It’s not very often that my anime-loving side and my nu-metal-loving part get to meet in the middle, but the opening credits for Netflix’s upcoming Devil May Cry anime adaptation just dropped, and I am very much experiencing the ??best of ??both worlds. 

In what might be the most shocking reveal of the year, and I mean the whole year and not just the last month, Devil May Cry will have ??a truly epic opening credits sequence with a massive blast from the past musical accompaniment �?Rollin�?b??y Limp Bizkit. 

Netflix dropped the opening credits for the much-anticipated anime adaptation of Devil May Cry almost out of nowhere, and expectant fans immediately took to the comment section on YouTube to voice pretty much the same reaction across the board: “Well, I wasn’t expecting that.”�?/p>

I have to admit, the track does fit impeccably with the dark and brooding vibe of Dante. Many expressed that they could picture him listening to it relentlessly, and I have to agree. Fans have long been excited about the prospect of a new DMC anime, and this has just floored me and many others. It’s nice to know I’m not alone, and this is 100% going to end up on the short list of anime with opening credits that I adamantly ref?use to skip over. 

I mean, listen to it, and if you have already done so, go and listen again because it's just so good. I'm fairly confident Limp Bizkit ??are experiencing a jump in viewing stats for the video as I write. There's nothing like a renewal of interest in a clas?sic, and this has certainly reminded fans of this absolute gem.

I guess we shouldn’t really be surprised, as there were beats of nu-metal in the teaser trailer that Netflix shared in September, and the dark subject matter of DMC de?finitely lends itself to the heavy gui?tar riffs of Rollin�?  

Devil May Cry? is set to release on Netflix on April 3, and this unexpected drop from Netflix has definitely reignited discussion and excitement over the upcoming series. Sadly, only eight episodes will feature this absolute banger of an opener. With Nero’s original English voice actor Johnny Yong Bosch switching ?to voice Dante in this adaptation, there are high hopes for an epic series. 

The post Devil May Cry Netflix opening credits revealed, and nobo?dy was expecting this appeared first on Destructoid.

When it comes to absolute powerhouses of anime, Naruto is up there with the best of them. Across Naruto and Naruto: Shippuden, you’ve got 720 episodes to sit down and binge, ??but are all o?f them strictly necessary?

While the original Naruto series is 220 episodes worth of world building and getting-to-know-everyone fun and drama, Naruto: Shippuden adds a whopping additi??onal 500 episodes, furthering the story and adding new characters into the mix. 

To watch all of Naruto: Shippuden, you’ll need over 200 hours spare (more than 8 days), and that’s one hell of a time sink and a rather daunting commitment. And that’s without adding in the time to watch the original series first, and then the huge number of Boruto episodes that come after. 

While each episode holds a certain amount of world building and additional lore, not every episode is considered to be integral to the overarching story of Naruto. If you’re wanting to know which episodes are canon and which are considered filler, we’ve go??t you covered. 

Should you skip the filler in Naruto: Shippuden?

While filler episodes of Naruto: Shippuden don’t really bring anything to the table in terms of the overall story, you will miss out on some important world building and background if you choose to skip over them. For instance, ?Kakashi’s Anbu Arc (episodes 347 - 361) offers valuable insight that will help you to truly understand the impact of Kakashi, who is an absolute fan favorite character.

There are a lot of moments you’ll miss if you choose to skip over the filler, but the choice is yours to make. You won’t be left wondering about anything by missing these ep??isodes, and you can always go back later to fill in the gaps once you’ve reached the end of the main story. 

Cons?ider it like completing the main story of a game, then going back to complete side quests afterwards. 

Every filler episode in Naruto: Shippuden

Naruto: Shippuden meets back up with the now beloved characters two years after the original series ends, and there’s a whole new cast of people to meet and events to catch up on. However, of the 500 episodes that make up Naruto: Shippuden, 203 of these are considered to be filler. 

Sometimes, entire arcs of the anime take you off on side stories tha?t aren’t strictly necessary if you only want to keep up with the main story. 

Here’s every filler episode of Naruto: Shippuden, along with what arcs that they make up:

• Episodes 57 - 71 (Twelve Guardian Ninja Arc)

  • “Robbed of Sleep�?to “My Friend�?/li>

• Episodes 91 - 112 (Three-Tails�?Appearance Arc)

  • “Orachimaru’s Hideout Discovered�?to “A Place to Return To�?/li>

• Episodes 144 - 151 (Six-Tails�?Unleashed Arc)

  • “Wanderer�?to “Master and Student�?/li>

• Episodes 171 and 172

  • “Big Adventure! The Quest for the Fourth Hokage’s Legacy�?(Part 1 & 2)

• Episodes 176 - 196 (Past Arc: The Locus of Konoha)

  • “Rookie Instructor Iruka�?to “Drive Towards Darkness�?/li>

• Episodes 223 - 242 (Paradise Life on a Boat Arc)

  • “The Young Man and the Sea�?to “Naruto’s Vow�?/li>

• Episodes 257 - 260

  • “Meeting�?to “Parting�?/li>

• Episode 271

  • “Road to Sakura�?/li>

• Episodes 279 - 281 (Fourth Shinobi World War: Confrontation Arc)

  • “White Zetsu’s Trap�?to “The Allied Mom Force!�?/li>

• Episodes 284 - 295 (Fourth Shinobi World War: Confrontation Arc)

  • “Helmet Splitter: Jinin Akebino!�?to “Power: Episode Final�?/li>

• Episodes 303 - 320 

  • “Ghosts from the Past�?to “Run, Omoi!�?/li>

• Episodes 347 - 361 (Fourth Shinobi World War: Climax / Kakashi’s Anbu Arc)

  • “Creeping Shadow�?to “Kakashi: Shadow of the ANBU Black Ops - Squad Seven�?/li>

• Episodes 376 and 377 

  • “The Directive to Take the Nine Tails�?and “Naruto vs. Mecha Naruto�?/li>

• Episodes 388 - 390

  • “My First Friend�?to “Hanabi’s Decision�?/li>

• Episodes 394 - 413 (In Naruto’s Footsteps: The Friends�?Paths Arc)

  • “The New Chunin Exams�?to “Hopes Entrusted to the Future�?/li>

• Episodes 416 and 417 (Birth of the Ten-Tails�?Jinchuriki Arc)

  • “The Formation of Team Minato�?and “You’ll Be My Backup�?/li>

• Episodes 422 and 423 (Birth of the Ten-Tails�?Jinchuriki Arc)

  • “The One Who Will Inherit�?and “Naruto’s Rival�?/li>

• Episodes 427 - 450 (Jiraiya Shinobi Handbook: The Tale of Naruto the Hero Arc)

  • “To the Dream World�?to “Rival�?/li>

• Episodes 464 - 468 (Kaguya Otsutsuki Strikes Arc)

  • “Ninshū: The Ninja Creed�?to “The Successor�?/li>

• Episodes 480 - 483 (Childhood Arc)

  • “Naruto and Hinata�?to “Jiraiya and Kakashi�?/li>

How to watch Naruto: Shippuden

Regardless of whether you want to consume eve??ry episode in order, or you want to get through that main story and then get the side stories under your belt, how you can watch it depends on where you’re located. 

Here’s how to watch Naruto: Shippuden in both the US and the UK:

Naruto: Shippuden in the US

If you’re US based, then you can watch Naruto: Shippuden on both Hulu and Crunchyroll. Each has all 500 episodes available, and offers its own perks and advantages, dependi??ng on your watching style. 

Hulu offers 473 of the 500 episodes with English dubbing, so it’s easier to watch in the background or if yo??u’re not entirely able to fo??cus on subtitles. However, the episodes are split into strange and inaccurate seasons, so it’s easy to lose track of exactly where you are unless you’re paying close attention to the episode numbers. 

Crunchyroll, on the other hand, only has the series available with subtitles. However, the episodes are ??split into their respective arcs (for the most part, it all seems to fall apart after the Fourth Great Ninja War - Sasuke and Itachi?? arc), so you can find specific episodes pretty easily as long as you know which arc they belong to. 

Sadly, you’ll need to subscribe to either of these streaming platforms if you want to binge the entirety of Naruto: Shippuden, because it’s simply not possible to complete the series within a 7 day trial. The cheapest Hulu subscription is $9.99 per month, while the cheapest Cru??nchyroll subscription is $7.99 per month.&nbs??p;

Naruto: Shippuden in the UK

If you’re based in the UK, you can still watch Naruto: Shippuden via Crunchyroll. The fan subscription package for us Brits is £4.99 per month. Sadly, th??at’s our only option when it comes to bingeing t??his beloved anime, unless you want to invest in a VPN (or happen to have one) to use for this purpose. 

Wherever you are, you can also add Crunchyroll to your Amazon Prime account as an additional subscription, wh??ich does make it a lot easier to manage and cuts back on websites you need to visit in order to wa??tch. 

The post Naruto Shippuden filler list of episodes and arcs appeared first on Destructoid.

It’s easy to forget that �?technically speaking �?Attack on Titan is set in a world very much like our own. This is because the author of the manga, Hajime Isayama, seems to be allergic to showing a complete world map outside of vague glimpses. To help you out, here's our take on the AOT world map.

AOT World Map, explained

Based on the path the story takes in Attack on Titan, we can draw some conclusions about this world. To start, ??it’d seem that the world is a vertical flip of our own, based on a map of Marley shown in Chapter 93/Episode 86. If this is true, that would mean the fictional nation of Marley ??is parallel with Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and Brazil.

In that same vein, Paradis Island would be parallel to the island of Madagascar. In the context of Attack on Titan, the nation of Hizuru seems to be a nod toward the far-east, i.e., J??apan. It might pose?? a problem should we receive confirmation that the sun in this world rises in the east and sets in the west like our own does. But for now, let’s not think about that.

That said, the central conflict of Attack on Titan revolves around Marley and Eldia. Because Hizuru becomes involved later in the story, we can't confirm the other nations in this world. Don’t get me wrong; we know other nations exist, we just don??’t know anything about them. 

What we do know for s?ure is that the Mid-East A?llied Forces lost Fort Slava to Marley at the beginning of the final arc. We can theorize, based on the language used in Chapter 93/Episode 86, that the Mid-East Allied Forces are parallel to the Arabian Peninsula or India. But again, the name poses a problem when it comes to the movement of the sun. We'll once again avoid going down that rabbit hole. 

So, as of writing, we don’t know for sure what countries �?if any �?exist in the Americas or Russia, among other blank spaces on the world map. It’s possible that Isayama could explore these areas further in future spinoffs or sequels. But until we see that conf??irmation, this is?? the entire map. 

Attack on Titan key locations

Even though we've explained how Attack on Titan connects to the real world, it's still made up of fictional places. Fortunately for us, that means no Titans are roaming around in the real world, nor do we have to worry about being subjected to the Eldian bloodline. So, now the question remains: What are the regions in Attack on Titan? We'll break down each one by showing you the most important locations in AOT.

Paradis Island

Paradis Island, later known as the last territory of Eldia, is the first location introduced in Attack on Titan. It's where most of the Subjects of Ymir reside, taking shelter in the legendary Walls. The Walls are divided into three structures: Wall Maria, Wall Rose, and Wall Sina. The series begins with our main crew in Wall Maria until the story heads deeper ?into the inner structures with Rose and Sina.

Marley

Unlike Paradis Island, Marley becomes a more significant element in Attack on Titan's later arcs. The Eldians roamed these lands initi??ally until the Great Titan War allowed the Marleyans to take over. The abilities of the Nine Titans gave them the upper hand they needed, gaining more control and power. Marley also holds the elite Warrior unit, an Eldian group that harnesses the Titan powers and uses them to help Marley.

Hizuru

While many usually have a bone to pick with El?dians, the?? nation of Hizuru is the only ally to those with Eldian blood. Due to the corruption of the Marleyans, this once-proud nation has been on the decline and seeks to get back on track with the help of its allies.

Mid-East

During Chapter 91/Episode 60,? we are introduced to the Mid-East Allied Forces. They are attacked by Marley, who are on a mission to end the four-year-long Mid-East War. Apart from those who reside in the Mid-East, other regions have joined this unit to end Marley's tyranny.

The rest of the Attack on Titan regions, while not extensively explored in the manga or anime, hold a certain allure of mystery. The supposed Republic of Acirema (America spelled backward) is one such enigma. Despite my efforts, I haven't found much information about it in the manga as of yet, leaving it as a tantalizing puzzle for fans to po??nder. There could be something I'm missing, but at least we have all of the details covered for the main areas of Paradis Island and Marley.

The post The Attack on Titan World Map appeared first on Destructoid.

My new favorite anime of 2024 is Solo Leveling Season 1, a nice way to start the year combining two of my favorites: anime and video games. My love only expanded with the second season as S??????????????????????????ung Jinwoo honed in on his newfound class from the Job Change Quest.

When we last saw Jinwoo, he had just uncovered his new power (spoilers for anyone who hasn't watched the end of Season 1) with Necromancy. The first time I watched this reveal, I was pleasantly surprised to see a class like this. At the most, it's always been the more traditional ones like Fighter or Mage, but never something similar to Necromancy. With Solo Leveling Season 2, also known as Arise from the Shadow, we see Sung finally put this c??lass into action, showing him as the?? puppetmaster of the undead.

Jinwoo will need to put the skill to the test when he enters a new gate with fellow hunters. His goal is still the same as the last seaso?n: level up to garner enough strength for the Demon's Castle. Remember, the castle holds the Holy Water of Life, the potential cure to his mot?her's deadly illness. This season will likely bring us back to this menacing place, but in the show's current standing, Sung must first deal with the latest gate before getting there.

Solo Leveling Season 2's setting primarily takes place in a snowy environment, differing from the deserty Penalty Zone and castle-like interiors of dungeons. The visuals have more or less stayed the same as Season 1, with a few? more developments in shading, which is more than enough considering it was already visually pleasing from the get-go.

Due to the alteration in the environment, enemies have also changed to match the gate's frosty world. It's the perfect chance for Jinwoo to get used to his Necromancy, commanding his soldiers to take out surrounding enemy forces. Sure, it'?s a little gory to watch, but what can you expect from an anime that started out violently? By the end of the episode, Jinwoo uses Necromancy effortlessly, almost as if we're watching a master at work despite him only unlocking the skill a little while ago.

Although Sung Jinwoo seems like an expert in the art of Necromancy, he still acknowledges that he needs much more room to grow in the episode. That's one of the many things I respect about him since he doesn't entirely let his profound powers get to his head. Well, he does in very few situations, but he typically gets punished for it and immediately sees the?? error of his ways. The need to always want to improve oneself and co??rrect mistakes is the main reason why Jinwoo is the GOAT. Humble kings tend to be way more successful, in my opinion, than those who think they're perfect.

Even the characters he's just me??t in the episode can see just how amazing Sung Jinwoo is, and it's incredibly satisfying for my boy to get the recognition he deserves. Almost everyone notices his power, taking out beasts that o?thers have died fighting. It's not hard to see the changes in him since Season 1, in light of the new season's very manly, buffed look. Oh, and he's got a fancy new hairdo that makes all the girls simp over. I can already see the string of new thirst trap edits on TikTok.

While Arise from the Shadow's first episode is only the tip of the iceberg, setting up the stage for what looks like an epic? Season 2, we'll likely be getting more into the nitty-gritty stuff in the next few weeks. There will presumably be many more top-dog moments with Sung Jinwoo, too, furtheri??ng his status as the greatest of all time.

There are a lot of lingering questions from the first season, like what happened on Jeju Island? And who is the true mastermind of the System? Fortunately, we may get an answer with the first 12 confirmed episodes for the season, releasing every Saturday on Crunchyroll.

The post Solo Level?ing Season 2 Episode 1 proves that Sung Jinwoo is the goat appeared first on Destructoid.

The anime titles belonging to the Winter 2025 anime season lineup are slowly starting to roll in. Undeniably, Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow- is one of the most anticipated sequels this season. We've been waiting for the continuation of Hunt?er Sung Jinwoo's adventure since the 12-episode first season ended last year.

When is the next episode of Solo Leveling Season 2?

Solo Leveling Season 2 will consist of 13 episodes. Each new episode will be released every Saturday at 9 a.m. PT. As previously announced, the pilot epis??ode already aired on January 4, 2025, setting the stage for Jinw?oo's new quest.

Below is Solo Leveling Season 2 full release schedule, assuming t??here won't be any delays:

• Episode 1 release date: January 4, 2025
• Episode 2 release date: January 11, 2025
• Episode 3 release date: January 18, 2025
• Episode 4 release date: January 25, 2025
• Episode 5 release date: February 1, 2025
• Episode 6 release date: February 8, 2025
• Episode 7 release date: February 15, 2025
• Episode 8 release date: February 22, 2025
• Episode 9 release date: March 1, 2025
• Episode 10 release date: March 8, 2025
• Episode 11 release date: March 15, 2025
• Episode 12 release date: March 22, 2025
• Episode 13 (Finale) release date: March 29, 2025

The second season can be streamed via Crunchyroll and Netflix. However, availability may vary de??pending on ?your region.

What is Solo Leveling Season 2 about?

Solo Leveling Season 2 continues to follow Sung Jinwoo and his pursuit of greater p??ower. This time, however, it is more than just his survival. He sets his sights on acquiring the mythical Elixir of Life, which can supposedly heal any illness or injury, for his incapacitated mother. To do so, he must first acquire the i??ngredients needed to create the said elixir.

The post Solo Leveling Season 2 full release schedule appeared first on Destructoid.

Anytime I've been blown away by animation, MAPPA? studio is somehow always involved. First, with its magnum opus of Attack on Titan's final season and again with Jujutsu Kaisen's cinematic showdowns. So, when I heard that MAPPA was respo??nsible for the?? animation of Zenshu, I knew another masterpiece was brewing.

While I've grown accustomed to their distinct artwork, there's something unique to what they've done with Zenshu. The vibrant colors in each scene remind me of the radiant artistry of Hayao Miyazaki, crafting the most picturesque scenes I've ever witnessed in anime. The use of colors is unlike anything MAPPA has done before, as the previous projects have primarily leaned toward a much darker tone. Moreover, the show blends two different art styles when it seamlessly merges separate ??worlds: one in modern times and the other in a medieval-like universe.

The beginning of Zenshu's first episode depicts the everyday life of the real world, where the main protagonist, Natsuko Hirose, is a successful animation director. Her first project was a triumph, but she begins to doubt the work of her next potential big hit. As an artist myself, I immensely related to th?is. This concept is new for a MAPPA show since, for the most part, I've only known them for anime that ove?rflows with intensity and not one that follows the life of an everyday Joe.

At this point in the story, Zenshu could be seen as a slice-of-life in hindsight, yet things start to change once you get further into the episode. When Natsuko drowns in her workload, she finds herself waking up in her childhood favorite anime, "A Tale of Perishing." The film is basically all your favorite anime rolled up into one. You've got your stereotypical hero protagonist, Luke Braveheart. A trusty companion at his side that will do anything for him. And, of course, there is some big bad that the ensemble has to defeat to sav?e their world. 

It brings out one of my favorite cliché tropes: the old world mixes with the new, like when someone from, let's say, the ancient or medieval times mingles into our modern ways of life, like Marvel's Thor and Enchanted's Giselle. In Zenshu, it? is Hirose who must?? deal with this Middle Ages world, and her reactions are both realistic and hilarious. She questions the logic of the film significantly when the stead, Unio, by some means, goes through a majestic transformation in the blink of an eye. How is it possible? I have no idea. But I suppose that's anime logic for ya. 

Despite Natsuko's confusion, she starts to use her knowledge of the anime to her advantage. She knows the li??nes spoken by random side characters and the cataclysmic event that transpires not long after. The anime is ca??lled "A Tale of Perishing" for a reason, and it's up to Natsuko to decide if she wants to change the show's fate. 

I'll leave you in suspense as to what Hirose decides, but I will say that it is more than worth the watch. Zenshu's main character, in parti??????????????????????????cular, is the reason why the show is so enjoyable. The rest of the cast is great, too, but the first episode doesn't expand on them all that much. It's just lovely to see a female lead take the reigns where men and women alike depend on her guidance. Anime, at least for me, sometimes feels like a man's world, so having a storyline such as this is an exceptional change of pace.

Hirose isn't perfect either; she's incredibly insecure despite being high up on the food chain. She even hides her face with her hair just to be in her own little world. Overall, the depiction of her is what I've been looking for in a female anime character, where she's not dressed up in some sexy get-up, relying on a manly heroic protagonist, or flawless in everything she does. I know that there are some anime out there like this, in light of narratives such as Frieren: Beyond Journey's End and Sailor Moon, but I still feel like there needs to be more.

Beyond its realistic interpretations of women, Zenshu evokes a sense of nostalgia that re??minds me of the first anime I experienced as a kid. It often shows Natsuko Hirose reminiscing about her childhood with A Tale of Perishing, and you can tell how much it still means to her as an adult. As someone who grew up on anime, I can deeply relate to this feeling, and I'm sure you will too if you're a long-time anime fan.

I also li??ke how A Tale of Perishing wasn't even that well-received in Hirose's world, but it meant something to her, no?netheless. There were more than enough times when the critics gutted a favorite show or movie of my childhood, and watching Hirose experience the same turmoil made me reminisce about that. This concept instills a message that even if some people don't like your work, all that matters is that at least one person sees the beauty in it. It's probably something that Hirose needs to learn with her personal projects, which may come in future episodes.

Just by Zenshu's first episode, I've already gotten hooked on the series. Those in the creative arts will feel seen, and anime lovers will remember the nostalgia of the first-ever show that brought them into the anime world. The breathtaking visuals by MAPPA alone may persuade you, as they did for me. And, if you're convinced enough, you can expect new Zenshu episodes to air on Crunchyroll every Sunday.

The post Zenshu’s series premiere makes you feel like you’re stepping into the world of your favorite anime appeared first on Destructoid.

It turns out that 2025 is going to be a really good year for you if you like anime based on a certain trading card game. Yu-Gi-Oh! has been spending the last few years in deep cel?ebration?? of its 25th anniversary.

With the year ending, it seemed as though the various quarter-century partying was going to finally end, but Ko?nami had one last surprise for us in the form of some new anime announcements. The announcement that drew the most attention, of course, is that they are adapting storylines originally told exclusively through cards into a short anime series.

Back in February, as part of all that anniversary celebrating, Konami Animation released a short video called Yu-Gi-Oh! CARD GAME THE CHRONICLES. The six-minute video was a well-animated little showcase of many, but certainly not all, of the archetypes that have graced the card game over its lifetime, mostly within the last decade or so. It was an incredible way to highlight some of the most beloved cards in the game's history and show off a few moments from within the storylin?es depicted on that card art. There was an expectation among fans that this was testing the waters to see if people would desire full anime adaptations of these cardboard stories. There was no sign of anything else to come, until right before Christmas.

On December 20th, Konami finally returned to the table to give the people cartoons. One announcement was that Yu-Gi-Oh! GX would be celebrating its 20th anniversa??ry by airing a new remaster in April 2025. There are not any details about exactly what that will look like, and there's no word yet of it airing on any networks outside of Japan, though it is supposed to be available on YouTube. The second announcement was a trailer telling us that Yu-Gi-Oh! CARD GAME THE CHRONICLES was, in fact, going to become a short anime series.

The series is currently being presented as an anthology, with two storylines being taken from cardboard and brought to the animation desk. The first archetype being given a storyline is "Sky Strikers." This was expected by most players as the obvious choice, especially because Sky Strikers already received a full expansion to its storyline in the first few volumes of the Yu-Gi-Oh! OCG Stories manga. For those who love sword fighting ??and mechas, it's bound to be? a good time.

The second storyline being adapted is "Fallen of Albaz." This was another one people were eyeing up as a possibility, primarily because of how much cardboard has been printed over the last few years to tell its story. This story of a runaway knight and the cursed dragon boy she found was told across eleven archetypes and over a hundred cards. Most of those archetypes were, and some still are, competitively viable, so you couldn't escape them. If it's adapted well, the story will be a high fantasy adventure with road trip vibes, an amount of robots to make you question the genre, and some real strong Devil May Cry 4 energy specifically.

Yu-Gi-Oh! CARD GAME THE CHRONICLES ?is supposed to air in April 2025, with episodes released monthly to Konami's You??Tube channels. It is intended to be a short anime series, likely only a few episodes for eac?h storyline. There is no word of whether or not other archetypes or storylines from the card game are being considered for adaptation as well.

Both new shows are in addition to Yu-Gi-Oh! Go Rush!!, the spin-off to Yu-Gi-Oh! Sevens, which is supposed to start airing on Disney XD in January. That show promises to continue showing viewers Yu-Gi-Oh! Rush Duel, an alternate way to play the card game that isn't even available outside of Japan, except in limited video game capacities. More importantly, for those with a hunger for some card game popcorn anime, 2025 will offer you three different Yu-Gi-Oh! anime airing concurrently that you can enjoy.

The post K??onami is adapting beloved cardboard storyline into anime s?eries appeared first on Destructoid.

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 Sunraku 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 the Ether Reactor and the items stashed in Inventoria.

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

The post Shangri-La Frontier Season 2 gets ??new trailer for upcoming arc appeared first on Destructoid.

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 tw??o characters' fates crossed during Aira's childhood years. Aira already had the ability to see spirits at a young age, though 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, she 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 o?f 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 thought 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 vanish. At that point, she already cursed them, causing them to suffer terrible fates and even death.

According to other sources, however, Akusara'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 usually young men. Afterward, these men wil?l simply v??anish without a trace.

The post Real-world or?igins of Acrobatic Silky from DAN DA?? DAN appeared first on Destructoid.

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 a?nd his pals successfully defeated Wethermon the Tombguard and established their own 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 i?ncredible feat won't let them simply game in peace. Other clans have taken interest in their actions and started to seek them. Ultimately, Pencilgon decided to make use of their situation a?nd 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 Fronti??er. 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 himself 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. La??stly, 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 are 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-sh??ot 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 person??ally 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 C?olossi is necessary in progressing 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. Professor'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 o?ther players. After all, it is a monster docu??mentary guild. The only reason SF-Zoo allied with Wolfgang is to hopefully get access to Rabituza, where Emul is from. 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 noting at present. Despite her peculiarities, she is at least strong enough to fight Pencilgon to a draw, albeit needing to utilize her entire arsenal.

The post Each membe??r of the four-c??lan alliance in Shangri-La Frontier, explained appeared first on Destructoid.

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 p?irates, and they have yet to break the stalemate. On the pirates' sid?e, 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 captain’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 the 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 member of the crew. Marco the Phoenix held the position of First Division Commander, while Portgas D. Ace was the Second Division C?ommander. The Whitebeard Pirates al??so 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 ki?n can't be overlooked. Big Mom a?nd her children make up the crew's main force. The Charlotte siblings do everything to appease their matriarch, though it mostly boils down to feeding her.

Unsurprisingly, Big ?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 ranks.

The crew is naturally led by Big Mom herself. Just below her are her strongest children, the Sweet Commanders. After taking down Charlotte 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 abilities 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 followers animalistic? abilities.

It isn't surprising as Kaido himself is known as The Strongest Creature. He has ??the Fish-Fish 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 foll??owers 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 hi?erarchy 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 embr??ace the concept of true pirate freedom, living by a code of honor and respect that set??s 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 serving as both captain and friend to each member. Unlike other Emper??ors, 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 means necessary. They believe that pirates can only be united by a co?mmon 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. Bug??gy the Clown may be the pronounced Emperor and Cross Guild'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 “legend??ary�???status, even when much of it stems from exaggerated tales and opportunistic deception.

The post Every Emperor crew in One Piece, explained appeared first on Destructoid.

DAN DA DAN has quickly emerged 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 antagonists. 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 rea??l-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. However, 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 technolog?ically 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 species. As such, they harbor great hostility toward humans.

The infamous Project Serpo

The origin of the Serpo Aliens is rooted in a widely c??irculated 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 extraterrestrial 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 humans. 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 Eb??ens 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 about Project Serpo describe the Ebens as short, gray-skinned beings with large, dark ?eyes. These descriptions fit the archetype of the classic “gray ali?ens�?that populate much of UFO lore.

The post Real-world origin of Serpo Aliens?? featured in DAN DA DAN appeared first on Destructoid.

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?. However, 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 original's art, animation, a??nd ?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 surprisingly 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 first run.

As their debut post-timeskip, the Straw Hats made an explosive showcase 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 able 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 antag?onists.

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 nothing more tha??n 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 proceeded to beat up Hody li??ke 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. Furthermor??e, 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 longstanding 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 sig??natures after a series of unfortunate events. First was the death of Fisher Tiger, who was kn?own 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 into 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 wh??en watching the second time around.

Af?ter returning from her trip with the Celestial Dragons, Queen Otohime's cause saw some progress. Unfortunately, i??t 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 Mary 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 Pirates docked into the island where Koala was staying, the inhabitant??s asked Tiger to keep the girl with them.

Tiger ultimately agreed, and the Sun Pirates made Koala do chores f??or 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 be 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 inhabitants. The scruffle ultimately resulted in Fisher Tiger meeting his en?d 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.

The post Most exciting moments of One Piece’s Fish-Man Island Arc appeared first on Destructoid.

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 introduced a number of mythical creatures, including the famed Turbo Granny.

The weenie-loving old hag has certainly earned herself a number of? fans. 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, emaci?ated woman with an exaggeratedly withered face and wild hair. Despite 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 bod?y 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 development, 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, Turbo Granny is a spiri??t 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 spirits 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 co?mmon 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 captivati??ng 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 one-to-on??e 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 Flatwoods Monster, amplifying it?s threatening presence for dramatic 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 that 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 cryptid?s 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 glowing, 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 Fl??atwoods Monster sighting as a misinterpretation of natural phenomena �?claiming that the witnesses may have mistaken an owl perched on a tree for an alien �?the legend continues to thrive in popular culture.

The post Origins of Flatwoods Mon??ster featured in DAN DA DAN appeared first on Destructoid.

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 mil?lions 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 tra??iler 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 story supervisor and executive producer. O??ther 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 with magic, mythica?l creatures, and danger at every turn. Previously known as King Grey, Arthur retains the memories and wisdom of his past life. This gives h?im a unique perspective as he grows from infancy in his new world.

However, this second chance at life comes with its own challenges. As A??rthur 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 the world of Dicathen.

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

The post The Beginning After the E??nd webcomic 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. Bel?ow 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 gam??es, dives into a virtual reality world that is the polar opposite �?the titular masterfully crafted 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 comprehensive recap of Season 1's impo??rtant plot po?ints. In brief, the second season will likely see Wolfgang's expansion and future activities, inclu??ding taking o?n the remaining Colossi.

The second season is available for streaming on a number o?f streaming platf??orms, including Crunchyroll and Netflix. However, availability may vary depending on region.

The post Shangri-La Fro?ntier 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 spring.

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 fresh viewing 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-related 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 includes the portrait maker which trans?forms fans' selfies into art reminiscent of O??da's signature style.

The post One Piece anime is going on hiatus, returnin?g 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 due?ls 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 pir??ate, 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 Nami, 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 creative with his attacks, giving birth to ludicrous antics such as using Arlong's teeth against him.

Versus the electrifying God Enel

God Enel was no joke. With his lightning 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 thunderous attacks??. Their ba??ttle 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 still waiting for Enel's return to the series. We can't really blame them since Enel is supposed to be jus??t 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 finally landed that finishing blow, drenched in water and his own blood, it was a massive win both for him and 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 tric??ky, 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, Luffy 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 L??ucci was 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.

Although it wasn't the first fight that put Lu?ffy's life in danger, it was arguably the first one that forced L??uffy to go beyond his limits. After all, it's during 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 w?ho used every card in his arsenal to ensure his victory.?? Alas, his antics weren't enough to stomp Luffy.

That is not to say the fight was easy?. Not only did Doflamingo hold the entire Dressrosa ho?stage, 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 another power-up �?Gear 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 con??trol, 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 the 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 f?oe. 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 was so intense that it forced Luffy's Devil Fruit to Awaken, ultimately revealing the fact that Luffy possesses the Hum?an-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 o??r proving strength. This was about friendship 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 f??ullest to take down his 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 episo??des. 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 perilou??s 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 the ??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 �?September 28, 2024
• Episode 2 �?October 5, 2024
• Episode 3 �?October 12, 2024
• Episode 4 �?October 19, 2024

For the uninitiated, Uzumaki centers around the eerie happenings in a small town that becomes obsessed with spirals. It all started with a weird phe??nomenon, 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 spiri?t of Junji Ito’s original work.

The post Uzumaki full release schedule appeared first on Destructoid.

This year, two shōnen 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 them 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 se?ries' 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 the enemy, Itadori assures him that he won't be executed, echoing the late Satoru Gojo's dream of inspiring a new generation of sorcerers to be kinder ??and more empathetic. After a brief interaction b?etween 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 whenever they get animated by their respec??tive studios.

My Hero Academia did a solid job at closing off almost every single plot beat that it established 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, Spinner, 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 friend??s 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 Showd?own Arc affected them, especially considering that Nobara Kugisaki was absent from the 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 g??et together 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 Deku became a teacher and couldn't fulfil his dream of beco?ming 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 becaus?e 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. I??t 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 follow Sukun??a with so much loyalty?

But the main criticism regarding the ending of Jujutsu Kaisen is related to its abrupt nature. While Akutami had revealed that he intended to end the manga in the near future, many fans believed he cou?ld 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 chapters in total over ?the course of 10 years. This was q?uite 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 shōnen 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 te??lling its 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 fulfilling ending of th??e 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. I??t's important to point out that Horikoshi and Akutami's unfortunate health issues indirectly caused some 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 b??etter 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 releasing 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.

With?? that in mind, here's everything you need to remember befo?re 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 centered on the eponymou?s?? 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 anot??her to match it. A close game store employ?ee 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 harder 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 enc?ountered 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 it. 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.

S??unraku 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 acknowledged 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 an??other 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 h??elping 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 six other Colossi. Pencilgon also ended up being th?e 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 ta?sks 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 h??is 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 clan. While Sunraku and the other are yet to accept Professor's alliance offer, they wi?ll likely end up working together as it was revealed in Season 1 that slaying the seven? Colossi is necessary to further the game's overarching plot.

There is also the development of character rel?ationships. 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 tha?t the new season will pr??emiere on the streaming platform on October 13 (Sunday). Specifically, the pilot episode 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 (character d??esign), and MONACA (music).

The post Everything to remember before Shangri-La F??rontier 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 wondering, "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, le?ading the way 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 first 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 group 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 (Excep??t 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 latter, 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 care?ers on the line and not som??eone's life.

I'm really liking this new direction of having almost no bad eggs 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 re??st of the season, and even if it's brief, it's enough to get me hyped for what'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 th??e 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 anime kind of gal, and the show somehow dug its hooks in me from start to fin??ish. 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 t?his 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, se??eing 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 als??o check out Season 1 for a ref??resher.

The post Blue Lock Season 2 Episode 1 i??s a goal-rious leadup to the ultimate match appeared first on Destructoid.

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 of??ficial release date and? synopsis are still under wraps.

The announcement came in the form of an el?egant 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 ani??me t??ells 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 the bloodshed. With the help of Suwa Yorishige, a wise Shinto priest and lord of Suwa Province, he sets out to reclaim what’s rightfully his using his elusive ways.

CloverWorks produced the first season of the anime, and Aniplex of America 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 re??sponsible 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 regi??on.

The post The?? Elusive Samurai announced upcoming second season appeared first on Destructoid.

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 came with a promotional video sh?owcasing some of the second season's notable moments.

Still, there's a bit m??ore. 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 joinin??g 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 th?e 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 of 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.

The post Oshi no Ko Season 3 is confirmed appeared first on Destructoid.

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 series 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 ?here.

Full release schedule

The anime kicked off on October 3, 2024, and is available on Crunchyroll. Although there is still no official confirmation of t?he? final 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 be?lief 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 personal 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 t??he release of its final chapter, 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 regard??ing 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 o?fficial release dat?e 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 finger?s 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.

The post The Jujutsu Kaisen manga officially comes to an e??nd appeared first on Destructoid.

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 heartbreaking experiences. And so, here are the 10 characters with the sadde?st backstories.

The Gladiator Kyros

Kyros has always been a mighty and good-hearted warrior, though he isn't blessed with a good life at birth. He became a gladiator in the Corr??ida 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 failed to take Kyros' free will, other people's memories of him were still erased. Kyros watc??hed 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, Rebecca 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 tales. 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 chil??d, leaving him and his ailing mother behind. As his moth??er's condition worsened, Usopp started lying 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 admi??red. 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 chara??cter, treading the line between being the Straw Hats' enemy and ally. However, it ultimat?ely 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 during the God Valley incident and eventually lived as a priest with Ginny. Both characters then joi??ned 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 Diseas?e, leaving her daughter Jewelry Bonney be??hind. 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, originally 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. Howeve??r, when Tom was arrested for building the ship of the Pirate King, the government gave ?him a chance to escape punishment by building a sea train.

Even when Tom successfully held his end of the bargain, the government 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 battleships to launch a pseudo-attack on Water 7. Even though Tom and the others success??fully 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 f??ar from stupid. Even during h??is 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 into a permanent vegetative state. In a desperate attempt to bring his wife's consciousness back, Senor Pink started wearing Gi??mlet's clothes. This brought a smile to the 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 Be?lle-Mère lived happily. That happiness was shattered when the Arlong Pirates invaded the village, demanding a tax for every resident. Unable to pay for all 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 wa??s too late. Law wat??ched as the government shot his parents and those close to him.

Consumed by rage and a desire for revenge, Law joined the Donquixote Pirates, where he hoped to use their power to destroy the government. However, his life too??k another tragic turn when he bonded w??ith 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 appearance 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 bones symbol on the medical book as a miracle cure. In a desperate attempt to save him, Chopper risked his life to find t??hat 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, B??rook 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.

The post 10 One Piece characters with the saddes?t backstories appeared first on Destructoid.

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 journey 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 of 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, serving 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.

The post Bandai Namco?? reveals Wistoria: Wand and Sword Season 2 appeared first on Destructoid.