NEWSWORTHY
Robots from 'Gundam' series to greet 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic athletes from space
Organizers of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games announced plans Wednesday to launch robots from the "Mobile Suit Gundam" anime series into space aboard a satellite that will broadcast messages of support to athletes. In the project, conducted in collaboration with the Japan Aerospace ...
'Promare': A burning need for rage control
Ever been so angry you felt like you were going to explode? In "Promare," the new anime film from studios Trigger and Xflag, that's no metaphor. The story goes that when the members of a certain segment of the population get mad enough, flames ...
Younger animators still struggling amid anime boom
By all outward appearances, Japan's animation industry is thriving. A recent report by The Association for Japanese Animations indicates the industry's worth as a whole topped over ¥2 trillion in 2017 — a new record. International streaming services like Netflix and Crunchyroll have begun ...
New 'Ultraman' anime is a family affair
Now a proud father of an slightly insecure superhero son, Ultraman has evolved not only stylistically but also emotionally for the new Netflix anime.
Japan's peaceful Heisei Era leaves legacy of change, growth and tragedy
Emperor Akihito's abdication Tuesday will end the three-decade Heisei Era that began on Jan. 8, 1989, a day after he inherited the throne upon the death of his father, Emperor Showa. During his rein, Japan struggled with economic stagnation and was hit by several natural ...
'The Wonderland': Surface-level charm, but no true wonder
"The Wonderland," the new film from director Keiichi Hara ("Miss Hokusai"), certainly has the building blocks of something wondrous: a skilled director, top production values, and a story by beloved children's author Sachiko Kashiwaba. One of Kashiwaba's admirers is Studio Ghibli's Hayao Miyazaki, whose Academy ...
Hayao Miyazaki: Universally acclaimed weaver of unforgettable anime worlds
Animators and live-action filmmakers around the world acknowledge his influence. His talents have even been described by fans as “godlike.”
Cartoonist Monkey Punch, known for works including 'Lupin III,' dies at 81
Manga artist Monkey Punch, best known for megahit series "Lupin III," died last week of pneumonia, his office said Wednesday. He was 81. Monkey Punch, whose real name was Kazuhiko Kato, depicted heists of master thief Lupin III and his gang — Daisuke Jigen, Goemon ...
South Korean man in Mie Prefecture arrested for illegally uploading sci-fi anime
A man was arrested Monday on suspicion of illegally making popular anime available online for free, police said. Lee Jun-hyung, a 29-year-old South Korean in Mie Prefecture, allegedly violated the copyright law by offering the sci-fi anime series "World Trigger" on the internet on Sept. ...
Hip-hop's anime crush is beautiful
Takashi Murakami's work on Billie Eilish's new video for "You Should See Me in a Crown" is the latest example of Western music's ongoing love affair with Japanese anime. And while it may seem obvious — American kids who like anime and grow up ...
Takashi Murakami: The face of Japanese contemporary art abroad, underappreciated at home
In Tokyo alone, Murakami’s commercial work can be seen in the official mascots for the Roppongi Hills complex and Tokyo MX TV station.
#MeToo allegations roil U.S. anime conventions
Over the past two months, the #MeToo movement breached the American anime convention industry. Most feel it was inevitable. Many say it's about time.
