon Ball anime that must be defined: The Spirit Bomb.

It lives up to its name as a weapon of last resort. However, it’s the Spirit Bomb’s construction that’s revealing of Toriyama’s humane vision. Introduced in an early storyline of Dragon Ball Z, the Spirit Bomb is a martial arts technique where Son Goku—an alien warrior with an infectiously upbeat demeanor and the entire saga’s main protagonist—harnesses the life energy flowing in all living things, from the fauna to the people, into a single powerful blast. 

To reiterate, yes it’s a bomb of the exploding variety. Violence is intrinsic to Dragon Ball and about the only form of diplomacy its characters know. Toriyama’s carnage could be both exquisite and horrific in their mesmerizing detail (he was truly an artist like no other). However, he wasn’t concerned with annihilation but instead an assured belief in the unstoppable goodness resting within us all. The Spirit Bomb isn’t made by splitting atoms. It’s created through people and the Earth itself lending their collective spirit, confidence, and faith into a common cause. It is in essence “sending good vibes” made manifest. What a romantic idea—to hold incredible power cultivated just by being alive.

Toriyama’s imagination was as intricate as his layouts. But beyond the masculine intensity of his kinetic action and his unusual, arresting pastiche of Chinese wuxia and American sci-fi, there’s a deceptive simplicity in his storytelling. Dragon Ball is an inspiring epic that testifies the virtues of perseverance and consistency. (Go count the number of Dragon Ball Z tank tops at any commercial gym.) It affirms that the greatest strengths are the personal bonds forged in fire. The franchise is an epic where death is not even the end of someone’s story, but merely a respite from mortality. 

Goku isn’t a hero because of a few cosmic deities or the more nebulous notion of fate arbitrarily choosing him. Goku is a hero because he was raised to do the right thing. He invests fully in his training to be at his best to protect his friends and family. Fantastical Saiyan powers aside, Goku—and all of Dragon Ball and Akira Toriyama’s imagination—inspires us to all, in our own way, be like Goku. 

To Toriyama, whose artistry was also felt in gaming through Dragon Quest and Chrono Trigger, the iron durability of the human spirit comes from believing that “I can” is stronger than “I can’t.” This is not only translatable, it’s relatable. Adversity and danger lurks in all corners of the world. It is in dictatorships, in persecution of the oppressed, in unchecked greed that exterminates through poverty. (In a 1995 interview, Toriyama explained that he modeled one of his most feared villains, Freiza, after real estate speculators.) Thus explains Dragon Ball’s vise grip on its worldwide fans who speak different tongues but understand the same crushing mode of living, threatening to obliterate all our remaining willpower. 

Dragon Ball is as lore dense as other fictional epics like Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings, both influential sagas that are as loved by its audience as they are formative in their genre spaces. Goku has little in common with Luke or Frodo. But all their optimistic outlooks balanced by daunting evil conjures strikingly similar tonal vibes. But what ultimately separates Dragon Ball from the rest is its singular assertion that growth and victory are achievable through sheer grit and positive self-assurance. 

Anyone who grew up with Dragon Ball will recall this universal memory. We were all standing in our mirrors, fists clenched, yelling with relentless determination to unlock something hidden in our bones and our blood: the ability to breach our limits and go “Super Saiyan.” Toriyama’s storytelling was so impactful, we strove to defy physics. This wasn’t because we were detached from reality, but because our imaginations felt stronger. Children everywhere performed this ritual because we all need a little mystery and wonder to make life an adventure.

It is still nothing short of a miracle that a Japanese mangaka like Toriyama made art—profoundly influenced by ancient Chinese folklore, no less—and still enraptured audiences across color lines and continents, across Europe and the Americas and especially in Latin territories. A mercenary answer as to why is this happened is rooted in economics. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, American media was too expensive to import and localize to markets with booming TV audiences who demanded (pardon the word choice here) content. 

This compelled networks to scoop up anything they could afford. It was in this same period that anime was, at large, at a creative zenith. Alongside Sailor Moon, Cowboy Bebop, Gundam Wing, Saint Seiya, and Pokémon—and surging popularity in Studio Ghibli as an analog/contrast to Disney—Dragon Ball was among a wave of anime that introduced the medium to eager audiences outside Asia. With Japanese studios keenly interested in breaking into the US, anime made itself available to markets like France, Brazil, Mexico, and more as a testing ground for the products.

Little did anyone realize how much that Dragon Ball would burrow deep into these faraway places. The medium’s unbridled creativity and familiar themes about the powers of friendship and inner strength and of death as another phase in the grand scheme than a conclusive end clearly meant so much to audiences living in places still fresh from political upheavals. With Toriyama’s passing, many see just how much power and influence Dragon Ball holds in Latin-speaking regions. But it was evident years ago. For example, in March 2018, Mexican citizens flocked to government-sponsored screenings for episode 130 of Dragon Ball Super. These were illegal exhibitions that ignited tensions between Mexican and Japanese governments. But the astonishing attendance still illustrated Dragon Ball’s irresistible attraction.

Dragon Ball is one of the most influential fictional sagas of the 20th century and that is not an exaggeration. Its themes about personal growth and improvement as well as death/rebirth are as universally instructive as the Bible. It’s provocative but not completely incorrect to argue that Toriyama and Dragon Ball have done more to achieve worldwide harmony than organized religion. 

Look at the thousands who gathered in Buenos Aires to mourn the death of Toriyama. Their hands were raised to the sky in mimicry of the Spirit Bomb. China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mao Ning, expressed condolences at a UN press conference. And El Salvador even declared a day of national mourning to this sad news. People of rival religions have waged war in the name of their gods. But maybe if people learned they share a love for Dragon Ball, a love that comes from within, they might embrace in the name of Goku.

Eric Francisco is a pop culture journalist specializing in all things superhero, sci-fi, gaming, and beyond. His work has appeared at Inverse, Esquire, Vulture, The A.V. Club, Men’s Health, IGN, Observer, and Nerdist. His entire personality was shaped by watching Dragon Ball Z and Cowboy Bebop on Toonami at a very impressionable age.

The post An Ode to Akira Toriyama and the Enduring Global Legacy of DRAGON BALL appeared first on Nerdist.

The villains turned “heroes” of DC Comics’ Suicide Squad are back, only this time, they’re getting an anime makeover. The folks at Warner Bros. Japan/WIT Studio have revealed the trailer, character art, main theme song, and voice cast for Suicide Squad ISEKAI. Directed by Eri Osada, with a screenplay by Tappei Nagatsuki, this is an all-new original anime series. Based on the classic DC characters, it includes icons like Harley Quinn, the Joker, and Peacemaker. You can check out the latest trailer for Suicide Squad ISEKAI, and read the official synopsis for the series, down below:

In the crime-ridden city of Gotham, Amanda Waller, the head of A.R.G.U.S., has assembled a group of notorious criminals for a mission: Harley Quinn, Deadshot, Peacemaker, Clayface, and King Shark. These Super-Villains are sent into an otherworldly realm that’s connected to this world through a gate. It’s a world of swords and magic where orcs rampage and dragons rule the skies—an “ISEKAI”!

With lethal explosives planted in their necks, there’s no running or hiding, and failing the mission means a one-way ticket to the afterlife! Can Harley Quinn and her crew conquer this perilous ISEKAI realm?! Brace yourselves for the pulse-pounding saga of the elite task force known as the “Suicide Squad” as they embark on a jaw-dropping adventure!

The new anime series showcases favorites from the first Suicide Squad film, like Deadshot and the Joker. But also brings in characters used in James Gunn’s sequel, like our boy King Shark and Peacemaker. And then there are new additions to the team, like Clayface. Although there are several Batman characters in this series and a Gotham City setting, there is no sign of the Dark Knight anywhere. But we have a feeling ol’ Bats will pop in somewhere.

The voice cast includes Anna Nagase as Harley, Yuuichirou Umehara as the Joker, Reigo Yamaguchi as Deadshot, Takehito Koyasu as Peacemaker, Jun Fukuyama as Clayface, and Subaru Kimura as King Shark.

Most recently, this Suicide Squad anime also added Amanda Waller, Katana, and Rick Flag to the mix.

Suicide Squad ISEKAI is set for a global release in 2024.

Originally published on December 1, 2023.

The post SUICIDE SQUAD ISEKAI Trailer Delivers Anime Versions of Our DC Faves appeared first on Nerdist.

From an incredible line of One Piece sneakers from PUMA to a NASA TTRPG to a real-life Pokémon motorbike, here are some of our favorite pieces of recent entertainment news.

• Get Ready for a One Piece x PUMA Collection Worthy of a Captain
• Halloween TV Series Will Be a Total Creative Reboot
• My Adventures With Superman Gets Comic Series to Bridge Seasons
• Toyota Is Creating a Real-Life Miraidon Motorbike
• Nicholas Hoult Names Michael Rosenbaum and All-Star Superman As Lex Luthor Inspirations for Superman
• The Unknown: A Horror Movie Based on Viral “Willy Wonka Experience” Is in the Works
• NASA Reveals Its Very Own Tabletop Role-Playing Game Adventure, The Lost Universe

Get Ready for a One Piece x PUMA Collection Worthy of a Captain

If you love One Piece, prepare for an incredibly cool new shoe collection to sail into town. Puma and One Piece have collaborated on a line of fabulously themed sneakers that are “inspired by the fan-favorite characters Monkey D. Luffy (Gear 5), Shanks, Buggy, and Blackbeard.” Additionally, a release reveals that “each Suede sneaker brings its own unique color combination and playful graphic elements. Every pair comes in a specially designed box featuring a full-wrap sea map graphic.” The collection releases on March 23, 2024, in select PUMA stores and online worldwide. If you’re a One Piece fan, no adventure will be complete without these sneakers, so set a heading for your nearest PUMA store and don’t miss out.

Click To View Gallery

Here’s how to watch One Piece without filler episodes:

Halloween TV Series Will Be a Total Creative Reboot

Miramax Television is planning to create a series in the Halloween universe. Deadline shares that the show “is envisioned to potentially launch a cinematic universe spanning film and television.” Miramax’s Head Of Worldwide Television Marc Helwig shares the series will go back the franchise’s beginnings. He notes “The foundation of it is the original film, the John Carpenter movie, the characters of that film, and perhaps a group of characters that we haven’t really focused on that much in recent film versions or even in a number of them,” Helwig said. “It’s a creative reset completely and going back to the original film, as opposed to spinning out of any of the more recent film adaptations.”

Here’s are review of Halloween Ends

My Adventures With Superman Gets Comic Series to Bridge Seasons

Fans of My Adventures With Superman can rejoice. DC is creating a comic series that will detail Clark Kent, Lois Lane, and Jimmy Olsen’s adventures between seasons one and two. A release shares, “Clark Kent is a bit down and out, spending Christmas alone in Metropolis. But when he gets a tip about a monster in the sewers, Superman, Lois Lane, and Jimmy Olsen spring into action to investigate this mystery. What is this monster that can absorb anything it touches, and why is it here in Metropolis?” The series is written by series producer Josie Campbell and drawn by artist Pablo M. Collar.

Campbell shares, “This story is one we actually talked about in the writers room, but we didn’t have space for it in season one. So get ready for romance, comedy, super-powers, Jimmy Olsen talking a lot about how he’s super-rich now, and all the goodness of the show bundled into this action-packed miniseries.”

If you haven’t watched yet, here’s the trailer for My Adventures with Superman:

Toyota Is Creating a Real-Life Miraidon Motorbike

Get ready for a Poké-immersion. Toyota is working on bringing Pokémon Scarlet and Violet‘s Miradion to life in motorbike form. Not many details are available yet about the project, but a possible prototype was teased in 2023. We first saw this news on IGN.

Learn more about Miradion, here:

Nicholas Hoult Names Michael Rosenbaum and All-Star Superman As Lex Luthor Inspirations for Superman

Nicholas Hoult and Michael Rosenbaum recently had a Lex Luthor meeting of the minds on Rosenbaum’s Inside of You podcast. During the chat, Hoult revealed, “I grew up. I think the first ever Lex I saw was you… Yeah, I grew up when Smallville was on, I can’t remember if it was Channel 4 or Channel 5 in the UK, but like growing up. I was like 11, 12, I guess. And so that was like the show that I would watch and see my first iterations of Superman and Lex and all those stories. Since I’ve seen Richard Donner’s movies and all the other ones and kind of seen some of the other performances, but you’re like the one. I love [your portrayal], it’s the best.”

Additionally, the actor noted, “I have been working out. No, you know what, there’s that bit in All-Star Superman where he talks about his muscles being real and like hard work and all that. I kind of took that as a little bit of like fuel for the fire.”

Here’s what we know so far about the DCU’s Superman:

The Unknown: A Horror Movie Based on Viral “Willy Wonka Experience” Is in the Works

A “Willy Wonka Experience” in Scotland went viral for being an absolute disaster, so, of course, a movie adaptation of the mayhem is on the way. Bloody Disgusting reveals a synopsis of The Unknown from Kaledonia Pictures. It shares, “The film, gearing up for production and a late 2024 release, follows a renowned illustrator and his wife who are haunted by the tragic death of their son, Charlie. Desperate to escape their grief, the couple leave the world behind for the remote Scottish Highlands – where an unknowable evil awaits them.”

Here’s our review of the other Willy Wonka movie, Wonka:

NASA Reveals Its Very Own Tabletop Role-Playing Game Adventure, The Lost Universe

Incredibly, NASA has released its very own tabletop role-playing game system called The Lost Universe. Now you can take your party into the cosmos. And, of course, the Hubble Space Telescope is naturally involved. A release shares:

A dark mystery has settled over the city of Aldastron on the rogue planet of Exlaris. Researchers dedicated to studying the cosmos have disappeared, and the Hubble Space Telescope has vanished from Earth’s timeline. Only an ambitious crew of adventurers can uncover what was lost. Are you up to the challenge?

This adventure is designed for a party of 4-7 level 7-10 characters and is easily adaptable for your preferred tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG) system.

NASA’s first TTRPG adventure invites you to take on a classic villain (while also using and learning science skills!) as you overcome challenges and embark on an exciting quest to unlock more knowledge about our universe. Download your game documents below and get ready to explore Exlaris!

Here are some tips to make your tabletop games run more smoothly:

The post PUMA X ONE PIECE Collection, A Meeting of Lex Luthors and More News Odds & Ends appeared first on Nerdist.

Even those who are not intense anime and manga fans will likely know the name Dragon Ball. The hugely influential franchise helped bring anime to new audiences in the United States and beyond and united many people in their love for its characters and world. And so, the news that Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama died at a relatively young age and amidst new projects was incredibly sad for fans across the world.

The official Dragon Ball channels shared the news of Toriyama’s passing. The creator died at the age of 68 in early March. The release, clearly drenched in emotion, shares, “It’s our deep regret that he still had several works in the middle of creation with great enthusiasm. Also, he would have many more things to achieve.”

But it also looks back at Toriyama’s great impact before his death, noting, “He has left many manga titles and works of art to this world. Thanks to the support of so many people around the world, he has been able to continue his creative activities for over 45 years… We hope that the world of Akira Toriyama’s unique works will continue to be loved by everyone for a long time to come.”

We cannot overstate Dragon Ball‘s impact. Its manga was first serialized in 1984, nearly 40 years ago, and it was created, written, and illustrated by Akira Toriyama. Of course, Toei Animation also adapted the manga into an immensely popular anime by Toei Animation and the world of Dragon Ball continues to generate new content into the present time. The original Dragon Ball manga has created spinoffs, movies, merchandise, and more, and reached all corners of the globe. The power, impact, and longevity of the franchise are really unparalleled.

As the news rolled through social channels, fans’ devastation was clear. Stories of how Dragon Ball touched lives were everywhere, and a great deal of praise and love for Akira Toriyama was expressed. It takes a great creator, indeed, to have engendered all of that.

The post DRAGON BALL Creator Akira Toriyama Dies at 68 appeared first on Nerdist.

Anime and manga fans know all about WcDonald’s. It’s the fictional counterpart to the world’s most famous fast food chain. That version has appeared in countless shows and movies. Now McDonald’s is making that fantasy iteration of its restaurant real. It’s partnering with some of anime’s biggest names to launch WcDonald’s experiences around the world. The collaboration will even involve a special sauce and art. But that’s just the start. McDonald’s has also announced this special event will also serve up an original WcDonald’s manga and a short anime series.

WcDonald’s Is Coming and so Are WcNuggets

Starting on February 26, hungry anime fans in 30 markets around the globe will get to eat at an actual WcDonald’s, as McDonald’s transforms its locations into its anime version. The celebration will include a new Savory Chili WcDonald’s Sauce to go with your Chicken “WcNuggets.” It’s made of ginger, garlic, soy and the heat f chili flakes.

McDonald’s has also teamed-up with Japanese manga illustrator Acky Bright for custom WcDonald’s art. For a limited time, “fans will receive manga-inspired packaging featuring WcDonald’s Crew characters, sketched by Acky himself.” Packaging will also come with a scannable code that will let you “access weekly digital manga drops that star a full cast of WcDonald’s Customers and Crew, including Hashirune, a WcDonald’s regular, Mr. Bev, the Crew jokester, WcDizer 3000, WcDonald’s very own mecha, and many more.”

McDonald’s Is Launching an Anime Series

The fast food chain is also launching its own four-part WcDonald’s anime series produced by animation house studio pierrot. For four Mondays, fans can tune into a new short, each accompanied by its own manga. They will follow the “flavorful world of WcDonald’s” for a “story about the WcDonald’s Sauce and WcNuggets unfold each week.”

You can find the shorts either on WcDonalds.com or via a code on your WcDonald’s bag. McDonald’s says each will honor four of anime’s most important subgenres: Action, Romance, Mecha, and Fantasy. They’ll include (in release order):

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

You Can Watch Episodes of the McDonald’s Anime Now

The first episode of McDonald’s anime series is now live. You can watch The Race to WcDonald’s, which honors action-oriented anime series, below. McDonald’s second anime short, Love From Across the Booth, which honors romance, has also released. The episodes are available both in English (a dub, if you will) and Japenese with English subtitles.

The Race to WcDonald‘s

The description of this anime short shares, “WcDonald’s Sauce has arrived, marking the moment everyone has eagerly anticipated. The announcement excites fans across the land, sparking an all-out, action-filled race between two strangers to be the first to experience this long-awaited delicacy. Find out who comes out on top in the race to WcDonald’s.”

Love From Across the Booth

The description of this anime short shares, “It’s Friday afternoon, and Kazuki finds himself at WcDonald’s waiting to try the new WcDonald’s Sauce. To his surprise, Shizuru, his crush from college, appears.When they decide to share a booth, only one question lingers in the air for both of them: “Is this……… a date???” Tension mounts as the weight of this question rests on the shoulders of these two potential love interests.”

WcDonald’s Is Launching an Immersive Experience

In addition to its site, more information about WcDonald’s–including the first official immersive experience that will take place in Los Angeles on March 9 and 10, is available here. And if that sauce is as good as it sounds it could be the tastiest anime experience anyone has ever had. At least it will be in the real world.

Originally published on February 23, 2024.

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It may be a good time to be a fan. But it isn’t a particularly good time to be a consumer. More than ever, the notion of “buying” media you love is significantly in question. First, there are streaming services that offer shaky ownership at best. Content comes and goes from streamers all of the time. Not to mention, streamers are erasing content from their libraries without blinking. But the newest, arguably, most nefarious consequence of streaming involves erasing specific media a user purchased with intent. We’re not talking about purchasing a subscription to a service but a literal exchange of money for a title. For a while, this notion seemed safe, but it’s slowly being eaten away. As Sony shuts down Funimation for Crunchyroll, it will remove all of the purchased content aggregated by Funimation users. Some users will also see a price increase as they transition to Crunchyroll.

In the most recent update to this story, however, Crunchyroll has revealed it is working to offer affected users some measure of compensation. And we are certainly glad to hear that!

Sony Erases Funimation Users’ Purchases as It Sunsets the Service

Funimation will shut down on April 2, 2024. That means users are being ported over to Crunchyroll. But as Funimation’s users shift to their new platform, they’ll do so without their library of purchased content. That’s right, a blog post from Sony shares more about the migration from Funimation to Crunchyroll:

We understand that you may have concerns about your digital copies from Funimation. These Digital copies available on Funimation were a digital access to the content available on the DVDs or Blu-rays purchased.

Please note that Crunchyroll does not currently support Funimation Digital copies, which means that access to previously available digital copies will not be supported. However, we are continuously working to enhance our content offerings and provide you with an exceptional anime streaming experience. We appreciate your understanding and encourage you to explore the extensive anime library available on Crunchyroll.

The Verge shares that users who purchased DVDs and Blu-rays of certain anime all received digital copies of the content on Funimation as part of their purchase. Users were promised that they’d have access to those copies forever. But forever ends imminently. Although this instance might seem less cut and dry than, say, purchasing a movie on Amazon, it certainly feels pretty close to that arena.

Regardless of the semantics, users believed they were also purchasing digital copies of their media when they purchased the physical copies. Now, Sony will erase that aspect of their purchase. On the heels of a similar incident with Discovery content on PlayStation, it feels like the start of a worrying trend.

Compensation Is Now On Offer for Users Losing Their Digital Libraries

While at first, it seemed like Crunchyroll would not offer users compensation for their lost digital copies, the most recent comments from the company indicate some efforts are now being made. Speaking with The Verge, the president of Crunchyroll, Rahul Purini, shared, “[We] are working really hard directly with each [customer] to ensure that they have an appropriate value for what they got in the digital copy initially. As people reach out to us through customer service, we are responding and handling each of those requests as they prefer.”

However, The Verge points out that “these options haven’t been formally announced or detailed.” When asked what “appropriate value” indicated, Purini replied, “So it could be that they get access to a digital copy on any of the existing other services where they might be able to access it. It could be a discount access to our subscription service so they can get access to the same shows through our subscription service.” Additionally when asked if Crunchyroll “might give people digital copies on other services entirely to make up for what they’ve lost?” Purini noted, “If that is what they prefer.”

It seems like this compensation is functioning on a case-by-case basis. While we’re happy to hear it, it would be great to see a formal set of options noted by the company. But we will applaud this move in the right direction. Hopefully, users feel any lost purchases are equitably restored.

Prices to Increase For Some Users as Funimation Shuts Down

For some subscribers, though not all, user pricing will increase massively as they transition to Crunchyroll. In an email to subscribers, which we saw via Gizmodo, Sony shared, “You don’t have to leave your Funimation Watch History and Funimation Queue behind, you can migrate them to Crunchyroll. As part of our transition to Crunchyroll, the price will increase from USD $54.95/year to USD $99.99/year beginning January 28th, 2025.”

If we pull out our calculators, we feel pretty sure we’ll find that Crunchyroll’s prices will mean paying double for some. Other users who pay per month will also see an increase from $5.99/month on Funimation to $9.99/month on Crunchyroll.

It is important to note that Crunchyroll’s prices themselves are not changing; only the amount some users who were previously Funimation subscribers will have to pay as they make the move to the new platform. Additionally, once again, not all users who transition to Funimation will see price increases. Users will be contacted individually via email if they will see a price increase.

Originally February 8, 2024.

The post Crunchyroll Working to Compensate Users for Digital Libraries Lost in Funimation Transition appeared first on Nerdist.

It’s the age of the adaptation. And one particular live-action anime/manga adaptation has been in the zeitgeist for quite a while. We first heard reports of a live-action Naruto movie in 2015. At the time, Lionsgate was in negotiations for the film rights to the franchise. And it was reported that Michael Gracey would helm the live-action Naruto movie, acting as its director. But since that exciting announcement, very little progress has happened with this film. But, here we are, over eight years later, and finally, it looks like momentum is picking up for the Naruto live-action movie. Most recently, we learned that Destin Daniel Cretton will write and direct this anime adaptation. Here’s what we know about this adaptation so far.

The Live-Action Naruto Movie Will Be Written and Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton 

Destin Daniel Cretton, who was responsible for co-writing and directing the MCU’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, will now help the Naruto live-action movie, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Additionally, Cretton will produce alongside Avi Arad, Ari Arad and Emmy Yu of Arad Productions.

According to the publication, Destin Daniel Cretton even has the approval of Naruto creator, Masashi Kishimoto. Kishimoto notes in a statement, “When I heard of Destin’s attachment, it happened to be right after watching a blockbuster action film of his, and I thought he would be the perfect director for Naruto. After enjoying his other films and understanding that his forte is in creating solid dramas about people, I became convinced that there is no other director for Naturo. In actually meeting Destin, I also found him to be an open-minded director who was willing to embrace my input, and felt strongly that we would be able to cooperate together in the production process.”

We’re excited to hear this news about the Naruto live-action film after such a long development.

What Else Do We Know About This Anime/Manga Adaptation?

The article makes no mention of whether Michael Gracey is still on tap to direct the movie. The last we heard from him, via IGN, was in 2018. Gracey gave an update on the progress of the Naruto live-action movie where he shared, “So many Hollywood adaptations of really popular manga series just don’t get it right, and for me, what was really important was that if I was gonna do Naruto, I wanted to actually work with [Naruto creator Masashi] Kishimoto and get a script to a stage where he would look at it and be excited about realizing it… Because no one knows the world better than the person who created it.” That sounds like a promising perspective, in any case. So we hope the movie keeps it regardless of who is involved behind the scenes.

Of course, it is much too early for any casting news around the live-action Naruto. But it’s not too early for fans to get their dream casting lists together. Hopefully, we’ll get to hear more about this adaptation soon.

Originally published on

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From a slew of new Disney release dates and windows to cool apparel collections and more, here are some recent odds and ends from the news.

Jump to:

• Disney Sets Zooptopia 2 Release Date; Frozen 3, Toy Story 5 Release Windows
• Planned Joe Manganiello Dragonlance Live-Action Series Has Been Cancelled
• Cyberpunk 2077 Sequel Is in the Works
• Reese’s Puffs and Dragon Ball Z Team Up For Limited Edition Box Collection
• Pokémon and 100 Thieves Release New Apparel Collection
• DC’s Peacemaker Sets Mortal Kombat 1 Arrival Date
• Disney | American Girl Princess Dolls Are Available Now
• True Detective: Night Country‘s First Episode Is Free To Stream on YouTube
• BoxLunch’s Minnie Mouse Collection Is So Sweet

Disney Sets Zooptopia 2 Release Date; Frozen 3 and Toy Story 5 Arriving in 2026

Disney revealed a whirlwind of information in a recent earning’s call. But among the rest, they shared some exciting news for highly anticipated Disney animated sequels. Zootopia 2 will release on November 26, 2025. Meanwhile, Frozen 3 and Toy Story 5 will release in 2026.

Moana 2 was also announced.

Planned Joe Manganiello Dragonlance Live-Action Series Has Been Cancelled

Unfortunately for lovers of the fantasy series Dragonlance, a planned live-action series helmed by notable nerd Joe Manganiello has been canceled. Manganiello shared with ComicBook.com, “Dragonlance is not a property [Wizards in the Coast] are interested in developing further, currently.” The publication shares that “Hasbro’s sale of the eOne studio and the poor performance of a Dragonlance D&D adventure and board game in 2022″ were come of the cancellation culprits here.

Manganiello further notes, “What I had planned for the first season was mind blowing. I just….I want to make [the Dragonlance show] because I want to see it and I just want to feel that excited and electric about something. The characters…like the casting, I have a look book with over 1,000 pages, but it’s not what you expect. The design concepts I had for the world, for the armor, for the swords….I had a fresh take on what the dragons were going to look like, it was going to be nothing like anyone has ever seen. And these beloved characters that have been read by…I think Tracy said there’s 35 million copies in circulation.” 

Perhaps someday, we’ll see the series come to life.

In the meantime, D&D fans have a lot to look forward to.

Cyberpunk 2077 Sequel Is in the Works

Meanwhile, there is good news for Cyberpunk 2077 fans. A follow-up to the game codenamed Project Orion is in the early stages of development at CD PROJEKT RED North America. And it sounds like its about to be a big focus for the studio. We can’t wait to see what’s in store.

If you haven’t yet, check out the trailer for Phantom Liberty.

Reese’s Puffs and Dragon Ball Z Team Up For Limited Edition Box Collection

Click To View Gallery

Who doesn’t love Reese’s Puffs? Who doesn’t love Dragon Ball Z? Who doesn’t love limited-edition Dragon Ball Z-themed boxes of Reese’s Puffs? These are all great questions. And the answer to them all is to get your hands on one of these cool anime-themed boxes of cereal. There are seven in total, and they celebrate the 40th anniversary of the franchise with cool art of its main characters. This Reese’s Puffs x Dragon Ball Z collection is available now nationwide. An exclusive eighth box (featuring, well, a dragon) is available only at Sam’s Club.

Which cereal do you think should get an anime makeover next?

Pokémon and 100 Thieves Release New Apparel Collection

We love a good collection of nerdy apparel. And that’s why we’ll be first in line for this Pokémon x 100 Thieves collaboration. A waterproof Blastoise jacket? Brilliant. And who can say no to a Pikachu varsity jacket? Team Pokémon all the way. This collection will go live  on February 10, 2024 at 12pm PST on the 100 Thieves website.

Click To View Gallery

It’s much more reasonably priced than the Tiffany’s Pokémon collaboration.

DC’s Peacemaker Sets Mortal Kombat 1 Arrival Date

Fans of the DC character will be excited to hear that Peacemaker will land in Mortal Kombat 1 on February 28. But even more exciting, John Cena will reprise the role in both voice and appearance. That should tide us over until Peacemaker season two. At least, it will help a little.

Speaking of Peacemaker, James Gunn is making progress on season two of the Max series.

Disney | American Girl Princess Dolls Are Available Now

American Girls have been icons of the doll world for generations. And now they’re teaming up with some even bigger super stars. That’s right, you can now buy American Girl versions of Ariel, Cinderella, and Tiana. It’s the greatest crossover the world has ever seen. These iconic dolls are available for purchase now.

Click To View Gallery

American Girl is also getting a Mattel movie.

True Detective: Night Country‘s First Episode Is Free To Stream on YouTube

Maybe you’ve been hearing about True Detective: Night Country‘s brilliance. Maybe you’ve been hearing about it from us. But if you haven’t gotten to watch the Max show yet, the first episode is now available free on YouTube. You’re welcome!

We’re diving deep into True Detective: Night Country‘s secrets.

BoxLunch Minnie Mouse Collection Is So Sweet

Valentine’s Day may be over, but you can celebrate the sweetness of the day anytime. BoxLunch’s Minnie Mouse collection is full of pink treats and soft things to help chase away any winter or post-V-Day blues. We’re obsessed with its perfectly rosy Minnie Cardigan. If you aren’t ready to let go of hot Barbie summer’s pink, cozy Minnie winter is here.

For even more pink fun, check out this new book all about Barbie‘s fashions.

The post Disney Sets Animated Sequel Release Dates, DRAGON BALL Z Cereal, And Other News Odds & Ends appeared first on Nerdist.

Black characters in anime have a spectacular range of variety. From villains to heroes to anti-heroes, they run the gamut. Narrowing it down to one beloved character is difficult and feels like a betrayal to so many incredible characters. Who doesn’t love the coolness of Dutch from Black Lagoon or the fighting prowess of Bob Makihara in Tenjou Tenge. But Bleach‘s Yoruichi Shihōin is all that… and more. She’s as formidable as she is stunningly gorgeous, possessing long purple hair, feline speed, golden-yellow eyes, and reflexes. 

Funny, strong, yet gentle when necessary, Yoruichi can bring enemies down with lightning—or flash step—speed, tame a bitter foe with a soft touch, and was in the best arc in Bleach, “Soul Society: The Rescue Arc.”  

Yoruichi in Incredible Cat Form

The series, based on the original manga by Tite Kubo, began in 2004 with Yoruichi’s introduction in episode 15 of the first season. And we met her as a talking cat, no less. Ichigo (along with those who don’t know the manga) assume she’s just a cat. A special cat, clearly, but a cat nonetheless.

Yoruichi doesn’t appear in human form until the 41st episode. But even before transforming, she exudes strength and power. In cat form, Yoruichi is hilarious yet she still inspires fear. Whether it’s her threatening Ichigo after he mangled her precious tale while unconscious or her headbutting Inoue for her carelessness when they went into Soul Society, she inspires both laughter and mystery. Yoruichi proves size does not matter because she can deliver blows in either form. She’s just that good. 

She’s pivotal in training Chad and Inoue to prepare to enter Soul Society to rescue Rukia from execution. Without her assistance, these two wouldn’t stand a chance. Mind you, she does all this while in cat form. How many others in Bleach can say that about themselves?

Yoruichi vs. Byakuya

Let’s call a spade a spade. Ichigo gets stronger throughout the Soul Society arc, but his confidence sometimes writes checks his backside cannot cash. When he faces Byakuya in Soul Society at Rukia’s repentance cell, Byakuya prepares to unleash his shikai, Senbonzakura—his first level zanpakutō move. Ichigo faces a certain defeat but survives thanks to plot armor and the timely arrival of the terrifyingly strong and swift Yoruichi. After rendering Ichigo unconscious, she squares up against Byakuya in a game of tag to escape. Here’s where viewers get a glimpse of her talent. 

Although Byakuya moves fast to the point where Ichigo has trouble reading his movements, Yoruichi is a flash step above him, literally landing on his arm with the unconscious Ichigo slung over her shoulder. Hence, her label is “Flash Master Yoruichi.” Though the series touts Byakuya as a significant threat Ichigo must face, Yoruichi talks to him like a child trying to compete with the grown-ups. The verbal sparring amidst swift evasions makes it clear Yoruichi is equally fearsome. At that point, Yoruichi established herself as tough and stirred the need for everyone to learn more about her. Let’s also not forget that Yoruichi trains Ichigo to achieve the second level of his sword, “bankai,” without which he would never win against Byakuya. 

Yoruichi’s Powerful Past and Leadership Style 

Yoruichi was the former leader of the Stealth Force and captain of Squad One in Soul Society. She soon adds a young girl, Soifon, to her ranks during her time there. Within a short time, the pair grew close with a kohai/senpai relationship. But when affection and adoration disintegrate, resentment, jealousy, and pain (in the form of rage) can take their place. Such is the case with Soifon. Soifon lives in Yoruichi’s former shadow. So it stands to reason that when the battles to stop Rukia’s execution begin, Yoruichi would square up with her former friend. 

Their battle gives glimpses of Yoruichi’s past, as experienced by Soifon. And Yoruichi is who she’s always been: happy and caring. Despite her lofty titles, she does not care for titles that separate her from her squad. She’s not a leader on the sidelines or from the safety of the rear. In fact, Yoruichi fights alongside those she leads. All Soifon wants is to fight alongside her, yet Yoruichi disappears one day, and Soifon’s love turns to hate. It’s not because Yoruichi left but because she did not include Soifon, which is a testament to her effect on others. 

Yoruichi Vs. Bee Lady—I Ship It

Now Soifon commands Squad One of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, with an entire crew at her back to take down her idol-turned-rival. Yoruichi takes every single one down within moments with her flash steps and lethal combat skills. It’s not just the fact she is from the Shihoin clan, one of the Four Great Noble Clans, that made her the former leader of these groups. 

Though Yoruichi faces Soifon’s zanpakutō in bankai form, she never uses her own. Yoruichi honed her body into a deadly weapon capable of going toe-to-toe with enemies who possess weapons. Imagine that every captain in the thirteen squads must have a zanpakutō and have released it to bankai level—except Zaraki Kenpachi. It’s a prerequisite. But Yoruichi, unleased zapakutō or not, never bothers to use hers. That says it all regarding her physical strength. 

Yoruichi battles against Soifon’s zanpakutō, Suzumebachi, and comes out victorious. When Soifon tries to unleash an ability she claims she made herself that has no name; she discovers Yoruichi made the move at least a hundred years ago. Hence, uniforms for the leader of the Punishment Force have no back to them. The move rips the cloth from the back. When an enraged Soifon tries to continue the match, Yoruichi gently holds her hand, and the anger unravels to hurt. It’s easy to see why. Who wouldn’t be heartbroken if Yoruichi left them behind? I don’t care what anyone says. I ship these two, and though they are not canon, it will never diminish my hope. 

Yoruichi is an incredible Black woman who delights as a black cat, breaks hearts in human form, and devastates in combat using the weapon before weapons: her body. Despite her lightheartedness, Yoruichi is unwavering in her sense of right and wrong. Even if it hurts others, like Soifon or herself, she does not refrain. Yet she’s not cavalier, taking lives frivolously. Her penchant for random nudity is shocking and funny because she is in cat form for lengthy periods. I get it, Yoruichi. Clothes are so confining.

Obsession aside, without Yoruichi’s presence, Ichigo would never have made it past the “Soul Society Rescue Arc,” and that’s, in the words of young Erica Sinclair, “just the facts.” So put some respect on this queen’s name.

The post An Ode to BLEACH’s Yoruichi Shihōin appeared first on Nerdist.

A lot of our favorite stars are watching us on social media, even when it seems like they are just posting their career highlights and rich vibes. There’s rumors that Beyoncé has secret social media pages and that’s why she knows about (and slyly references) fan memes. While that’s delightful, there’s nothing funnier than when a celebrity leans fully into the social media hoopla. That’s what Usher just did by dressing up as Satoru Gojo from Jujutsu Kaisen in a recent TikTok video. 

Editor’s Note: The following video spoils a plot point in Jujutsu Kaisen.

If you’re a little confused as to why Usher would cosplay Gojo, here’s some background information for you. Even if you don’t watch Jujutsu Kaisen, this anime character has been all over social media for several years, thanks to several viral memes. Fans of the anime really, really love this character. He is, in fact, a Daddy to them. And what better theme song to unofficially crown an anime daddy with than “Hey Daddy (Daddy’s Home),” which Usher released back in 2010. Fan edits of Gojo with Usher’s song in the background have gotten millions of views. 

As we know, Usher is very much so active on social media and knows what fans are saying about him. So, when Gojo fans asked Usher to acknowledge their fave character’s existence—or even perform “Hey Daddy” at the Super Bowl—he naturally made their wish come true in the aforementioned video. We love to see it. 

We doubt that Usher will sing a song at the Super Bowl about coming home to, ahem, mess around with a lady who’s been waiting for him all day. That might be too much, even in 2024.

But Usher dressing up like Gojo for a little Jujutsu Kaisen cosplay is more than enough to spark joy for the fandom. 

The post Usher Cosplaying JUJUTSU KAISEN’s Satoru Gojo Sparks Pure Fandom Joy appeared first on Nerdist.

2023 was a big year for One Piece. Not only did the series finally get a live-action adaptation courtesy of Netflix, it got a good live-action adaptation and even a season two renewal. If that wasn’t enough, One Piece‘s Monkey D. Luffy transformed into a giant straw hat-wearing balloon for Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. It doesn’t get any bigger than that, literally. (Even if he did deflate a little.) And, of course, 2023 marks the conclusion of One Piece‘s long-running anime arc, Wano Country. But there’s no rest of the future King of the Pirates. In a flashy new trailer, Toei Animation revealed our first good glimpse of the One Piece anime’s upcoming Egghead Arc and also shared its official release date. And, there’s also good news for folks watching their One Piece on Netflix. Take a look below.

One Piece‘s Wano Country arc took the series into its thousandth episode and lasted for over four years. But now, change is in the air as our favorite pirates head into a more sci-fi adventure. If the trailer for One Piece‘s upcoming Egghead arc is anything to judge by, we’ll be seeing a more futuristic side of One Piece emerge, complete with wild architecture, giant robots, punk records, and some truly magical anime science. Dr. Vegapunk, who the Straw Hats meet when they land on Egghead island, has us intrigued already. Of course, one of the best parts of any new anime arc is new costumes. We love seeing Luffy and co. in their best cyberpunk looks. (And someone needs to get us a pair of those space boots, stat.)

But One Piece‘s Egghead arc island arc is important beyond just the new adventure it brings. It’s actually the first part of One Piece‘s final act. Yes, after over 25 years , this piratey story is beginning its wind down. But, given that a One Piece arc can go on for many episodes, not to mention, many years, we won’t feel too sad yet. And in the meanwhile, we have all the goodness of an arc titled “Egghead” to look forward to.

When Will One Piece‘s Egghead Island Arc Release?

One Piece‘s Egghead arc released on January 7, 2024. If you’re trying to watch the anime from the United States as soon as it releases in Japan, than you can catch it on Crunchyroll’s Simulcasts. But it turns out, you’ll also be able to watch it pretty quickly on Netflix, if that’s your preferred streamer. Netflix announced today that it would begin airing One Piece‘s Egghead arc on January 13. Basically, you can watch the latest episodes of One Piece on Netflix about a week after the episode releases. That’s definitely an interesting update.

If you’re behind, or if you haven’t started yet, don’t worry, you can still catch up—just snag our guide to watching One Piece efficiently and dive right in.

This new chapter of the One Piece anime began with episode 1086.

Originally published on November 27, 2023.

The post ONE PIECE Egghead Anime Arc Shares Surprise Netflix Release Date appeared first on Nerdist.

If you, like me, have fallen deeply in love with Netflix’s live-action One Piece adaptation, then you’ll want to pay close attention to the Youtooz figures I’m about to show you. Because even though One Piece is a massively long-running franchise, the live-action version is so new there just isn’t much merch around for it yet. And while we’re hopeful that will change, we nerdy creatures are itching to fill our shelves with representations of Netflix’s live-action adaptation now. And that’s why I, for one, am truly thankful for Youtooz’s line of One Piece figures celebrating the live-action in specific. Not only are they incredibly well-done and detailed, as all Youtooz figures are, but they really capture the earnest heart of the live-action series. Let’s take a look.

Youtooz’s Live-Action One Piece Luffy Figure

I dare you to look at this Luffy figure and not crack a smile! Dare you! The future king of the pirates is in fine form, and you can just tell that he wants you to follow your dreams and succeed in all you do.

This live-action Luffy figure comes with Luffy’s signature hat and a victorious pose. His beautiful box reminds us all of his dream and features everyone’s favorite ship, the Going Merry. The sea and this little Luffy are calling. I promise you, you need him in your life.

Youtooz’s Live-Action One Piece Zoro Figure

Zoro’s box is a little bolder than Luffy’s. It proclaims he’s the world’s greatest swordsman. And even though he isn’t yet, he will be because he made a promise.

We also absolutely adore that Zoro’s box is decorated with falling cherry blossoms. To me, that says that whoever designed this figure really knows the heart of One Piece‘s live-action Zoro (which is caring and good, even though he probably doesn’t want you to know that.) There’s a softness to the whole figure, which I adore. And, of course, Zoro comes with his signature three swords, including the Wado Ichimonji (or Wado Itchy Monkey, as Luffy would say) and his three dangling earrings. What’s not to love about this Zoro figure?

Youtooz’s Live-Action One Piece Usopp Figure

Like Luffy, Usopp’s smile just makes you happy. You can tell that he’s going to not only be a brave warrior of the sea, but one of its most noble. In the live-action One Piece series, we see Usopp’s gigantic heart and cheery attitude shine, and this figure captures all of those qualities. With his trusty slingshot in hand, Usopp is ready to protect all those in need and defend the good from any possible evil that wishes to encroach.

Three cheers for the Great Captain Usopp!

Youtooz’s Live-Action One Piece Sanji Figure

I would say that of all the characters in Netflix’s One Piece, Sanji underwent the biggest transformation from manga/anime to live-action, so I’m thrilled that this figure celebrates Taz Skyler’s rendition of the cook. In the live-action, Sanji is earnest, emotional, and stubbornly ready to help out his crewmates (whether they want him to or not). But, of course, his ultimate dream is to find the All Blue and taste ingredients from all over One Piece‘s universe. Until that happens, this Youtooz figure will let him watch over your kitchen.

Youtooz’s Live-Action One Piece Nami Figure

As it says on the box, Nami is the ship’s navigator, and she knows exactly who she is. We wouldn’t cross Nami even without her staff, but this Youtooz figure really drives home that point. We also love the brightly colored notes on this figure, which perfectly balances One Piece’s live-action and anime roots.

Youtooz’s live-action One Piece figures are now available for pre-order. They each cost $29.99.

The post ONE PIECE Live-Action Fans Will Adore These Youtooz Figures appeared first on Nerdist.

On April 14 of this year, Makoto Shinkai’s Suzume released in theaters in the United States. It then returned for another limited release in late October. Depending on your taste in movies, Suzume may have been appointment viewing. In that case, you already know everything this piece will have to say. Alternatively, having heard some buzz, you might have caught it upon its limited release. Or, like me, it’s possible you saw it pass on the outskirts of your cinematic awareness, intended twice to see it, but upon discovering a large part of the plot focused on a character turning into a chair, let it slip by. This was a sad mistake, now happily corrected. Although we have seen many exceptional movies in 2023, Suzume‘s gorgeous animation and perfectly bittersweet, fantastical tale make it one film worth watching before the year ends.

Suzume is in deep conversation with another 2023 movie you almost definitely saw, or, at least, heard about—Hayao Miyazaki’s The Boy and the Heron. With the overall appeal of Studio Ghibli, the initial idea this might be Miyazaki’s last movie, and the English-dub’s star-studded cast, the movie rightfully made a lot of waves. But if you enjoyed The Boy and the Heron, you will enjoy Suzume equally, if not more, depending on your tastes. Both movies feature a young protagonist who is coming of age while dealing with the sharp loss of a parent and the weight of both personal and structural griefs. Although the heroes literally contend with their pains, the process also takes the shape of monsters and adventures into fantastical realms.

But while The Boy and the Heron goes on an incredibly abstract adventure, Suzume keeps a more streamlined narrative. And it brings to the forefront characters that are a touch more relatable to modern audiences.

Suzume, herself, and the sisterhood of women she meets on her travels offer an endearing array of femininity. Of special note is Suzume’s Aunt Tamaki. Aunt Tamaki is allowed to both resent Suzume for becoming her defacto child and to love her deeply. This creates a complex meditation on motherhood that is not often explored. Every woman Suzume encounters aids her, offering her something to take on the rest of her journey. And together, they weave a beautiful found family.

Of course, Souta, who I wouldn’t precisely call Suzume’s love interest, is nothing but charming—a kind-hearted and dashing fellow with a bit of mythology and magic to him. He carries off his role perfectly in both human and chair-form. (Yes, he turns into a chair for basically 80% of the movie!) Kudos on that characterization because I was initially very concerned about the chair. But the chair works. The relationship between Suzume and Souta is also well-balanced. It holds an intimacy beyond friendship, one of shared journey. But it does not go so far into romance that it distracts from the ultimate story of the movie, which is more self-driven.

Suzume also brings to life an exceptional modern-day fairy tale. Technology and modernity interweave in the fantasy narrative, as if to say, we haven’t lost our ability to immerse ourselves in magic, even if it is almost the year 2024. Many magical stories almost require their characters to lose technological connections so that the magic can stand out. Blocking a hero’s ability to make calls, or swipe into the subway, or other conveniences that technology brings leaves them only with the peril of the fantasy. But Suzume folds these everyday occurrences into its dream effortlessly. Social media, phones, and other technologies enhance the greater feeling of magic and don’t for a minute break the spell.

It must be mentioned that this movie so beautiful it could bring you to tears. Every character design, every piece of animation, every last moment in Suzume is breathtaking. If you can still see it on the big screen somewhere, I would. It is legitimately one of the most gorgeous movies I have ever seen. It is definitely the most beautiful movie of 2023. Skyscapes, the ocean, abandoned ruins, cities, trains, and fantasy realms alike, every last part of it this film transforms into something truly magical. Beyond the overt impact, there were also many little details and marginalia to look for in every turn, enriching the universe.

Click To View Gallery

Finally, Suzume invites us to look at the wounds we all carry. But then it asks us to engage with them and close certain doors, leaving some things only to the gods. As the year reaches its end, there’s a tendency to account. We think of our accomplishments, but also of failures, tragedies, and hardships that linger. But Suzume wants us to find the magic of abandoned and lost places, both inside and out. We can grieve them, embrace the life they held, and allow them peace.

As Suzume is able to do for herself, we can embrace pain, but make sure to look at how far we’ve traveled and where the road has brought us. Sometimes, it really is the friends we made along the way.

Suzume is now streaming on Crunchyroll. It will release in Blu-ray on March 12. “The limited edition Blu-ray edition of Suzume will include a beautiful 60-page art book, four art cards, a director’s commentary from Makoto Shinkai, and much more!”  

Suzume ⭐ (5 of 5)

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The seas are buzzing. It’s a great time to be King of the Pirates, Monkey D. Luffy, one of his loyal crew members, or one of his well-deserved fans. Not only will One Piece soon celebrate its twenty-fifth anniversary, but it is celebrating in style. As its original manga story and anime begin their final acts, new chapters of One Piece are emerging all around us. First, of course, there is Netflix’s live-action series adaptation, which absolutely exceeded all expectations, breaking the so-called anime adaptation curse and landing on Nerdist‘s “Best Television of 2023” list. But now, there’s even more unexpected and yet incredible news. One Piece will receive a new anime adaptation of the long-running manga written by Eiichiro Oda.

This new anime remake of One Piece will be distinct from the anime already in existence; it will feature new animation, modern techniques, and a reimagining of Monkey D. Luffy’s story. Here’s what we know about it so far.

One Piece Will Receive a Brand New Anime at Netflix, The One Piece

A new One Piece anime is a genius move from Netflix. As fans flock to the new live-action adaptation, new fans might struggle with the vastness of the One Piece anime and manga already in existence. (Although, interested viewers can check out our guide to watching One Piece to make the process easier.) There are over 1,000 episodes of the original anime, after all. But a One Piece anime remake, one that will feel fresh and that will happen in real-time, will allow fans to enter the story in this exciting way. Here’s what we know about the remake so far.

A release shares:

The manga “ONE PIECE” is getting a new anime adaptation starting from the iconic East Blue saga… Titled THE ONE PIECE, the anime series will be produced by the renowned WIT Studio, recognized for their work on hit anime such as SPY x FAMILY and Attack on Titan (Season 1-3).

Currently in production, THE ONE PIECE will be streamed worldwide exclusively on Netflix, marking a significant collaboration with THE ONE PIECE production committee, made up of representatives from Shueisha, Fuji Television Network, and Toei Animation Co.

In a joint statement, the committee expressed their enthusiasm for this groundbreaking project, which will be distinct from the TV anime series that has captivated audiences for over 25 years. With THE ONE PIECE, the committee aims to provide viewers with a fresh yet familiar experience, utilizing cutting-edge visual technology to reimagine Luffy’s adventures through the beloved East Blue saga.

A groundbreaking project indeed. Although, I have personally joked many times that a new One Piece anime remake would be just the right thing to do on the heels of the live-action series, I could not have expected it to really happen. It seems incredible that as one anime adaptation is happening, a second joins it. But that’s the power of One Piece.

The One Piece Anime Remake Will Come From WIT Studio

Anime fans were incredibly excited to hear that the One Piece anime remake would come from WIT Studio. As mentioned in the release, the studio is responsible for SPY x FAMILY and Attack on Titan (Season 1-3), among other things. The studio’s style is distinct, but certainly good looking. We can already kind of imagine what the Straw Hat pirates will look like in this style.

You can take a look above to see some examples of what WIT Studio has already created.

What Will the New One Piece Anime Look Like?

Right now, we have only one sneak peek at the art of the new One Piece anime. But we can’t wait to see more. Already, it feels very distinct from the original designs that we associate with the series. We’ll have to stay tuned to see what the characters will look and sound like. But, personally, we’ll cross our fingers that Netflix’s live-action series will be in conversation with this new show.

The post ONE PIECE Will Get a New Anime Remake at Netflix, THE ONE PIECE to Come From WIT Studio appeared first on Nerdist.

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World made an impression when it rocked into theaters in 2010. The story, adapted from Bryan Lee O’Malley’s comics about the titular Scott, came to life in stylized live-action with director Edgar Wright. Now, a Netflix series will make the story even more visually splashy with a Scott Pilgrim anime. Titled Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, the eight-episode series goes back to the world of Scott Pilgrim, Ramona Flowers, indie rock sounds, and lots of fighting. The animated show even brings back the entire cast of the cult classic movie. Get your best looks yet at Scott Pilgrim Takes Off with its opening sequence, trailers, and more. The show has even shared a line-up of its exciting guest stars.

The Scott Pilgrim Series Gets an Anime Opening Credits Sequence

It wouldn’t be an anime series without an excellent opening credits sequence. And we love seeing Scott Pilgrim Takes Off follow this tradition. The Scott Pilgrim series’ opening credits sequence features custom animation from Science SARU and “an official theme song “bloom” by Japanese rock band, Necry Talkie.” It’s already stuck in our heads, and gets us excited for what the Scott Pilgrim anime has in store.

Get an even better look at what’s to come with the series’ official trailers.

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off Shares Official Trailers

Doesn’t this trailer for the Scott Pilgrim anime make you feel like punching life in the face? In a good way, of course. We love seeing all these familiar characters a whole new way. Of course, it’s not all action. In its final trailer, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off promises us the love story of a generation. And we can really see it starting to take shape. Sparks are definitely flying, and love is “taking off.” Hey, sometimes one date is enough… especially in the world of anime.

Netflix partnered on Scott Pilgrim Takes Off with UCP. We don’t know yet how much of the anime will adapt what Scott Pilgrim vs. the World already did. However, Scott Pilgrim‘s creator Bryan Lee O’Malley is working as an executive producer and writer alongside BenDavid Grabinski, so we know it’s in good hands.

Lee O’Malley notes of the new anime series, “I don’t know who needs to hear this but… It’s not the books. I already wrote those and you can read them anytime. The show is its own new thing in many ways. Do NOT expect a word-for-word remake. Many fun surprises to come.” We do like the sound of that!

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off‘s Official Synopsis and Cast Information

For now, Netflix has shared the following synopsis for the Scott Pilgrim anime series. It doesn’t really give us much new information, but it’s good to know the seven evil exes will still make their appearances. We certainly see them ready for battle in the latest trailer for this anime adaptation. Here’s what the streamer has to say about Scott Pilgrim Takes Off.

In SCOTT PILGRIM TAKES OFF, Scott Pilgrim meets the girl of his dreams, Ramona Flowers, and discovers he must defeat her seven evil exes in order to date her. But this time, things get even more complicated. Based on the graphic novels by Bryan Lee O’Malley, SCOTT PILGRIM TAKES OFF revisits and reimagines the beloved cult classic, taking Ramona Flowers, her evil exes, Scott, and his friends off on a mysterious new action-packed journey to find love.

Click To View Gallery

The Scott Pilgrim Takes Off cast includes Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Satya Bhabha, Kieran Culkin, Chris Evans, Anna Kendrick, Brie Larson, Alison Pill, Aubrey Plaza, Brandon Routh, Jason Schwartzman, Johnny Simmons, Mark Webber, Mae Whitman, Julian Cihi, and Ellen Wong.

As far as guest stars go, the series boasts the likes of Will Forte, Finn Wolfhard, Al Yankovic, Kal Penn, Kirby, Nick Frost, Simon Pegg, Nelson Franklin, Bowen Yang, and many more.

Abel Gongora will direct the Scott Pilgrim anime, while Wright is one of the show’s executive producers. Here’s some of the best news: Anamanaguchi will provide original songs and work on the score with Joseph Trapanese.

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off arrived on Netflix on November 17, 2023.

Originally published on August 16, 2023.

The post The SCOTT PILGRIM Anime Shares Guest Stars, Trailers, and More appeared first on Nerdist.

It’s been a busy time for Netflix’s live-action anime adaptations. The platform is working on its highly-anticipated live-action version of Avatar: The Last Airbender, it brought to life a live-action One Piece series, and it gave us an, unfortunately canceled, live-action Cowboy Bebop show. We even recently heard that Netflix is teaming with Stranger Things creators, the Duffer Brothers, for a live-action series adapting the anime Death Note. On top of this impressive list, Netflix has also revealed more exciting news about its adaptation of the anime Yu Yu Hakusho. Here’s what we know about Netlfix’s live-action Yu Yu Hakusho adaptation so far.

Netflix’s Live-Action Yu Yu Hakusho Releases Trailer

It’s our best look yet at all the excitement of Netflix’s live-action Yu Yu Hakusho—a trailer. Check out the epic tease below.

Honestly, it looks like a lot of fun and well-worth waiting for. It’s not always easy bringing anime to life, but this series is really selling it and us on what’s in store. It definitely has the distinct feeling of an anime. And that’s a good thing in our book.

The Cast of Netflix’s Live-Action Yu Yu Hakusho and First-Look Photos From the Series

That trailer looked great and the characters really drive it. Here’s a closer look at the cast of Yu Yu Hakusho. Yu Yu Hakusho centers on Yusuke Urameshi, Takumi Kitamura will play this lead role. Netflix has also shared the casting for fan-favorite character Kurama. Jun Shison will play the fox demon. Finally, Kanata Hongo will play the character of Hiei.

Additionally, Netflix has revealed that Shuhei Uesugi will play Kazuma Kuwabara.

Kazuma Kuwabara will be played by Shuhei Uesugi #yuyuhakusho pic.twitter.com/iqgrWzOTrc

— Netflix Anime (@NetflixAnime) July 19, 2022

More About the Netflix Series

As fans of the series know, Yu Yu Hakusho tells the story of Yusuke Urameshi. Yusuke Urameshi begins the tale as a troubled high school student who dies performing a good deed. He then finds himself with neither a place in heaven nor hell. After being revived and passing a test, he transforms into an “Underworld Detective” who investigates cases involving demons. According to Netflix, Yusuke Urameshi “becomes entwined in a mystery that envelopes the human, demon and spirit worlds.” All elements we can expect to see in the upcoming live-action series adaptation of the anime.

In a release, Yu Yu Hakusho‘s director Sho Tsukikawa further shares, “When I first heard about Yu Yu Hakusho receiving a live-action adaptation, I honestly wondered if it would even be possible—but after being presented with the producer’s vision and possibilities with Netflix, my expectations grew, and I found myself burning with passion to make this project come to life.” That certainly sounds promising for fans of the anime.

Live-Action Yu Yu Hakusho‘s Release Date

Netflix’s live-action adaptation of Yu Yu Hakusho will premiere on December 14, 2023. We can’t wait to see Yusuke Urameshi take on demons in this anime adaptation.

Originally published on July 19, 2022.

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This might sound like a paradox, but Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is a perfect movie with one glaring problem – it ends. In an ideal video game world, Scott would never stop fighting Ramona’s evil exes. That’s obviously not possible, but Netflix will soon provide us the next best thing. The streaming site is giving us an all new way to experience the story, with an anime series starring the original cast of the film. And the first clip from Scott Pilgrim Takes Off shows that whether live-action or animated, our favorite lovesick musician is always worth waiting for.

Netflix debuted the first clip for Scott Pilgrim Takes Off during its DROP 01 Virtual Event. It features Michael Cera’s titular doofus, Aubrey Plaza’s Julie, and Kieran Culkin’s Wallace. The clip begins with Scott asking the very mean Julie to identify his dream girl from the least helpful drawing ever. Undaunted by Julie’s demands, Scott immediately concocts a plan to meet Ramona by ordering a Netflix DVD. (If you’re under 30 and wondering what that means this will help.) Then he waits. And waits. And waits some more.

I love that big dummy so much.

I also love that this scene is not a word-for-word, shot-for-shot re-creation of the movie. It feels familiar but fresh, which is what we can expect from the entire series. It stars the cast of the film, but will expand on and play off of the live-action original. (Which itself is based Bryan Lee O’Malley’s great graphic novel.)

Unfortunately at some point this anime will suffer from the same problem the movie does: it will end. We want Takes Off to never land, but until it does we’re going to enjoy being back in the world of Scott Pilgrim. It’s a place we never want to leave.

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off comes to Netflix on November 17, 2023.

The post SCOTT PILGRIM TAKES OFF’s First Clip Was Worth Waiting For appeared first on Nerdist.

‘Tis the season for many things—pumpkin spice lattes, apple picking, and… video game adaptations. Yes, more than ever, our favorite games are turning into series for our viewing pleasure. Next up, the popular video game Devil May Cry is heading to Netflix in the form of an anime series. In this current gaming adaptation age, we bet the results are better than ever. Although we don’t yet have a release date for this anime, Netflix did share a teaser trailer for the series. Here’s what we know about the Devil May Cry series heading to Netflix.

Devil May Cry Series Announcement Teaser Trailer

Conversations about the Devil May Cry animated series have been circulating since 2021. So we feel glad to finally see it coming to fruition. Netflix’s teaser for Devil May Cry doesn’t show us too much about what we can expect from the anime show. But it does set the tone just right. The quick scenes of action and the hard rock music certainly have us ready to dive into an episode. And the animation looks incredibly good.

 The only character we see in the Devil May Cry teaser is Dante. He’s got his red jacket, his guns, his white hair, and he’s ready to go. But in earlier conversations, creator and showrunner of the series Adi Shankar confirmed we’d see other familiar Devil May Cry characters. He noted, “I can confirm that Vergil is in it, as well as Lady, and of course Dante as well.” We can’t wait to see how these characters transform for the show.

The Anime Series Synopsis

Netflix also shared a logline for the Devil May Cry series; it notes:

In this animated adaptation of the popular Capcom game, sinister forces are at play to open the portal between the human and demon realms. In the middle of it all is Dante, an orphaned demon-hunter-for-hire, unaware that the fate of both worlds hangs around his neck.

We do love a sinister force. And an orphaned demon-hunter-for-hire. Dante certainly does not seem aware the fate of multiple worlds is on his shoulders in the teaser clip, but we’ll have to wait and see what happens when he does.

Devil May Cry‘s Release Date, Episode Count, and More

Right now, Devil May Cry does not have an official Netflix release date. All we know is that it’s “coming soon.” However, we do know that the series will be eight episodes long. Adi Shankar, as mentioned, is the showrunner and creator. Alex Larsen is the writer on the show. The series comes from Netflix, Capcom, and Studio MIR, so we know it is in good hands.

Shankar noted, “I’m honored that Netflix and Capcom have entrusted me to shepherd the Devil May Cry franchise. Alex Larsen and I love these characters; we are part of the fandom, and vow to surpass the exceptionally high bar we set for ourselves.”

Hopefully, we will know more about when Devil May Cry will be released and get to see more of its characters before too long.

The post DEVIL MAY CRY Anime Series Is Coming Soon to Netflix, Watch Teaser Trailer appeared first on Nerdist.

The Great Age of Pirates is here, One Piece fans! The live-action adaptation of the hit anime series has finally arrived on Netflix, and it’s winning over old and new fans alike with its fresh take on the Straw Hat Pirates. But what exactly is the difference between the live-action and the anime? Dan Casey sets sail for the East Blue to break down the biggest changes we could find in today’s episode of Nerdist News!

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Hosted by Dan Casey
Written by Alison Mattingly
Edited by Matt Caron

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Live-action adaptations of anime and manga don’t always go over well. There are many reasons why that could be, but the fact is, the format of most anime series and the expectations for live-action shows are just vastly different. But every so often, a show cracks the code. Netflix’s live-action One Piece adaptation appears to have made a smooth jump from its original forms to live-action. The show is full of endearing heart, over-the-top yet not ridiculous antics, and an appealing found family narrative at the core. New and long-standing fans have embraced the One Piece adaptation but found eight episodes to simply not be enough. But will there be a season two of the Netflix One Piece live-action series? Well, Netflix just gave One Piece an official season two renewal, aligning with producers who previously said a second season is ready to happen.

The renewal message came in the most adorable fashion on Netflix’s official Twitter (some call it X) page.

Speaking to Variety, Marty Adelstein, the CEO of Tomorrow Studios, which produces Netflix’s live-action One Piece, notes, “We’ve got scripts ready.” Meanwhile, Tomorrow Studios president Becky Clements offered insight into a timeline for One Piece season two’s release. She said another One Piece season is “realistically, hopefully, a year away, if we move very quickly, and that is a possibility… Somewhere between a year and 18 months, we could be ready for air.” Of course, the timing of One Piece season two will depend on the studios agreeing to compensate and support their actors and writers fairly, bringing an end to the current strikes.

Adelstein further added about One Piece season two, “I think [Netflix is] looking at various situations about how many episodes they do, do they break them up?… There seems to be a big impetus to keep this going and to come up with a long-term strategy. So we’re just waiting for that.”

That is all good news for One Piece fans. And we know it is happening because Netflix has officially confirmed a season two. It was our dream and there’s nothing more important than making sure our dreams come true. We’ll cheer on our favorite crew whenever they sail back onto our screens.

Originally published on September 8, 2023.

The post ONE PIECE Season 2 Scores Renewal and Sets Sail with Scripts in Place appeared first on Nerdist.

In Netflix’s live-action One Piece, no one dreams like Monkey D. Luffy. Luffy holds the pursuit of his own dream as his driving force. And in his cheerfully relentless path to achieving his dream, he gently pushes everyone around him to discover their dreams, and thus to evolve. Not a single character on One Piece is remotely close to achieving their chosen dream by the first season’s end. But every one of them has grown vastly, guided by first realizing and then stepping toward their dreams.

Following a dream is a common thread across fiction. Heroes often have dreams of achieving great victory, of finding a purpose, or of learning their place in the world. Sometimes, villains have dreams, too. Those tend to go less well. But in Netflix’s live-action One Piece, the concept of dreams is the central throughline of the story. Dreams are revered as tangible, powerful things. And although without one, a character is lost, a dream is not necessarily a guarantee of triumph. Instead, One Piece’s rendering of dreams focuses less on their completion and more on the idea that without a drive, existence becomes pointless and growth ceases. It is this spotlight on the messy journey of dreaming, and not on the destination or simple existence of dreams, that makes the series’ portrayal of them so salient. 

Whether One Piece can claim the title of a successful adaptation is a question we can debate forever. But the greatest strength of fiction lies in its ability to impact the world external to its own. In our reality, dreaming can be difficult. More than ever, a constant bevy of obstacles can make it feel pointless to dream. But One Piece’s true power is in its readiness to assure us that regardless of outcome, having a dream and following it is enough to have an impact, on ourselves and on the world. 

In the early episodes of the show, Koby, a character who had been trapped by circumstance, laments his newfound freedom. He notes, “Maybe I made a mistake, I never should have left Alvida.” In response, Luffy asks Koby to tell him about his dream and sets him on the course toward it. On Alvida’s ship, Koby was wasting away, frozen in an unhappy limbo, forced into being someone he wasn’t. Dreaming, figuratively, and Luffy, an agent of dreaming, literally, sets him free. 

Of course, the audience and Luffy know that Koby’s dream of becoming a Marine isn’t necessarily one that will resolve in the way Koby thinks it will. But regardless of the outcomes and the reality of the dream, the presence and pursuit of it is enough to move Koby into becoming the person he was meant to be. However imperfect the growth of dreaming is, it renders Koby alive, where before he was only existing. Staying stagnant without a dream may have been easier. But actively pushing toward one allows Koby to blossom as a fully realized person.

Similarly, One Piece’s chef Sanji held his dream of finding the All Blue, a mysterious One Piece location, close to his chest for a long time. But instead of pursuing it, he’d stubbornly stayed in one place. Having a dream, One Piece implies, is not in and of itself enough. Dreaming is an active sport. Although Sanji’s situation is better than Koby’s, it isn’t until Sanji has actively moved to pursue his dream that we see him evolve.

One Piece gives the impression that Sanji and his mentor Zeff have danced the same dance and had the same arguments over and over and over again for a long time. But when Sanji finally lets his dream drive him, he can also finally find the words to tell the one-time pirate what he means to him. While this has nothing to do with the goal of his dream, in acknowledging it, he transforms into the next version of himself. Following a dream is not about a literal destination, One Piece reminds us. Instead, pursuing a dream is the mechanism through which all growth is achieved. 

One Piece also understands very acutely, and very realistically, that dreaming can be dangerous—that following a dream can cause a person to make unfathomable decisions and can even leave them in a precarious situation, struggling to survive. The action of dreaming does not mean there are only purely good outcomes. Dreaming does not become enmeshed in a starry-eyed wonder more commonly seen in fiction. No, dreaming is a real and scary endeavor. But despite this, to simply stay dreamless, or worse, to take a step in defiance of a dream, is a far worse fate. 

After intent swordsman Zoro somewhat foolishly challenges Dracule Mihawk, a far better fighter than him, to a duel in pursuit of his dream, to become the greatest swordsman in the world, he ends up badly injured. Despite this, Luffy remains firm in his decision not to have intervened in the battle. He tells his disapproving crewmate, Nami, “I’d do anything to save him, anything. Except stand in the way of his dream.”

On the face of it, maybe Nami has a point. But more figuratively, Luffy and One Piece know that Zoro would never have survived losing the ability to follow his dream. If having and following a dream is the key to evolution, then defying it is akin to death. It’s that motion toward a dream, however chaotic, scary, and occasionally disheartening, that moves the characters forward. Zoro’s brush with his dream may have left him scarred, but it culminated in his assured pronouncement of his place in the world—as first mate to Luffy’s captain. And that certainly would not have occurred had Zoro been stopped in the pursuit of his ultimate goal. 

When they first meet on One Piece, Zoro tells Luffy he’s a Pirate Hunter. And Luffy responds asking, “Is that all you are? Is that all you want?” Who among us hasn’t asked ourselves those very questions? Of course, in our realities, dreaming is not as straightforward as it is on One Piece. And we don’t all have secret powers from a Devil Fruit to rely on in the pursuit of our aspirations. Luckily, One Piece has a pretty easy answer for us, one that works even in the real world. We become ourselves in the pursuit of our dreams, whatever they may be. And regardless of whether we do or can achieve them entirely or not, in taking whatever steps we can toward them, we flourish. 

The post ONE PIECE’s Portrayal of the Imperfect Journey of Dreaming Brings Resonance to a Common Theme appeared first on Nerdist.

Ahoy, matey! It is time to join the crew of the Going Merry and set sail for Netflix’s live-action One Piece series. The beloved manga will float onto our screens on August 31, which means it’s time for one final trailer for live-acton One Piece. Let’s take a look at what’s in store.

Netflix’s Live-Action One Piece Trailers

If One Piece‘s trailers are anything to go by, the live-action One Piece adaptation looks excellent and very faithful to its source material. We’re feeling the heart and cheer of One Piece coming through in the Netflix version. Iñaki Godoy’s acting is already infectiously charming. He seems like he’ll be an absolute delight as Monkey D. Luffy, even just from these sneak peeks.

The One Piece trailer asks, “Why would anyone want to be a pirate?” Well, because it’s the very best thing there is. But there’s nothing more important than a loyal crew by your side. And luckily for Monkey D. Luffy, he’s about to get one. The Straw Hat crew has arrived in Netflix’s live-action One Piece adaptation, flag and all. Although, of course, it’s not always smooth sailing when one is out looking for treasure. Still, Monkey D. Luffy has his heart set on being King of the Pirates, and no villainous rogues will stop his quest.

Monsters, sword fights, the high seas, and friendship, what more could we ask for? The One Piece series will even faithfully bring to life transponder snails also known as Den Den Mushi. That’s a true (and horrifying) commitment. It’s one thing to see these communicative creatures in animated form, and quite another to see them so realistic. But it gives us a taste of the humor Netflix’s live-action One Piece series is bringing to the table.

One Piece‘s Synopsis and More

A synopsis for Netflix’s One Piece revealed with the trailer shares:

Based on Japan’s highest-selling manga series in history by Eiichiro Oda, ONE PIECE is a legendary high-seas adventure unlike any other. Monkey D. Luffy is a young adventurer who has longed for a life of freedom since he can remember. Luffy sets off from his small village on a perilous journey to find the legendary fabled treasure, ONE PIECE, to become King of the Pirates! But in order to find the ultimate prize, Luffy will need to assemble the crew he’s always wanted before finding a ship to sail, searching every inch of the vast blue seas, outpacing the Marines, and outwitting dangerous rivals at every turn.

We’re sensing a found family is right around the corner. And there’s nothing we love more than that. As mentioned, Netflix’s One Piece live-action series will release on August 31.

Originally published on June 20, 2023.

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One Piece is a beloved manga that has entertained fans for decades. The manga was created by Eiichiro Oda in 1997 and follows a group of pirates called the Straw Hats, as they search for the famed treasure—the “One Piece”—left behind by the notorious King of the Pirates Gol D. Roger. They are led by their ultra positive and incredibly powerful leader Luffy. 

The manga has been incredibly successful, as Oda continues to develop new volumes. In 1999, the manga received the anime treatment, with over a thousand episodes out and counting. Due to its longstanding presence in anime, One Piece has tons of characters, but not all of them made the cut for the live-action adaptation that’s around the corner. So, here’s a guide to the main characters to watch out for Netflix’s upcoming live-action series. 

Jump to: The Straw Hat Pirates // The Marines // The Villains // Other Supporting Characters

The Straw Hats Character Crew in the One Piece Live-Action Series

Monkey D. Luffy

The central protagonist of this anime, Luffy is without a doubt the spirit of One Piece. He dons a straw hat, of which his crew, the Straw Hat Pirates, get their name. Luffy has a huge appetite that matches the size of his heart. The captain of the Straw Hat Pirates also packs a punch thanks to eating the Gum-Gum Devil Fruit, essentially turning his body into rubber. While Luffy is incredibly light-hearted, don’t mess with his friends, or stand in the way of his dream of becoming King of the Pirates. Trust us, you’ll regret it.  

Played by: Iñaki Godoy

Nami

The skilled navigator of the Straw Hat Pirates, Nami is as charming as she is shrewd. While her navigation abilities drive her interest in drawing a map of the world, Nami has plenty of tricks up her sleeve, including being a talented thief who’s proficient in fighting with a staff. Money is on her mind and so is luxury, but she will protect her crew, no matter the cost. But then again, not everything about Nami meets the eye.  

Played by: Emily Rudd

Roronoa Zoro 

The first mate of the Straw Hat Pirates, Zoro is a man of few words and many swords. Well, this bounty hunter knows his way around a blade and carries three of them. Gruff, headstrong, and sporting a horrible sense of direction, Zoro plans to become a master swordsman, if he doesn’t get lost at sea first. This green-haired fighter is known to throw back a few (or several drinks) and loves a good brawl. His loyalty to his crew, especially to Luffy, is unmatched, as is his sword prowess. 

Played by: Mackenyu Arata

Usopp

Usopp is the Straw Hat Pirates’ sniper of the crew, but if he tells you his role, he’ll say it’s Captain. Known for his vivid storytelling and tall-tales, he can be just as lively as Luffy, but his courage is far from his captain’s. Usopp is known to run away in the middle of battle, but if you let him recount the events that transpired, he’ll claim he saved the entire crew. Still, Usopp dreams of becoming a brave warrior of the seas. 

Played by: Jacob Romero 

Sanji

The Straw Hat Pirates’ resident chef, Sanji trained under the master chef and former pirate Zeff aboard the Baratie, a floating restaurant. His dishes are as delicious as his kicks are deadly. His goal is to find the All Blue, a part where the East, West, North, and South Blues meet and is filled rich with wildlife perfect for his cuisine. But his infatuation with women, specifically Nami, might take reaching that goal a little longer. 

Played by: Taz Skylar

The Marines Characters in the One Piece Live-Action Series

Koby

A member of Alvida’s pirate crew, Koby is timid, reserved, and meek. When he meets a stowaway Luffy on Alvida’s ship, the young pirate lights a fire under the bespectacled, pink-haired youth. While Luffy plans to become King of the Pirates, Koby wants to follow his dream of becoming a Marine, but it might put him in direct opposition of his newfound friend. 

Played by: Morgan Davies

Helmeppo

Spoiled, entitled, and bratty, a lot of Helmeppo’s snot-nosed attitude comes from him hiding behind the authority of his father, Captain “Axe-Hand” Morgan. Not to mention, he’s quick to exploit his father’s ranking for his own gain. While he brandishes a sword, he’d rather use his privilege to intimidate pirates, and his fellow Marines to get what he wants.  

Played by: Aidan Scott

Captain “Axe-Hand” Morgan

The first main Marine captain to appear in One Piece, Captain “Axe-Hand” Morgan is also one of the first antagonists to show up as well. As his nickname alludes, Captain Morgan is known for wielding an axe for a right arm. He also sports a jawline that could kill, literally, since it’s made of metal. The father of Marine officer Helmeppo, the two share blonde hair and a penchant for abusing their positions of power.  

Played by: Langley Kirkwood

Vice-Admiral Garp

The character known as Vice-Admiral Garp is the quintessential Marine in One Piece. He’s known across the seas for his fighting ability and has famously placed many pirates behind bars. Garp plans to bring order to the chaotic seas that pirates explore. 

Played by: Vincent Regan

The Villains of One Piece

Buggy

What do you get when you mix a murderous pirate with the personality of a narcissistic show clown? Buggy. This nefarious pirate loves to be center stage and as the captain of his band of circus performer pirates, he places himself front and center. But he has plenty of power to keep him there as he is the wielder of the Chop-Chop Devil Fruit, which allows him to split his body apart and telekinetically control each piece. 

Played by: Jeff Ward

Arlong

In One Piece, you’ll notice that the fantastical is possible and so is the existence of fish-men like Arlong. Arlong is as ruthless as he is powerful.The sawshark fish-man is the leader of the Arlong Pirates who are known to pillage and plunder the seas. Friend nor foe will ever want to get on his bad side. 

Played by: McKinley Belcher III

Alvida

Alvida is a no-nonsense pirate captain who’s used to getting her way by force. Koby can attest. She terrorizes her crew as much as she terrorizes the seas. 

Played by: Ilia Isorelys Paulino 

Other Supporting Characters in the One Piece Universe 

Shanks

Shanks is a carefree pirate who Luffy looks up to immensely. As a child, Luffy would follow Shanks and his crew around while they were stationed in his village. Luffy tagging along never bothered the red-headed pirate, as he’s also quite fond of Luffy. 

Played by: Peter Gaidot

Dracule Mihawk

The mysterious, hawk-eyed Mihawk is revered as a warlord of the seas. He’s an expert sword fighter who’s respected by pirates and Marines alike. 

Played by: Steven Ward

Kaya

Kaya is a rich heiress who is also Usopp’s friend. Unfortunately, she was stricken with a mysterious illness that keeps her home bound. While Klahadore keeps her alive with a special tea, Usopp’s stories give her hope and joy.

Played by: Celeste Loots

Klahadore

Meticulous, poised, and pompous, Klahadore is Kaya’s loyal servant. He’s always by her side, whether to administer her medicine, run her affairs, or dismiss people he perceives as problems, like Usopp. Still, something doesn’t sit right with this steely right-hand man. 

Played by: Alexander Maniatas

Zeff

A former pirate-turned-chef, Zeff is the owner of the floating restaurant Baratie. He expects nothing, but the best from his team of chefs, including Sanji. He’s a little rough around the edges, but his dishes are completely polished.

Played by: Craig Fairbrass

Originally published on August 22, 2023.

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One Piece is one of the longest running anime in the game. Created first as a manga by Eiichiro Oda in 1997, the beloved series received an accompanying anime in 1999 by Toei Animation. The show follows a crew of pirates called the Straw Hats who are in search of the famed treasure—the “One Piece”—left behind by the notorious King of the Pirates Gol D. Roger. The crew of the Straw Hats is forever expanding, with the initial team consisting of the captain, Luffy, the navigator, Nami, the sniper, Usopp, the chef, Sanji, and the swordsman, Zoro.

One Piece may be long with 1000 episodes and counting, but getting into this series isn’t as daunting as it seems. If you’re looking for an anime that can be finished in a day, well, this is not the one for you. However, if you’re looking to catch up to One Piece fans who’ve watched this show for years, there are definitely ways to do so. 

If you’re one to not sleep, eat, or leave your house for several days, then you could watch 1000 One Piece episodes without a problem. But chances are, you’re a human being with a variety of commitments who will need breaks (and food) in between. With the anime streaming service Crunchyroll being the best place to watch One Piece, here are some ways to watch the series without making it seem like such a haul. 

You Can Skip the One Piece Movies

To many newcomers, this might sound counterintuitive, especially when you consider that some of these films are truncated retellings of certain arcs. But other movies are simply side stories that expand the Straw Hats’ story in fun, but in non-canonical ways. So, in a time-crunch, feel free to bypass these films:

• One Piece
• Clockwork Island Adventure
• Chopper’s Kingdom on the Island of Strange Animals
• The Cursed Holy Sword
• The Giant Mechanical Soldier of Karakuri Castle
• The Desert Princess and the Pirates: Adventures in Alabasta
• Episode of Chopper Plus: Bloom in Winter, Miracle Sakura
• One Piece 3D: Straw Hat Chase

You can return to them at your leisure. You have plenty of work ahead of you already.

Leave These One Piece Filler Episodes Behind

To date, there are 32 arcs within One Piece and Crunchyroll has segmented them into 13 seasons online. Not all of the episodes are canon (9% of it to be exact). And any anime fan knows that it’s ok to skip certain episodes (or arcs) that aren’t crucial to the overall story. This isn’t going to be full of filler episodes like other anime (sorry Boruto). However, there are still chunks that can go to the wayside on your pirate adventure. Thanks to some guidance from Anime Filler List, you can skip the below episodes:

54-60, 98-99, 102, 131-143, 196-206, 220-226, 279-283, 291-292, 303, 317-319, 326-336, 382-384, 406-407, 426-429, 457-458, 492, 542, 575-578, 590, 626-627, 747-750, 780-782, 895-896, 907, 1029-1030

Sure you’ll miss Zoro getting lost on side quests and some eccentric side villains as anime appetizers, but you’ll get to the meat of One Piece. 

The One Piece Intros and Outros Are Fun, But They Add Up

Real ones know that anime intros (and outros, for that matter) are top tier in the world of animation. Theme songs are as fire as the animation sequences and they change up every few episodes. So, who wouldn’t want to watch these 2-3 min intros and outros? A person who needs to get through tons of One Piece episodes in a short amount of time, that’s who. Those minutes can add up if you’re short on time.

You can check out all of the intros and outros that are out so far on YouTube after watching the main content. But you should watch absolutely watch the original intro below.

The One Piece Arcs You Should Watch for the Live-Action Show

If you really want to narrow it down, you can watch what’s covered in the upcoming live-action Netflix adaptation. Again, One Piece has several arcs to cover, but the live-action series’ first season will only cover the following arcs: Romance Dawn Arc (episodes 1-4), Orange Town Arc (episodes 4-8), Syrup Village Arc (episodes 9-18), Baratie Arc (episodes 19-30), Arlong Park Arc (31-44). Why, you ask? Well, that’s because these arcs properly introduce each of the first five Straw Hats. 

With 44 episodes clocking in at 20 minutes each, you have 880 minutes, or 14.6 hours of One Piece to watch. That’s almost an hour of One Piece a day over 14 days. That seems pretty doable, right?

For the brave soul that seeks more adventure and time on their laptop, you can watch One Piece as is. The anime is thrilling, heartwarming, heartbreaking, and, most of all, incredibly entertaining. There’s a reason why this battle shōnen anime has lived on for decades. But if you need to get through this journey a little quicker, hopefully the tips above with help you get into the Straw Hats’ adventures.

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As the Straw Hat Pirates prepare to set sail in live-action over on Netflix’s One Piece, Kyle Anderson is taking a look at all the other anime in line to get their own adaptations next! From My Hero Academia to Death Note (again), these are the all the live-action anime projects currently in development on today’s Nerdist News!

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It’s time to set sail for the Grand Line, One Piece fans! The live action adaptation of Eichiro Oda’s hit series is arriving on Netflix next month, and the latest trailer released over the weekend gave fans hope this new series could finally break the Netflix anime curse. Dan joins the Straw Hat crew as he breaks down the new trailer and determines whether this series has what it takes to be King of the Pirates on today’s episode of Nerdist News!

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There isn’t a third Suicide Squad movie coming as part of James Gunn’s DCU Chapter 1, but there is new and exciting Suicide Squad content coming from Warner Bros. announced at Anime Expo 2023, Minato-ku Tokyo and Warner Bros. Japan LLC revealed that production has begun on Suicide Squad ISEKAI, an all-new original anime series. At the center of this Suicide Squad anime series are Harley Quinn and the Joker, much like the original film. You can watch the trailer for this new series right here:

Suicide Squad ISEKAI will be directed by Eri Osada, with screenplays by Tappei Nagatsuki (Re-Zero – Starting Life in Another World) and Eiji Umehara (Vivy – Fluorite Eye’s Song). Screenwriter Tappei Nagatsuki added “Who has ever thought about mixing these two!? But this is sure to be a dream project. Crazy villains go on a rampage in ISEKAI! It’s nothing more, nothing less, and it can’t be anything else!”

No word yet on what other members of Task Force X will appear in the Harley Quinn and the Joker-led anime adventure, beyond Amanda Waller, but we can expect some surprise DC Comics villains among the roster. Hopefully, at least King Shark shows up. We expect Suicide Squad ISEKAI anime series to debut sometime in 2024.

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If you’re a super fan of Dragon Ball, prepare for a major movie marathon. Crunchyroll is bringing 15 of the franchise’s movies to its platform. And incredibly, these movies’ release dates range from 1989 to 2019—what an amazing journey through time and Dragon Ball history. That’s 30 years’ worth of history.

A release shares more information about the new streaming additions. It notes that a new collection of Dragon Ball movies are heading to the anime streamer, “from the very first Dragon Ball Z movie, Dragon Ball Z: Dead Zone from 1989 to the blockbuster Dragon Ball Super: Broly from 2019.” You’ll have to wait a little bit of time to watch all fifteen, though. The Dragon Ball movies are coming to Crunchyroll in three batches. The first batch released on June 22, and the following drops will happen on June 29 and July 6. Below you can find a full list of the movies coming to Crunchyroll.

And, if that’s not enough Dragon Ball for you, Crunchyroll also has the following available, “The anime series: Dragon Ball (153 episodes subbed and dubbed), Dragon Ball Z (291 episodes subbed and dubbed), Dragon Ball GT (64 episodes subbed and dubbed), and Dragon Ball Super (131 episodes subbed).” That’s 15 Dragon Ball movies and 639 episodes for your viewing pleasure… Happy watching!

Dragon Ball Movie Releases on June 22:

Dragon Ball Z: Dead Zone (Directed by Daisuke Nishio)

Dragon Ball Z: World’s Strongest (Directed by Daisuke Nishio)

Dragon Ball Z: Tree of Might (Directed by Daisuke Nishio)

Dragon Ball Z: Lord Slug (Directed by Mitsuo Hashimoto)

Dragon Ball Z: Cooler’s Revenge (Directed by Mitsuo Hashimoto)

Dragon Ball Z: Return of Cooler (Directed by Daisuke Nishio)

Dragon Ball Z: Super Android 13 (Directed by Daisuke Nishio)

Releases on June 29:

Dragon Ball Z: Broly – The Legendary Super Saiyan (Directed by Shigeyasu Yamauchi)

Dragon Ball Z: Bojack Unbound (Directed by Yoshihiro Ueda)

Dragon Ball Z: Broly – Second Coming (Directed by Shigeyasu Yamauchi)

Dragon Ball Z: Bio-Broly (Directed by Yoshihiro Ueda)

Dragon Ball Z: Fusion Reborn (Directed by Shigeyasu Yamauchi)

Dragon Ball Z: Wrath of the Dragon (Directed by Mitsuo Hashimoto)

Releases on July 6:

Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection F (Directed by Tadayoshi Yamamuro)

Dragon Ball Super: Broly (Directed by Tatsuya Nagamine)

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2017 gave fans their first trip to Skull Island in the aptly titled Kong: Skull Island. The strange land introduced us to monsters of all varieties in a lush and mysterious jungle setting. Dangers? Oh of course there were dangers! But there was also the mighty titan Kong, there to protect his home and, eventually, the humans who arrived. Now viewers get to go back to the land that time forgot in the new Netflix animated series Skull Island from Powerhouse Animation, the folks behind Castlevania. Check out the first teaser.

The series, which will debut June 22, will take audiences to a whole new world of thrills and dangers. The story follows a group of kind-hearted explorers who rescue Annie (Mae Whitman) from the ocean, unaware that their act of heroism will lead them to the treacherous Skull Island. The rest of the star-studded cast includes: Darren Barnet (Never Have I Ever, Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles) as Mike; Benjamin Bratt (Poker Face, Coco) as Cap; and Betty Gilpin (Mrs. Davis, Glow) as Irene. Together, they bring these vibrant characters to life and embark on a captivating journey.

The show’s poster art showcases not just Kong but many other giant monsters the crew will have to deal with. Everybody’s old pal the skull crawler is there, naturally; we also get giant lizards, birds, crabs, and what looks like a cute dog of some kind. Unclear. Either way, we can’t wait to check out Skull Island to see what adventures Kong and Co. get up to next.

Editor’s Note: Nerdist is a subsidiary of Legendary Digital Networks

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd.

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Spring has arrived once more, and if you need a break from your seasonal allergies, Dan Casey has you covered with a guide to all the best new anime to check out on today’s episode of Nerdist News!

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Original reporting by Kelly Knox.

The life-sized Gundam replica can move now, and it’s here to stay, at least for a while longer! We, for one, welcome our new mecha overlord. In the past, we told you about the 60-foot-tall Gundam robot in Yokohama, just south of Tokyo, Japan. While the pandemic disrupted the original plans for this incredible attraction to the public, development continued on the mind-blowing mecha. The RX-78-2 Gundam mecha can stand, kneel, turn its head, and point to the sky, and lucky fan Nan-chan caught it on video. But if you want to see this for yourself, don’t delay because the home of this mecha, Gundam Factory Yokohama, will be closing at the end of March.

While the massive mecha moves slowly and deliberately, it’s an impressive feat of engineering. When the footage is sped up to four times speed, the robot is nothing short of unbelievable. Not only can it take steps and move its massive body, the fine control of its hands and fingers is astounding.

And if you’re still not impressed, Nan-chan’s other video of the mecha turning its head includes part of the engineering team to give you a sense of scale. As it turns toward them and opens its eyes, mecha fanatics might understandably get goosebumps. It’s mind-blowing.

SoraNews24 reports that while there have been life-sized Gundam models built in Japan before, Gundam Factory Yokohama features the first model that can actually move. The park originally scheduled an October 2020 opening but eventually opened in December 2020. It was slated to close in March 2022. But interest extended its life by a year. And now it will keep it open a while longer. This live-size moving Gundam will remain on display until March 31, 2024.

While this mecha might not be able to take on any kaiju erupting from the Earth’s core quite yet, we’re certainly on our way to making technology that once seemed like only a fantasy into a reality. Let’s just hope the kaiju also move very, very slowly, and we’ll be just fine.

Originally published on September 21, 2020

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Time to order a plate of non-vegan chicken parm and our favorite bread, because Netflix is giving Scott Pilgrim vs. the World fans something to feast on. The rumors are not only true, they’re better than we ever could have hoped for. The entire cast of the cult classic film is returning for a new Scott Pilgrim anime series at Netflix. And it’s going to expand on the story and world we already love so much.

Netflix and UCP Studio have announced they’re partnering on an all-new anime series based on Scott Pilgrim. While the show doesn’t have an official title just yet, it does have a cast we’re all very familiar with. Everyone from the 2010 film will lend their voices to the Scott Pilgrim series. That includes Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Satya Bhabha, Kieran Culkin, Chris Evans, Anna Kendrick, Brie Larson, Alison Pill, Aubrey Plaza, Brandon Routh, Jason Schwartzman, Johnny Simmons, Mark Webber, Mae Whitman, and Ellen Wong.

Bryan Lee O’Malley, author and artist of the Scott Pilgrim graphic novel series, and BenDavid Grabinski will serve as executive producers, writers, and showrunners together. Edgar Wright, who directed and co-wrote the film, will also serve as an executive producer. Science SARU studio is providing animation.

In a press release, Wright also gave fans a little preview of what to expect from the show. The anime series won’t just recreate the story we know from the Scott Pilgrim movie. It’s going to give us even more of the world and characters. From Wright:

One of the proudest and most enjoyable achievements of my career was assembling and working with the dynamite cast of Scott Pilgrim. Since the film’s release in 2010 we’ve done Q&A’s, remembrances and charity read throughs, but there was never the occasion to reunite the whole gang on an actual project. Until now… Original creator Bryan Lee O’Malley, along with writer BenDavid Grabinski have conjured up an anime series of Scott Pilgrim that doesn’t just expand the universe, but also…well, just watch it. I’m more than happy to announce that I have helped coax the entire original cast back to voice their characters on this epic new adventure. You are in for a treat.

If that’s not enough, Wright also offered another preview on Twitter.

Right. Into. Our. Eyeballs. And. Ears.

The only bad news today is that the show is not ready for us to watch right this very second. (Very rude.) The Scott Pilgrim anime is “coming soon” soon to Netflix. When that means exactly, we have no idea. But we promise when it does, we’ll be ready. We can already see it in our mind’s eye.

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There are tons of animes that have women jockeying for the time and affection of one guy, which is called harem anime. But well-done animes that do the opposite, a.k.a. reverse harem anime, are a rare breed. There’s something satisfying about a story with a woman (or girl) with humor, compassion, or wild antics that makes the other characters (and us) fall for her. So, to celebrate them, here are some of the best reverse harem anime series.  

Fruits Basket

After her mother’s passing, Tohru Honda lives in a tent. When the landowners, the Soma family, discover her, they offer to let her reside in their home, but there’s a secret in the Soma family. They transform into animals from the Chinese zodiac during times of stress or when the opposite sex hugs them. There are many hilarious moments, and it’s easy to see why everyone gravitates toward kind and caring Tohru. It’ll make you laugh and sob equally and at unlikely moments. 

Where to Watch: Free on Funimation and Crunchyroll

The Wallflower

Forget tsundere. This lady is beyond the tough girl hiding a good heart. Sunako Nakahara is a homicidal nightmare with a penchant for melting wicked witch style in the face of unfathomable beauty. She meets her match in the form of four gorgeous boys who live in her wealthy aunt’s house. Sunako’s aunt gives them an ultimatum: pay rent or transform Yukiko into a beautiful lady. Yes, terrifying goth girls can be surrounded by handsome boys, even if they sob as she chats with her skull pals. 

Where to Watch: Hulu and Funimation (premium subscription)

Ouran High School Host Club

This gender-bender reverse harem anime is one of the most flamboyant anime ever. Haruhi Fujioka attends the elite Ouran High School despite a lack of wealth. After smashing a vase, she works off her debt by being a host to the girls in the school. Haruhi is comical, challenging, yet calm, and a perfect counter for the overly dramatic Host Club president, Tamaki. The series delivers range with occasional fourth-wall breaks while playing firmly and assuredly in its rom-com genre. 

Where to Watch: Tubi, Netflix, Hulu, and Crunchyroll

Kiss Him, Not Me

A side-splitting reverse harem anime that shows love to BL (boy’s love) fans, it’s funny despite its problematic premise. Kae Serinuma is a big girl with a BL obsession. She remains in bed the whole week after her favorite character dies. When she returns to school, she’s lost weight, and the popular boys circle her. It traverses love based on character over physical characteristics, all while wrapping it in a delightfully comedic lens of anime/manga fandoms, hooking you before you realize it. Worth a view for the shipping wars argument alone because Serinuma is a fanatic. 

Where to Watch: Crunchyroll

Vampire Knight

Vampire Knight is a spicy drama and mystery that follows Yuki Cross. She attends Cross Academy and acts as a guardian keeping the peace between the humans in Day Class and the vampires in Night Class. You can’t go wrong with vampires. Everyone is stunning, and seeing the vampires’ different abilities makes you want to delve into and revel in this world. Yuki may be a typical anime girl, but that’s part of the appeal, especially as the mystery froths to the surface.

Where to Watch: Crunchyroll, Hulu, Peacock, and The Roku Channel

Hana Yori Dango

The oldest series on the list follows Makino Tsukushi, a poor commoner who attends an elite school and wants to graduate unnoticed. That changes when she defends a friend against the F4, a group of the wealthiest and most powerful teenage boys, and becomes their target. Determined not to lose, the group inevitably takes an interest in her, and a love triangle forms between her and two of the boys. Not all the parts age well. But at its center, Makino Tsukushi stands out as an altruistic character, and there are unforgettable moments of laughter and love. 

Where to Watch: Crunchyroll

Romantic Killer

The newest series on the list, Romantic Killer revels in its absurdity. A strange wizard creature, Riri, appears to Anzu Hoshino and transforms her life into an otome game. To ensure she has Hoshino’s full attention of all the gorgeous boys who will soon line up, Riri confiscates Hoshino’s games, chocolate, and cat. But Hoshino’s not the average heroine, and with so much on the line, she’s determined to chase these gorgeous boys off. If that means grotesque faces or dressing like a fashion victim, so be it. Similar to series like Lovely Complex or His and Her Circumstances, anime fans will adore this series. The heroine is not poised, sweet and innocent, but loud, dangerous—for Riri at least—and obsessed with games. What’s not to love?

Where to Watch: Netflix

Hakuoki

Touted as a show that hides surprising depth and shoujo elements in a genre usually built around comedy, Hakuoki still lives in the reverse harem realm. Disguised as a boy, Yukimura Chizuru heads to Kyoto in search of her father. After the Shinsengumi rescue her and learn she’s the daughter of the doctor they are also searching for, they aid her in her quest. Fan of reverse harems with more action will love its bountiful fighting and mysteries.  

Where to Watch: Crunchyroll

My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom

Beware of the flags of doom! In this ludicrous reverse harem rom-com isekai, the heroine, Caterina Claes, recalls her previous life after sustaining a head injury. She died and somehow wound up reborn as the villainess in an otome game, Fortune Lover. In the game, her character faces exile or, at worst, death. To avoid this, she befriends boys and girls, becoming the object everyone seeks. One of the highlights in the series is the multiple versions of Caterina holding meetings in her mind to discuss the best ways to avoid death flags. Each time she unintentionally plays the role of one of the guys in the game, you realize what she hasn’t caught onto—that everyone is crushing on her. 

Where to Watch: Crunchyroll

The post 9 Reverse Harem Animes That Show Women Lots of Love appeared first on Nerdist.

Sometimes it can be hard to keep track of where all your favorite series are streaming. Especially with all the recent confusion happening in the realm of streaming platforms. But Viz Media wants to make it easier for you to find all your favorite anime shows. Now, you can stream and watch popular anime, such as Naruto, Sailor Moon, Inuyasha, and more, for free right on YouTube. For most people, that sure will cut down on some of the confusion and the apps that they need to watch their favs.

To make it even easier, Viz Media has organized playlists for their different shows. We’ve linked to them below:

• Naruto Playlist
• Sailor Moon Playlist
• Death Note Playlist
• Hunter x Hunter Playlist
• Inuyasha Playlist

If you really can’t wait to watch all these anime series though, we’ve also left the very first episode of Sailor Moon below.

That’s number one out of 238 available episodes of this anime. (And the other playlists aren’t much shorter.) So we hope you’ve carved out some time this afternoon. Having a place to watch free anime can be a blessing and a curse.

The post Major Anime Series Available to Watch for Free, From NARUTO to SAILOR MOON appeared first on Nerdist.

Some jobs are truly the stuff of dreams, like selling ice cream in the Caribbean. But this job truly is the cream of the crop. Stylist Alexander-Julian Gibbson, an anime fan, had the pleasure of styling Jonathan Majors for his recent Ebony Magazine cover shoot. That alone is enough to make anyone deeply envious. However, Gibbson took it to another level by combining their styling genius with nerdiness and creating an anime-inspired look for Jonathan Majors, who rocks a pink coat that makes him look like One Piece’s Donquixote Doflamingo.

This is pure perfection and quite clever. Jonathan Majors is absolutely crushing the One Piece looks. How can we get him involved with the live-action anime coming to Netflix soon? Also, those boots are truly iconic. In addition to the pink coat, Gibbson drew anime inspiration for some of his other looks as well.

Also, no one can stop staring at Jonathan Majors in general. Just look at him.

For more on the shoot, you can take a look at Ebony Magazine‘s behind-the-scenes video of the day.

Anyway, it is always fun to see nerdy things and fashion cross paths. Now, how can I get Jonathan Majors to cross my path? (I’m joking… sort of.)

The post Stylist Reveals ONE PIECE Inspiration for Jonathan Majors Photoshoot appeared first on Nerdist.

Here are the best new anime series to watch this winter! Thanks to Rocket Money for sponsoring today’s episode: https://www.rocketmoney.com/nerdist Check out Rocket Money to start managing your personal finances today! #rocketmoney #personalfinance

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The post The 10 New Winter Anime You Need to Watch (Nerdist News w/ Dan Casey) appeared first on Nerdist.

For over thirty years now, The Simpsons’ annual Treehouse of Horror has mined every classic horror film and spooky TV show for material. But just when you think they’ve run out of eerie stuff to parody in their own unique way, they remind you of how creative they can be when they set their minds to it. Case in point, this year’s Treehouse. According to the folks at DesignTaxi, the show is going full anime this year. It will a parody the 2006 series Death Note. You can see some images of The Simpsons take on Death Note and a clip from the upcoming episode down below:

To catch you up before it hits The Simpsons, Death Note was originally a hit manga series by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata. It wasn’t long after the manga became a hit that an anime from the South Korean animation house DR Movie came to be. The story revolved around a high school student named Light Yagami. They find a mysterious black notebook called the Death Note. One that can kill anyone as long as whoever holds it knows both the target’s name and face. Light starts to kill notorious criminals around the globe. And then things begin to go a little haywire. And now, The Simpsons is taking on the Death Note story and tackling anime.

Writer Carolyn Omine has said that this year’s Treehouse of Horror will contain a whole bunch of Easter eggs. Just from the clips alone, we can already see a few. These include a billboard for a Tokyo version of Krusty Burger and one for Duff Beer. Death Note won’t be the only parody in this year’s special. The Simpsons is also taking aim at the modern horror classic The Babadook. Also getting lampooned is the HBO series Westworld. But we have a strong feeling that Death Note anime version of Lisa, Marge, and Homer Simpson is what will have everyone buzzing.

The Simpsons: Treehouse of Terror XXXIII and its Death Note parody airs Sunday, November 1.

The post THE SIMPSONS Goes Full Anime for DEATH NOTE Parody appeared first on Nerdist.

Ahhh there’s nothing like ‘90s nostalgia to get us through tough times. The decade is getting quite a bit of love with new generations discovering the epic horror films, music, fashion, and TV of the ‘90s. Why? Well, because the youths today cannot compare to our greatness. In fact, there’s even a website full of ‘90s programming for all to enjoy at any time. But sometimes you just need a little bit of throwback gear to really make you miss the days gone by. Especially if it makes us want to fight evil by moonlight and win love by daylight, like this Sailor Moon watch does!. G-SHOCK by CASIO and Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon came together for a BABY-G watch (remember those?!) that’s full of power. (Yes, the Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon show came out in the 2000s, but this collab is clearly aiming at the ’90s series love.) So that’s not one, but two things that conjure up childhood memories for fans. 

The company gracefully gifted Nerdist one of these magical timepieces and it’s quite the beauty, from its lovely case to the details of its band and face designs. Give us all the stars, shimmering, and silhouettes, please. Two standout features are undoubtedly its gold hands and the plethora of colorful hearts and crescent moons.

This Sailor Moon watch and its case features several elements inspired by the show’s epic transformations along with some great tech features including the following: 

• Shock Resistant
• 100M Water Resistant
• 2 Year Battery Life
• LED Light
• Daily Alarm
• Full Auto Calendar

And, the back of the watch comes with special engraving featuring Sailor Moon herself. The BABY-G Sailor Moon watch is currently available for $160 online, at select retailers, and the G-SHOCK store in Soho. That’s way more affordable than Jimmy Choo Sailor Moon boots. There’s no promise that you’ll becoming a Sailor Guardian, which is still an unrealized dream for many of us. But at least you can look exceptionally cool and maybe get somewhere on time.

The post BABY-G x Pretty Guardian SAILOR MOON Watch Makes for a Magical Timepiece appeared first on Nerdist.

If you were a ’90s kid, chances are Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z were on the very same cartoon altar for you as Pokemon and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. It was also the gateway for many kids into anime as well. Mostly thanks to endless airings on Toonami back in the day. Now, one DBZ super fan has created the ultimate fan film. And it took him a whopping four years to do it. But as you can see by the finished product, Legend: A Dragon Ball Tale was well worth the wait. And now you can watch the full ten-minute film below:

Legend: A Dragon Ball Tale comes to us from Studio Stray Dog Animation, and animator Naseer Pasha directed it. He’s an industry professional, who worked on the new Ninja Turtles movie hitting Netflix soon. Almost as soon as it hit YouTube channel Agent Mystery Meat, longtime fans went wild for it. With many calling it the ultimate tribute to the beloved franchise. In fact, ever since July 6, when it first hit YouTube, over 4 million fans have viewed it. In the film, Vegeta goes to Earth to find Goku, right after Broly appears and all hell breaks loose.

There’s a message from Pasha at the beginning of the film, which explains just what making this film meant for everyone involved. Pasha said “To every child who believed that they could train in 100 times the earth’s gravity, and to every artist who taped Dragon Ball Z and paused it to draw their favorite heroes, this is dedicated to you. Mr. Toriyama, please accept this as a small token of gratitude, and as a grand love letter to the worlds that you’ve created and shared with all us children of the 90s. The inspiration will forever remain immeasurable.” Hopefully, his next Dragon Ball tribute won’t take as many years to create. Because after this one, we know the fans will demand more.

The post LEGEND: A DRAGON BALL TALE Is the Ultimate DBZ Fan Film appeared first on Nerdist.

Sure, good cosplay is a cool way of becoming your favorite character from pop culture. But body painting as your way of transforming into your heroes? Might be even cooler. And thanks to the folks at Oddity Central, we’ve discovered a body painting expert whose work will blow you away. Meet Randresson Vieira, a 30-year-old body painter from Brazil, whose skills allow him to transform himself into a variety of pop culture characters.

The majority of Vieira’s characters include ones from beloved anime like One Piece, Dragon Ball, Naruto, Demon Slayer, and Avatar: The Last Airbender. Often, Vieira’s videos go in reverse, starting with his removal of the makeup, and going back to it being complete at the end. You can see some of his best anime creations below.

He also has a series of classic Disney animated characters that are both amazing and, well, a bit off-putting. Among all those Disney princesses, is that the Dungeon Master from the ’80s Dungeons & Dragons cartoon? Someone crashed a party, we think.

If it wasn’t for his very real human eyes peering through, it would be hard to distinguish these body painting as anything but 2D drawings. Randresson Vieira has become quite a TikTok sensation, amassing 1.5 million followers. He’s also on other platforms, including a YouTube channel. His facial painting skills are so effective that it’s actually unsettling when realistic human expressions emerge out of these flat, 2D-looking faces.

Anime characters are Vieira’s main thing, but he does do characters from other genres. He has a few Marvel characters on his resume now, including Spider-Man, Venom, Mystique, Captain Marvel, and Doctor Strange. The latter of which might be our favorite of his MCU body paints.

From the world of horror, Vieira has transformed into Chucky and Tiffany, and a legit terrifying Pennywise the Clown. Perhaps the creepiest nightmare fuel of his horror transformations was Annabelle the doll, from The Conjuring franchise. If someone came to the door dressed this way on Halloween, we might just start running in the other direction.

For more of Vieira’s amazing work, be sure to head on over to his TikTok.

The post Body Painter Wows with Marvel, Anime, and Disney Character Transformations appeared first on Nerdist.