Shangri-La Frontier Season 2 is already on its fifth episode when a new trailer drops teasing its upcoming arc: the Nephilim Hollow Arc. The anime's official website and social media handles share the news after Season 2, Episode 5's release.

The trailer shows Su?nraku diving back into Nephilim Hollow, one of his favorite trash games. Unlike Shangri-La Frontier, Nephilim Hollow looks to be a mecha fighting game, wherein the players control both the robot and its huge arsenal of weapons.

In addition to the trailer, two new cast members join the anime's staff. Rie Takahashi, who voiced Ai Hoshino in Oshi no Ko and Rinsha in Delicious in Dungeon, will be voicing Rust, Nephilim Hollow's current top player. Meanwhile, Mordo, Rust's companion, will be voiced by Kaito Ishikawa, who also voiced Naofumi from The Rising of the Shield Hero.

Shangri-La Frontier Season 2 story so far

After defeating Wethermon the Tombguard in Season 1, Sunraku, Oikatzo, and Arthur Pencilgon established their own clan �Wolfgang. The trio wanted to go after the remaining Colossi. Pencilgon assumed the leader position after losing a game of rock-paper-scissors, then proceeded to form an alliance with Library, SF-Zoo, and Schwarz Vulf.

Meanwhile, the trio also went ?their different ways to accomplish their own tasks. Pencilgon aimed to clear her debt and earn money, while Oikatzo continued to level up and seek his own unique scenario. Sunraku got the Ether Reactor and started training Bilac to become an Ancient Blacksmith. After achieving the said status, Sunraku would task Bilac to repair the Ether Reactor. In turn, the reactor would be used to power the suits found in the Inventoria.

Sunraku probably returns to the sci-fi game Nephilim Hollow due to t??he Ether Reactor and the items stashed in Inventoria.

Shangri-La Frontier Season 2 can be streamed on Crunchyroll or Netflix.

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DAN DA DAN proves to be one of the best anime this Fall anime season. It has a perfect mix of comedy and action, and it's all made possible with its quirky cast of supernatural beings. Turbo Granny, for instance, is a creepy maniac obsessed with Okarun's family jewels. The latest whacky legend to join DAN DA DAN's roster of evil spirits is Acrobatic Silky.

Just like the other supernatural creatures in the anime, Acrobatic Silky has her own real-world origins. Reasonably, the anime did take creative liberties, making the Yokai a more interesting creature in the world of DAN DA DAN.

Warning: Spoilers for Dandadan manga.

Acrobatic Silky in DAN DA DAN

In the anime, Acrobatic Silky makes her debut as a malevolent spirit haunting Aira. The two characters' fates crossed during Aira's childhood years. Aira already had the ability to see spirits at a young age, tho??ugh she lost it as time progressed. When she lost her mother in her youth, she happened to cross paths with Acrobatic Silky's spirit form. The young girl mistook her for her mother, addressing her as such. This spurred Acrobatic Silky's obsession with the girl, haunting her for the next years.

Since Aira lost her ability to ??see spirits growing up, Acrobatic Silky could only follow her. However, the Yokai attacked the moment Aira regained her spiritual sense through Okarun's family jewel. For the first time, sh?e saw the Yokai for what she was.

Acrobatic Silky in DAN DA DAN is an extremely tall Yokai with long limbs and jet-black hair. She also dons red lipstick, red nails, a red hat, and a red dress. As her name suggests, she is a flexible creature with enhanced physical abilities. She is obsessed with being a mother, forcing Aira and even Momo to refer to her as such. This attribute of hers is actually due to her rather heartbreaking?? backstory.

Since it hasn't been shown in the anime yet, the following info are spoilers for the manga. Acrobatic Silky used to be a human being. She was an impoverished mother. To sustain her and her child's living expenses, she took loans and worked two jobs. When she used a part of her earning to buy her daughter a dress, the debt collector unfortunately paid her a visit. They forcefully made her cough up her money, then took away her daughter. Bloodied and in despair over the thou?ght of never seeing her daughter again, she danced for one last time before leaping to her death.

Her real-world counterpart �Akusara or Acrobatic Sara Sara

Similar to Turbo Granny, Acrobatic Silky's real-world origin is Japan. It is based on the urban legend of Akusara or Acrobatic Sara Sara. According to Urban Legends Wiki, her sightings are mostly around Fukushima Prefecture. However, there are supposed sightings all over Japan.

The story apparently goes with a group of people encountering a strange woman introducing herself as Sara Sara. Similar to how she is portrayed in DAN DA DAN, she also wears a red dress and has pale skin and long, black hair. Akusara then will perform humanly impossible acrobatic acts, and then challenge those who encounter her. After the performance, she will simply vanis?h. At that point, she already cursed them, causing them to suffer terrible fates and even death.

According to other sources, however, A?kusara's origins can be traced back to online forums like 2 Chan. In this version, Akusara has scars on her left arm, hollow eyes, and a mouth cut from ear to ear. She also performs acrobatic stunts in urban areas, jumping from one building to another. She jumps into oncoming traffic and vanishes before hitting the ground. This usually causes traffic accidents.

Furthermore, whoever sees her is bound to suffer tragic fates. Akusara supposedly follows the witnesses, who are usua??lly young men. Afterward, these men will simply vanish without a trace.

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The second season of Shangri-La Frontier is already on full throttle, though things still aren't too heated up. By the end of the first season, Sunraku and his pals successfully defeated Wethermon the Tombguard and established their ow??n clan. Granted that they only recently established a clan, it's reasonable that setting it up takes time. Meanwhile, the trio accomplishes their own goals.

However, the trio's incredible feat wo??n't let them simply game in peace. Other clans have taken interest i?n their actions and started to seek them. Ultimately, Pencilgon decided to make use of their situation and established a four-clan alliance. Here are each of the four clans, including their key members and motives.

Wolfgang

The very clan that Sunraku, Arthur Pencilgon, and Oikatzo created is Wolfgang. The trio of trash game enthusiasts wish to continue their exploit of defeating a Colossus, which is known to be unbeatable in Shangri-La Frontier. The clan'??s main goal is to take down the six other Colossi, while also building up their clan's treasury.

Since Wolfgang has only been established, Sunraku and Co. are still its only members. Even so, nobody in the game will dare underestimate them. After all, their feat of defeating Wethermon was announced to the entire ?server in real time. Furthermore, each one can hold their own in a fight.

Sunraku had already made him?self a cryptid of sorts in the game. His bountiful experiences from beating numerous trash games have also become his greatest asset in Shangri-La Frontier. He can take on monsters way beyond his level and defeat them after a few tries. Meanwhile, Oikatzo is a professional gamer. He has amazing mechanical skills, almost on par with Sunraku. Lastly, Pencilgon is both a great strategist and a sly gamer. She knows how to?? control groups, while also trick her opponents.

Schwarz Vulf

Schwarz Vulf is probably the most popular clan among the four. They are renowned for their goal of defeating Lycagon the Nightslayer, who is another Colossus. Unfortunately, they ar??e far from actually accomplishing the said goal. Given that Sunraku has managed to fight ??Lycagon for a relatively long period, Schwarz Vulf aims to gather information about the wolf monster from Wolfgang.

While Scwarz Vulf has numerous members, only two characters are currently prominent figures �Psyger-0 ?and Psyger-100. These two are actually sisters and real life. Psyger-100 is the leader and founder of the clan, and she presumably possesses great combat ability. Psyger-0, on the other hand, leaves no room for presumption. She is known in the game as the Attack Master, and she's strong enough to one-shot kill elite members of the PK clan Ashura-Kai. Furthermore, Rei Saiga, the user behind Psyger-0, is deeply infatuated with Rakuro Hizutome, Sunraku's user.

Library

Unlike the previous clans, Library isn't particularly interested in taking down the the Seven Colossi. At least, they don't personally aim to do so. Library is a clan more interested in Shangri-La Frontier's world and lore. They research deeply to know the game's narrative, including its netizens. But since it's been revealed that defeating the Seven Colossi is necessary in progre??ssing the game's story, then it is in Library's best interest to ally with Wolfgang, who has already managed to take down a Colossus.

The only prominent figure in Library is its leader, Professor. Profes??sor's avatar may be a cute girl, but he is a married man in actuality. Little is known about his abilities, though he is at least financially equipped in the game. After all, he paid 100 million Mahni to get his hand on a book detailing Wethermon's identity. While she still hasn't made an official debut yet, Professor's wife may also be a member of Library, as she seems to be as invested in Shangri-La Frontier's lore as? Professor.

?Even though Library may not offer much combat help, Library has deep knowledge of?? the Seven Colossi. They will likely be an important source of information as Wolfgang and Schwarz Vulf take on Lycagon and the five other Colossi.

SF-Zoo

SF-Zoo is certainly the quirkiest among the four clans. They don't give a damn about other players. After all, it is a monster documentary guild. The only reason SF-Zoo allied with Wolfgang is to hopefully get access to Rabituza, where Emu?l is fr?om. In that sense, it's also a curiosity as to how Wolfgang will actually benefit from their relationship. However, one possibility is SF-Zoo's knowledge of how to fight animal Colossi like Lycagon.

As an animal-loving clan, SF-Zoo ??has a lot of members. However, only its leader, Animalia, is worth notin?g at present. Despite her peculiarities, she is at least strong enough to fight Pencilgon to a draw, albeit needing to utilize her entire arsenal.

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The seas of One Piece may be wild and turbulent, but they aren't necessarily unconquerable. There is a constant power struggle between the World Government and the pirates, and they have yet to break the stalemate. On the pirates' side, the? Four Emperors of the Sea reign supreme. Each Emperor not only possesses terrifying might, but also a reliable crew following their lead.

These crews are more than just a collection of powerful individuals. They are the embodiment of their capt??????????????????????????ain’s ideals. Her??e's what each crew seems to uphold.

The Whitebeard Pirates are one big family

The Whitebeard Pirates, led by the late Edward Newgate or Whitebeard, represent the idea of a big family. The crew deeply puts importance on loyalty and camaraderie. As such, familial bond is central to th??e crew's identity.

Whitebeard's desire for a family stems from his own childhood as an orphan. He cherished the idea that having a family is the greatest treasure one can possess, a belief that became a guiding principle in his life and leadership. This longing fueled his ambition to create a crew that mirrored the warmth and support of a family unit??????????????????????????. Importantly, Whitebeard’s definition of family transcends blood relations. He viewed each member of his crew as his own child, nurturing and protecting them fiercely.

His crew's organization followed a typical rank and file. His main crew was divided into different divisions, led by a powerful m?ember of the crew. Marco the Phoenix held the position of First Division Commander, while Portgas D. Ace was the Second Division Commander. The Whitebeard Pirates also had a number of affiliated pirate crews, like Whirl Spider Squard who stabbed Whitebeard during the Paramount War.

The Big Mom Pirates are one big family, literally

When it comes to family, Big Mom and her kin can't be overlooked. Big Mom and her children make up the crew's main force. The Charlotte siblings do everything to appease their matriarch, though it mostly boil??s down to feeding her.

Unsurprisingly, B?ig Mom’s love for food has profoundly shaped her rule and the crew’s lifestyle. Each island under her control in Totto Land represents a specific food theme, creating a “land of sweets�that reflects her deepest desires. Furthermore, food plays a major role in her crew's rank?s.

The crew is naturally led by Big Mom herself. Just below her are her strongest children, the Sweet Commanders. After taking down Charlott?e Snack, Urouge managed to reduce the Four Sweet Commanders to three. The remaining ones are Katakuri, Smoothie, and Cracker. Furthermore, the Big Mom Pirates' Devil Fruit abil??ities are food-related. For instance, Katakuri possesses the power of the Mochi-Mochi Fruit, while Cracker has the Bis-Bis Fruit.

The Animal Kingdom Pirates are rather tanky

The Animal Kingdom Pirates, led by the monstrous Kaido, are a crew built for war. Structured around strength and endurance, this crew is composed of powerful individuals who thrive in combat. True to their name, they heavily rely on Zoan Devil Fruits. In fact, Kaido even imports artificial Devil Fruits for a chance to give his fol?lowers animalistic abilities.

It isn't surprising as Kaido himself is known as The Strongest Creature. He has the Fish-F?ish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon. His Devil Fruit's? tough scales in addition to Kaido's natural sturdiness allow him to tank most attacks. Similarly, his followers adopt a similar fighting style. They use their tough bodies to take and deal physical damage from their opponents.

Under Kaido’s rule,?? the Animal Kingdom Pirates are motivated by ??sheer survival and dominance, embodying a “survival of the fittest�mentality. Those at the lowest of the hierarchy can climb their way by taking down those with higher positions.

Devil Fruits aren't a thing in Emperor Shanks' Red-Hair Pirates

Shanks' Red-Hair Pirates embrace the concept of true pirate freedom, living by a code of honor and respect that sets them apart?? from more ruthless crews. At least, we are?? led to believe so.

This crew functions as a close-knit band of brothers, with Shanks serv??ing as both captain and friend to each member. Unlike other Emperors, Shanks values the bonds of trust within his crew over brute strength alone. Even his affiliated pirate crews are known to be weak in terms of battle prowess.

However, the Red-Hair Pirates are far from weak, and being the only remaining Emperor crew of the original Four Emperors is a testament to that. Interestingly, the Red-Hair Pirates consist of non-Devil Fruit users. They utilize pure physical ability and Haki to obliterate anyone brave enough to cross them. For instance, Captain Kid.

Blackbeard Pirates will do anything to realize their goals

The Blackbeard Pirates, under the command of the cunning and ambitious Marshall D. Teech, are known for their ruthlessness and willingness to do anything to achieve? their goals. Teech and his crew embody the most “pirate-like�qualities among the Emperor crews. Blackbeard himself has a penchant for deception, betrayal, and an insatiable thirst for power. His crew follows suit, united by a common drive for personal gain and a willingness ??to bend the rules to achieve their aims.

Contrary to Shanks' Red-Hair Pirates, the Blackbeard Pirates are a group consisting of Devil Fruit users. It's not really that surprising since Blackbeard is the only One Piece character to possess two abilities. His Dark-Dark Fruit also allows hi??m, presumably, to take and bestow Devil Fruit abilities.

The Blackbeard Pirates embody the philosophy that power should be seized by any m??eans necessary. They believe that pirates can only be united by a common interest and not camaraderie or any of that cheesy stuff.

The Straw Hat Pirates chase dreams

The Straw Hat Pirates have started as a motley crew of one, yet they've undeniably gone far. From a young kid playing pirate, Luffy has effectively become one of the strongest personas in the sea as an Emperor. However, his journey doesn't end there. He ultimately dreams of becoming the Pirate King. Unsurprisingly, Luffy's Straw Hat Pirates are bonded by not only camaraderie but also the pursuit of their individual dreams.

Together, the Straw Hat Pirates embody the spirit of adventure and the belief that dreams are worth fighting for. None of the Straw Hats believe that any dream is laughable, no matter how absurd it may be. They wholeheartedly believe not only in their dreams but their crewmates' ??as well.

Interestingly, the Straw Hat Pirates are also the least in number. Their main crew only consists of ten people, though they now have the Straw Hat Grand Fleet sailing under their Jolly Roger.

Cross Guild is not only the home of an Emperor but also mischiefs

The Cross Guild is yet another interesting story of one's rise to piracy. Buggy the Clown may be the pronounced Emperor and Cross Gu?ild's proclaimed leader, but the true puppeteers are Crocodile and Mihawk. Even so, Buggy does his fair share to? the crew.

Cross Guild is deeply rooted in Buggy's hard work. Most of its members are Impel Down escapees or mercenaries? of Buggy's Delivery. Even if he isn't that much of a threat in a fight, Buggy is still a genius jester. Through clever manipulations and a flair for the dramatic, Buggy has convinced his followers of his “legendary�status, e??ven when much of it stems from exaggerated tales and opportunistic deception.

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DAN DA DAN has quickly emer??ged as one of the most captivating anime of the Fall 2024 season with its unique blend of humor, supernatural themes, and intense action. The series doesn’t shy away from incorporating real-world paranormal folklore, cleverly transforming well-known legends into vivid, larger-than-life an?tagonists. For instance, the Serpo Aliens that abducted Momo Ayase.

But like other entities featured in the anime, these aliens aren’t merely the product of creative fiction??. They are inspired by a real-world conspiracy theory.

Serpo Aliens in DAN DA DAN

The Serpo Aliens in DAN DA DAN is an all-male species that reproduces via cloning, resulting in a singular genetic make-up. Their original form is a slug-like humanoid with prominent lips and protruding eyes. They also have numerous line patterns running along their arms, legs, and torsos. How??ever, they only unveil this form when engaging in combat or unleashing their abilities. The Serpo, also called Serpoians, usually don a human disguise, which resembles an average middle-aged man with an unusually large head.

Furthermore, the Serpo is a race of technologically advanced alien species. They have a lot of high-tech weaponry ??in their arsenal in addition to their psychic abilities. However, due to their method of reproduction, they now seek a way to further their spec?ies. As such, they harbor great hostility toward humans.

The infamous Project Serpo

The origin of the Serpo Aliens is rooted in a widely circulated UFO conspiracy known as Project Serpo. First gaining traction in 2005, Project Serpo alleges that a secret exchange? program took place between the U.S. government and an extraterre??strial species, the Ebens, in the 1960s. The aliens were supposedly from planet Serpo, which was located in the Zeta Reticuli star system.

According to the story, following the infamous Roswell incident in 1947, U.S. officials made contact with the aliens. The aliens supposedly offered to exchange knowledge and technology with hu??mans. As part of this agreement, a team of 12 human astronauts was sent to Serpo. There,?? they lived for over a decade, studying the aliens�way of life and culture. In return, the Ebens were said to have visited Earth, contributing to technological advancements that have since been hidden from the public. Interestingly, all 12 had already perished due to the aftereffects of the two suns' increased radiation levels.

The alleged “leaked�documents abou??t Project Serpo describe the Ebens as short, gray-skinned beings with large, dark eyes. These descriptions fit the archetype of the classic “gray ??aliens�that populate much of UFO lore.

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The One Piece anime is having a six-month break and will be returning on April next year. The break is to give the production team a much-deserved rest time, as well as preparation for a better adaptation of the Egghead Arc. Howe??ver, fans of the anime aren't simply left hanging. A remaster of the Fish-Man Island Arc will air in its place.

The original Fish-Man Island Arc ran for 58 episodes, but the remaster will only have 21 episodes. Furthermore, the remaster will also enhance the origina??l's art, animation, and effects. And so, here are some ??moments to look forward to rewatch.

The Straw Hat Pirates' return after the timeskip

The Fish-Man Island Arc marks the long-awaited reunion of the Straw Hat Pirates after two years of separation. Seeing them get back together as a crew for the first time was undeniably thrilling, and doing so for the second time surprisingl?y offers the same excitement. Naturally, however, there won't be much surprise this time around, since we already know how the Straw Hats look after their long training. On the contrary, it does allow us to focus more on details we may have missed during the fir?st run.

As their debut post-timeskip, the Straw Hats made an explosive s?howcase of their skills during this arc. Each one gets a chance to hog the spotlight as the crew fights and escapes from the Marines.

More than the Straw Hat Pirates, I am very much looking forward to seeing some of my favorite One Piece characters get more air time �Demalo Black and his crew. If you don't remember who they are, that's no skin off your nose. They are the ragtag group that posed as the Straw Hats, even advertising a ?recruitment campaign. While they ??don't offer any narrative importance, they are, in my opinion, one of the best gags in the series.

Straw Hat Pirates VS the New Fish-Man Pirates

The Straw Hat Pirates have a long history with Fish-Men, most notably through their?? previous encounter with Arlong. Arlong has always viewed Fish-Men as a superior race. While Luffy stomped his face to the ground, the Straw Hat wasn't abl??e to extinguish that ideology. Hody Jones, who had long idolized Arlong, inherited that belief and aimed to rule Fish-Man Island himself. As such, he and his allies became the arc's main antagonists.

Interestingly enough, Hody Jones and his army of Fish-Men weren't motivated by any tragic experience. They were products of bred hate, making them no??thing more than terrorists. Even so, their numbers were nothing to scoff at. They?? had a hundred thousand members, though they only served as a testament to how much stronger the Straw Hat Pirates had become.

Luffy and the others didn't have that much of a hard time kicking Hody and his henchmen's asses. In fact, Luffy easily knocked half of their numbers with his Conqueror's Haki, then proceede??d to beat up Hody like a sandbag. The other Straw Hats also proceeded to unveil their new arsenal.

Chopper unleashed his new form, the Horn Point, while Franky debuted some of his new inventions. Usopp and Nami also brandished their new equipment, knocking down a number of enemy Fish-Men along the way. Furthermore, Robin, ??Brook, and Zoro showed some of their new moves. Unfortunately for Sanji, his greatest contribution to the arc is his gigantic mermaid-shaped nosebleed.

Queen Otohime's sacrifice for the future of Fish-Man Island

Queen Otohime might? be weak and frail, but her determination to pursue her vision of unity between humans and Fish-Men is beyond outstanding. She was a leader who firmly believed in peaceful coexistence, despite the lon?gstanding hate prejudice the two races harbored against each other.

Otohime relentlessly gave a speech on the island, trying to convince her fellow sea dwellers to sign for her cause. Even though she had seen notable success initially, the Fish-Men and Mermaids slowly withdrew their signatures after a series of unfortunate even?ts. First was the death of Fisher Tiger, who was known as the hero of Fish-Men. Another?? turning point of her campaign was the arrival of Donquixote Mjosgard, a Celestial Dragon.

The ship carrying the World Nobles crashed int??o the island. Queen Otohime rushed to the scene amongst many others. But being the despicable creatures that they were, Mjosgard was not only ungrateful for the help, he even held the queen at gunpoint. Even so, Otohime only showed him?? kindness, even pleading for Aladine to help tread the Celestial Dragon's wound. Eventually, Mjosgard and the others left the island safely, though still with no remorse or gratitude. But given the recent developments in the anime, this scene will elicit different emotions when watching the second time around.

After returning from her trip with? the Celestial Dragons, Queen Otohime's cause saw some progress. Unfortunately, it once again regressed upon her tragic end.

Jimbei, the Sun Pirates, and Koala's backstory

Fisher Tiger was another believer in co-existing with men and Fish-Men. But while Queen Otohime wanted to unite the two races, Fisher Tiger firmly believed in having them living separately. Nonetheless, he ??and his Sun Pirates were important historical figures for the Fish-Men. His experience as a slave in Mary Geoise had left him with a deep-seated resentment toward humans, and while he did not seek revenge, he harbored no desire to mingle with them either.

Fisher Tiger’s most significant act was leading the raid on Ma??ry Geoise to liberate the slaves �both humans and Fish-Men �who were suffering under the World Government’s brutal rule. Among the freed slaves was the young Koala, though her meeting with the Sun Pirates wouldn't occur until three years later. When the Sun Pirate??s docked into the island where Koala was staying, the inhabitants asked Tiger to keep the girl with them.

Tiger ultimately agreed, and the Sun Pirates made Koala do chores for them. Arlong was obviously hostile toward the human child, though Hatchan kept holding him back. With her tragic experience as a slave, Koala didn't shed a single tear, begging to b??e kept alive as she didn't cry. Seeing this, Fisher Tiger and the others ??slowly warmed up toward her. Tiger also told her it was fine for her to cry.

Unfortunately, the Sun Pirates also didn't have a better ending than Queen Otohime. After bringing Koala back to her hometown, the Marines ambushed the Sun Pirates with the help of the island's inhabitan??ts. The scruffle ultimately resulted in Fisher Tiger meeting his end due to blood loss.

When the Fish-Man Island Arc first aired, this tragic backstory simply weaved together Tiger, Jimbei, and Arlong's relationships. But a handful of arcs later, we learned that this arc also set the stage for Koala, who eventually became a key member of the Revolutionary Army.

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DAN DA DAN is one of the promising new series of the Fall 2024 anime season, and it's certainly delivering on expectations. Just within three episodes, the anime already intro??duced a number of mythical creatures, includ??ing the famed Turbo Granny.

The weenie-loving old hag has certainly earned herself a number of fan?s. However, is she actually based on real folklore? Yes, she is.

Turbo Granny in DAN DA DAN

In DAN DA DAN, Turbo Granny is a high-speed, malevolent entity that the protagonist, Ken Takakura or Okarun encounters in the pilot episode. She is a visually terrifying spirit, with the appearance of an old, emaciated woman with an exaggeratedly withered face and wild hair. Despi??te her frail appearance, she is renowned for her ability? to move at superhuman speed. She uses this speed to aggressively chase down her victims, eagerly attempting to get her hands on her victim's privates.

Unfortunately for Okarun, he became one of Turbo Granny's victims, though he was partly at fault. In his attempt to disprove supernatural phenomena to Momo, he agreed to go to Turbo Granny's den. When the spirit did?? appear, it was already too late for him to escape. The ancient spirit took possession of both his body and balls. However, it wasn't all bad. By only partially transforming into Turbo Granny, Okarun could control the spirit??'s supernatural abilities while retaining his sanity.

Given Okarun's situation, Turbo Granny? is not merely a throwaway monster of the week. She plays a larger role in Okarun's developme??nt, especially as the young, timid boy copes with the spirit's constant attempts to take over his body.

The urban legend behind the old lady

While DAN DA DAN presents a fictionalized and stylized version of Turbo Granny, her origins are rooted in Japanese urban legends. The real Turbo Granny is a well-known myth??, particularly in Japan’s paranormal circles. According to the legend, Tur??bo Granny is a spirit or apparition that haunts specific roads or highways, particularly in mountainous or rural areas.

She is said to appear as a disheveled old woman, sometimes driving or running at incredibly fast speeds, often chasing or challenging drivers to races. The legend bears similarities to other vehicular-themed Japanese spir??its like the Teke-Teke, who also haunts roadways. Encounters with Turbo Granny in folklore are often foreboding. But unlike in the anime, she doesn't seek schlongs. Instead, it is a common belief that a meeting with her will cause accidents or misfortune.

The post Origins of Turbo Granny featured in DAN DA DAN appeared first on Destructoid.

DAN DA DAN continues to impress as one of the standout anime of the Fall 2024 season. With each new episode, fans get to know more bizarre and ?captivating paranormal?? entities. During the second episode, the Flatwoods Monster makes its debut.

But just like the Turbo Granny, the Flatwoods Monster is based on real-life cryptid legend that has fascinated UFO enthusiasts for decades. Reasonably, the one portrayed in DAN DA DAN isn't a o??ne-to-one copy? of the one from urban legends.

Flatwoods Monster in DAN DA DAN

In DAN DA DAN, the Flatwoods Monster makes its debut in the anime?'s second episode. The creature is depicted as an alien with a strange, mechanical body, glowing eyes, and an eerie presence that sends shivers down the spines of anyone who comes across it. Its towering figure and otherworldly appearance make it ??one of the most menacing entities in the anime so far.

The Flatwood Monster appeared after Momo?? removed the protective talisman attached to her residence's Torii gate. It quickly sealed the house's vicinity, preventing the duo from getting out and re-attaching the talisman. Interestingly, the monster isn't without flaws. It primarily used sumo techniques, and it also surprisingly limited itself to sumo rules. The duo only needed to make it touch the ground to eliminate its limbs.

The series certainly took creative liberties in its portrayal of the Flatwo??ods Monster, amplifying its threatening presence for dramati?c effect. Even so, it is derived from real-world legends.

Urban legend behind the monster

The Flatwoods Monster, also known as the Braxton County Monster, originated from an incident in Flatwoods, West Virginia, in 1952. On September 12th of th?at year, several locals reported seeing a bright object streak across the sky and land in a nearby field.? When they went to investigate, they encountered a creature that became one of the most famous cryptids in UFO lore.

According to eyewitness accounts, the Flatwoods Monster was a towering figure of about 10 feet tall. It was clad in a metallic, skirt-like structure with glow??ing, orange-red eyes and a spade-shaped head. The monster emitted a noxious mist, which reportedly made some witnesses feel sick. The creature was seen hovering near the crash site of what many believed to be a UFO, sparking a wave of UFO sightings and cryptid reports in th??e area.

While skeptics have dismissed the Flatwoods Monster sighting as a misinterpretation ?of natural phenomena �claimin??g that the witnesses may have mistaken an owl perched on a tree for an alien �the legend continues to thrive in popular culture.

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The popular web novel and webcomic The Beginning After the End (TBATE), is set to receive an anime adaptation. The announcement came during a panel at New York Comic Con, surprising its ?millions of fans. Furthermore, Tapas claims that this is the first time an American web novel is getting an anime.

The announcement came with an official ?trailer and poster.

Studio A-Cat will be handling the anime, with Keitaro Motonaga (Date A Live and Katanagatari) as the director. Takamitsu Kono (Utawarerumono: The False Faces) is overseeing the scriptwriting, while Masami Sueoka will handle character design. Keiji Inai, known for his scores in Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?, will be composing the music.

Slow Curve is producing the anime. Meanwhile, TurtleMe, the original creator, takes on the role of s??tory supervisor and executive producer. Other executive producers include Gabrielle Luu, Mike Zhu, and Kevin Nicklaus.

TutleMe also offers a heartfelt message for the series' adaptation via the TBATE official X account.

A fan account on X (@DailyTBATE) translated the message to English:
"Dear viewers in Japan,

I am grateful to announce that The Beginning After the End is being adapted into an anime, a milestone made possible by your incredible support. Having grown up reading manga, it’s an honor to have my story recognized in the birthplace of anime and manga, one of my first influences in writing.

I’d like to thank Studio A-Cat for their hard work in adapting the story into an animation and Crunchyroll for making this all happen. Working with them has been a pleasure to bring this story to life in a new form.

My sincerest gratitude for your generous support and for celebrating this milestone with me!"

For the uninitiated, The Beginning After the End follows the story of Arthur Leywin, a once-powerful king reborn into a world filled wi??th magic, mythical creatures, and danger at every turn. Previously k?nown as King Grey, Arthur retains the memories and wisdom of his past life. This gives him a unique perspective as he grows from infancy in his new world.

However, this second chance at life comes with its own challenges. As Arthur masters powerful magic, encounters fierce enemies, and uncovers the secrets of his reincarnation, he must protect those he loves and navigate a destiny that threatens to reshape t?he world of Dicathen.

While waiting for the 2025 anime release, both the TBATE web novel and webcomic are available on Tapas.

The post The Begi??nning After the End w?ebcomic is officially getting an anime appeared first on Destructoid.

The Fall 2024 anime season is officially here, and it has a jam-packed lineup of new series to check out. However, new adaptations aren't the only ones taking the spotlight. This season also has multiple much-awaited returning franchises. Shangri-La Frontier Season 2 is among them.

The second season of Shangri-La Frontier is already airing, with the pilot episode premiering on October 13. Similar to the first season, it follows a weekly release format and is slated to have 25 episodes. As such, Season?? 2 will extend into early 2025, offering fans a long stretch of immersive storytelling. Below is the full release schedule:

• Episode 1: October 13, 2024
• Episode 2: October 20, 2024
• Episode 3: October 27, 2024
• Episode 4: November 3, 2024
• Episode 5: November 10, 2024
• Episode 6: November 17, 2024
• Episode 7: November 24, 2024
• Episode 8: December 1, 2024
• Episode 9: December 8, 2024
• Episode 10: December 15, 2024
• Episode 11: December 22, 2024
• Episode 12: December 29, 2024
• Episode 13: January 5, 2025
• Episode 14: January 12, 2025
• Episode 15: January 19, 2025
• Episode 16: January 26, 2025
• Episode 17: February 2, 2025
• Episode 18: February 9, 2025
• Episode 19: February 16, 2025
• Episode 20: February 23, 2025
• Episode 21: March 2, 2025
• Episode 22: March 9, 2025
• Episode 23: March 16, 2025
• Episode 24: March 23, 2025
• Episode 25: March 30, 2025

The second season's production will still be? handled by C2C studio, with Toshiyuki Kubooka leading the team as the anime director. He will be assisted by Hiroki Ikeshita. Furthermore,? Kazuyuki Fudeyasu will handle the anime composition, while Ayumi Kurashima is in charge of character design.

What is Shangri-La Frontier about?

In Shangri-La Frontier, Rakuro Hizutome, a gamer known for his love of trash games, dives into a virtual reality world that is the polar opposite �the titular masterfully crafte??d MMORPG. As a veteran of poorly designed games, Sunraku (Rakuro's in-game name) approaches this high-quality game with a unique perspective, applying his skills honed in buggy, unbalanced games to the intricately designed world of Shangri-La Frontier.

The first season of the anime aired from October 2023 to March 2024. If you have forgotten some of the details, you can read through the comp??rehensive recap of Season 1's important plot point??s. In brief, the second season will likely see Wolfgang's expansion and future activit??ies, including taki??ng on the remaining Colossi.

The second season is available for streaming on a number of streaming platforms, including Crunchyroll and Netflix. However, availability may vary depending on reg?ion.

The post Shangri-La Frontie??r Season 2 full release schedule appeared first on Destructoid.

The One Piece anime hits its fans with a surprise announcement. The beloved anime adaptation of Eiichiro Oda’s legendary manga will be going on hiatus until April 2025. The news was officially revealed via an announcement video, which confirmed that the anime will resume its Egghead arc next sp??ring.

The hiatus will allow the anime's production team to "recharge," as confirmed during the live-streamed special titled "One Piece News #1." To fill the gap left by the hiatus, the One Piece Fan Letter special will air on October 20, followed by a special edited version of the fan-favorite Fish-Man Island arc on October 27.

According to Anime News Network, this version of the arc will offer a fres??h v??iewing experience, featuring retouched art, enhanced color shading and lighting, special effects, and a Dolby Atmos soundtrack.

In addition to the anime, One Piece is expanding its presence in the digital space. One Piece Base, a new smartphone ??app featuring a manga viewer and other franchise-relate??d content, launches in Japan on Sunday. However, the app is also slated to be released globally next year.

The app will allow users to unlock chapters using points. These points can be earned via scanning barcodes from One Piece merchandise, logging into the app daily, and inviting friends. The app also i??ncludes the portrait maker which transforms fans' selfies into art reminiscent of Od??a's signature style.

The post One Piece anime is goi????ng on hiatus, returning April 2025 appeared first on Destructoid.

Luffy has faced some seriously powerful opponents throughout his One Piece journey. From pirate captains to world-threatening villains, he isn't one to back down from a challenge, especially when his opponent is standing in the way of his goal.

Here’s a rundown of 10 of his most intense duels that had us on the edge of ??our seats.

Bellamy's defeat is probably the most satisfying

This one might seem like a mismatch at first, but it’s a battle that really shows Luffy’s growth. Bellamy, the cocky pirate, mocked Luffy’s dream and ideals, claiming they were outdated. When they finally?? clashed,? Luffy ended things with a single punch!

Bellamy may not have put up a great fight against Luffy, but the emotional buildup to their fight was certainly ?intense. Seeing Bellamy getting his due punishment very swiftly makes it very satisfying.

Against the Fish-Man Arlong

Arlong Park was a turning point in Luffy’s adventure. Nami’s tragic backstory and Arlong’s brutal control over her village made this fight deeply personal. Luffy’s rage as he destroyed Arlong Park brick by brick, symbolically freeing N??ami, was one of the most emotionally charged moments in the series. This fight wasn’t just about beating a strong opponent; it was about freeing someone Luffy cared about from years ??of suffering.

Since this match occurred prior to the time skip, Luffy was still unable to use Haki. He had to be creati?ve with his attacks, giving birth to ludicrous antics such as using Arlong's t?eeth against him.

Versus the electrifying God Enel

God Enel was no joke. With his ligh??tning powers and the overwhelming confidence that he was untouchable, he literally saw himself as a god. But in comes Luffy, made of rubber and completely immune to Enel’s thunder??ous attacks. Their battle on Skypiea's Upper Yard was a thrilling mix of cat and mouse, with Luffy figuring out how to strike Enel despite the massive power gap.

That fight is certainly unforgettable, so much so that many fans are sti?ll waiting for Enel's return to the series. We? can't really blame them since Enel is supposed to be just chilling on the Moon.

Crocodile was not an easy opponent

Crocodile was Luffy’s first real introduction to the harsh reality of the Grand Line. In Alabasta, Crocodile pushed Luffy to the brink not once but twice, nearly killing him both times. Luffy had to figure out a way to counter Crocodile’s Logia Devil Fruit, and the third round was a bloody, intense showdown in the depths of a collapsing tomb. When Luffy fi??nally landed that finishing blow, drenched in water and his own blood, it was a massive win both for him an?d the people of Alabasta.

Luffy versus Gecko Moriah

Thriller Bark was a spooky adventure, and Gecko Moriah, the Warlord with the power to control shadows, was the main antagonist. Luffy’s battle against Moriah was unique because it wasn't just a straightforward clash of strength. Moriah’s ability to steal shadows made him tricky, but when Luffy absorbed hundreds of shadows to boost his power, the fight became a chaotic showdown. It was an intense battle of endurance. Naturally, Luf??fy got the victory, though at a serious cost to his body.

Rob Lucci was one tough nut

The Water 7 and Enies Lobby arcs were some of the most emotional in One Piece, and Luffy’s fight against Rob Lucci w??as an absolute highlight. Rob Lucci, the cold, brutal assassin, stood in Luffy’s way as he fought to save Robin from the World Government. This battle was raw, full of heavy hits and desperate moves.

Altho?ugh it wasn't the first fight that put Luffy's life in danger, it was arguably the first one that forced Luffy to go beyond his limits. After all, it's dur?ing this fight that Luffy debuted his Gear Two and Gear Three.

Doflamingo was far from being a pushover

Dressrosa was a long, exhausting arc, but Luffy’s showdown with Doflamingo made the marathon worth it. Doflamingo was a true sadist who used every card in his arsenal to ensure his victory. Alas, his an??tics weren't enough to stomp Luffy.

That is not to say the fight was easy. Not only did Doflamingo hold the entire Dressrosa hostage, he was also the first villain to utilize Devil Fruit Awakening. However, it's also because of Doffy's formidability that forced Luffy to unveil yet an??other power-up �Gea?r Four.

Katakuri was like Luffy but better

It's not an exaggeration to say that Katakuri was a game-changer. During the Whole Cake Island arc, Luffy's duel with Big Mom's strongest son felt like a mirror match. Katakuri had similar powers ??but with even better control, and his ability to see into the future made him a seemingly impossible?? challenge. Luffy had to evolve, not just in terms of power but in mindset.

The respect these two fighters built for each other by th?e end was incredible, and Luffy's hard-fought victory felt well-earned. The best is that Luffy also harnessed his Color of Observation Haki during the fight.

Kaido deserves to be an Emperor

Kaido, the strongest creature in the world, was an opponent Luffy couldn't take lightly. In Wano, Luffy faced Kaido multiple times, each clash more intense than the last. Kaido’s sheer power and durability made him a seemingly unbeatable foe. After all, he managed to one-shot Luffy during? their first encounter. It was very clear ??that Kaido far outclassed Luffy, urging the latter to power up fast.

The two Emperors' battle wa?s so intense that it for??ced Luffy's Devil Fruit to Awaken, ultimately revealing the fact that Luffy possesses the Human-Human Fruit, model: Nika and not the Gum-Gum Fruit.

Luffy VS Usopp will always be top-tier

This fight hurts. Luffy versus Usopp wasn’t about defeating some villain or proving strength. This was about frien???dship and leadership. When the Going Merry’s fate caused a rift between the crew, Usopp, feeling left out and powerless, challenged Luffy. It was a battle of emotions as much as fists.

Even though this fight has a very obvious winner, it doesn't make it less intense. Usopp, knowing full well how much he lacked in strength and power, prepared to the fullest to take down h??is captain. Acknowledging his resolve, Luffy also didn't hold back, regardless of the fact that each of his strikes emotionally affected him as well.

The post 10 of Luffy’s most intense duels in One Piece appeared first on Destructoid.

The Dragon Ball franchise embarks on a new adventure with its upcoming series, Dragon Ball DAIMA. However, this isn't just another entry to the Dragon Ball universe. Dragon Ball DAIMA holds special significance as it is the last Dragon Ball-related project that the late legendary Akira Toriyama personally worked on before his passing.

Full release schedule

According to an interview by Produ, Dragon Ball DAIMA will be running 20 episodes. The highly anticipated pilot episode dropped on October 11, 2024. Episode 2 is scheduled to air on October 18, and the rest of the series will follow a consistent weekly release pattern?.

• Episode 1: October 11, 2024
• Episode 2: October 18, 2024
• Episode 3: October 25, 2024
• Episode 4: November 1, 2024
• Episode 5: November 8, 2024
• Episode 6: November 15, 2024
• Episode 7: November 22, 2024
• Episode 8: November 29, 2024
• Episode 9: December 6, 2024
• Episode 10: December 13, 2024
• Episode 11: December 20, 2024
• Episode 12: December 27, 2024
• Episode 13: January 3, 2025
• Episode 14: January 10, 2025
• Episode 15: January 17, 2025
• Episode 16: January 24, 2025
• Episode 17: January 31, 2025
• Episode 18: February 7, 2025
• Episode 19: February 14, 2025
• Episode 20: February 21, 2025

Dragon Ball DAIMA brings a fresh twist to the Dragon Ball universe while invoking some familiar themes that longtime fans will recognize. The plot centers around a mysterious conspiracy that transforms Goku, Vegeta, and other beloved characters into smaller, childlike versions of themselves. This setup echoes elements from Dragon Ball GT, where Goku was similarly turned into a child. Unlike the latter, however, the former is confirmed to be canon.

With their curious?? circumstance, the heroes must now embark on a perilous journey to discover the source of this transformation and restore themselves to their original forms. Along the way, they will explore a completely new world �the Demon Realm.

You can catch Goku and Co.'s shenanigans via Crunchyroll.

The post Dragon Ball DAIMA full release schedule appeared first on Destructoid.

After much anticipation, the anime adaptation of Junji Ito’s iconic horror manga Uzumaki has finally arrived. Known for its eerie atmosphere, twisted visuals, and psychological dread, Uzumaki has long been hailed as one of?? th??e most haunting works in the horror genre.

Fans have eagerly awaited its transformation from page to screen. And now, with its debut on Adult Swim’s Toonami block, Uzumaki is bringing Ito’s nightmarish vision to life.

The Uzumaki anime will be a mini-series consisting of four episodes, each airing weekly through mid-October. As of now, two episodes have aired. Here's Uzumaki's full release schedule:

• Episode 1 â€?September 28, 2024
• Episode 2 â€?October 5, 2024
• Episode 3 â€?October 12, 2024
• Episode 4 â€?October 19, 2024

For the uninitiated, Uzumaki centers around the eerie happenings in a small town that becomes obs??essed with spirals. It all started with a weird phenomenon, then spiraled into a grotesque horror consuming the entire town??.

Studio Drive is in charge of the anime's production, while Production I.G. USA and Adult Swim co-produce the series. The anime was initially set to debut in 2020, but it faced a series of delays that pushed the release back multiple times.

Production issues postponed the? series in 2021, then complications arising from the COVID-19 pandemic further delayed the project to October 2022. But in mid-2022, the creators made the difficult decision to delay the project indefinitely, stating their desire to ensure that the adaptation was not just visually stunning but also true to the spirit of Junji Ito’s original work.

The post Uzumaki full release schedule appeared first on Destructoid.

This year, two shĹŤnen action series of Weekly Shonen Jump magazine reached their long-awaited conclusions: Kohei Horikoshi's My Hero Academia and Gege Akutami's Jujutsu Kaisen.

These were, without a doubt, two of the biggest titans of its genre and demographic, and their absence will certainly leave a huge empty hole in the entire anime and manga industry. However, their respective fan bases reacted to each ending with a lot of controversy and mixed opinions.

As someone who has been reading weekly chapters of both My Hero Academia and Jujutsu Kaisen for several years, witnessing these series flesh out their stories until the very end has been mind-blowing. While their finales had a lot of issues, one of the??m excelled, whereas the other failed, and vice versa. So the only remaining question is: Which one of them had the ?strongest ending?

A brief recap of the two divisive final chapters

To recap: In the final chapter of My Hero Academia, we see series' protagonist Izuku Midoriya after eight years have passed since the final battle. He is now Quirkless because he transferred One For All to Tomura Shigaraki, but he became a renowned hero for not only having defeated All For One and Shigaraki but also for inspiring the Hero Society of Japan to improve and be more prone to saving innocent people. While Deku laments that his friends are still active heroes, he still enjoys his job as?? a teacher at U.A. High School and realizes that he has made an? important impact on other people. However, at the very last minute, All Might gives him a special armored suit that lets him become a hero once again.

On the other hand, Jujutsu Kaisen's ending is much more simple. After the deadly battle with Ryomen Sukuna, Yuji Itadori, Megumi Fushiguro and Nobara Kugisaki go back to their usual lives and stop a corrupt sorcerer who was stalking a woman during one of their missions. However, after they detain th?e enemy, Itadori assures him that he won't be executed, echoing the la??te Satoru Gojo's dream of inspiring a new generation of sorcerers to be kinder and more empathetic. After a brief interaction between Sukuna and Mahito in the afterlife, we see the final finger of Sukuna resting while hidden away, as it no longer has a curse sealed within it.

Despite their flaws, both endings did many things right

There's no denying that both My Hero Academia and Jujutsu Kaisen had exciting final battles that not only made their respective antagonists seem intimidating and dangerous but also made good use of almost every relevant character who had appeared throughout the series. Both Horikoshi and Akutami's illustrations were incredibly detailed during these final confrontations, and they will definitely look amazing wh?enever they get animated by their respective studios.

My Hero Academia did a solid job at closing off almost every single plot beat that it estab??lished throughout the series, and most of the characters had satisfying conclusions: From the inspiring and heroic main characters, like Deku himself, Bakugo, Todoroki or Uraraka, to the tragic villains, like Shigaraki, Spinne??r, Toga or Dabi. Even minor characters like Gentle and La Brava got endearing conclusions to their stories. The time skip during the final chapter was certainly a bold move, but getting to see grown-up versions of Deku and his friends finally become famous Pro Heroes was as satisfying as it was emotional.

The ending of Jujutsu Kaisen was much simpler, as it instead focused on showing how the main three characters were able to not only return to their regular lives but also how their experiences during the Culling Game Arc and the Shinjuku Showdown Arc affected them, especially considering that Nobara Kugisaki was absent f??rom t??he story for a very long time. Akutami also took his time to explain a few loose ends from the final battle and briefly showed what was going on with other characters like Yuta Okkotsu or Kinji Hakari.

However, My Hero Academia failed in some important areas...

Despite all their positives, both My Hero Academia's and Jujutsu Kaisen's endings left much to be desired. Even though My Hero Academia managed to close off the stories of most of its important characters, it still left a lot of open plot threads that could have easily been resolved before the finale: What happened to Re-Destro? Is the Quirk Singularity Theory ever going to become a reality? Did Uraraka and Deku get toge?ther during the? timeskip?

The idea of the eight-year time skip was quite brilliant, but it could have been executed better. Many fans felt it was disappointing that Dek?u became a teacher?? and couldn't fulfil his dream of becoming the #1 Pro Hero, something that the series had established since the very first chapter. Other fans would have also preferred a Naruto/Boruto approach, where they could have seen which members of Class 1-A got together and had children. Lastly, while many fans understand that Deku giving up his powers for the sake of Hero Society fits perfectly within the themes of the entire series, they also criticized the fact that he received a special suit at the very last minute because it ultimately ?undermines his difficult decision.

And Jujutsu Kaisen's conclusion felt rushed...

Jujutsu Kaisen is a much different story, though, since fans were already having issues with its final story arcs before Shueisha even announced its finale. Most of them criticized the manga for some of its odd writing choices, like the omission of classic characters like Toge Inumaki or Nobara Kugisaki and the abrupt death of popular character Satoru Gojo at the hands of Ryomen Sukuna. After the critically acclaimed Shibuya Incident Arc, Jujutsu Kaisen went in an entirely different direction that a huge part of the fan base didn't enjoy. It ??also left many unanswered questions that left most fans frustrated: What happened during the Heian Era? What did they do with the bodies of Geto and Gojo? Why did Uraume fo??llow Sukuna with so m?uch loyalty?

But the main criticism regarding the ending of Jujutsu Kaisen is related to its abrupt nature. While Akutami had revealed that he i??ntended to end the manga in the near future, many fans believed he could have kept it going for a few more months. The final battle against Ryomen Sukuna felt too drawn out, and by the time the good guys finally came out victorious, the series came to a close before getting the opportunity to properly show how this conflict changed the world and its main players. Personally, the final chapter feels more like the ending of a major story arc instead of feeling like the ending of a manga series that had been in serialization for more than six years.

At the end of the day, it's all about timing

When Shueisha announced that My Hero Academia was going to end in 5 chapters, the final battle was already over, and the final Epilogue Arc had already begun. So Horikoshi cleverly used these final five chapters to close off most of the big plot threads that still remained open. By the time My Hero Academia ended, Horikoshi had made 430 chap?ters in total over the course of 10 years. This was quite a lot of time for him to flesh out his world and characters. Although to be fair, some fans argue that this extensive duration made the lack of answers in some areas all the more disappointing.

On the other hand, Shueisha announced that Jujutsu Kaisen only had 5 chapters left right in the middle of Itadori's final clash against Sukuna, which immediately made fans worry and question if Akutami was going to have enough time to write proper conclusions for every single one of his characters. While he did get the chance to answer many remaining questions, the eventual conclusion of the story felt uneventful and mundane. Jujutsu Kaisen ended at 271 chapters, which is a lot less than My Hero Academia in length. Of course, not all shĹŤnen manga series have to be equally extensive, but Jujutsu Kaisen felt as big and ambitious as some of its contemporaries. Unfortunately, it compromised this ambition by telling i??ts story in half of the time and with fewer chapters.

So, which ending is better? My Hero Academia? Or Jujutsu Kaisen?

While I certainly appreciate that Jujutsu Kaisen took a lot fewer risks and gave us a more concise and predictable ending, it just can't beat the finale of My Hero Academia for me. It is not without its flaws, but both the Final War Arc and the Epilogue Arc did a way better job at using all the relevant players of the series and closing off almost every single big plot thread than any of Jujutsu Kaisen's final arcs.

While it's perfectly understandable why some fans may find Deku's final fate to be disappointing, it fits perfectly with the themes of the series that were proposed from the very beginning, and the final panel with him in his iron suit was a little treat for those who still wanted to see him and all of his friends working as Pro Heroes. When compared to the ending of Jujutsu Kaisen, it certainly left more fans satisfied. My Hero Academia just had the more fulfillin?g ??ending of the two, even if it was far from perfect.

Nevertheless, regardless of which series had the superior conclusion, there's no denying that both My Hero Academia and Jujutsu Kaisen changed the world of anime and manga forever, and fans ??of the genre will miss them. It's important to point out that Horikoshi and Akutami's unfortunate health issues indirectly caused s??ome of the flaws in their series' endings, so fans of both are hoping that they will now get a chance to properly rest for a few years. At the end of the day, these two talented authors expressed their desire to keep working in the manga industry, so hopefully, we'll get to see more amazing stories from them in the near future.

The post My Hero Academia vs. Jujutsu? Kaisen: Which had the better ending? appeared first on Destructoid.

The Fall 2024 anime comes with an exciting lineup. There are a number of new series worth checking out, though anime sequels aren't necessarily falling behind. After all, Shangri-La Frontier Season 2 is also releasi??ng this season. But just like? every time a new season arrives, there's this initial sense of confusion, especially as to what's happening in the narrative. After all, it's quite a while since the first season aired.

W??ith that in mind, here's everything you need to remember before Season 2 arrives.

What is Shangri-La Frontier about?

Judging Shangri-La Frontier based on its cover alone, it's easy to mistake it as an isekai anime. It, after all, seems to be set in a fantasy world with a half-human, half-bird character as the main character. While that isn't entirely correct, it isn't that far off either. Instead of being transported into a fantastical world with an overpowered game system as an ally, Shangri-La Frontier is ??a video game anime cente??red on the eponymous game.

The story, however, follows the student Rakurou Hizutome, who thrives on impossible challenges. In fact, his hobby is beating so-called trash games, which is exactly what it sounds like. The real-world equivalent of those games is probably these ones. But after defeating what he considers one of the worst games he ever played, he can't find another to match it. A close ??game store employee introduces him to the god-tier game Shangri-La Frontier, and thus?? begins his new journey.

What happened in the first season?

Season 1 does a good job establishing the grueling gaming world that is Shangri-La Frontier, though Sunraku'??s knack for making things ha??rder for himself also helped a lot in that regard. The first thing he did after logging into the game was skip the tutorial town, fight the area boss, and then sprint into the second town.

The moment he got there, he encountered and attempted to defeat a nigh impossible opponent �Lycagon the Nightslayer. He dueled the wolf monster, landing hundreds of critical hits, yet he didn't even get close to slaying i?t. Instead, he got obliterated with a single strike and received Lycagon's mark, which came with a restriction that disallowed him from equipping anything on his torso and legs. And thus, Sunraku's pervy character design was born.

Sunraku would later on learn that Lycagon wasn't a single mob.?? It was actually one of the seven Colossi, which no player was able to slay. His defeat and the mark, however, did give him some benefits. For one, it triggered a unique scenario, leading him to meet Emul and discover Rabituza. After doing a series of quests and proving his willpower, a.k.a Vorpal Soul, he was acknowle?dged by Vash, the Rabituza's boss and the one pictured above.

Naturally, it didn't end there. After all, what's a trash game lover if not a seeker of difficulty? Sunraku met with his long-time trash game companions, Arthur Pencilgon and OiKatzo. They teamed up to take on another Colossus �Wethermon the Tombguard. But before the big battle, they must first prepare and obliterate Pencilgon's PK clan. Psyger-0, who belonged to a notable clan, played a major role in destroying the said clan and helping with the?? cleanup.

With all of that out of the way, the trio's fight against Wethermon commenced. Sunraku took on the undead samurai, while Pencilgon and OiKatzo took on the Colossus' trusty steed. After a grueling and tight battle, the trio triumphed. Pencilgon opted to turn over a new leaf, tasking Psyger-0 to do the honors of defeating him. Afterward, the trio decided to form their own clan whose sole purpose was defeating the s??ix other Colossi. Pencilgon also ended up being the leader after she lost a game of rock-paper-scissors.

Wethermon, being another almost impossible-to-beat boss??, did drop a lot of good items. There were a lot of powerful armor and? weapons, though still far from usable. However, the item Inventoria allowed the trio to teleport into the storage space anytime they needed.

What to expect in Shangri-La Frontier Season 2?

After defeating Wethermon, the trio parted ?ways, opting to finish their own tasks first. Sunraku returned to Rabituza to figure out how to power up Ether Reactor. However, he learned that to re-activate the said reactor would require an Ancient Craftsman. Since Vash wasn't around, Sunraku decided to train one instead, and his candidate was no other than Bilac, Emul's sister. He then started to supply her with materials needed to increase her smithing abilities.

Given that Bilac had yet to improve her smithing skills by the end of Season 1, Shangri-La Frontier Season 2 will certainly pick up on that. It will also likely expound more on Shangri-La Frontier's world as a mysterious character who introduced himself as Professor, the leader of a lore-dedicated cla??n. While Sunraku and the other are yet to accept Professor's alliance offer, they will likely end up working together as it was revealed in Season 1 that sl??aying the seven Colossi is necessary to further the game's overarching plot.

There is also the development of character relationships. Wolfgang, the trio's newly-founded clan, will have to develop and recruit other formidable members. After all, they are planning to defeat the game's supposedly unbeatable? bosses. Furthermore, there's also Sunraku and Psyger-0's relationship. Given Psyger-0's relentless pursuit, she hopefully gets closer to her beloved trash gamer.

When is Shangri-La Frontier Season 2 coming?

As the Fall 2024 lineup slowly rolls in, Shangri-La Frontier Season 2 is bound to arrive soon. However, it's actually coming sooner rather than later. Crunchyroll officially announced that the new?? season will premiere on the streaming platform on October 13 (Sunday). Specifically, the pilot episo?de will drop at 2:30 a.m. PT.

Just like in the first season, studio? C2C will be handling the anime's production, with Toshiyuki Kubooka as the director. Other staff include Kazuyuki Fudeyasu (composition), Ayumi Kurashima (charact??er design), and MONACA (music).

The post Everything to remember before Sha?ngri-La Frontier Season 2 starts appeared first on Destructoid.

If there's one thing Blue Lock has a knack for, it has to be unpredictability. Season 1 often left me guessing to the point where I just couldn't flat-out anticipate what would come next. And by the time I reached its finale, I was left won?dering, "What's next for our boys in the big blue?"

Season 2's first episode captures that same essence of unpredictability in an entirely unique way, blending new and familiar faces alike. You'll know exactly who the key players are by the look 'em. Just spot the ones with vibrant hair colors or an updo that would make Goku proud, and you've got your main cast. Even though the name of the game remains the same, Blue Lock Season 2 Episode 1 kicks off with a bang, leading the wa??y for a thrilling new arc. 

The last time we saw Isagi Yoichi and the rest of the Blue Lock boys, they were beginning the Third Selection in the hopes of replacing the all-star team of Japan U-20. But the only way to get there is by defeating the current one, or else every bit of Blue Lock will be wiped away. The stakes are high, and the tension is even higher within the fir?st minute. 

Episode 1 begins with an intriguing look at the origins of Blue Lock's number one player, Rin Itoshi. I won't reveal too much, but it may make you look at him a bit differently. That's one of the many reasons why I love Blue Lock so much. Sure, the entire show thrives off selfishness and cruelty, yet underneath it all, it's just a gr?oup of young men who will do anything to play soccer. This layering has turned even my most hated characters into my favorites, and I'm sure it'll happen again?? with this latest season (Except for you, Igarashi. You're still on my naughty list.)

From Rin's scene alone, I could already see a tremendous improvement in visuals, instilling more fine details to evoke the characters' raw emotions. The vibrant colors of Season 1 have evolved in the second season, making soccer almost feel like an artistic masterpiece. Especially in light of the illuminating glow of their aura, which ups the ante of Blue Lock's classic flames. Altogether, you get scenes that may be on par with top-tier visuals of anime movies. 

But despite its impressive animation, I was curious to see which way the story would go at this point. I always get a little worried whenever there's a continuation of a competition-heavy show. Will it use the same formula as last time? Or will it change up the game to bring something fresh to the table? Fortunately, Blue Lock aims to be the latte?r, as it introduces a new? system set for the remaining members.

This time around (minor spoiler alert), the ensemble has broken down into teams led by the top six-rated athletes of Blue Lock. Anyone below them must prove their worth in a single match, earning their right to take on Japan U-20. Of course, each member still strives to be the best striker in the world. Yet now, it'll be much harder to achieve since everyone is a star in their own right. Think of it as a bunch of Katniss Everdeens rolled up into one Hunger Games, only its careers on? the line a??nd not someone's life.

I'm really liking this new direction of having almost no bad eg??gs on the field. Everyone's good at what they do, so we'll get some good soccer as a result. The actual playing of soccer, however, doesn't take place in this episode, given that it's more focused on explaining the new concept. I know a few folks out there might not favor this approach, but I didn't seem to mind it. I would much rather get an explainer of what's going on rather than jumping into soccer just for the fun of it. It's meant to set the stage for the rest of the season, and even if it's brief, it's enough to get me hyped for wha??t's to come.

Although I don't know much about? the new players, the mystery surrounding them fascinates me. How did they survive this far, and what crazy skills do they have to earn the top six rankings? It's also got me excited to see how Isagi will approach these challenges as someone known for his exceptional adaptability. That's one thing I really admire about him and the entire series, for that matter. There's always something new and fresh to behold, adding more to its unpredictable nature for the better. 

I'm not even a sports a??nime kind of gal, and the show somehow dug its hooks in me from start to finish. I know it has a lot to do with the fact that it's not a traditional form of soccer, as it separates from team-based elements and highlights the greed of one's passions. The players are Egoists, after all, and it's riveting to see how far they'll go for their dreams. 

While it's only the start of Blue Lock Season 2, I can already tell this arc's ?shaping up to be a good one. We have all the players laid out, and now all that's left is to play soccer. I can't wait to be in the front row for the rest of the season, seeing who will make the cut for the ultimate soccer team. 

You can watch Blue Lock Season 2, with new episodes rolling out every Saturday, on Crunchyroll. And, if you need to catch up, be sure to also check out Season 1 ?for a refresher.

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The hit historical anime The Elusive Samurai wrapped up its first season in Japan, but the fun isn't over just yet. The Elusive Samurai Season 2 is?? officially coming, though an official release date and synopsis are still under wraps.

The announcem?ent came in the form of an elegant calligraphy piece by artist Kamari Maeda.

For those unfamiliar, The Elusive Samurai is based on Yusei Matsui’s manga. The manga runs in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump and is available in English through Viz Media and MANGA Plus. The anime tells the tale of Hojo Tokiyuki, a young noble on the run after the Kamakura shogunate collapses in 1333. Betrayed by Ashikaga Takauji, one of his most trusted vassals, Tokiyuki escapes t??he bloodshed. With the help of Suwa Yorishige, a wise Shinto priest and lord of Suwa Province, he sets out to r?eclaim what’s rightfully his using his elusive ways.

CloverWorks produced the first season of the anime, and Aniplex of Amer??ica licensed the series for North America. Yuta Yamazaki leads the production team as the director, while Yoriko Tomita manages the series composition. ?Yasushi Nishiya is responsible for the character designs, while Akiyuki Tateyama and GEMBI are behind the captivating soundtrack that brings the world of medieval Japan to life.

The Elusive Samurai's first season can be streamed via Crunchyroll, Disney+, and Netflix, though?? availability varies per region.

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The second season of Oshi no Ko comes to a close as the Fall 2024 anime season lineup slowly rolls in. However, the excitement that Season 2 brings isn't over just yet. After the season finale aired, the anime's official website announced the production of Oshi no Ko Season 3.

The announcement also c?ame with a promotional video showcasing some of the seco??nd season's notable moments.

Still, there's a bit more. The anime??'s official X account also released an eye-catching visual to hype the upcoming season.

Furthermore, Anime News Network?? reports that veteran singer and voice actor Mamoru Miyano will be joining the cast as Hikaru Kamiki, while veteran voice actress Hina Kino will be voicing the enigmatic Tsukuyomi. However, Season 3's official release date is yet to be revealed.

Oshi no Ko Season 2 started airing on July 3, with the final episode airing on October 3. The season focused on the 2.5D theatrical adaptation of the famous Tokyo Blade manga. While it expounded on Aqua, Akane, and Kana's character dynamics, the latter episodes developed the narrative in terms o?f Aqua's search for revenge and Ruby's realization of her beloved doctor's tragic fate.

The anime is an adaptation of the popular manga series written by Aka Akasaka and illustrated by Mengo Yokoyari. It won the Anime Series of the Year at the Tokyo Anime Award Festival 2024. Both the anime's first and second seasons can be streamed on Netflix, while the manga can be read via MANGA Plus.

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Dan Da Dan is making waves as one of the most exciting new anime in the Fall 2024 lineup. Combining supernatural elements with intense action and a dash of humor, the ser?ies has quickly gained attention for its quirky plot and fast-paced energy. Fans of the manga have been eagerly awaiting the anime adaptation, and now, it’s finally her??e.

Full release schedule

The anime kicked off on October 3, 2024, and is available on Crunchyroll. Although there is still no official confirmation of the fina??l number of episodes, the season is expected to have a total of 12 episodes. For those looking to follow the series closely, here’s the full release schedule:

• Episode 1 release date: October 3, 2024
• Episode 2 release date: October 10, 2024
• Episode 3 release date: October 17, 2024
• Episode 4 release date: October 24, 2024
• Episode 5 release date: October 31, 2024
• Episode 6 release date: November 7, 2024
• Episode 7 release date: November 14, 2024
• Episode 8 release date: November 21, 2024
• Episode 9 release date: November 28, 2024
• Episode 10 release date: December 5, 2024
• Episode 11 release date: December 12, 2024
• Episode 12 release date: December 19, 2024

The series follows two high school students, Ken Takakura and Momo Ayase, who are constantly debating which is more real �Momo’s belief in the ?occult or Ken’s fascination with aliens. Their rivalry takes a bizarre twist when both? of their beliefs turn out to be true, plunging them into a chaotic world of spirits and aliens.

As if things weren’t weird enough, Ken suddenly finds himself cursed and missing a very person??al part of his anatomy. Now, with the stakes quite literally close to home, he and Momo must work together to recover Ken’s “family jewels�while navigating a bizarre mix of the paranormal and extraterrestrial.

This article will be updated with any new developments.

The post Dan Da Dan full release schedule appeared first on Destructoid.

The hit manga series Jujutsu Kaisen has officially concluded with the release of its final cha?pter, Chapter 271. The culmination of this beloved series marks the end of a nearly seven-year run, having first debuted in Weekly Shonen Jump on March 5, 2018.

The end, however, doesn't come as a surprise. Back in August, Gege Akutami revealed that there would only be five more chapters to the manga's much-awaited conclusion. At present??, there is no announcement regarding the mangaka's future projects.

During its time in publication, Jujutsu Kaisen rapidly grew into a cultural phenomenon, transcending its manga origins to become a sprawling franchise. The series inspired a wildly popular anime adaptation, feature films like Jujutsu Kaisen 0, and a myriad of merchandise. The anime currently has two completed seasons, and a compilation of the second season is on the way. Season 3 is said to be in production, though no official release date ?has been announced.

Jujutsu Kaisen tells the story of Yuji Itadori, a high school student who unwittingly becomes involved in the dangerous world of jujutsu sorcerers after discovering and swallowing a cursed object �one of the fingers of the King of Curses, Ryomen Sukuna. Having survived the act, Yuji becomes the sorcerers' trump card in defeating the villain. As such, Yuji's mission is to? consume all of Sukuna's fingers and then sacrifice himself.

The final chapter can be read on both VIZ Media and MANGA Plus.

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One Piece is no stranger to tragic backstories. In fact, it's more common for characters in the series to have lived a horrible life than a happy one, and it does make sense. After all, many of the series' beloved characters are trying to pursue their own dreams that stemmed from hea??rtbreaking experiences. And so, her?e are the 10 characters with the saddest backstories.

The Gladiator Kyros

Kyros has always been a mighty and good-hearted warrior, th??ough he isn't blessed with a good life at birth. He became a gladiator i?n the Corrida Colosseum after killing two men in his teens, and he dominated the place. Kyros easily racked up thousands of victories without a single defeat, then King Riku convinced him to live a free life. He eventually caught Princess Scarlett's heart, eloped with her, and gave birth to Rebecca.

The tragedy came after Doflamingo's conquest of Dressrosa. He cut his own leg to save King Riku and then transformed into a toy soldier by Sugar. Even though Sugar faile?d to take Kyros' free will, other people's memories of him were still erased. Kyros watched Diamante murder his wife and couldn't even shed a tear. Furthermore, he protected Rebecca and taught her how to fight for years. During that time, R?ebecca only knew him as the toy soldier and not her biological father.

Usopp

Usopp has always been known as a liar who liked telling tall tale??s. However, this quirk of his is deeply rooted in his tragic backstory.

Usopp's father, Yasopp, left with the Red-Hair Pirates when Usopp was still a child, leaving him and his ailing mother behind. As his mother's ?condition worsened, Usopp started ly??ing about pirates' arrival in the hopes that the chance of his father returning could help keep his mother's fighting spirit up. After losing his mother, Usopp kept up with the lies as a way to cope with the sadness of losing both of his parents.

Nico Robin

Born in Ohara, Robin was a child prodigy, able to read the ancient Ponegliffs, which made her a target of the World Government. Ohara’s scholars, including Robin’s mother, were determined to uncover the secrets of the Void Century, but their quest led to the destruction of their?? island. Robin witnessed the merciless Buster Call, a catastrophic attack that annihilated her?? entire homeland. Among the casualties are her mother, her new friend Jaguar D. Saul, and the scholars she admired. It didn't end there. Branded as a dangerous criminal from a young age, Robin spent her life on the run, unable to trust anyone.

Bartholomew Kuma

Bartholomew Kuma is the newest character to join the list? of sad backstories in the series. He has always been a mysterious character, treading the line between being the Straw Hats' enemy and ally. However, it ultimately made sense after his story was revealed in?? Egghead.

Kuma is one of the last Buccaneers, yet he has lived a tragic life. Enslaved with his parents at just four years of age, Kuma's family was abused so much that both his parents ultimately perished. Kuma gained his freedom du?ring the God Valley incident and eventually lived as a priest with Ginny. Both characters then joined the Revolutionary Army,?? though Ginny was once again captured to become a World Noble's bride.

When Ginny returned to the revolutionaries, it was already too late. She died from Sapphire Scale Disease, leaving h??er daughter Jewelry Bonney behind. Bonney unfortunately inherited the disease. In order to save her, Kuma volunteered himself for the government's human experiment, which slowly turned him into an unthinking, unfeeling machine.

Cutty Flam/Franky

Franky, o?riginally named Cutty Flam, was abandoned by his pirate parents at a young age. Taken in by shipwright Tom, Franky developed a passion for building ships. However, when Tom was arrested for building the ship of the Pirate King, the government gave him a chance to escape punishm??ent by building a sea train.

Even when Tom successfully held his end of the bargain, the gove??rnment still didn't want to let him go. They were after Pluton's blueprint and wanted to acquire it no matter what. During this time, Franky was already into creating battleships. Spandam, then leader of CP5, learned of this and used those very same battleshi??ps to launch a pseudo-attack on Water 7. Even though Tom and the others successfully stopped the attack, Tom was still sentenced to death. He was taken to Enies Lobby via the same sea train he built, which Franky attempted to stop with his frail, young body.

Senor Pink

Senor Pink undeniably has one of the stupidest outfits in One Piece, yet the reason behind his wardrobe of choice is far from stupid. ??Even during his younger years, Senor Pink was already a member of the Donquixote Pirates. Interestingly, however, he met and fell in love with a woman named Russian, who hated pirates. Knowing this, Senor Pink hid his true occupation and posed as a banker. The two eventually gave birth to a son named Gimlet.

The happiness was short-lived. Gimlet died while Senor Pink was away, and Russian ultimately learned the truth. She started running away from Senor Pink and got caught in a landslide, which brought her i?nto a permanent vegetative state. In a desperate attempt to bring his wife's consciousness back, Senor Pink started wearing Gimlet's clothes. This brought a smile to t?he comatose Russian's lips, prompting Senor Pink to adopt the attire permanently.

Nami

Nami grew up in Cocoyashi Village under the care of her adoptive mother, Belle-Mère. Despite their poverty, Nami, her sister Nojiko, and Belle-Mère lived happily. That happiness was shattered when the Arlong Pirates invaded the village, demanding a tax for every resident. Unable to pay for al??l three of them, Belle-Mère sacrificed herself in front of Nami and Nojiko. She could have lived if she denied having daughters, but Belle-Mère's motherly love couldn't let her do so.

Nami was then forced to work for Arlong, who exploited her incredible cartography skills to draw maps for his conquests. Arlong promised to free the village if Nami could gather 100 million Berries, forcing the young girl to a life of ?piracy and thievery.

Trafalgar D. Water Law

As a child, Law grew up in Flevance, a prosperous kingdom famous for its Amber Lead. However, the material was highly toxic, and its prolonged exposure led to the slow and painful death of its citizens. The government kept the truth hidden, and by the time the effects of the poisoning became apparent, it was too late. Law watched as the government? shot his parents and those close to him.

Consumed by rage and a desire for revenge, Law joine??d the Donquixote Pirates, where he hoped to use their power to destroy the government. However, his life took another tragic turn when he bonded with Donquixote Rosinante, also known as Corazon. Rosinante?? tried to save Law from the darkness, eventually bonding with the young Law. However, Corazon's betrayal soon came to light. Knowing his brother would put an end to him, Corazon used his Devil Fruit ability on the young Law and died with a smile on his face. Meanwhile, Law could only weep in silence as he once again watch his protector die in front of him.

Tony Tony Chopper

Born with a blue nose, Chopper was ostracized by his fellow reindeer. Things only got worse when he ate the Human-Human Fruit, which gave him human-like characteristics. His app??earance terrified both humans and animals, leaving him alone in the world. Seeking acceptance, Chopper approached humans for help, but he was met with violence and further rejection.

He eventually found a home with Dr. Hiriluk, a quack doctor with a big heart. Chopper looked up to Hiriluk as a father figure, but tragedy struck when Hiriluk fell gravely ill. Remembering the skull and bones in Dr. Hiriluk's Jolly Roger, Chopper mistook the skull and b?ones symbol on the medical book as a miracle cure. In a desperate attempt to save him, Chopper risked his life to find that special mushroom. Hiriluk, knowing the truth, still took the mushroom as it was his precious son's concoction. Not wanting Chopper to blame himself for his death, Dr. Hiriluk took his own life before the poison could do so.

Brook

Brook’s backstory is unarguably one of the most haunting in the series. He was once the musician of the Rumbar Pirates, a jovial group who promised to return to the Grand Line to reunite with their friend Laboon. Unfortunately, tragedy struck when the crew were hit by an illness, leading to their slow demise. In their final moments, ??Brook and his crewmates played one last song together, which Brook is supposed to deliver to Laboon. And so, they did. The crew sang as one fell after another. Eventually, it became a quartet; ??a trio; a duet; ultimately, a sorrowful solo.

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Bandai Namco Filmworks has officially announced the production of the Wistoria: Wand and Sword's second season. This news was revealed following the finale of the first season. Alongside the announcement came a new trailer and an exclusive artwork created by Toshi Aoi, the manga’s artist.

The anime follows the jou??rney of Will Serfort, a young boy who dreams of becoming a great sorcerer in a world dominated by magic. However, there’s one major obstacle standing in his way �he lacks the ability to use magic. Undeterred by the scorn of his classmates and the challenges of living in a magic-centric world, Will discovers that his strength lies not in a wand, but in his sword. With this unique ability, Will embarks on a path o?f perseverance and determination, aiming to rise above the odds and fulfill a promise he made to someone dear to him.

The anime is produced by Actas and Bandai Namco Pictures, with Tatsuya Yoshihara, known for his work on Black Clover, serv??ing as director and series?? composer. The series also boasts character designs by Sayaka Ono and a stirring soundtrack composed by Yuki Hayashi.

The first season introduced fans to Will Serfort and a diverse cast of characters, including Colette Loire, Sion Ulster, and Julius Reinberg. For those who have yet to experience Wistoria: Wand and Sword, the complete first season is available for streaming on Crunchyroll.

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Six years after the first season aired in 2018, Grand Blue Dreaming is fin?ally coming back for its ??second season. There is still no official release date yet, but the production team shared a teaser visual to celebrate the announcement.

Grand Blue Dreaming, adapted from the manga by Kenji Inoue and Kimitake Yoshioka, quickly became a fan favorite with its unique blend of diving-themed adventur?es, alcohol, and outrageous comedy. The story follows Iori Kitahara, a college student who?se plans for a normal school life get hilariously derailed when he joins his university’s diving club. After all, the club members do more drinking than diving.

Based on the anime's official website, ??the new season is expected to continue w?here Season 1 left off. Iori would be returning to Izu after completing his diving license training in Okinawa. However, things take a surprising turn when he receives a letter from his younger sister, Shiori, setting the stage for more chaotic and comedic adventures.

According to Crunchyroll, Season 2 will see the return of many familiar faces both behind the s??cenes and in the voice cast. Shinji Takamatsu, who directed the first season, is back to direct, write, and oversee sound direction for the upcoming season. Furthermore, Season 1's main cast is also reprising their roles.

To top it all off, the NBCUniversal Anime/Music channel on YouTube is running a free streaming promotion in ??celebration of the Season 2 production. The channel will be streaming the ??entirety of the first season from September 29 to October 11.

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Blue Box may not be the typical action-packed shonen anime, but it is still one of the most anticipated Fall 2024 anime. With the perfect mixture of romance and ??sports, this series has captured the attention of both manga f??ans and newcomers alike with its refreshing story and charming character dynamics.

The anime is set to release on October 3, but Netflix noted that the specific time may vary depending on coun??try and region. However, it has been revealed that the anime will air for two consecutive cours. Assuming it will follow the typical 12-episode per cour?? format, the full schedule will be as follows.

• Episode 1 release date: October 3, 2024
• Episode 2 release date: October 10, 2024
• Episode 3 release date: October 17, 2024
• Episode 4 release date: October 24, 2024
• Episode 5 release date: October 31, 2024
• Episode 6 release date: November 7, 2024
• Episode 7 release date: November 14, 2024
• Episode 8 release date: November 21, 2024
• Episode 9 release date: November 28, 2024
• Episode 10 release date: December 5, 2024
• Episode 11 release date: December 12, 2024
• Episode 12 release date: December 19, 2024
• Episode 13 release date: December 26, 2024
• Episode 14 release date: January 2, 2025
• Episode 15 release date: January 9, 2025
• Episode 16 release date: January 16, 2025
• Episode 17 release date: January 23, 2025
• Episode 18 release date: January 30, 2025
• Episode 19 release date: February 6, 2025
• Episode 20 release date: February 13, 2025
• Episode 21 release date: February 20, 2025
• Episode 22 release date: February 27, 2025
• Episode 23 release date: March 6, 2025
• Episode 24 release date: March 13, 2025

Blue Box follows the story of Taiki Inomata, a hi??gh school student who dreams of becoming a top badminton player. Every morning, he practices in the school gym alongside Chinatsu Kano, a rising star in the basketball team whom he secretly admires. When circumstances lead Chinatsu to move into Taiki’s house, their daily lives become intertwined.

This article will be upd??ated as more information becomes available.

The post Blue Box full release schedule appeared first on Destructoid.

The Summer 2024 anime season is slowly fading out as one series after another airs their final epi??sode for the season. That said, the Fall 2024 anime season is already lurking around the corner. The lineup is certainly packed. Not only are there many exciting returning series, but many new series are worth keeping an eye on. Furthermore, the lineup has good enough variety to cater to different kinds of viewers.

Without furt??her ado, here are some interesting new anime series airing this?? coming season.

Dan Da Dan

A bizarre blend of sci-fi, supernatural, and comedy, Dandadan has already made waves with its manga’s unique take on alien encounters and ghostly battles. The anime adaptation, led by Science Garu, should bring the visually dynamic and fast-p?aced story to life??.

The story follows two high schoolers, Ken Takakura and Momo Ayase, who are at constant odds about which belief is real: the occult or cryptids. However, things take a weird turn when both of th??em turn out to be correct, and both are plunged into the world of the other's belief. With Takakura literally losing his balls, the two must now navigate these new discoveries and retrieve the boy's family jewels.

The anime will air its pilot episode on Octob??er 3.

Blue Box

Blue Box combines sports and romance into?? a heartwarming story about passion and dreams. Taiki, a high school badminton player, has a crush on his senior, Chinatsu, who’s a basketball star. When they end up living together, their slow-bu??rn romance begins to bloom alongside their athletic ambitions.

Blue Box is adapted from the manga of the same name, which is currently published in Weekly Shonen Jump. Interestingly, it's the same magazine that publishes hit manga series like One Piece, Naruto, Bleach, and many more. Despite not being an action-adventure, Blue Box is currently one of its top earners.

Same with Dandadan, Blue Box will start airing on October 3.

Uzumaki

Junji Ito’s Uzumaki is one of the most highly anticipated horror adaptations in years. Despite his cute and amicable personality, Junji Ito is a master when it comes to horror. Uzumaki is one of his many works.

As its title suggests, Uzumaki �which literally translates to "spiral" �focuses on the strange and terrifying spi??ral patterns that begin to overtake a small town. What starts as an unusual phenomenon leads to a series of horrific events.

From what we've seen in the trailers, Uzumaki's anime adaptation seems to maintain the grotesque, atmospheric tension that the manga is known for. Uzumaki will be an eight-episode series with its first episode coming out on September 28?, making it the perfect anime to watch during Halloween!

Trillion Game

Adapted from the popular manga by Riichiro Inagaki and Ryoichi Ikegami, Trillion Game tells the story of two ambitious young men, Haru and Gaku. Wanting to afford anything they desire, the duo aims to earn a trillion dollars through their unorthodox and daring methods. With a good mix of comedy, drama, and absurdity, Trillion Game should be on your watchlist.

The anime will start airing on October 3 and will continuously air for half a year.

Negative Positive Angler

For those looking for something offbeat, Negative Positive Angler delivers a mix of fishing, life lessons, and unexpected character development. It's a Kadokawa original anime that will be directed by Yutaka Uemura, who also worked on Saga of Tanya the Evil.

The story will follow the debt-riddled college ?student Tsunehiro Sasaki. To make matters worse, his doctor informed him that he only had two more years to live. One day, he fell into the sea as he was trying to escape his debtors. Hana, a fishing enthusiast, saved Sasaki and introduced him to fishing.

Much like many other series on this list, Negative Positive Angler is coming out on October 3.

Dragon Ball DAIMA

The Dragon Ball universe is expanding once again with Dragon Ball Daima. It follows a similar plot direction as Dragon Ball GT, though not necessarily the same. In Daima, Goku and the gang are turned into younger versions of themselves. They must explore a new world to find the solution to their little dilemma. As such, th??e series will h??ave a chibi art style, reminiscent of the original series.

Other than the fact that it is Dragon Ball, Daima is the last Dragon Ball project Akira Toriyama worked on before his untimely passing. The anime will premiere on October 11.

Ranma 1/2 (Remake)

The return of Ranma 1/2, the classic martial arts and gender-bending comedy, has caused a stir among ??longtime anime fans. Originally a hit in the 90s, this anime remake will be introducing a new generation of fans to Rumiko Takahashi's classic manga.

It follows the adventures of Ranma Saotome, a skilled martial artis?t who, after f?alling into a cursed spring, transforms into a girl whenever he’s splashed with cold water. Hot water reverses the effect, but the transformation creates endless comedic chaos in his life. Ranma also deals with romantic entanglements, particularly with his fellow martial artist and fiancée Akane Tendo.

Studio MAPPA will be? be?hind the remake's animation. Furthermore, the first episode is coming out on October 5.

365 Days to the Wedding

Adapted from Tamiki Wakaki’s manga serialized in Weekly Big Comic Spirits, 365 Days to the Wedding is a lighthearted office rom-com? wi??th a unique twist.

The story follows Takuya Oohara and Rika Honjouji, two coworkers at a trave?l agency who are desperate to avoid a transfer to a remote branch in Siberia. Their solution? Pretend to be engaged, as the company is only considering single employees for the move. Althoug?h they barely know each other, they must now convince their boss and colleagues that they’re genuinely in love.

The premise alone sets up many comedic opportunities. But whether 365 Days to the Wedding can execute it well remains unknown, which is why it should be added to your Fall 2024 anime watchlist. 365 Days to the Wedding will air its pilot episode on October 3.

The post New Fall 2024 anime series to be excited for appeared first on Destructoid.

To fight against the threat of the demons, many members of the Demon Slayer Corps make use of Breathing Styl??es, which allows them to summon inhuman strength by pairing the right breathing patterns with immaculate swordsmanship.

But which among the styles featured in the series can be considered the strongest? Here are all the Breathing Styles in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, ranked.

• As you can expect, this piece will feature heavy spoilers for the events only showcased in the Demon Slayer manga. so prepare your Nichirin Sword and read at your own risk.

14. Insect Breathing

An adjacent form of Flower Breathing created by the Insect Hashira, Shinobu Kocho to make up for her weak constitution and inability to decapitate demons, Insect Breathing is a style that specializes in performing fast and precise reaper-like trusts with the intent of applying lethal effects through Wisteria poisoning. True to that, and although lethal against most, the style lacks the punch many of the others have, as sunlight a??nd decapitations are still the only way to truly end the life of high-end demons.

13. Sound Breathing

Created by the Sound Hashira Tengei Uzui, Sound Breathing is an offense-oriented style that revolves around his superhuman ability to identify sounds, and it's focused on performing a series of sequential and fast slashes while dual-wielding inter-connected Nichirin Swords. To add an extra kick to his forms, Uzui pairs many of them with gunpowder to generate massive explosions while?? making use of other ninja arts to shift the battle in his favor. Unfortunately, we ca??nnot rank this breathing higher as only three of its forms were showcased during the entirety of the manga.

12. Flower Breathing

Use??d by the former Flower Hashira Kanae Kocho, as well as by Kanao Tsuyuri, Flower Breathing is a style that specializes in fast and well-placed curved stashes that mimic the way petals flow and bloom. Its biggest differential, however, lies in its final form's (Equinoctial Vermilion Eye) ability to massively boost its user's perception. That translates into a boost in kinetic vision, which ?allows them to momentarily perceive the world as if in slow motion while posing a severe burden to one's eyes.

11. Beast Breathing

Developed by Inosuke Hashibira during his life in the mountains, the Beast Breathing style is, much ??like its creator, as straightforward as it gets and relies on the use of two Nishin Swords as well as on one's physical attributes to rush in while cutting everything on their path. As a self-taught style, many of its forms (or fangs) make use of Inosuke's ability to dislocate his joints at will, as well as his unique perception.

11. Love Breathing

A branch of Flame Breathing created and perfected by the Love Hashira Mitsuri Kanroji, Love Breathing is a style that focuses on the performance of whip-like slashes with preferably an altered Nishin Blade. A style only viable for Mitsuri, given her unique muscle density, Love Breathing is one of the most oppressive in our list, as it allows its user to slash opponents at bl??inding speeds and overwhelm even the highest-ranked demons.

9. Serpent Breathing

Used and seemingly developed by the Serpent Hashira Obanai Iguro?, Serpent Breathing is a style that specializes in? extremely precise and unpredictable single-motion attacks only achievable by curving one's sword in a snake-like manner. It is unknown if it is possible to perform its forms with a standard Nishin Sword. Even if no more than five of its forms were shown during the series, the style seems to be one of the most balanced in the series and allowed Iguro to hold his own and aid Tanjiro during most of their struggle.

8. Mist Breathing

Used by Muichiro Tokito, who might be by all accounts the ??most talented member of the corps since Yoriichi Tsugikuni, Mist Breathing is a style that specializes in pairing unpredictable movements with fast and sequential attacks to disorient targets.

No?thing showcases that better than its seventh dorm, Obscuring Clouds. Developed by Muichiro, the technique sees him slow his movements only to suddenly accelerate without notice. If attacked during it, that drastic change will cause enemies to feel like they are enveloped in and trying to strike a wave of mist.

7. Flame Breathing

Used by Kyojuro Rengoku and all of the Flame Hashira that came before him, Flame Breathing specializes in the performance of kendo-like heavy strikes capable of ?decapitating targets in one fell swoop. But don't let that fool you, as even if shown not to be a great fit against enemies like Akaza, the style packs enough punch to turn most demons into cinders. Together with Wind, Flame is also one of the Breathing Techniques with the highest number of known forms, only falling behind Sun, Water, Moon, and Beast.

6. Thunder Breathing

Thunder Breathing is a quick-draw style that focuses, above all else, on the performance of unreachable fast strikes through its first form, Thunderclap and Flash. The style, however, gains new life when used by Zenitsu Agatsuma, as his Sixfold, Eightfold, and Godspeed variations allow him to perform consecutive Thunder?clap and Flash slashes and bring down multiple enemies before they even realize they ??have been cut. Zenitsu also developed the style's seventh form, Flaming Thunder God, which can be seen as a hypercharged version of the above.

5. Wind Breathing

A maverick style that can be seen as the antithesis of the grounded approach of the water-breathing style, Wind Breathing focuses mainly on the performance of acrobatic h?igh-speed slashes that emulate the shape of whirlwinds.

Used and mastered by Sanemi Shinazugawa, the style allows him to cruise through demons like a tornado. Its offensive repertoire also allowed Sanemi?? to stand his ground against Upper Moon Rank One Koku??shibo in a duel even after the demon unsheathed his sword and revealed his true might.

4. Water Breathing

Known for being the most common among the Demon Slayer Corps, the Water Breathing ??style excels in both offense and defense by applying water properties to swordsmanship, which allows it to make up for its lack of raw power with ex?treme adaptability. However, the style can only be brought to its full potential through its 11th form, Dead Calm.

Developed by Water Hashira Giyu Tomioka, Dead Calm sees users become water by entering a heightened state and allows them to react to threats at almost instantaneous speed. But the form is not perfect, as there's a limit to how many attac????ks one can perceive.

3. Stone Breathing

Used by Gyomei Himejima, the strongest among the last generation of the Hashira, the Stone Breathing style makes use of momentum to produce devastating close and long-range combinations at a 360-degree angle, a feat on??ly possible given its reliance on unconventional chained weapons, such?? as Himejima's Nichirin spiked flail and handaxe combo.

Although demanding a lot of its user's body, given the necessity to manipulate the chain at all times, its use allowed Himejima to be ??a game changer in?? the fight against Upper Moon Rank One Kokushibo, all while guiding his comrades.

2. Moon Breathing

A style created by Michikatsu Tsugikuni ?(later to be known as the demon Kokushibo) after his failure to learn his brother's Sun Breathing, the Moon Breathing is the style with the biggest amount of forms to date, as it beneficiated greatly from the enhanced life spam its wielder boasted after being turned into a demon. True to that, many of its forms also use his Demon Blood Art and are paired with swor??dplay honed to almost perfection and a deep knowledge of all breathing styles.

That mix allowed Kokushibo to climb the ranks and take the spot as the first Upper Moon?? Demon, as well as keep the upper h??and even while facing multiple marked Hashira during the Infinite Castle Arc.

1. Sun Breathing

The original breathing style, the Sun Breathing, was cr??eated by Yoriichi Tsugikuni and later adapted into the Kamado Family's Hinokami Kagura dance ritual. Boasting the main strengths of all of the main style branches, it's true might can only be achieved by linking together all of its forms.

A testament to both its power and its creator's might can be seen in how it was used b??y Yoriichi to bring Muzan to the brink of death during? their first and only encounter. The wounds inflicted on the Demon King also damaged him to a cellular level and never fully healed, instead remaining as scars even half a century following their encounter.

The post All Demon Slayer Breathing Styles, ranked appeared first on Destructoid.

Netflix recently released an exciting new trailer for its upcoming Devil May Cry animated series that will premiere in April 2025. However, fans immediately noticed that Dante's voice sounded different from the games, where Reub?en Langdon usually voices him.

After people asked Netflix about this on its social media, the company officially confirmed that Dante will be vo?iced by none ??other than Johnny Yong Bosch, who voices Nero in the Devil May Cry video games. How?ever, Reuben Langdon did step up to show his approval of this new casting.

Langdon congratulated Yong Bosch on his personal Twitter/X account and remarked that he's already part of the Devil May Cry family, referencing his previous work as Nero in DMC4 and DMC5. After all, this young devil hunter is Vergil's son and Dante's nephew, so it's quite reasonable for Netflix to cast Yong Bosch as a younger version of Dante from a separate universe.

Yong Bosch responded to Langdon's blessing, by telling him, "You’ll always be my Dante", which proves that things are definitely quite amicable between the two actors. This interaction has endeared most fans and made them receive the sudden recasting in a m?ore positive manner.

The Devil May Cry franchise is prone to recastings

The sudden replacement of Langdon as Dante is nothing new for the Devil May Cry franchise, seeing as he's not even the first person who voiced this character: Drew Coombs voiced him in the first game, Matthew Kaminsky in the second game, and Langdon took over the role from Devil May Cry 3 onwards. This isn't even the first time in recent years that someone else voiced Dante, with Jacob Browning voicing Dante in the mobile game, DMC: Peak of Combat.

There's no denying that Langdon's performance as Dante is incredibly recognizable ??and beloved, but sin?ce this is a character who is prompt to changing voices, this recasting should surprise no one. Not to mention that Yong Bosch's excellent work as Nero has already proven that he's more than fit to take up the mantle and breathe new life into this iconic devil hunter in the process.

The post Original Devil May Cry star gives anime’s new Dante voice actor his blessing appeared first on Destructoid.

The beloved Naruto series is celebrating a major milestone �its 25th anniversary �with a special promotional video released to commemorate the occasion. This iconic manga, which was first released in 1999, has since become a cu?ltural phenomenon, and the anniversary PV is a heartfelt tribute to the maverick ninja.

The anniversary PV beautifully captures some of the most iconic moments from both Naruto and Naruto: Shippuden, taking fans through key battles, emotional scenes, and memorable characters that have defined the series. From Naruto’s early days as the underdog ninja in Konoha to his evolution into the Sevent??h Hokage, the video serves as a nostalgic trip down memory lane for longtime fans.

For the uninitiated, the?? story follows Naruto Uzumaki, an orphaned ninja ostracized by his village due to the powerful Nine-Tailed Demon Fox sealed within him. To gain recognition and prove his worth, Naruto dreams of becoming the Hokage, the strongest ninja in the village.

Naruto, penned by Masashi Kishimoto, first debuted as a manga series in Weekly Shonen Jump in 1999. In 2002, the manga was adapted into an anime by Studio Pierrot, marking the beginning of its international success. The anime ran for 220 episodes, covering Naruto’s early years and his growth as a ninja. Its sequel, Naruto: Shippuden, continued the story from 2007 to 2017, with 500 episodes that focused on Naru??to’s maturation and the cli??mactic battles that decided the fate of the ninja world.

The franchise has also received a number of spin-off manga series, as well as movies and video game adaptations. The manga can be read on MANGA Plus and VIZ Media, while the anime is available for streaming on Crunchyroll.

The post Naruto receives PV in celebr?ation of 25th anniversary appeared first on Destructoid.

Back in September 2023, Netflix announced that the beloved Capcom game franchise Devil May Cry is getting a new animated adaptation. During Geeked Week 2024, Netflix follo??wed up with an exciting reveal: the animated series is set to premiere in April 2025.

Alongside this annou??ncement, a brand-new teaser trailer was released, giving fans a first look at some of the show’s action-packed sequences.

Produced by Netflix, the series promises to offer a fresh take on the iconic action-adventure game. Animation is being handled by Studio Mir, renowned for its stellar work on projects like The Legend of Korra and Dota: Dragon’s Blood.

The story will center on Devil May Cry’s iconic characters, including Dante, Vergil, and Lady. According to Anime News Network, the first season will consist of eight episodes, which should set the stage for what is expected to be a multi-season saga. Furthermore, Netflix confirmed that Johnny Yong Vosch, who voiced Nero in Devil May Cry 4 and Devil May Cry 5, will be taking on the role of Dante in ?this adaptation.

This is also not the first time Devil May Cry has been adapted for the screen. In 2007, Madhouse produced a 12-episode anime series based on the game. Released on home video by ADV Films and later Funimation, the anime gained a following and was made available on streaming platforms ?like Crunchyroll in 2017.

The post Devil May Cry animate??d series to premiere in?? April 2025 appeared first on Destructoid.