https://www.cbr.com Covering comics, movies, TV like no other in the world. CBR.com is all you need! Fri, 30 Jun 2023 23:30:14 GMT en-US hourly 60 Many Sailor Moon characters die and are revived or reborn, but many don't come back after they die, especially the villains and henchmen. But though they work for the darker forces of the universe, they tend to be complicated characters capable of true redemption. Some are even working for the baddies under duress or because they've been brainwashed.

]]> Fri, 30 Jun 2023 23:30:14 GMT https://www.cbr.com/dead-sailor-moon-characters-should-come-back/ Demons, poltergeists, and Frankenstein-like creations don't just make great costumes — they make great characters, too. Not all monsters in anime are horrific; some anime have a diverse range of monsters with more cartoony, Halloween vibes than straightforward horror. Their cast of characters comprising vampires, ghosts, ghouls, and zombies are like a love letter to "The Monster Mash" and make year-round entertaining watches.

]]> Fri, 30 Jun 2023 21:30:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/greatest-monster-anime-ranked/ One Piece is littered with powerful individuals, ranging from hard-working Marines to sea-faring pirates to rebellion-minded revolutionaries. However, despite the numerous differences between these characters, one thing unites many of them — their reliance on the power of Devil Fruits.

]]> Fri, 30 Jun 2023 19:51:13 GMT https://www.cbr.com/one-piece-characters-awakened-devil-fruit/ One of the best parts about watching a good action series is seeing a great fight. A struggle of wills between the protagonist and the antagonist can get viewers pumped, especially if the story leading up to the conflict is told properly. These fights can even be cathartic, allowing the hero to finally triumph over the villain.

]]> Fri, 30 Jun 2023 18:00:14 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-iconic-anime-fights/ Many love interests from classic anime set the standard for character types down the line. Unique relationship dynamics that stood out to audiences in the past are so loved that they inform later romances. Some characters, love confessions, and romantic scenes are so iconic that audiences want to see them told over and over to varying degrees.

]]> Fri, 30 Jun 2023 17:10:12 GMT https://www.cbr.com/anime-love-interests-define-classic-series/ Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball works tirelessly to surpass shonen series expectations and remain relevant in the face of new modern classics. Dragon Ball is even more popular today than when it first premiered and the exaggerated heights of the series’ latest battles continue to excite fans. There are many different reasons to love Dragon Ball, but it’s these fateful fights that frequently receive the most attention.

]]> Fri, 30 Jun 2023 16:51:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/dragon-ball-anime-best-pointless-fights/ My Hero Academia has taken off as one of the most popular pieces of superhero media of all time, with both the manga and anime standing as brilliant examples of the genre. One thing that makes My Hero Academia stand out amongst the rest of superhero media is the awesome villains. They also have some of the coolest powers and abilities.

]]> Fri, 30 Jun 2023 16:00:17 GMT https://www.cbr.com/my-hero-academia-all-villains-ranked-from-weakest-to-strongest/ One Piece is one of the longest-running anime in the medium's history, but despite its long-standing nature, the series is nowhere near finishing up. The pirate-themed shonen (based on Eiichiro Oda's legendary manga of the same title) has well over 1000 episodes — only a small percentage of which are of the filler variety.

]]> Fri, 30 Jun 2023 14:20:14 GMT https://www.cbr.com/one-piece-every-filler-arc/ Tatsuki Fujimoto's Chainsaw Man is one of the biggest anime of 2023, and the series' overwhelming success has pushed many audiences to explore its source material manga. MAPPA has a reputation for visually stunning anime adaptations, and their first season of Chainsaw Man is no exception.

]]> Fri, 30 Jun 2023 13:31:12 GMT https://www.cbr.com/greatest-chainsaw-man-manga-panels/ Dragon Ball Super Tournament of Power was arguably the most exciting event the franchise has seen in years. Unlike most anime tournaments, the ToP affected the series on a multiversal scale. Fighting for their universe's survival, the multiverse's greatest martial artists fought desperately in a forty-eight-minute battle royale where only one universe could survive.

]]> Fri, 30 Jun 2023 11:00:17 GMT https://www.cbr.com/dragonball-super-top-strongest-anime-crossover-characters/ Fans of manga and manhwa alike know that isekai is one of modern anime's most popular genres. "Isekai" means "another world" in Japanese and follows the typical story of a person being transported to another world, mostly after a tragic death.

]]> Thu, 29 Jun 2023 19:51:14 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-isekai-romance-manhwa-fans-manga/ Isekai anime exploded in popularity over the last few years and branched into multiple subgenres. This increased popularity was just the push creators needed to further embrace the genre. Roughly translating to "other world," isekai presents intriguing stories where protagonists from the real world find their way to a fantasy setting.

]]> Thu, 29 Jun 2023 15:10:13 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-isekai-manhwa-myanimelist/ Akira Toriyama's Dragon Ball is a signature shonen series that's entertained audiences for over three decades, yet it's still one of this generation's most popular anime. Dragon Ball Z picks up from the events of the original Dragon Ball, with Goku now a father ready to take on unprecedented evil from across the galaxy.

]]> Thu, 29 Jun 2023 14:20:14 GMT https://www.cbr.com/dbz-bad-writing/ Considering how often villains fail to enact their plans, it's a wonder why anime villains try in the first place. Even if the heroes struggle, they will always defeat the villains. However, victory for the heroes doesn't always end in punishment for the villains.

]]> Thu, 29 Jun 2023 13:30:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/successful-anime-villains-worst-crimes/ It’s extremely challenging to create a successful anime or manga series, let alone one that’s able to run for as long as Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball. Toriyama has put Goku and the rest of Dragon Ball’s characters through incredible situations over the course of hundreds of episodes. A story of this scope is prone to face inconsistencies or introduce certain retcon measures in the sake of streamlining storytelling.

]]> Thu, 29 Jun 2023 11:00:14 GMT https://www.cbr.com/dragon-ball-akira-toriyama-best-forgotten-character-arcs/ It may not get as much love and attention as other shonen, but Hunter x Hunter is still a fun series. Like other decent works of fiction, HxH has interesting characters, and many of them are Hunters who are capable of using Nen. Nen is arguably the most complex and unique power system in anime, which means that the fights are quite entertaining.

]]> Wed, 28 Jun 2023 23:30:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/myanimelist-popular-hunter-x-hunter-characters/ It's common for an anime to significantly change certain parts of the manga it's adapting for creative and practical reasons. This can affect the manga's characters in such a way that they either feel familiar yet different, or they become new people entirely. The best kinds of changes are those that impress viewers and improve the story.

]]> Wed, 28 Jun 2023 21:30:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/manga-characters-better-in-anime/ Waifus aren't reserved for kind and heroic characters, several anime villains have become fan favorite waifus. Terrifying powers and ruthless cunning aren't a villain's only attributes. Some villains wield their beauty like a weapon, while others are indifferent about their lovely features. There's more to attraction than conventional concepts of beauty, too.

]]> Wed, 28 Jun 2023 19:50:14 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-anime-villain-waifus/ Isekai is a subgenre of Japanese light novels, video games, manga, and anime where the protagonist gets transported to or reborn in another world. They're usually tasked with completing a specific mission during their time in this new world they've been forced into. In recent years, isekai's popularity has skyrocketed, resulting in several more isekai anime adaptations.

]]> Wed, 28 Jun 2023 15:39:32 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-isekai-anime-ranked/ Demon Slayer is a hugely popular shonen anime series that features more than stellar animation from Studio UFOtable and an exciting combat system of swords and breathing. Like any good shonen series, Demon Slayer boasts a large cast of charming and compelling characters, from the cuddly Nezuko Kamado to the flashy Tengen Uzui and beyond.

]]> Wed, 28 Jun 2023 15:10:24 GMT https://www.cbr.com/demon-slayer-most-wholesome-ships-ranked/ There are some genuinely hilarious anime out there. The medium has plenty of creators who love to do zany, off-the-wall gags that will leave viewers in tears, or touch on the inherent silliness of reality in fun and creative ways.

]]> Wed, 28 Jun 2023 14:20:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-comedy-anime-watch-now/ Anime can run for hundreds–or even thousands–of episodes, while others say everything that they have to in a dozen installments. The length of an anime is less important than whether it's able to tie up its loose ends and properly conclude the story.

]]> Wed, 28 Jun 2023 13:30:14 GMT https://www.cbr.com/canceled-anime-with-great-endings/ Kohei Horikoshi’s My Hero Academia is one of this decade’s biggest shonen success stories and one of the most impressive anime about superheroes. My Hero Academia has entered its endgame and it’s remarkable to look at how far these characters have come from their humble origins. A significant hurdle that’s faced by many battle shonen series is the concept of “power creep,” where individuals suddenly receive convenient upgrades to better service the storytelling.

]]> Wed, 28 Jun 2023 11:00:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/mha-worst-power-creeps/ Hollywood has a terrible reputation when it comes to adapting anime into live-action, but that doesn't mean that filmmakers will stop trying to bring anime to life. This trend won't be stopping anytime soon, especially in light of how anime seems to keep getting bigger and adored around the world with each passing year.

]]> Tue, 27 Jun 2023 23:30:14 GMT https://www.cbr.com/upcoming-anime-movie-adaptations-in-the-works/ Just like any other form of entertainment, anime is prone to making writing decisions that can't satisfy everyone. Some fans support the writing choices in question, while others don't. This kind of polarization is to be expected. After all, storytelling preference is subjective. However, there are some plot beats that got on everyone's nerves.

]]> Tue, 27 Jun 2023 21:30:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/controversial-anime-writing-decisions/ Anime's heightened and imaginative nature has caused fans to expect weird and exaggerated endings. It isn't uncommon to hear fans both praise and mock an anime for using its last episodes to become esoteric or even self-aware. But even by anime standards, some endings are too weird to believe.

]]> Tue, 27 Jun 2023 19:51:12 GMT https://www.cbr.com/weird-anime-endings/ Given their seemingly impenetrable popularity and influence, it isn't easy to "kill" an anime genre. However, some anime were so bad or groundbreaking that they killed the genre they were a part of. Some of these genres managed to adapt to a different world, while others were seemingly disappeared overnight despite their previous fame.

]]> Tue, 27 Jun 2023 16:50:13 GMT https://www.cbr.com/anime-that-ruined-a-genre/ Body-swapping is a comedic and popular trope within anime. Characters switching bodies and attempting to live each other's lives often has hilarious results. The ensuing chaos can offer a light-hearted, comedic break for fans to enjoy between more serious episodes.

]]> Tue, 27 Jun 2023 14:20:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-anime-with-body-swap/ Anime remains the ultimate equalizer because of its limitless ability to tell diverse stories where anything is possible, including grandiose death games where dozens of people are assembled. It’s always interesting when certain trends invade anime and one type of suspenseful story that’s found increasing popularity over the past decade are battle royale or death game series.

]]> Tue, 27 Jun 2023 13:30:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-battle-royale-anime/ Casual fans of Japanese anime, or any non-fan who wants to get into anime, is encouraged to find the right entry points so they can don't get overwhelmed. Choosing a series on Crunchyroll at random or sampling a long-running show halfway through won't work so well, but other entry points do exist, and most of them are quite intuitive.

]]> Tue, 27 Jun 2023 11:00:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-anime-franchise-entry-points/ Kohei Horikoshi’s My Hero Academia remains one of the most popular shonen series of this generation and its fandom seems to grow more passionate with each passing year. My Hero Academia has hundreds of individuals – both heroes and villains alike – who all have diverse Quirks, which aid them in battle. The bulk of the planet’s population have Quirks, but these superpowers come in many different shapes and sizes.

]]> Mon, 26 Jun 2023 23:30:17 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-mha-heteromorphs/ Anime villains are imposing figures. They incite fear wherever they tread and do whatever it takes to ensure chaos. Anime villains are some of the most vicious characters. However, there are some whose stature makes them less intimidating at the onset. They may be some of the most evil villains, but they are also the shortest.

]]> Mon, 26 Jun 2023 21:30:17 GMT https://www.cbr.com/short-anime-villains/ Shojo anime have been around since anime's beginning. As such, the genre’s animation has changed drastically with the times and within each new type of story. While each series holds similar elements to the last, different eras and characters separate these animation styles from each other.

]]> Mon, 26 Jun 2023 19:51:14 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-shojo-anime-art-styles/ Osamu Dazai from Bungou Stray Dogs may not be the series' protagonist, but he stole the show from the lead, Atsushi Nakajima. Dazai may seem cheerful and outgoing, but his past is quite dark, and his identity is still shrouded in mystery even though his backstory has been covered.

]]> Mon, 26 Jun 2023 19:00:17 GMT https://www.cbr.com/bungo-stray-dogs-osamu-dazai-facts/ The anime industry is known for churning out a lot of slice-of-life comedy and drama series, and they often take place in a high school. This isn't an accident; many anime viewers are in high school themselves, so this academic setting is relatable and familiar. But that doesn't have to make for stale, routine storytelling. Some high school anime go above and beyond.

]]> Mon, 26 Jun 2023 17:10:30 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-high-school-anime-ranked/ Visual novels are an unorthodox medium that take the best from video games, anime, and literary approaches to craft an immersive and interactive experience incomparable to any other storytelling method. The close link between anime and visual novels makes the latter medium an inviting source for adaptations.

]]> Mon, 26 Jun 2023 16:50:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/worst-visual-novel-anime-adaptations-ranked/ In the anime medium, quality parents come at a premium. Countless anime characters are born to fractured households, and as a result, they often lack any sort of concrete parental guidance. That’s not to say that there aren’t amazing parents in anime — Maes Hughes from Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood and Minato Kamikaze from Naruto: Shippuden are both solid examples of parents who love, protect, and challenge their children.

]]> Mon, 26 Jun 2023 16:00:29 GMT https://www.cbr.com/worst-anime-fathers-ranked/ Manhwa has captivated the hearts of fans who love Japanese entertainment like anime and manga, with romance being the dominant genre to saturate the field. With the majority of manhwa possessing more capable female leads than manga, some have become accustomed to switching to South Korean comics.

]]> Mon, 26 Jun 2023 15:10:30 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-romance-manhwa-recommendation/ Anime heroes are among the strongest and most awe-inspiring in television. They typically have humble beginnings, but their tenacity and unbridled determination help them go beyond their goals. There are countless fantastic anime heroes, yet others do not share that same luster.

]]> Mon, 26 Jun 2023 14:20:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/badly-written-anime-protagonists/ Shonen anime represent some of the medium's biggest titles, and fans regularly laud the genre's Big Three and Dark Trio. Shonen's Big Three — Naruto, One Piece, and Bleach — were a trio of top titles that concurrently ran in Shonen Jump. A recent set of more mature shonen series dubbed the Dark Trio — Chainsaw Man, Jujutsu Kaisen, and Hell's Paradise — have become some of the decade's most talked about anime.

]]> Mon, 26 Jun 2023 13:30:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/how-shonen-jump-big-three-better-than-dark-trio/ Anime is home to some of the most amazing and creative superpowers ever seen in fiction. Whether these abilities mildly strengthened their user or turned them into a physical god, they almost always came with a price. Some powers had an understandably high exchange rate, while others demanded a price that was just unreasonable.

]]> Mon, 26 Jun 2023 11:00:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-anime-abilites-not-worth-cost/ Naruto has been one of the most popular anime series in the world for decades, and it continues to have a strong legacy. Fans fell in love with the series because of its story, but they also enjoyed the action and characters. Like most successful stories, Naruto has interesting villains, and most of them are strong and highly skilled ninjas who can use various jutsu.

]]> Sun, 25 Jun 2023 23:31:14 GMT https://www.cbr.com/naruto-villains-who-didnt-deserve-a-second-chance/ JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is a long-running manga and anime series that has incorporated different international cultural influences into the fabric of its fictional world. One of the most heavy-handed influences on Hirohiko Araki has been music, and as such, many songs, albums, and artists have been featured.

]]> Sun, 25 Jun 2023 21:31:13 GMT https://www.cbr.com/jojo-stands-based-on-hit-songs-spotify/ Shonen manga are notorious for spunky teenage protagonists with superpowers. The industry remained effectively bound to this trope until one of the first game-changers appeared in December 2003. Shonen Jump previously found success marketing toward younger children, but it eventually spawned a new fandom of edgy teenagers with Death Note.

]]> Sun, 25 Jun 2023 19:51:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/death-note-light-yagami-quotes/ From the creative mind of Hirohiko Araki, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is one of the most popular anime/manga series of all time. While the first two Parts of the series were exceptional, it was not until Part 3's Stardust Crusaders that Araki revolutionized the series by introducing the concept of Stands.

]]> Sun, 25 Jun 2023 19:00:17 GMT https://www.cbr.com/jojos-bizarre-adventure-strongest-stands-ranked/ The military forces in Attack on Titan are divided into three divisions, of which the Scout Regiment has proven to be the most useful in combat situations. Led by Erwin, the mantle of leadership later passed on to Hange Zoë and, eventually, to Armin Arlert. The Scout Regiment is known as "the hope of humanity", although most people consider them to be freeloaders.

]]> Sun, 25 Jun 2023 18:00:17 GMT https://www.cbr.com/attack-on-titan-scout-regiment-members-most-kills/ Fans of romance manga tend to either love or avoid age gap romances. It's a specific genre that's either a hit or a miss, but not every age gap romance is the same. As each character falls in love, they may come face to face with the typical difficulties of being in a relationship as well as troubles related to their age difference.

]]> Sun, 25 Jun 2023 17:10:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/cute-age-gap-manga-romances/ Anime has the incredible ability to tackle the impossible where nothing is off limits, whether it’s fantastical adventures, giant robot mayhem, or even a deconstruction of popular sports and recreational pastimes. Anime embraces every sport imaginable, no matter how niche, but there’s been a surprising amount of series that explore the highs and lows of boxing.

]]> Sun, 25 Jun 2023 16:50:14 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-boxing-anime/ For many anime, their main plots and characters originated in popular manga. The more popular a manga, the more likely a studio is to adapt it into an anime. However, whether due to the nature of manga as a medium or simply due to misunderstanding the source material, some anime just didn't do their manga justice.

]]> Sun, 25 Jun 2023 16:00:17 GMT https://www.cbr.com/awesome-manga-with-terrible-anime-adaptations/ Oshi no Ko is one of the hottest new anime series of 2023, taking the anime world by storm with its captivating story and complex characters. Far from the typical idol story, this surprisingly dark series is an honest look inside the world of showbiz, featuring the good, the bad, and the ugly of idol life. Such an incredible title has left many fans hungry for similar stories. Luckily, there are plenty of series available that are sure to satisfy this need.

]]> Sun, 25 Jun 2023 15:30:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/anime-like-oshi-no-ko/ Cute characters are a huge part of the appeal of anime, and they do not get much cuter than anime children. These kids can be as simple as characters who are in the story to provide some levity or a fresh perspective for the protagonist. But, they can also be strong and well-developed characters in their own right.

]]> Sun, 25 Jun 2023 15:10:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/cutest-anime-children-ranked/ Not all anime movies that were popular at their release stand the test of time. Some have tropes that were uninspired in hindsight, and some have messages which are just a bit too trite or on-the-nose. There are also titles that were watched avidly for a few years after their release but hardly get attention now, even though the acclaim is well deserved.

]]> Sun, 25 Jun 2023 14:40:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/timeless-classic-80s-90s-anime-films/ Although a variety of themes and tropes appear across anime, few are more consistent than the medium's emphasis on power-scaling. Many of the most popular protagonists and side characters in anime benefit from superhuman abilities, allowing them to battle the antagonistic forces that they encounter in their respective series.

]]> Sun, 25 Jun 2023 14:20:23 GMT https://www.cbr.com/fastest-anime-characters/ Akira Toriyama's Dragon Ball Z remains one of the shonen genre's most popular anime, even after decades of dedicated storytelling. Dragon Ball Z works so well because it establishes a rewarding formula yet still manages to subvert expectations, surprise audiences, and allow its concepts to evolve with the times.

]]> Sun, 25 Jun 2023 13:30:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/fan-favorite-dbz-characters-ranked/ The long-running Naruto anime gradually upped the ante with ever-stronger characters and devastating new ninjutsu techniques, which helped give the series a sense of progress. As protagonist Naruto Uzumaki got stronger, so did his friends and enemies, but sometimes, the power creep raised some eyebrows among Naruto fans.

]]> Sun, 25 Jun 2023 12:00:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/naruto-worst-power-creep-cases-ranked/ As the anime industry has grown, more compelling and enchanting stories have reached audiences around the world. Though these anime are extremely beloved, many of them are lacking where the main characters are concerned. The supporting casts are typically spot on, but their protagonists are poorly written.

]]> Sun, 25 Jun 2023 11:00:17 GMT https://www.cbr.com/great-anime-with-terrible-main-characters/ The Japanese anime industry is home to many beloved character archetypes and not just the -dere types like tsundere and kuudere. Anime fans also love a good himbo, or a "dumb but strong" male character who may not be too bright, but his energetic charisma, noble strength, and good attitude all make up for it.

]]> Sat, 24 Jun 2023 23:30:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/classic-anime-best-himbos/ There's something inherently fantastical about getting transported to another world. That's likely why isekai anime tends to fit so naturally into the traditional "fantasy" mold of knights and magic. Because of that though, trying to find any isekai series that can be considered outside the fantasy genre has become exceedingly difficult.

]]> Sat, 24 Jun 2023 21:30:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-modern-isekai-not-high-fantasy/ Violence is a regular part of life for Naruto's shinobis and kunoichis. After all, it's what they're trained for from the time they are born. Between one on one battles while out on a mission, to the seemingly unavoidable nature of war, there have been plenty of violent fights in Naruto. In fact, some of the anime's most violent battles play important roles in establishing or furthering major story arcs.

]]> Sat, 24 Jun 2023 20:30:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/violent-naruto-fights/ Anime has seen a surge in popularity in recent years because more and more people now view it as a valid entertainment medium. Anime covers every type of genre imaginable, but action is still the most popular, and a number of action anime feature ninjas. Most ninja anime are set in feudal Japan, but there are a few that take place in more modern settings.

]]> Sat, 24 Jun 2023 19:51:13 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-ninja-anime/ Characters in shonen anime are notoriously fast. For instance, Hunter x Hunter's Isaac Netero and Korosensei in Assassination Classroom move at speeds far beyond human comprehension. In comparison, the soccer players in Blue Lock are extremely slow by shonen standards.

]]> Sat, 24 Jun 2023 19:00:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/fastest-blue-lock-players/ Suspense plays a big part in enjoying a story in any medium. The feeling of a story building tension for a foreshadowed event is second to none. In anime, the suspense usually comes from a mystery that leads fans on a wild but rewarding goose chase. While many of anime's biggest mysteries have answers, an equal amount were left unsolved.

]]> Sat, 24 Jun 2023 18:00:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/intentionally-open-ended-anime-mysteries/ Vinland Saga takes place in the Viking Age, a bygone era where people did almost everything by hand, from household chores to chopping down trees and fighting their enemies on the field of battle. In this medieval world, it pays to be physically fit and strong, either to kill one's enemies or defend their loved ones from attack.

]]> Sat, 24 Jun 2023 17:11:13 GMT https://www.cbr.com/vinland-saga-most-powerful-characters/ Everyone seems to have a favorite shonen anime, whether it is an old classic like Dragon Ball or a recent release like My Hero Academia. Fans cannot seem to get enough of scrappy heroes overcoming the odds and winning the day. Though many great anime with these types of stories exist, some shows get even better after the first season.

]]> Sat, 24 Jun 2023 16:51:14 GMT https://www.cbr.com/shonen-anime-with-weak-first-season/ The world of Demon Slayer is profusely vibrant. A smorgasbord of intense battles and emotional moments anchor the narrative better than anything else ever could. However, Demon Slayer's audience appeal is almost entirely built on the backs of its various characters — heroes and villains alike.

]]> Sat, 24 Jun 2023 16:00:18 GMT https://www.cbr.com/demon-slayer-smartest-characters-ranked/ Shojo anime are typically known for their beautiful and attentive leading males. They usually see the female protagonist as their whole world, and their growth involves them either ending up with the girl they have been longing for or falling for the girl they despised initially. Unfortunately, not all males in shojo anime are as devoted and complimentary.

]]> Sat, 24 Jun 2023 15:10:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/shojo-anime-badly-written-male-characters/ So many beloved anime are based on sources written by women. It's safe to assume that there are more women writers than fans know since many assume masculine pen names to publish their works. For instance, the author of Demon Slayer assumes a pen name. It's unknown whether they are a man or woman, but many fans suspect that the author is a woman or non-binary.

]]> Sat, 24 Jun 2023 14:20:17 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-anime-women-wrote/ Since it was released in 2016, My Hero Academia has spawned manga, light novel spin-offs, and inspired films based on the franchise. Most of all, Kohei Horikoshi's story has inspired people around the globe to chase their dreams no matter how improbable they are. The tale of Izuku Midoriya is uplifting and fans are excited about where his journey toward heroism will lead.

]]> Sat, 24 Jun 2023 13:30:17 GMT https://www.cbr.com/mha-groundbreaking-storytelling/ Hell's Paradise follows a group of criminals chosen by the shogunate to go on a mission. These criminals are some of the most dangerous, ruthless, and brutal people in the entire world. They were chosen precisely for their formidable powers and merciless personalities.

]]> Sat, 24 Jun 2023 11:01:14 GMT https://www.cbr.com/hells-paradise-worst-criminals/ Shonen anime may not be known for its romances, but that doesn't mean shonen anime don't have their fair share of dramatic relationships. Some couples constantly quarrel, while others choose moments in battle to make fervent love confessions. Some of the drama is worthy of a giggle and an eye-roll, while others truly make the heart pound.

]]> Fri, 23 Jun 2023 23:30:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/super-dramatic-shonen-couples-ranked/ Anime villains oppose their respective heroes both physically and ideologically. Instead of simply being evil, these villains oppose everything their rival heroes stand for. Their goal is to disprove the heroes' hopes and dreams and to show that evil always wins. However, there are times when they end up doing the opposite.

]]> Fri, 23 Jun 2023 21:31:14 GMT https://www.cbr.com/anime-villains-ultimately-proved-heroes-right/ Hirohiko Araki's JoJo's Bizarre Adventure has come a long way from its introductory Phantom Blood arc, whether it's in response to the series' changing powers or Araki's ever-evolving art style. Still, despite changes and revisions, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure remains Araki's story to tell.

]]> Fri, 23 Jun 2023 19:50:14 GMT https://www.cbr.com/jjba-worst-plot-holes-in-series/ Although the animation in the One Piece anime is fantastic (especially since the beginning of the Wano Country Arc), the source material for the anime is also nothing short of spectacular. Eiichiro Oda, the author of the One Piece manga, first debuted his sea-faring story in 1997, and since then, he has consistently wowed fans with his storytelling, world-building, and art.

]]> Fri, 23 Jun 2023 19:00:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/one-piece-best-manga-panels/ Anime often tries to subvert the viewers' expectations, portraying merciless murderers as sweet and unassuming and giving kindhearted heroes villainous appearances. But, sometimes, a gentle-looking character ends up representing exactly what it says on the tin. A hero might assume a harmless image not to deceive but to match the noble disposition of their soul.

]]> Fri, 23 Jun 2023 18:00:17 GMT https://www.cbr.com/sweet-anime-characters-kind-looks/ The sources anime turn to for inspiration are not limited to manga series and original concepts. Another favored originator for anime series is the wonderfully multifaceted world of light novels, or ranobe, a type of Japanese young adult fiction that goes hand-in-hand with anime and manga. Light novels skyrocketed in popularity in recent years, impacting the trends that spread wide over the entire medium.

]]> Fri, 23 Jun 2023 17:10:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/light-novels-with-an-anime-series/ There is an overwhelming amount of anime to keep up with, and each year introduces dozens of new memorable series that might become the next big hit of the decade. 2023 has been a banner year for anime, but it's now half over, creating a worthy opportunity to take stock of the biggest and best series that aired during the spring 2023 season.

]]> Fri, 23 Jun 2023 16:50:14 GMT https://www.cbr.com/greatest-spring-2023-anime-ranked/ A mangaka has one of the coolest careers imaginable. The ability to create worlds and characters beloved by fans is a reward in and of itself. However, imagine pairing that with the incredible amount of money from sales of a breakout title. It's no wonder so many manga fans, who dabble in drawing and writing their own, look up to these famous and wealthy creators.

]]> Fri, 23 Jun 2023 16:00:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/richest-japanese-mangaka-ranked/ Anime often have incredible characters and diverse worlds, typically featuring wider casts than most mediums. However, having an expansive cast can be a blessing and a curse. While a large cast allows many lovable side characters, it also opens the door for screen time wasted on flawed characters.

]]> Fri, 23 Jun 2023 15:10:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/anime-characters-ruin-series/ Itachi Uchiha, also known as the Clan Killer, is one of the Uchiha clan's finest memebers in Naruto. Ever since Itachi was a kid, he excelled at everything, be it Ninjutsu, Genjutsu, or Taijutsu. One of the youngest Uchiha ever to awaken the Sharingan, Itachi made sure to take his skills to the pinnacle and being the pacifist that he was, his goal was to bring about peace.

]]> Fri, 23 Jun 2023 14:20:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/naruto-characters-stronger-itachi/ Anime is an extremely versatile storytelling medium where anything is possible, whether colorful, sweet fantasies or dark, morose meditations in grief. Audiences watch anime for many diverse reasons, but there's a healthy fandom who appreciate melodramatic tales that aren't afraid to push boundaries.

]]> Fri, 23 Jun 2023 13:30:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/darkest-anime-beginnings/ One Piece is a colorful shonen saga with a truly massive cast of characters, including bizarre and terrifying villains of all shapes and sizes. One Piece also expanded on its fascinating combat system to give each villain distinct and sometimes truly weird abilities, some of which are unforgettable standouts.

]]> Fri, 23 Jun 2023 11:00:14 GMT https://www.cbr.com/one-piece-villains-unique-powers/ Isekai anime are so ubiquitous that their formula is known by almost everyone, including viewers who may not be fans of the genre. Almost every modern isekai anime is set in a fantasy world that conveniently resembles an RPG that the hero (and viewers) played before. However, that doesn't mean there's room for weirdness and variety.

]]> Thu, 22 Jun 2023 23:30:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/weirdest-anime-isekai-worlds/ Shojo anime series cater to younger female audiences, and that means shojo series feature characters and pursue storylines that girls can easily relate to and take an interest in. That led to a huge variety of well-defined tropes within shojo anime, and fans of shojo can expect to see most of them in each new series they watch. These tropes aren't all built the same, though.

]]> Thu, 22 Jun 2023 21:30:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/unpopular-hated-shojo-tropes/ Eiichiro Oda's One Piece debuted in 1997, and since then, it has become one of the best-selling fictional works in history. The classic shonen has helped define the manga and anime landscape for over 25 years, due in large part to the appeal of its beloved protagonist, Monkey D. Luffy.

]]> Thu, 22 Jun 2023 19:00:25 GMT https://www.cbr.com/one-piece-characters-luffy-cant-beat/ Anime villains can't be in all places at once; sometimes, they must unleash a trusty sidekick, or henchman, on the hero. Some henchmen are annoying and useless, but those with distinct personalities and a brain of their own add to the villain's strength and allure. Inuyasha's Jaken is a loyal ally to Sesshomaru, but he's more comic relief than capable.

]]> Thu, 22 Jun 2023 18:00:17 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-complex-anime-villain-sidekicks-ranked/ Nothing adds seasoning to an anime like a well-written, classic (and sometimes subverted) trope. Shojo anime, which is written for a young female audience, often focuses on strong romance premises. That said, romance anime errs toward including many kinds of beloved tropes.

]]> Thu, 22 Jun 2023 17:10:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-anime-with-common-shojo-tropes/ Like most children’s franchises, Pokémon is generally clear on the hero and villain roles. However, the heroes aren’t without their faults. While they would always try to do the right thing, they didn’t always do right by their friends or acted considerately toward others. Meanwhile, some villains turned out to be unexpectedly honorable in their dealings with the heroes.

]]> Thu, 22 Jun 2023 16:50:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/trustworthy-pokemon-characters/ The anime and manga world was once dominated by the Big Three, and Bleach was one of them. Throughout the series, Ichigo goes on several adventures, introducing viewers to the fascinating Shinigami of Soul Society. The Captains of the Gotei 13 are particularly powerful, albeit not nearly as strong as the protagonist.

]]> Thu, 22 Jun 2023 16:00:23 GMT https://www.cbr.com/strongest-bleach-bankai/ Isekai is a popular anime subgenre where the protagonist is pulled into a magical realm (or even an online world). Sometimes they are transported through a portal, or they're reincarnated as a new person while keeping their previous life's memories. Once they're in their new world, they often fall into a traditional fairytale character type, like a villainess or the chosen one.

]]> Thu, 22 Jun 2023 15:10:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/isekai-anime-greatest-romances/ In My Hero Academia, being a professional hero is an occupation many look up to or aspire to be. As the majority of the population have powers, known as Quirks, select people learn how to do hero work and train their Quirks effectively to benefit society.

]]> Thu, 22 Jun 2023 14:20:17 GMT https://www.cbr.com/mha-most-disappointing-heroes/ Kohei Horikoshi's My Hero Academia has audiences thoroughly invested in Izuku "Deku" Midoriya's journey from Quirkless optimist into the world's number one hero. The superpowers that aid My Hero Academia's many characters are known as Quirks and the anime showcases dozens of unique abilities.

]]> Thu, 22 Jun 2023 13:31:14 GMT https://www.cbr.com/mha-weakest-female-quirk-users/ Japanese anime is known for its gorgeous visuals and lush color palettes, which can make for some truly attractive protagonists and supporting characters. Of course, style is no substitute for actual substance, but if anime heroines are well-written, then anime fans can also take the time to enjoy their feminine charm, too.

]]> Thu, 22 Jun 2023 11:00:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/prettiest-anime-heroines/ The titular protagonist of Naruto is considered one of the most classic anime heroes of all time. Although original in many ways, what makes him most effective are the many similarities he shares with the series' roster of villains. From the Land Of Waves through the Fourth Shinobi War, Naruto is able to win the hearts of his adversaries based on what they have in common.

]]> Wed, 21 Jun 2023 17:11:13 GMT https://www.cbr.com/naruto-similar-to-villains/ Shonen manga and anime are geared toward a male audience in middle and high school. Most shonen manga are written by men, but there are many classic and contemporary titles that are written by women. Titles written by women contain traditional shonen tropes like the chosen one, tsundere love interests, high fantasy adventure, and blood-soaked battles.

]]> Wed, 21 Jun 2023 16:00:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/greatest-shonen-series-female-authors/ At its core, My Hero Academia is the story of how Izuku Midoriya rises from being a Quirkless nobody to the world's number-one hero. Even so, the series does a phenomenal job at both introducing and fleshing out many other fan-favorite characters along the way, from Izuku's friends to his teachers and mentors and even many of the villains they go up against.

]]> Wed, 21 Jun 2023 15:11:14 GMT https://www.cbr.com/mha-potential-spin-off-series/ Eiichiro Oda's One Piece is known for its incredible world-building and diverse cast of characters, including the female Devil Fruit users who have displayed impressive strength and abilities throughout the series. Because of their Devil Fruits, these characters possess unique powers that allow them to control the elements, transform their bodies, and manipulate the world around them.

]]> Wed, 21 Jun 2023 14:20:14 GMT https://www.cbr.com/strong-female-devil-fruit-users/ Anime is one of the most limitless storytelling mediums, and it's truly impressive to look at the many formative series that fill it. Each new year introduces plenty of ambitious and inventive anime, but it's sometimes difficult to tell if a modern classic will last the test of time or if it's the subject of some variety of recent bias.

]]> Wed, 21 Jun 2023 13:30:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/creative-anime-that-aged-well/ Akira Toriyama's Dragon Ball continues to entertain audiences with an impressive legacy that's lasted more than three decades with still no end in sight. Dragon Ball fans love the ongoing series' powerful characters, unbelievable transformations, and the exaggerated clashes that punctuate the storytelling. It's not easy to keep a narrative going for several decades and this has led to plot armor arising in Dragon Ball.

]]> Wed, 21 Jun 2023 11:00:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/dragon-ball-anime-best-plot-armor-characters/ One of the most rewarding things about manga is its ability to engage in so many genres and subject matter. Zombies have long been a staple of the horror movie genre, often nodding towards the famous version of the undead from George Romero's Night of the Living Dead. Consequently, series like Robert Kirkman's The Walking Dead pay continued homage to the maestro of the modern zombie.

]]> Tue, 20 Jun 2023 19:00:23 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-zombie-manga-according-to-my-anime-list-zombie-cherry-cradle-of-monsters-resident-evil/ With a medium as extensive as anime, it's not surprising that it's had a fair amount of controversy over the years. Whether it be from a series being too gory, lewd, or deplorable, a good deal of anime has been banned in certain countries due to its graphic nature. When compared to manga content, however, anime gore is tame.

]]> Tue, 20 Jun 2023 18:00:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/manga-too-controversial-for-anime-adaption/