Release any anime from Key or Jun Maeda (Angel Beats, Charlotte, Clannad, etc) and I will be there. So once I found that the popular visual novel Summer Pockets was getting an anime adaptation during this Spring 2025 season, I had to give it a go. Early on, Summer Pockets is endearing in how relaxing and peaceful its setting is.

The story is quite simple in Summer Pockets: Takahara Hairi is a young man that travels to the island Torishirojima to stay with an aunt and help with the aftermath of his late grandmother’s ing. At the same time, the story quickly hints that Hairi is running away from some sort of recent unfortunate event, possibly related to the swim team he was part of.

The first episode of Summer Pockets is pretty darn slow, and not a lot happens at all. Normally, this would be a detriment to a series. However, Key and animation studio Feel happen to make this work in the series’ favor, at least to start. This is because few other anime series handle immersion and atmosphere as well as this one.

The island of Torishirojima is absolutely gorgeous to look at. Every inch of the island is so bright, cheerful, and full of vibrant colors. The stunningly blue ocean is frequently in the background of scenes, with the warm aesthetic giving off such a strong summery vibe. It also helps that the soundtrack is noticeably great as well.

Unlike a lot of anime series that feature forgettable soundtracks or far too many moments without songs, it feels like Summer Pockets constantly has music going in the background. Even an early montage of Hairi exploring the island felt so alive and grabbed my attention because of the high-quality music that accompanied it.

At the core of the series, though, is Hairi’s relationship with the girls that he meets on the island. You only get a tiny glimpse of this in the first episode, so it is hard to say how the romance will go here. This is especially interesting to see since the original visual novel has multiple routes focusing on each girl.

That said, Hairi’s few interactions with the main characters are adorable and fun. I even enjoyed his little moments meeting and getting to know his aunt. She also happens to be up there already for an early pick for one of my favorite female anime characters in 2025.

Few anime this season have the setting like Summer Pockets. This is even seen in a scene where Hairi’s aunt sends him to eat dinner at a local restaurant. This goofy moment has only him and the cook in the restaurant, which throws off the urban boy. These scenes do such a great job at building out the world and reminding me of my own time living in Japan in the past.

At the same time, the heavy summer vibe also has me wanting to lay at the beach all day. It is for this reason that I actually really wanted to take a nap after watching the first episode of Summer Pockets. This may sound bad at first, but it actually isn’t. Instead of boring me, this series managed to relax me with nostalgic summer vibes to the point where I wanted to just take a peaceful nap.

If the first episode is anything to go by, Key is back once more with its anime adaptation of Summer Pockets. If you like series like Kanon and Air, you will find yourself right at home here. The detailed atmosphere of Torishirojima is one of the most relaxing you will ever find in anime and it has me hooked enough to see how the romance there plays out between the main character and his love interests.

Summer Pockets is streaming right now on Crunchyroll. You can also purchase the visual novel on PC via Steam.

The post Summer Pockets Is Delightfully Peaceful and Relaxing appeared first on Siliconera.

Some of my favorite anime series are ones that follow an episodic structure, where almost every new episode follows a new smaller storyline for the main characters. Once Upon a Witch’s Death slots nicely into this episodic structure and is at its best when it focuses on those smaller, more serious storylines rather than its comedic moments.

The story of this Spring 2025 anime series follows Meg, a young witch that finds out on her birthday that she will die in a year’s time due to a curse. In order to reverse the curse and continue living in a year, she must gather a thousand pure tears of joy from people. This pretty much nets out to just under three tears per day for the next year.

The premise alone is a pretty serious one, dealing with the inevitability of death. That said, it does take a bit before Once Upon a Witch’s Death fully realizes the potential of this story. Instead, it spends more than half of the first episode dealing with the comedic moments between Meg Raspberry, her friends, and her witch master who raised her.

These more comedic moments of Meg flirting or joking with characters and vice versa fall a bit flat. This show isn’t the strongest when it comes to witty jokes or writing, so these sequences often feel like they're padding out the time before the good stuff. Of course, that good stuff is the numerous storylines that Meg deals with on a daily basis.

In the first episode alone, Meg helps a young girl and her father with the mother of the family that is asleep. This leads to a magical and emotional sequence of events that is just tragic enough without being overwhelming. it even gets better in the second episode when we see Meg deal with a couple of these serious instances back-to-back.

The end of the second episode of Once Upon a Witch’s Death, in particular, is a standout sequence. It deals with grief, dying, and moving on in some powerful ways. But the best part of all of it is the writers for the anime series know when to not be too heavy-handed. As you might know yourself, anime is often a bit too forceful in its tragedy and heart-breaking scenes.

Thankfully, Once Upon a Witch’s Death navigates these sadder moments beautifully. These scenes are short, sweet, and to the point without wallowing too much in the depressing side. In fact, I greatly appreciate that Meg’s entire purpose is to get tears of joy. Most surprisingly, these tears often come out of otherwise saddening experiences. These episodes act as great coming-of-age lessons about finding the positive in the midst of the negative.

The production quality of the series is decent enough to help with the story. I will say that the animation quality is a bit behind most other similarly serious episodic series out there. Think of the greats like Violet Evergarden, Death Parade, and more. Unfortunately, Once Upon a Witch’s Death tends to have animation that is more akin to a typical fantasy or isekai series.

That said, don’t let the animation and its lackluster attempts at times at funny writing fool you. This show is well worth a watch for the Spring 2025 season if you want something a bit more serious with an equally emotional opening song. Once Upon a Witch’s Death is at its best when it focuses on the episodic, often tearjerker mini-storylines. If you’re into anime that smartly navigates these tough topics with solid pacing, you’ll like enjoy this one.

Once Upon a Witch’s Death is streaming right now on Crunchyroll.

The post Once Upon a Witch’s Death Has Solid Episodic Potential appeared first on Siliconera.

The Shiunji Family Children has one of the strongest starts to a new anime series in the Spring 2025 season. This romantic comedy series follows a group of seven siblings that live in a prestigious family and their complicated relationships with one another. So far, it feels like The Quintessential Quintuplets, but possibly even better.

I will note right off the bat that the first episode of The Shiunji Family Children certainly feels like some interfamily romantic relationship mess, if you know what I mean. This part is a bit off-putting, but I do recommend sticking through for the twist that happens towards the end of the first episode.

While it doesn’t alleviate some of the potential allegations against the premise of this show, it does help just a tad bit. That said, if you don’t like the idea of hints of sibling romance, you should probably steer clear from this. If you can stomach it, though, the romance and comedy here are some of the finest I have seen this season.

Part of this comes from the characters themselves. Right off the bat, the seven sibling of the Shiunji Family already feel more fully realized and distinct than even the five sisters in The Quintessential Quintuplets. Part of this comes from the fact that each of the main five sisters in this new series actually have truly individual appearances.

They all have different hair colors, personalities, and unique traits that immediately make them memorable, instead of looking too close to one another. There are a couple of girls that feel too similar to the show that may or may not have inspired this new one, including Miku and Yotsuba copycats. However, the rest of the girls are much more distinct and give off original vibes. For example, you can see this in the charmingly outgoing Ouka and the quieter and more mysterious Seiha.

However, the story in The Shiunji Family Children isn’t just about the girls. There are two boys in the mix, including the protagonist and oldest male Arata. Arata is a way better protagonist than Futaro, looking more attractive, having a more well-rounded character, and showcasing a strong relationship with all of the other key characters.

This is where the true strength of The Shiunji Family Children lies. While it does appear to be a romantic comedy, it doesn’t miss out on the other aspects of the family. We get to see the two brothers, Arata and Shion, interact quite a bit. This goes for the sisters, too, who each have their own interactions with one another.

The animation matches with the quality of the characters and story as well. The Shiunji Family Children surprisingly has one of the sharpest and cleanest art styles out of any series this Spring 2025 season. The characters all look terrific in their designs. There is no copy-pasting here with the characters, as each person feels distinct and instantly memorable.

This is the type of series where you will likely have a favorite character right from the start. That said, not a ton happens in the first part of The Shiunji Family Children. If you like romantic comedies, I could see this series be better as a binge watch rather than week-to-week. Regardless, it has a pretty solid and strong start due to its characters that has me hoping and thinking it could be The Quintessential Quintuplets, but much better.

The Shiunji Family Children is streaming right now on Crunchyroll.

The post The Shiunji Family Children Will Appeal to Quintessential Quintuplets Fans appeared first on Siliconera.

It has been a bit since an isekai anime has captured my attention. You really have to stand out and do something unique in this genre to keep me around for long. The Beginning After the End, now streaming on Crunchyroll, attempts to offer a more palatable and rich take on series like Mushoku Tensei, but is far too slow at this point in time.

The story starts with a (literal) bang as the king of a technologically advanced world destroys a ton in the pursuit of dominance and conquest. This king seems like a brutal, lonely, and tragic character. It also just so happens that, however he es away, he reincarnates in an unfamiliar fantasy world as a baby with all of his memories intact.

The intro is an intriguing one to this story and I wish we got just a little bit more of the main character Arthur’s past life. Instead, the beginning of The Beginning After the End focuses more on his new life and the gradual aging process from infant to toddler. I do appreciate this more intimate style of seeing Arthur with his new parents and their relationships form.

In fact, I would go so far as to say his mother, Alice, is already up there for contention in the best moms in anime. She is a wonderful lady that cares for her son, has no qualms about getting down and dirty to do whatever it takes, and has one of the most affectionate personalities I’ve seen in anime.

Arthur’s father is a pretty solid character, too, but I do need to see more from him and his magical abilities. Beyond the crux of Arthur and his relationship with his parents, the first episode of The Beginning After the End also focuses on him trying to read books and learn more about the world and magic.

Through this, we get a lot of narration from his previous self’s voice actor. These lead to some humorous moments as his past inclinations of fighting to survive contrast with this relatively peaceful fantasy world. On the animation side, this isekai series is right in the middle of the pack for the genre.

It is far from the best animation style in the category, but it is also not even close to the awfulness I’ve seen from some of the lesser series. The world design is pretty forgettable, but I appreciate the characters. They have just enough detail and quality to already have some memorable appearances and designs.

Overall, though, I don’t know how to feel about The Beginning After the End. I will say you just can’t do so little in the first episode. Yeah, there is a bit of a cliffhanger at the end of the pilot, but it isn’t anything special. In fact, what happens at the end of the episode should’ve happened halfway through, instead.

That said, I won’t let the excruciatingly slow pacing stop me from continuing this series. The characters and mystery surrounding Arthur’s past life together have a lot of promise, so I do recommend it to isekai and fantasy anime fans. Plus, the opening and ending songs are spectacular, so that helps. But it just might be worth binging this one rather than watching weekly.

The Beginning After the End is streaming right now on Crunchyroll.

The post The Beginning After the End Has Promise, But Is So Slow appeared first on Siliconera.

If you have an extraordinarily popular anime and manga series like My Hero Academia, it is only inevitable you will get spin-off series that flesh out the world more. I have been waiting for years for My Hero Academia: Vigilantes to get its due as an anime series. While it is finally here, it doesn’t quite feel like a required watch for fans just yet.

The story of My Hero Academia: Vigilantes kicks off with the main character, Koichi, going about his business as a normal young adult. Koichi is your typical All Might fan that works at a knock-off Family Mart and gets beat up by thugs in alleys occasionally. The only notable part about Koichi is his moonlighting as the do-gooder Nice Guy.

Unfortunately for Koichi, his quirk isn’t too helpful for fighting bad guys. Koichi’s quirk just has him slide along the ground at the speed of a bicycle. His life changes, though, when him and an underground pop idol are saved one day by a vigilante that acts like the messy Batman version of All Might.

Together, three vigilantes decide to work together to investigate a new drug that is empowering villains in the town. This is the general gist of what happens in the first episode, which isn’t much. You get an introduction to the main characters and the battle they are going to fight in the series.

That said, I can’t help but feel like this is a “wait and see” type of anime right now. As of right now, there isn’t much to enjoy in the series. The main characters are fine, but nothing special. Koichi, in particular, is a mostly forgettable protagonist. He doesn’t quite have the standout (for better or worse) quirkless nature of someone like Deku, nor is he super heroic, either.

The same goes for the other two vigilantes he fights alongside. At the same time, the story is pretty lackluster at this point. It is barebones enough to get the point across, but isn’t exciting enough thus far. There is no notable drama or anything to get me to root for the main characters. It doesn’t help, either, that there aren’t any exciting or notable villains introduced just yet.

For me, the most notably disappointing part of the series yet is the animation. While not inherently bad by any means, it doesn’t look great, either. This could be because this is not from the primary animation team at Bones. That said, it doesn’t look any better at all than the very first season of the original MHA looked back in 2016.

I am aware this series gets much more serious and intriguing as the manga goes on. As such, I do expect this anime series to get better in due time. That said, it will likely take several episodes to get to that point. After all, it is just a bit too goofy and almost parody-like at this time to recommend to all fans of the original series.

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes feels like it is in the wait and binge watch category right now. I’m not sure I will watch it week-to-week myself. This is because the characters, story, and general animation are all able but nothing special right now. In the end, My Hero Academia: Vigilantes isn’t quite the required spin-off I would recommend to fans just yet, but that could change in the future.

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes is streaming right now on Crunchyroll.

The post My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Doesn’t Feel Necessary Just Yet appeared first on Siliconera.

Do you have a bucket list of the various things you want to die before your time is up on this Earth? If you don’t or you just want to add some anime series to that list, I have some recommendations for you. Below, you’ll find the 10 anime series that I think every single anime fan should watch or at least try once before they die.

10 Anime You Must Watch Before You Die 3b5p56

When it comes to determining the 10 anime series to watch before you die, I tried to broaden the spectrum and focus on series that are seemingly completed or at least have a fair bit to watch. In addition, I wanted to focus on various genres from action to romance to more depressing works. While not perfect, these are series that I think will impress and appeal to the most people at once.

I also tried to focus mainly on more recent anime since many people already know about the classics like Akira, Clannad, Cowboy Bebop, and Naruto. Without further ado, here are the 10 anime series I recommend to everyone to try:

• Death Parade: This is Madhouse at its finest. Taking place in the afterlife, each every two episodes or so focuses on a new set of people who die at the same time. They compete in fun little games before being judged for their actions. The revelations that come about during these seemingly innocent games provides some of the most thought-provoking and tragic anime moments of all time.
• Dr. Stone: One of the few modern masterpieces, this series takes place in the far future as people start to awaken from being petrified in place for thousands of years. Its storytelling is remarkably consistent alongside the welcome action as main character Senku reinvents science and technology in surprisingly realistic ways.
• Fruits Basket: If you want to see a romance series, look no further. The masterpiece manga series was made even better in its latest anime adaptation. It is so well-rounded, able to make you laugh one second, cry the next, and constantly cheer for this Zodiac-themed, animal-transforming family.
• Kino’s Journey - The Beautiful World: Episodic anime series tend to be some of the best and this is one prime example. Each episode focuses Kino and a talking motorcycle as the duo travels from town to town. It never overstays its welcome, while also teaching some unforgettable lessons about life, especially in the latter half. The less you know, the better here.
• March Comes in Like a Lion: No other anime takes a look at depression like this one. It follows an orphan boy who happens to be a genius shogi player. While it may appear like a sports or competition anime at first glance, it is actually a riveting and unforgettable look at mental health through the eyes of the incredible Studio Shaft.
• My Hero Academia: While not completely done at the time of writing, it is quite close. This superhero action-packed shonen series can appeal to anyone. However, its real value comes from the incredible action and characters that only get better as the series goes on.
• Spy x Family: Yes, this is still ongoing. But there are a couple of seasons, a movie, and still more on the way. Spy x Family is the quintessential anime for everyone. It has a bit of action with this spy and assassin-themed makeshift family’s shenanigans. But then it is also extremely heartwarming and hilarious the rest of the time. This is the feel-good anime series.
• To Your Eternity: No list about dying is complete without the anime that focuses on an immortal character. His journey across hundreds of years leads to some of the depressing yet meaningful plot development and characters I have ever seen.
• Violet Evergarden: This emotional masterpiece tells the story of a girl who experiences trauma and becomes half a mechanical doll, both literally and figuratively. She helps a different person in each episode. At the same time, she learns about herself, leading to some of the most tearjerking scenes in anime.
• Yuri on Ice: Even if you aren’t a sports anime fan, this is the one to watch. It tells the story of Yuri, a down-and-out former ice skater looking to return, and Victor, his renowned coach. The two’s connection with one another leads to one of the most memorable relationships in anime. Plus, the actual ice skating sequences from MAPPA are gorgeous along with having one of the best soundtracks. It is a shame, honestly, that we will likely never see a continuation of this series.

The post 10 Anime You Must Watch Before You Die appeared first on Siliconera.

Persona 3 Reload finally brought one of my favorite JRPGs of all time to modern audiences in a way that matches the visuals and quality-of-life features of games coming out today. Now that this wish of mine is finally granted, it is time to look ahead to the future. For instance, how it is currently nigh-impossible to legally watch the excellent Persona 3 anime movies.

Persona 3 The Movie was the first in this quartet of films, coming out in Japan on November 23, 2013. Each movie came out about a year after one another, with the final one — Winter of Rebirth — dropping in 2016. What may be surprising about this situation is how relatively new (so to speak) these movies are.

After all, the final movie in the series came out not even 10 years ago at this time. This is quite intriguing since the original Persona 3 came out in 2006. In fact, these movies are even newer than the Persona 4 anime series. It came out in 2011 and even its Golden version came out in 2014.

That said, there is a stark difference between the Persona 3 anime movies and the anime adaptations of both Persona 4 and 5. Both of the latter series are available to stream right now legally on services like Crunchyroll. Despite the Persona 3 movies being newer than the Persona 4 anime, it isn’t available to stream anywhere.

In fact, if you would like to watch these movies legally, you would have to buy the physical copies of the films or a digital version. And, to be frank, good luck with that. Not only are the physical copies hard to find, but they are quite expensive these days. Furthermore, there seems to be a digital version you can get of these films, but it is only available on Amazon Prime as of right now.

Buying digital copies isn’t the most sure-fire solution, especially when it’s only on one platform, and things could change anytime. In addition, it would cost $60 to get all four movies this way. There is a rental option, but then you only have a limited set of time to watch them. It would be much better if you could stream these movies on a service like Netflix or Crunchyroll. This was possible in the past, and is how I watched them, but no longer is the case.

It truly is a shame that the Persona 3 anime movies are unavailable to stream because more fans of the series deserve to see them. I get if you are jaded by the anime adaptations of these masterpiece JRPGs since both Persona 4 and 5’s anime series are a bit lackluster. However, that isn’t the case at all with their Persona 3 counterpart.

For one, the visuals of these movies are incredible. These are movies for a reason, rather than a TV series, and it shows in the quality and budget of the series. Studio A-1 Pictures —that worked on movies 2-4 — is hit-or-miss sometimes when it comes to its animation quality, but these movies are some of the best work the studio has ever done. It captures the dark and grim aesthetics of the original JRPG so well.

In addition, having the movies divided up into four movies gives just enough time to do most of the story justice. Sure, you don’t get some of the side stories here. That said, thankfully, most of the main plot points happen and are done well. In addition, you get just enough time with certain characters to experience their full arc before tragic events happen.

Plus, bringing back the Persona 3 anime movies would allow a service like Crunchyroll to finally dub them. It is a shame there is no official dub for them at this time. With the recent release of the original game’s remake, Persona 3 Reload, in 2024, now feels like the perfect time for these to return. Here’s hoping the Persona 3 anime movies come back soon. After all, fans of the series and this game, in particular, are missing out otherwise.

Persona 3 Reload is available right now for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

The post It’s Time to Revive the Persona 3 Anime Movie Series appeared first on Siliconera.

Netflix truly hit the goldmine this particular season of anime, gaining what is potentially the strongest anime of the entire Winter 2025 season. I have checked out quite a lot of new anime this season and while this Winter season is stronger than most of the seasons in 2024, there is one that stands tall above the rest. Sakamoto Days is the funniest and most heartwarming Winter 2025 anime thus far.

For those who haven’t checked it out yet, Sakamoto Days follows the titular Sakamoto. A former hitman, Sakamoto left the underworld life behind him in exchange for raising a family and running his very own convenience store. Of course, his old life comes back to haunt him, as a whole swathe of the underworld now wish to eliminate him. The series follows Sakamoto and the other characters around him as he tries to protect his newfound life.

Sakamoto himself is one of the more fascinating protagonists. He says very little in the series, including a mere two lines or so in total throughout the first episode. His quieter personality lends well to this idea of a powerful but lovable teddy bear-like father vibe that he gives off. There is something endearing about how much he shows his love for his new life and family without needing to say a word.

It helps that the rest of the cast is quite talkative. Shin, in particular, is a younger former hitman that comes after Sakamoto to finish him off in the first episode. In classic anime fashion, it turns out Shin isn’t that bad of a guy and he ends up ing Sakamoto in the end. Shin is life of the party, having a surprising amount of the story focus on him.

I appreciate how Sakamoto Days allows its ing cast to thrive, like Shin. The same goes for other characters that appear later, which I won’t spoil here. They each come to feel like a true misshapen family in a sense. They are characters worth rooting for. Shin and Sakamoto’s wife Aoi will likely go down as some of my favorite anime characters this year.

While the story premise is quite serious in Sakamoto Days, don’t let this fool you. It is actually the funniest anime series of the Winter 2025 season. There are many gags and goofy moments throughout. It helps that there are ridiculous characters like Shin. But even Sakamoto himself has hilarious scenes like catching a bullet with chopsticks.

This humorous aspect of the series pairs well with the more action-heavy sequences. After all, Sakamoto has to fight off legions of criminals. The animation style is perhaps my least favorite part of this series. It looks a bit too light on the borders and shadings, but this is part of the charm. In fact, TMS Entertainment captures the original manga style quite well, which looks like this.

Thankfully, the lighter animation style helps the action look great. The fluid nature of the less detailed animation works well with the intense fights throughout Sakamoto’s convenience store, abandoned warehouses, and more. There is generally fantastic action here, evoking vibes of how Spy x Family handles its mix of action and comedy.

Even only with a few episodes available thus far, Sakamoto Days should end up as one of the best anime series of 2025. It is by far the funniest series of the Winter 2025 season, with its ridiculous set of characters and scenes. But it balances this so well with action-packed moments and heartwarming family themes. If there is one anime series that is a must-watch this season, it's Sakamoto Days.

Sakamoto Days is streaming right now on Netflix.

The post Sakamoto Days Is the Funniest and Most Heartwarming Winter 2025 Anime appeared first on Siliconera.

Anime is going to have a massive 2025 year. The four seasons of anime ahead look to be some of the most exciting in a long time. There are brand new series like Sakamoto Days, alongside returning ones like Dragon Ball Daima. It is also the year for the end of many of the most popular anime series. But what is the most anticipated anime of 2025? Here is what the Siliconera staff has to say about that.

Siliconera Speaks Up: Most Anticipated Anime Series of 2025 39z5u

Mine right now is Gnosia. Yes, part of it is because Gnosia is my current obsession, but I'm also really curious as to how the anime will adapt its unique story structure. It'll obviously have to keep the time loop thing, but how will it also have the different story events and Werewolf segment? Until we know more information about how many episodes it'll have, it's so hard to picture that I can't wait until it actually starts airing. I'm also super excited for the Twisted Wonderland anime, too! -- Stephanie

The most anticipated anime for me in 2025 has to be My Happy Marriage Season 2. The first season wowed me with its beautiful blend of romance series like Fruits Basket and Violet Evergarden. It tragically reminds me so much of a Kyoto Animation series and the wonderful people that were lost far too soon in 2019. If you want a stunning series with the best couple in anime in 2025, be sure to watch this one.

Special shoutouts also go to the final seasons of My Hero Academia and Dr. Stone, both of which should be spectacular. My Hero Academia’s most recent season is arguably its best and it should continue this trend into its final season. The same goes for Dr. Stone. In fact, I am fully expecting to put both of these series in the overall top 25 anime of all time when all is said and done for both of them. -- Cody

The post What Is the Most Anticipated Anime of 2025? appeared first on Siliconera.

Jujutsu Kaisen is one of the most popular, best anime series in recent memory. It is certainly the next shonen to take the mantle of best around from the likes of Demon Slayer and My Hero Academia. While Season 2 was exceptional and a large improvement over the first season, the best is yet to come with Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3’s adaptation of the Culling Game Arc.

The longest story arc of the entire series is almost here. There are a couple of shorter arcs that will need to be taken care of first in Season 3, but the star of the show will be the arrival of the Culling Game Arc. I won’t spoil too much here, but there are some light spoilers ahead. As the name implies, this is pretty much a jujutsu sorcerer battle royale. If you liked Dragon Ball Super’s Tournament of Power, this is for you.

It mixes together some of my favorite themes together at once. You get the usual extraordinary action and art this series is known for. In addition, though, you get a healthy dose of death games, which is my favorite category of media in general. That is, of course, if fans can get through the rough parts of the initial few episodes.

The highs of Season 2 are going to lead to some new lows at the start of the new season. The couple of shorter arcs following the aftermath of the Shibuya Incident are forgettable at best. This is mainly since they are there to set up the final portion of this beloved series. But if you are able to get past these weaker episodes, Season 3 will likely be the best season yet.

Some of the series’ best fights ever happen during the Culling Game Arc. Some of the fan-favorite characters go up against each other in shocking ways. I actually appreciate the structure of the arc, too, dividing up the main cast in different locations. This allows the death game to feel better focused than it otherwise would.

Sure, this does mean, though, that you will likely go without seeing some characters. This was particularly noticeable in the manga, as it dragged on a bit longer than it should have. This is why the Vs. Mahito Arc is still my personal favorite in the series since it accomplished so much in such a short time. That said, I think the Culling Game Arc will work much better in anime form. The pacing should be much stronger and faster than in the original manga’s release. It helps, too, that the consistent weekly release schedule will keep fans interested.

The one element that might hold back Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 is MAPPA. Season 2 had some exceptional animation, but the studio also showed some visual flaws towards the end. I am concerned about the workload for the animators and the stress that is on them. If Season 3 comes out in 2025, which I expect it to, this is a pretty fast turnaround. I am a bit worried if the animation quality will get the attention the Culling Game Arc deserves.

That said, if Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 does find a way to balance a healthy work schedule with quality, this will easily be the best season yet. Without spoiling too much, I even think it will be better than the inevitable final arc of the series that comes after. There is so much that happens during this arc that will shake the core of the anime community. Even with the likes of My Hero Academia’s final season and the Demon Slayer final movie trilogy ahead in 2025, Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 could still stand toe-to-toe with them and be the best season of the series, if done right.

Jujutsu Kaisen is streaming currently on Crunchyroll.

The post Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 Culling Game Arc Will Be the Best Season appeared first on Siliconera.

Most years, there is an anime hit that comes out of nowhere (or perhaps expectedly so) and takes the internet and anime community by storm. Everyone is cosplaying its characters, reading the manga, and discussing each week’s episode. Looking ahead to 2025, if there is any new anime on Crunchyroll with the potential to be a massive hit, it has to be Witch Hat Atelier.

The premise of this particular series is quite familiar and straightforward. Coco is a girl that grows up wanting nothing more than to be a witch. Magic is a huge part of her world’s society and she wants to be one of the exclusive witches able to wield it. However, if you are not born inherently with magic, you aren’t able to become a witch. Sadly, that is the case for Coco.

That is, until a certain witch arrives in her small town. As you might expect, things go haywire, revelations are discovered, and Coco finds her life turned upside down. In the process, she is able to embark on a journey that presents her with the possible chance to make her dreams come true and become a witch.

I won’t dive too much deeper into the story or plot as to avoid spoilers. But just know that not everything in the world and story is as it seems. And this is all within the first few chapters of the first volume that I read recently in preparation for the 2025 anime adaptation. I have no doubt now this is going to be one of the biggest new anime of 2025.

For one, Witch Hat Atelier already has the classic zero to hero vibes going on. This is a prevalent story mechanic we see in a lot of popular anime series like Naruto, My Hero Academia, and more. But it goes beyond this, as the series continues to surprise with every single chapter.

There is such rich lore and history within the world. Fortunately, the manga creator Kamome Shirahama recognizes this and gives the proper attention and detail this series deserves. Better yet, the characters are also solid favorites of mine instantly. Coco herself is the classic wide-eyed hero with brilliant hopes and dreams. She is simultaneously funny and someone you can cheer for. But, at the same time, she is far smarter than other similar anime protagonists.

Then there is her teacher in Qifrey. This guy not only looks like Gojo from Jujutsu Kaisen, but he kind of acts like him a bit, too. He is a slightly off-kilter and goofy guy with a likable personality. I already see plenty of cosplay potential for this series. Not to mention, I imagine Qifrey himself will have some diehard fans in the future. But it doesn’t stop with them, as the ing cast is also pretty great from the start.

Above all else, though, the most significant potential of the Witch Hat Atelier anime is the visuals. This manga series has some of the best art I have seen in a long time. Shirahama has a high level of detail that is so rarely seen in rushed manga. Every incantation, spell, and location is rife with intricate features. It makes the world feel so alive even with the black and white pages.

If the anime studio Bug Films is able to even remotely come close to adapting this unique art style well, the Witch Hat Atelier anime will be one of the best-looking of 2025. Its previous work, Zom100, looked spectacular with its pop of colors. I imagine it should be a similar situation here. If done right, Witch Hat Atelier is the anime to watch in 2025. Prepare to see tons of cosplays, reaction videos, merch, and trending posts about it in the very near future.

The Witch Hat Atelier anime series will release sometime in 2025, and it will be streaming on Crunchyroll. You can read the manga right now via Kodansha.

The post Witch Hat Atelier Has Potential to Be the Next Anime Hit in 2025 appeared first on Siliconera.

Oshi no Ko is one of the best anime and manga series in recent memory, but what about the live action series? Well, I watched the entire series from start to finish to let everyone know. The Oshi no Ko live action series isn’t actually bad at all; just decent. However, this series is very much made, specifically, for existing manga and anime fans.

The main issue behind this Japanese TV series is the format of it. It has eight episodes in total in its first and only season, adapting a large portion of the manga in a handful of episodes. Though these eight episodes are more than double the length of a normal anime episode, it does so much in so little time.

Without spoiling too much, the only existing season of this series adapts both seasons of the anime within eight episodes and even goes beyond that point in the manga. There are entire episodes that adapt a single arc, while others are done in a couple of episodes. This is such a swift pace that anyone new to the series will likely be left behind pretty easily.

The series just doesn’t take enough time for some plot points to resonate. Some of my favorite scenes only last for a minute at best. For instance, there is the fight between Akane and Arima during the Tokyo Blade production. This part almost needs 10-20 minutes to really dive into their argument and the backstories between them. However, it is done in a few seconds.

This unbelievably fast pace does lead to some positives. For one, it is a great way to recap the series for existing fans. In addition, some of the twists and turns have surprising emotional impact since they come out of nowhere at times. But if you are new, this is not the place to start.

Another concerning aspect of the Oshi no Ko live action series is what it changes. Some of this is intentional and interesting, but others are downright problematic. I won’t spoil the premise for newcomers, but it revolves around a pregnant teen idol. The manga and anime start with this twist and shows the idol Ai giving birth and all that.

However, this live action adaptation skips straight to Ai’s twin children as toddlers. Worse still, it doesn’t properly address Ai’s doctor and that situation until the end. This is even though this is the very beginning of the series. It is an intriguing change I like. But if you aren’t familiar with the storyline, it is confusing and unnecessary.

Then there are the changes to the Tokyo Blade story arc. In the original series, this is a stage play. This live action series was an excellent chance to make a real-life stage play episode. However, that isn’t the case. Not only is there not enough footage of Tokyo Blade itself, but it is a TV series rather than a stage play now. This is by far the most controversial change for me, which made this already somewhat boring arc even worse.

There is also a key missing character, which I dare not spoil here. But the return to Miyazaki Prefecture doesn’t see the introduction of a certain person there. Overall, the Oshi no Ko live action series will be quite confusing for newcomers to the franchise. It is a shame because the production value and most of the actors are excellent; just look at Ai’s opening performance scene and you’ll see. Nagisa Saito as Ruby is particularly impressive and she only gets better as the series goes on.

Unfortunately, though, the Oshi no Ko live action series is made in a way where it only works for existing fans. Whether you miss the manga or are waiting for the anime to come back, this is a great way to recap the series. It moves so fast that it doesn’t waste your time and it adapts the series well to live action. However, if you are new, it is best to read the manga or watch the two seasons of the anime first before checking this out.

The Oshi no Ko live action series is available on Prime Video.

The post Oshi no Ko Live Action Series Only Works for Existing Fans appeared first on Siliconera.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is nearing the end of its legendary anime run from Ufotable. To celebrate the conclusion of the series, the grand finale will be a three-part movie trilogy. While this sounds epic, there is part of me that wishes the Demon Slayer Infinity Castle movie trilogy was just a new season of the anime series.

For starters, there is the fact that this franchise has already dabbled in movies in the past, including the highest-grossing Japanese movie of all time in Mugen Train. So, from a financial perspective, I completely get it. But Ufotable still turned around and converted that film into a TV series version. As such, I presume they will eventually do the same with this new trilogy.

Since that is likely to be the case, I would prefer to see the TV version first. In fact, it makes more sense to me to release the TV version first and then a compilation of movies that sum up and perhaps add a bit more at the end in of an epilogue in theaters after that. My main reasoning behind this is I just enjoy this franchise as a series more.

Sure, the epic grand conclusion of this series includes some of the likely best battles in anime history, but if anything needed a movie version, it was the recent Hashira Training Arc. That one dragged on way too long and had little going for it, so shortening it into a lightning fast movie would’ve at least trimmed the fat.

Then there is the fact that a movie trilogy is likely to lose some of the context and detail that a TV series would have. For instance, let’s imagine that it takes 24 episodes for a final season of Demon Slayer Infinity Castle. That would equal to roughly 480 minutes of the series, and that is if they are only 20 minute episodes each. Presumably, one or two of them would go longer.

Alternatively, even if all three movies are two hours long, that is only 360 minutes of content. Sure, I think the end of the manga can work this way. But that is a whole lot of time that a TV series version would be able to adapt better. This would allow for the proper time for some of the fights between the Hashira and the demons that non-manga fans are not ready for.

Not to mention, there is something generally special about waiting each week with the community. Everyone waits impatiently to find out what happens next. And I can already predict some of the great cliffhangers they might leave us on.

Sure, this can and will happen with the movie trilogy, but there is a problem here. We have no idea when the movies will release. We only know at this time that the first movie is coming in 2025. There is no guarantee that all three will release in 2025. In fact, I think it is a bit delusional to expect that. At best, we get two films in 2025 and a third in 2026.

At worst, though? We could see a new Demon Slayer Infinity Castle movie every year until 2027. That would be an excruciating wait. This is doubly so since we’d presumably get the full final season in 2025. Even if the series did half of the season in 2025 and the other half in early 2026, it would still likely beat out the movie trilogy version.

This is also because movies have a stigma with them. An anime studio needs to go all out with even higher quality animation and details. You basically have to have the “finished product” so to speak in a theater. On the other hand, sometimes TV series have a bit of a roughness to them that can be addressed in a future Blu-Ray or movie release.

Furthermore, Ufotable arguably has the best overall animation quality in the industry. They don’t need to go any bigger or better than they already do. That just unnecessarily puts more strain and stress on the artists who are already overworked and underpaid enough.

Having the Demon Slayer Infinity Castle movie trilogy be a TV series instead is just the better option. It would allow everything to come out slightly sooner without the quality expectations a movie would require. In addition, a movie trilogy compilation release could still happen after the fact with extra content for fans. Regardless, I still look forward to watching the first movie in theaters in 2025.

The Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle movie trilogy will release the first film in 2025. You can watch the main series on Crunchyroll right now.

The post Demon Slayer Infinity Castle Movie Trilogy Should’ve Been a Series Instead appeared first on Siliconera.

Fairy Tail 2 is a surprising sequel to a highly underrated turn-based JRPG adaptation of a popular anime and manga series. With the release of this particular massive JRPG, it is now time to look towards the future. We get anime adaptations all the time, but so few delve into the RPG genre as much as they should. Let’s talk about the next anime RPG we should get.

There are only a few modern anime JRPGs in recent memory, from Fairy Tail 2 to Dragon Ball Kakarot to One Piece Odyssey and so on. This is a trend that needs to continue and for more game series. I am, personally, a bit too annoyed with all the fighting game adaptations, so here are the Siliconera staff’s picks for the next anime RPG.

Siliconera Speaks Up: New Anime RPG We Want Next 5p561g

I'd honestly love to see a Jujutsu Kaisen JRPG. Yes, I get why Jujutsu Kaisen: Cursed Clash happened. The series would adapt well to a fighting game. But we've seen Inuyasha, Bleach, and Naruto RPGs that worked well. Why not do that with this series too? -- Jenni

A good old turn-based RPG is the best way to adapt most anime series into games, in my opinion. I feel like a turn-based RPG version of Dr. Stone would be a bit of an oddball option but spectacular. Despite being post-apocalyptic, it has some fantasy vibes going on. Plus, crafting could be a huge part of the game as you are inventing ideas and creations to help the society. Plus, the cast could be ginormous with many different party to use in battle. Some alternative options for a modern, localized RPG would be Sailor Moon, Hunter x Hunter, and Eighty-Six (strategy RPG). -- Cody

Fairy Tail 2 is available right now for PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

The post Which Anime Should Get an RPG Next After Fairy Tail 2? appeared first on Siliconera.

Weekly Shonen Jump is the renowned shonen manga magazine that appears every single week in Japan. It is through Shonen Jump that we get some of the most impressive, ground-breaking, and popular manga of all time. Many of these manga series have turned into equally popular anime series. Here are the most influential anime series to come from Shonen Jump manga.

Most Influential Shonen Jump Anime: One Piece 1m5619

Look anywhere in the anime industry and you see the influence of One Piece. Whether you think it’s too long or not, there is no denying the nigh-endless reach of this pirate series. One Piece still influences new shonen anime series to this day in of tropes, characterizations, and fights. And even beyond shonen, this series even contributes to the ion and desire in new manga and anime creators every day.

Naruto 1k3xs

Naruto isn’t too far behind One Piece in of influence. It set the standard for a character coming from nothing to become something. It also influenced the idea of teams of main characters that fight together, a dynamic we see even today in other influential series like Jujutsu Kaisen and its core cast.

Dragon Ball 5f6y1c

Before there was any other series on this list, there was Dragon Ball. The story of Goku from a young age to becoming a father to saving the world and the universe time and time again is a tale as old as time. The late and great Akira Toriyama is one of the most influential legends in the manga and anime scene, and his legacy will continue to influence new shonen series for many decades to come.

Hunter x Hunter 1g3v25

While I can’t answer the question of whether or not Hunter x Hunter will ever finish as a series, what I can say is the influence it has on the industry is undeniable. The action and fight sequences in this series is so unlike any other on this list, and the core characters of Gon, Killua, Leorio, and Hisoka might arguably be my favorite of the four series here. It has some darker edges to it unlike the three above that I would say feels more apparent in its influence of some of the newer shonen series in recent memory.

Other Influential Shonen Jump Series 5j394w

In addition to the above four Shonen Jump series, there are other influential series worth mentioning. The following are more anime series that adapted various Shonen Jump manga to terrific success and popularity:

• Slam Dunk
• Attack on Titan
• Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
• Jujutsu Kaisen
• Bleach
• My Hero Academia

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