Each new season of anime can always feel overwhelming for dedicated fans due to the sheer abundance of titles. Mix that volume in with the production value and quality of this past winter season and you’ve got a lot of great weekly TV to sink your teeth into. With the success of the winter line-up, one might think it would be hard to follow it, but that’s definitely not the case. 

The latest additions to the weekly line-up include season 5 of My Hero Academia and the long-awaited remake of Shaman King so it was always going to be exciting, but there’s one particular show that’s swept in and taken everyone by surprise. Does a captivatingly blended sci-fi, gangster fuelled action story grab your attention? If so, you better sit back, relax, and let us tell you why Tokyo Revengers needs to be at the top of your anime list right now!

Adapted by Liden Films (Senyu, Berserk 2016) from Ken Wakui’s manga, Tokyo Revengers follows 26-year-old Takemichi Hanagaki, a dropout who spends his time floating between menial part-time jobs, left with no drive or direction in life. One day he discovers that his middle school girlfriend, Hinata Tachibana, and her younger brother, Naoto, were killed in an incident perpetrated by the merciless Tokyo Manji Gang. A striking revelation that comes shortly before he’s pushed in-front of an oncoming commuter train. 

In what he believes to be his life flashing before his eyes, Takemichi is transported back to 2005 where instead of a dishevelled messy haired man, he’s now an overly confident bleach blonde wannabe street punk roaming the halls of his middle school and the streets of Tokyo with a close knit group of friends. Takemichi relives the day and is able to reveal Hina’s fate to Naoto before returning to the present, realising that he’s caused a time paradox where Naoto has survived and, in striving to protect his sister, has become a detective. Naoto is revealed to have been the person who saved him from being hit by the train and deduces that Takemichi can travel exactly 12 years to the past by shaking his hand. With their new allegiance formed, Takemichi vows to use his abilities and knowledge to infiltrate the Tokyo Manji Gang, change the past, and save Hinata. 

The premise of Tokyo Revengers is captivating enough, but it’s the characters that really shine through and make this series special. Takemichi is a typical underdog Shonen protagonist, perhaps even more so than usual because only 7 episodes in, he’s already taken a myriad of beatdowns but he never rises to the violence surrounding him in the Manji gang’s world, opting to instead take his licks to gain the respect of those around him, all in the aid of succeeding to save his loved ones. This makes him extremely likeable, as does seeing how tackling his past head on truly effects him and his shift from a downtrodden, unmotivated slacker to a strong willed, determined hero is incredibly rewarding. 

Naoto in comparison is cool and collected and although their interactions are few and far between, as most episodes concentrate on Takemichi in the past, whenever he lands back in the present, the pair provide some great comedic chemistry. 

Early on, Takemichi earns the attention of the Gang’s carefree and charismatic leader, Mikey, as well as his second in command, Draken. Similar to our protagonist and his partner, the gang members are essentially polar opposite personalities, successfully balancing one another out. Watching Takemichi both befriend the pair and piece together the events that will ultimately lead them down the worst possible path is enticing. And as Takemichi grows closer to those responsible for Hina’s death, so do we as viewers and we soon find ourselves hoping everybody can make it out alive. 

With its complicated but lovable array of characters, intricate and interesting premise, and perfectly blended genres, Tokyo Revengers is one of the most uniquely exciting anime’s currently airing. If you’re a fan of time bending tales like Steins Gate and Erased, love a bit of classic Shonen action, or just want to be caught up on the next big thing then start watching and join the ranks of the Manji gang. We promise, you won’t regret it because so far, it’s been one hell of a ride! 

You can watch the latest episodes of Tokyo Revengers every Saturday on Crunchyroll.  

Find the official series trailer below!

The post ‘Tokyo Revengers’ Needs To Be At The Top of Your Anime List  appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Did you used to spend hours after school watching Goku and his friends engage in massive scale muscle filled, ki blasting battles to defend the earth in Dragon Ball Z? Maybe you preferred keeping up with Naruto and his leaf village peers as they took on missions and trained to develop new killer jutsu techniques? Perhaps Bleach was more your style and seeing Ichigo using his Shinigami powers to cut down hollows and guide spirits to rest got you amped up? Well, if any of this was your thing back in the day then boy have MAPPA Studios got the anime for you! 

That’s right, the team behind Yuri!!! on Ice, Banana Fish, and the final season of Attack on Titan are bringing back battle anime with a bang with their adaption of Gege Akutami’s supernatural Shonen, Jujutsu Kaisen. 

Debuting in September 2020, Jujutsu Kaisen chronicles the adventures of Yuji Itadori, an unnaturally athletic 16-year-old who, despite his abilities, forgoes his school track team to instead join the Occult Research Club and enjoys the relaxing atmosphere and takes advantage of the meetings early endings to visit his grandfather in hospital. After his grandfather’s death, Yuji’s life takes a turn when he meets a young sorcerer, Megumi Fushiguro, who claims that the Occult Club has encountered a cursed object, which, when investigated by Yuji’s friends, is revealed to be a rotting finger that attracts a dangerous curse to the school grounds 

The pair soon rush to the high school to confront the curse, but Yuji’s efforts remain fruitless due to his lack of magical competence. Unable to inflict any real damage in combat, he instead opts to swallow the rotting finger, and in doing so becomes host to Sukuna – an extremely powerful curse. These events result in Fushiguro’s mentor, Satoru Gojo, capturing Yuji with the initial intention of killing him – and by extension – Sukuna. However, after seeing how Yuji can maintain control of his body, he strikes up a deal with his superiors – Yuji’s death sentence is postponed until he consumes the rest of Sukuna’s fingers. With the conditions set, Gojo then takes Yuji to the Tokyo Metropolitan Magic Technical College to begin his jujutsu training – mastering the art of fighting curses. 

From here on out, Yuji and his new peers are tasked with eliminating curses under the direction of Gojo. The premise is executed in a traditional ‘monster of the week’ fashion with an ongoing central conflict slowly being revealed. It’s a slow burn in the first dozen or so episodes, then Jujutsu Keisen’s power system is brought to light. Yuji is taught in the real-time, swift lulls during battle, and making these discoveries during otherwise action-packed moments become extremely enticing for the viewer. While the power system here doesn’t do anything especially unique, the way in which an individual’s ‘cursed energy’ can be honed adds a brilliant sense of flavour to the series. A prime example of this is when Yuji is first introduced to the concept of his energy and Gojo instructs him to watch a marathon of movies while maintaining his focus to develop his power, which is a a striking contrast to all the rigorous physical training we’re so used to seeing the Shonen protagonist go through. 

These small, clever nuances, coupled with the fluid and fantastically animated combat (seriously, this is work reminiscent of Mob Psycho 100 and Demon Slayer) manages to pull Jujutsu Kaisen up to the level of its competitors and make it a great watch.  

In all honestly, this isn’t a ground-breaking show. This is a show that wears its influences very clearly on its sleeve. It feels like a true love letter to the battle Shonen genre and while it’s nothing you haven’t already seen before, it’s still damn entertaining. If nothing else, Jujutsu Kaisen is simply concrete proof that you don’t always have to break the mould to create something brilliant, and that’s exactly why you should give it a chance.  

The post ‘Jujutsu Kaisen’ Is Nothing You Haven’t Already Seen Before… But It’s Still Brilliant appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Over the course of the past decade, anime has seen a massive surge in mainstream popularity, something that’s more likely than not thanks to the powers of streaming, which have such great accessibility and audience reach. Honestly, mention Attack on Titan to anybody you know now and there’s a strong chance they’ll recognise the name in some capacity. 

What was once a ‘niche’ interest and dare I say it, but something deemed as uncool and incomprehensible to many, is now something on everybody’s radar. With new Shonen hard hitters including My Hero Academia and Demon Slayer filling, but by no means replacing the holes left by two of ‘the big three’ (Naruto and Bleach) finishing and streaming giants only jumping further onboard by supplying their own array of exclusive content, one thing is blindingly clear: the 2020s is going to be a great decade for anime enthusiasts. 

Alongside the abundance of new and on-going titles, it seems as if the industry is heading into the new millennium by capitalising on the perfect weapon to strike both its oldest and youngest generation of fans: sweet, sweet nostalgia. Reboots certainly aren’t by any means a brand-new concept, however, there has been a surprising number of fresh takes on beloved franchises kicking off in the past year. So, without further ado, here’s a roundup of the anime that’s bound to be a hit with the kids and provide adults with that wonderful dose of childhood nostalgia well into 2021 and beyond. 

Digimon Adventure

We certainly haven’t been in short supply of Digimon content over the years. Since the original run of series ended in the early 2000s, fans have had a handful of successful video games spin-offs, an entirely new story in the Digimon Frontier anime, and, of course the critically acclaimed Digimon Tri film series that allowed us all to catch-up with our favourite digi-destined group as they embarked on one final adventure. As if the reunion wasn’t heartwarming enough, the franchise treated their dedicated fanbase even more when a reboot of the original Digimon Adventure was announced to begin airing in 2020. 

This retelling follows Tachi and friends as they set out with their new Digimon Partners to protect the Digital World from various threats and dangers, while albeit deviating away from the original series. Initial character meetings and introductions are different, and the real world is largely more significant in the narrative. Thanks to crisp new animation the digital world has never looked better, and this is one nostalgia trip you won’t want to miss!  

Shaman King 

Hiroyuki Takei’s supernatural battle manga debuted in weekly Shonen jump in the summer of 1998 and went on to become a huge success during its six-year serialisation, going toe-to-toe with the likes of Dragon Ball Z, One Piece, and Naruto. An anime adaption was of course inevitable and soon followed in 2001, but for diehard fans, it ultimately left much to be desired due to the story branching away from the original canon.  

Fast forward 20 years and the anime corners of the internet collectively lost their minds when a long-awaited reboot was finally confirmed! Shaman King 2021 is slated to air this April and tells the story of Yoh Asakura, a young boy who’s determined to hone his skills with the ambition of becoming Shaman King – a godly warrior who, upon winning the Shaman Fight, will inherit the power to shape the world however they want.  

With gorgeous animation and a promise to stay faithful in fully adapting the manga, this action-packed reboot is bound to be the hit of the spring season, so jump on the hype train, trust me: you won’t be disappointed.  

Dragon Quest: The Adventures of Dai 

Ah Dragon Quest, the third best-selling JRPG franchise of all time. For those unfamiliar, in the world of Dragon Quest you take on the role of a hero, journeying across fantasy lands in a noble quest while slaying monsters turn-based battles. In a word? This series is very charming, mostly because of the wonderful art stylings of Dragon Ball’s Akira Toriyama who’s been lending his talents to the franchise since the first game published in 1989. That same year, a manga adaption entitled ‘The Adventures of Dai’ began serialisation and was soon picked up by Toei Animation for an anime.  

Dragon Quest: The Adventures of Dai originally aired in 1991 and chronicled the adventures of Dai, a young boy dreaming of becoming a hero, who eventually sets out on a quest to defeat the demon king and bring peace back to the world. This new adaption follows the same premise but is presented using a hybrid of 2D and CG animation technics. It’s simply a good old adventure story that will bring back all the joy and excitement of watching hours of Saturday morning cartoons as a kid.  

The Genie Family

Originally broadcast from Japan in 1969, Genie Family centred on a boy called Kanichi who stumbles across a bottle that contains the king of the genies, Hakushon Daimao, his wife, and daughter. Whenever somebody sneezes, hiccups, or yawns one of the three genies is summoned and they must grant the summoners wishes until they’re sneezed, yawned, or hiccupped back into their bottle. As amazing as having unlimited wishes is, Kanichi quickly discovers it’s not all fun and games when his wishes go wrong. You see, for a genie king, Hakushon is awfully clumsy, and his daughter, Akubi, loves to make mischief. Despite its popularity in Japan, the show never found traction in the West with it only being scarcely broadcast on a few Canadian and European networks.  

Thankfully, we can now experience all the genies delightful antics through the eyes of Kanichi’s grandson, Kantaro in reboot turned sequel series, The Genie Family. Heartfelt, funny, and downright charming, this modernisation of a family classic will provide laughs and magic for old and new generations alike. 

Boruto: Naruto Next Generations

Okay so this one is a stretching it considering that one. the Boruto anime has been running since 2017 [2018 in the West] and two. It’s not technically a reboot but hear me out: Boruto is both nostalgic and massively appealing to a younger audience. Whether you like the show or not, the adventures of Boruto Uzumaki and his classmates on their paths to becoming full-fledged shinobi will serve as a gateway into anime for the younger generation, much like its predecessor before did. Seeing Naruto and his peers that we, as an older generation, grew up with now all grown up themselves with children of their own also ticks the nostalgia boxes, and, with the anime finally pumping out the canon content of the manga the stakes seem to only be ramping up and getting more exciting week to week.  

Is Boruto perfect? No. Does it reach the standards of the original Naruto and Shippuden? No. But it is a fun, enjoyable experience that, if you have written off, is worth giving a second chance.   

The post Throwback Fever: How Anime is Nostalgically Bursting into the New Decade  appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Are you looking for anime recommendations? Whether you are a newbie or are already a fan, here’s a list of eight amazing anime series just for you. Anime has increasingly gained popularity worldwide over the last few decades, leading to production of more amazing anime content and continual increase in their fanbase. The best anime belong to the ‘Action’ and ‘Adventure’ genres, but there’s no shortage of them in other genres. Nevertheless, in this list, the animes have been narrowed down to belong from this genre!

1. Naruto (2002-2017)

This is the one series I would recommend to anyone and everyone. Naruto follows the story of a young boy, Naruto, who is an orphan, bullied by his peers, and awful at ninjutsu, the technique used by ninjas in the series. What follows is his endless determination and struggle to gain recognition from the villagers, and to become the Hokage, leader of the Leaf Village. Naruto is a long but beautiful story, having so many plots and twists, but at the same time, showing the value of hope, courage, and relationships in life. There are two main parts: Naruto and Naruto Shippuden. A sequel, Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, started airing from 2017.

2. Death Note (2006-2007)

One of the anime series that is widely known worldwide, Death Note follows Light Yagami, an intelligent teenage boy who discovers the Death Note, a supernatural notebook that causes the death of anyone whose name he writes in the book. Numerous killings happen over the next days and the media names the new killer as ‘Kira.’ Death Note is an anime where you can see how criminal masterminds work and just how equally canny law workers catch them.

3. Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion (2006-2008)

Lelouch Lamperouge is a Britannian student, an outcast prince living with his sister, Nunnaly, in Japan. The Holy Empire of Britannia has managed to force its control onto Japan, renaming it Area 11. When Lelouch is caught up in a fight between the Area 11 rebels and the armed forces of Britannia, he narrowly escapes because of the appearance of a mysterious woman C.C. who gives him the power of Geass. With the ocular power that he can use to control anyone, Lelouch embarks on a mission to destroy the Brittanian Empire and appears in public as the masked vigilante, Zero. Code Geass is another anime where you see how intelligence and tactics win the war.

4. Tokyo Ghoul (2014-2018)

Kaneki is a college student who becomes half ghoul after a deadly encounter with his date, Rize Kamishiro, who reveals herself a ghoul. He now has to learn to deal with eating flesh to meet his ghoul impulses and fit in society as half-human, half-ghoul. Luckily, he meets the ghouls that run Anteiku, a coffee shop, who help him to adjust to his new reality and make sure he keeps his identity secret. In this 12-episode series, we see Kaneki struggle to integrate two of his very different personalities into one and try to survive.

5. Bleach (2004-2012)

In Bleach, Ichigo Kurosaki, born with the ability to see ghosts, sees Rukia Kuchiki, the Soul Reaper, who fights Hollows and sends ghosts to the afterlife. In a battle with a powerful Hollow, Rukia is wounded and temporarily passes her abilities to Ichigo, a high school student. Ichigo reluctantly accepts the role of the Soul Reaper, and with the help of three spiritually aware classmates, manages to fight the Hollows that plague the world.

6. Psycho-Pass (2012-2019)

Psycho-Pass is an anime set in 22^nd century dystopian Japan, where the government uses the Sibyl System, psychometric scanners that actively measure the minds of the country’s citizens. Latent criminals, called Enforcers, aid the Crime Investigation department in doing their duty. Akane Tsunemori is a rookie inspector, going out in the field for the first time, wanting to be part of justice. But as she works with enforcers, she realises that Japan’s justice system may not be what it seems to be, and questions what type of justice enforcement is she really part of.

7. Attack on Titan (2013-)

In the fictional world of Attack on Titan, humans live in cities that are surrounded by huge walls to protect them from monstrous giants, the Titans. However, the protection becomes ineffective as a titan breaches the wall of one such town, killing many. Eren Yeager, his friends Mikasa Ackerman and Armin Arlert suffer long-lasting changes in their lives because of the attack. The anime series shows their adventures as a part of the Scout Regiment, a soldier group that fight the titans. There are four seasons in the series, with three released and the final one scheduled to be released by fall of 2020.

8. Blue Exorcist (2011-2017)

In Blue Exorcist, there are two worlds, Assiah, which is occupied by humans, and Gehenna, which is occupied by demons. There is no way to travel between the two dimensions but by possession of humans by demons. The story follows Rin Okumura, a teenager whose life is rocked when he gets to know that he is in fact the son of the ruler of Gehenna, Satan, who wants his son to return to the demon realm so they can conquer Assiah together. However, he does not want to be a part of his father’s plans and along with his twin brother, trains to become an exorcist, so he can protect Assiah from Gehenna.

Do you have any other recommendations? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Eight Anime Series That Are Worth The Binge Watch! appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Fruits Basket by Takaya Natsuki, is one of the most popular shojo manga series, with millions of copies sold. The first anime adaptation (2001) was generally well-received but, as the manga only completed in 2006, it had to reach its own conclusion. In Fullmetal Alchemist fashion, devoted fans of the manga had to wait a long time for their Brotherhood. 20 years later, an anime remake of Fruits Basket has been made, and this time it will follow the entire manga. Season 1 finished airing in September 2019, and it was everything it should be:  emotional and well-made, with a new, modern aesthetic that still does the manga justice.  If you want to refresh your memory before Season 2 starts airing this April, go no further. Here’s what has happened so far:

Tohru Honda is an optimistic, hard-working high school girl who has been living in a tent, following the death of her beloved mother. When her temporary home is destroyed, her classmate, Yuki Sohma and his older cousin, Shigure, offer to take her in. Not long after, Kyo, another Sohma arrives and challenges Yuki to a fight. Caught up between the two cousins, Tohru accidentally finds out the family’s secret: twelve members of the Sohma family are each possessed by an animal of the Chinese Zodiac cycle. When they are hugged by a member of the opposite sex or when they feel unwell, they turn into their respective animal. Additionally, Kyo is possessed by the spirit of the cat, who is not a part of the Zodiac cycle, a fate considered worse than the others’.

This premise might seem funny and whimsical, but we soon find out this is far from the case. The Sohmas, and Tohru herself, each have a tragic past that still affects them and their relationship with others. Yuki, the rat of the zodiac has been isolated and bullied by the head of the Sohma family. At some point during childhood, he had his animal form revealed in front of many children. In order to keep the family curse a secret, his friends’ memories of him had to be erased, leaving him reluctant to come close to others again. Kyo, who has often been reviled because of the cat spirit, is obsessed with beating Yuki and being accepted in the Zodiac cycle.

As she gets to know them better, Tohru realises the two are not so different and gradually helps them develop and heal. When her relatives offer to take her in once again, only to immediately shame her for having lived with her male classmates, Tohru realises she had wanted to spend more time with Yuki and Kyo. The two boys team up for the first time to find her relatives’ house and invite her back. Encouraged by her understanding grandfather, who does not want the rest of the family to suffocate her, Tohru moves back in with the Sohmas. The idea of chosen family is brought up for the first, but definitely not for the last time.

Soon, Tohru meets more Sohmas: Kagura, the boar of the zodiac cycle, has an obsessive love for Kyo and must slowly come to terms with her unrequited feelings. Hatori, the dragon (but, in truth, a sea-horse) is the family doctor. Apart from treating the Sohmas when they’re ill, he has to wipe the memories of outsiders who find out about the curse. Ironically, he once had to erase his own girlfriend’s memories of him to protect her, as Akito, the head of the family, disapproved of the relationship and seriously injured Hatori, causing the young woman to blame herself.  Momiji, the rabbit, is not remembered by his own mother, who became depressed after giving birth to a Zodiac member, and had her memories of him erased. Often behaving like a child younger than his years, Momiji tries to stay cheerful, even as he watches his mother from afar, along with his younger sister who doesn’t know Momiji is her brother. Hatsuharu, the ox, often loses his temper and, as a child, he had been conditioned by his own family to think he is stupid. Ayame, the snake, and Yuki’s estranged older brother, clumsily tries to mend their relationship with disastrous and hilarious effects. Kisa, the tiger, was misunderstood by her overprotective mother, and after being bullied at school, is left unable to speak. Ritsu, the monkey, a cross-dressing student, is apologetic for everything and has to slowly build up his confidence. Hiro, the sheep, had to avoid Kisa because Akito forbade their relationship and is now courageously defying the head of the family while also dealing with the jealousy he often feels for others.  

Each time a new Zodiac member is introduced, Tohru soon finds there is more to them than meets the eye. Each has their own secrets and hidden depths that make them engaging, so viewers are bound to care for or identify with at least a few of them. Each is unique, but all their stories have a common thread: much of their pain is caused by Akito, the mysterious head of the family, who is not a Zodiac member, but has a god-like control over the thirteen cursed Sohmas. Shigure himself, possessed by the spirit of the dog, is the most mysterious of them all. In his enigmatic conversations with Akito he admits his motivations for taking Tohru in are darker than they seem. He cares about Akito more than anything and is willing to lie or use others to get what he wants. But what does he want? And why is Akito inflicting so much pain on everyone? Perhaps Season 2 will give us answers.

As a whole, the Season 1 alternates between darker and more light-hearted episodes, many of which are devoted to a single character and their backstory, setting up an intriguing base for the next,  darker season. Healing in Fruits Basket, much like in real life, is not an easy process. As Tohru helps the Sohmas confront their pain and grow, she too, is changed through her interactions with them without this meaning that their traumas are totally mended. Tohru’s best friends, Arisa, a former gang member, and Saki, a girl with psychic powers, also play an important role, providing a great example of female friendship and support. The characters’ bonding during school festivals, holidays or even during sadder occasions, such as visiting the grave of Tohru’s mother, is heart-warming to watch.

In the season’s climax, another Sohma shows up. Kazuma, Kyo’s foster father and martial arts teacher, believes that only Tohru can help Kyo accept himself. Soon, he brings Kyo to his most vulnerable state; his true form. As the cat, who has been rejected by the Zodiac cycle, Kyo has another, monstrous form, which has always terrified everyone, from his long-dead mother to Kagura. In one of the show’s more tense and moving moments, Tohru accepts Kyo regardless of this repulsive form and promises to stay by his side.  Kyo then returns to normal, reconciles with his foster father and resolves to become stronger and more independent. The season ends in a positive note, with many of the Zodiac members meeting up at Shigure’s house and Tohru sensing something important is about to happen during the approaching summer break.  Hiro, one of the few to not join, visits Rin, an important character in the manga, whose role has yet to be revealed in the anime. Shigure himself is notably absent. In one of his mysterious conversations with Akito, he reveals that curse could potentially break soon. But at what cost?

By the end of Season 1, most characters have come a long way. As Yuki thinks to himself: ‘there might be moments when we all want to run away, but we are fighting through it’. Each of them has faced rejection at some point: early on, Tohru mentions a game of ‘fruits basket’, in which every child was assigned a fruit, but Tohru herself was called ‘onigiri’, a rice-ball, which is not a fruit, as a cruel way to exclude her from the game. Now Tohru, her two best friends and the Sohmas are already creating their own fruits basket, in which no one is excluded or left behind.

And yet, there is a sense of foreboding in this optimistic ending. From what we have seen so far, Akito doesn’t want the Zodiac members to have a good relationship with anyone but himself, so this new ‘fruits basket’ could be threatened very soon. Will Shigure’s plan help his younger cousins and Tohru or harm them? And what about the two Zodiac members Tohru has yet to meet?

What did you think of Season 1 of Fruits Basket? What do you expect to see in Season 2? Tell us in the comments below!

The post ‘Fruits Basket’ Season 1 Recap appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Anyone who has even the slightest knowledge of anime has probably heard of the ill-fated Netflix Death Note adaptation or the upcoming Detective Pikachu movie. The popular opinion seems to be that live-action adaptations are generally a bad idea. However, I am going to play devil’s advocate today and tell you why they are actually worth a watch by talking about two or three of the better live-action adaptations.

1. They give fans more material to dig up and watch

For me, I came into the Death Note fandom about 12 years late. I very much enjoyed bingeing the anime, reading the manga, and digging up the countless adaptations, including the three Japanese movies, the Japanese TV drama, and the notorious Netflix movie. The adaptations allow fans to keep enjoying their favourite characters long after the original show/manga series is over.

2. Some movie studios stay true to the source material

There are live-action adaptations that are actually genuinely good movies in their own right. Sure, the adaptation of Dragon Ball Z, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and the Netflix Death Note were terrible and completely desecrated the source material, but there are some note-worthy adaptations. For example, the Fullmetal Alchemist adaptation provided a genuinely interesting take on the series, and the three Japanese Death Note movies stayed fairly true to the manga while providing an almost better alternate ending. And, from what I have heard, the live-action adaptation of Bleach actually hit the mark in many ways.

3. They allow for reinterpretation of characters

The characters are often what draws us into the originals as we come to love them and become genuinely invested in their stories. There are some adaptations that completely reimagine your favourite characters, and you find that they are actually as good, or better, than the originals.

One example of this comes in the TV drama adaptation of Death Note. Fan-favourite L is almost unrecognisable when compared to the original anime, but they did not do the character injustice. The original L comes across as a having a languid and blunt manner, being incredibly eccentric, and having a rather dry sense of humour that only presents itself in rare moments, like his quip to Misa about a world without Light being “dark.”

In contrast, the L from the TV drama’s eccentricity is downplayed significantly. He is much more direct in his offensive measures, going so far as to individually call all of his suspects and to try to get them to confess. This version is also mischievous and frequently plays pranks on other characters; the most notable example being when L is directing a disguised Light through the Yotsuba headquarters and intentionally turns him down a hallway that is actually a wall. Another aspect that differs from the anime is that L possesses a mean, verging on sadistic, streak that makes you question his morality even more than you did originally. All these traits seem like they would work against the character, but actually make him even more interesting.

4. Sometimes characters you hated in the original will actually be likeable in the adaptations or omitted entirely

One character who was omitted from the Fullmetal Alchemist adaptation was the flamboyant Alex Louis Armstrong. Some fans like this character, but others–myself included–find him annoying and unnecessary. His antics in the anime only add some rather weird and uncomfortable attempts at humour that usually fail dramatically. Without his unnecessary strip-teasing, viewers are more able to focus on the captivating story.

5. The adaptations sometimes provide better endings than the source material

Ending a series is incredibly hard for writers and some series hit the mark better than others. Naturally, I must cite the Japanese Death Note movies for an example once again. Death Note’s conclusion in the anime disappointed many fans for its rushed inclusion of L’s successors and the badly-explained switching of the Death Notes. Many of the fans simply stopped watching the series after L’s death because the series lost steam without him.

In contrast to this, the second Japanese movie actually provided a neat and clean ending for the series, while still achieving the same, if not more, emotional affect. This version implements a rule in the death note that was mentioned in the manga but never utilised. L wrote his own name in the death note before Rem did and set his own death for 23 days later, effectively nullifying her attempt to kill him. He and the task force are then able to catch Light and Misa red-handed. It is a clever twist that works more effectively than the clunky anime ending.

6. Annoying anime tropes are often omitted from the adaptations

There are a lot of tropes in anime, and most of them get old fast. A couple such tropes that are common in the anime versions of Fullmetal Alchemist are the overreaction trope and the randomly stripping trope (looking at you, Armstrong). The randomly stripping trope is not present in the adaptation due to the fact that Armstrong is omitted entirely. The overreaction trope is significantly toned down from the anime; there is only so much overreaction possible when you are dealing with human muscles instead of animated ones.

7. You get to see what your favourite characters would look like if they were real

Much like when a novel gets adapted into a movie, live-action adaptations of anime give us an even better picture of our favourite characters (sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse). Animation often looks very unrealistic, so seeing your favourite characters in live-action makes them that much more tangible.

8. It’s not weird to have a crush on your favourite character in adaptations

It is not uncommon for fans to have crushes on their favourite fictional characters; the terms “fangirl” and “fanboy” exist for a reason. It can feel a little weird to have a crush on your favourite animated character. Live-action makes it feel a lot more natural because you have a human actor to pin your attraction on. For example, people may think it’s weird if you have a crush on L, but if you say you have a crush on Kenichi Matsuyama (the actor who portrayed him in the Japanese movies), it is considered socially acceptable.

9. Adaptations provide an increased opportunity for diversity

Increased diversity is almost always a good thing; it gives minority actors more roles and gives minority kids someone like them in popular media. A couple of examples of this in adaptations are Lakeith Stanfield playing L in the Netflix Death Note movie and Ryôsuke Yamada playing the traditionally Caucasian Edward Elric in the Fullmetal Alchemist adaptation. In these cases, the changes are harmless and do not affect the story in any significant way. After all, the Fullmetal Alchemist adaptation was made in Japan, so it makes sense to hire Japanese actors. As for L, his race is not particularly important to the story, so having him played by an African-American adds diversity without negatively affecting his character any more than the movie script did.

10. Adaptations open anime up to a wider audience

There are many excuses the average viewer gives for not watching anime; they misunderstand it or dislike animated TV shows and movies. For example, my entire family cannot stand anime. However, I convinced them to watch the Japanese Death Note movies with me, and they enjoyed them.

Also, some people want to try anime, but they do not have the time to watch an 800 episode TV series that has been going on since the 90s. A two-hour movie can be a much better jumping off point for new fans, and it can encourage them to dive in and explore the originals.

Are adaptations worth it?

Yes, movie studios will always make bad movies from fandom shows to make a profit. But if the studio really tried to make a movie worth watching, it cannot hurt to give them a chance. Good anime adaptations do exist. Even if you dislike the examples I chose to discuss, I guarantee there is at least one anime adaptation out there that you will enjoy!

What do you think? Tell us in the comments below!

The post 10 Reasons Why Live-Action Anime Adaptations Aren’t Always Bad appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Aaron Ehasz announced back in July that he was working on a new series, The Dragon Prince, which has now been released on Netflix as of last week and it raised a few eyebrows within the animation community. For those of you who are racking your brains trying to remember where he is from, Aaron was the head writer for one of my favourite TV shows of all time: Avatar. With his new show recently released, now is the perfect time to go back and experience the rich worlds that he created.

This is why you should rewatch Avatar: The Last Airbender, and if you haven’t seen it yet, be warned, there are spoilers ahead!

1. The Story Is Full and Rewarding

This is what showcases Aaron’s writing talents. The story of Avatar starts of with a localised mystery where two kids find a strange boy and his flying bison frozen in an iceberg. From there, Aang and crew must defeat the single most powerful man in this world, Fire Lord Ozai. What is a cat and mouse story between the group of kids and an exiled prince who is hellbent on tracking them down, becomes a search for purpose in life and how to deal with the notion of destiny. As they get more powerful, the bigger the challenges become. It really makes you feel for the plight of the group and root for them to succeed. It’s this gradual accumulation of power by the characters that makes the show worth a watch.

2. Beautifully Animated Action Sequences

Avatar draws visual inspiration from all over “The East”. The gigantic Earth Kingdom is based of China. The proud Fire Nation is very Japanese in feel. The Air Nomads, in their orange robes are similar to the Tibetan monks, and the Water Tribes (located on the North and South Poles) lend heavily from Inuit traditions. Each nation practices its own form of martial arts that is inspired by the elements they represent. Each one of these fighting styles are based on real world martial arts. The animators have gone to great lengths to replicate these poses and stances on the screen. This makes for stunning choreography with each fight scene feeling as high stakes and unique as the next.

3. Unique and Engaging World

The only way to describe the world of Avatar is vibrant. As I mentioned before, the world is as distinct as the people who inhabit it. As the characters travel around you get a real feel of cultural change. In the bustling Earth Kingdom city of Ba Sing Se, it’s every man for himself as they struggle to get rich or just survive. While the people in the Water Tribes are driven by traditionalism and rituals. The people reflect their environments and that speaks to the real world. Every class of society is visited in this story too. Beggars, refugees, kings, government officials, university students, farmers, merchants, pirates, priests, illegal ring fighters and cabbage salesmen; everyone gets a chance to tell their story. Not to mention the crazy hybrid animals that dot the wilds. Have you ever stopped to consider what a platypus bear looks like?

4. Avatar Teaches About Religion and Tolerance

Until I watched the show, my teenage mind had rarely stopped to consider other faiths. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a hater I just hadn’t been exposed to much outside of my semi-rural Christian dominant upbringing. But Avatar presents its audience with a wide array of Eastern faiths and belief systems. Centring around Buddhism and Confucianism, it also dabbles in ideas of Taoism and some Hindu beliefs. On top of this, each nation has a different government system. The Earth Kingdom functions as a communist state with an emperor at the head. While the water tribes have the ability to vote in a leader from a recognised family, and the Fire Nation adheres to Imperialist bloodline successions. What is most impressive about the show is that it presents all these different world views to its audience in an equal light. Everything has both pros and cons. Everything is about balance.

5. Every Character Has An Arc

Every character you meet in the show has a past. Everyone gets their time to shine. Everyone has triumphs, and everyone has flaws. While most of the characters learn to “bend” or manipulate the elements, some do not. Sokka, one of Aang’s travelling companions shows a great amount of growth. He doesn’t physically get stronger, instead his story focuses on his feelings of inadequacy and sense of belonging. Throughout the show you see that his strengths don’t lie in physical prowess, but in his ability to plan and improvise as required. On the other side of the story is Iroh, who is the uncle of the outcast Prince Zuko who is dedicated to hunting down the Avatar. His struggle revolves around helping his stubborn nephew to find inner peace and become a better man. While he knows what Zuko is doing is wrong, his conflict is helping him realise these shortcomings on his own.

6. Bending Is Freaking Cool!

So, I’ve been waiting to discuss this. Bending is when a person channels their energy to manipulate the very elements. Water, Earth, Fire, and Air can all be used by the people of this world and it is one of the coolest ideas ever. In the school yard we’ve all had arguments about which super powers would be better than the rest. Bending is that argument made into animation. Each discipline is based on a different martial arts style. The elegant forms used in water bending evoke images of Tai Chi, while fire benders rely on flurries of strikes and kicks like many Shaolin techniques. Earth bending is all about power from your stance like Hung Gar and air bending is similar to Ba Gua where the user rotates their centre of gravity to roll away from blows and utilise an enemy’s energy against them. Once again, these differences in technique create dynamic fight scenes and moments of shock and awe. Bending is one of the coolest “magic” systems I’ve seen. If you don’t believe me, check out this clip:

7. Avatar Makes You Want to Create

Finally, Avatar: The Last Airbender seems to capture some part of our collective imaginations. Most people I’ve talked to about it, love it to bits. Personally, it has inspired me to research more into Eastern mythology and write some stories about it. I know others who have taken to art and even animation because of the impression it made on them. Comics, music compilations, web animations, short stories, you name it, someone will have made an Avatar inspired version. Not to mention there is a sequel story set in the Avatar equivalent of the industrial boom. But I will have to discuss The Legend of Korra another time.

Do you love Avatar: The Last Airbender? Or are there any other reasons you would add? Tell us in the comments below!

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It’s been three years of waiting, but we finally have a confirmed release date for the second season of One-Punch Man. Anime fans rejoice!

In 2015, One-Punch Man swooped onto television screens around the globe and became one of the hottest anime in the market. Everyone fell in love with its perfect mix of overwhelming action sequences and comedic riffing. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the show, it follows the life of Saitama who was a down on his luck business man and decided to become a hero for fun. After dedicating himself to a strict training regimen, he achieved god levels of power. With his cyborg apprentice, Genos, he searches for greater meaning in his life. Everyday life can be boring when you can defeat any monster you face with a single punch.

Earlier in the year, we learnt that Madhouse animation studios dropped the project and it had been picked up by J.C. Staff. While this disappointing, J.C. Staff is an equally impressive studio who have been responsible for shows like Food Wars, Children of the Whales, Is It Wrong to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon, and the long running series Slayers. With a huge back catalogue of comedy titles, they should have no trouble making sure that One-Punch Man strikes the right tone.

Unfortunately, we’ll have to wait until April 2019 before we get to check in with Saitama and crew again. But we should be getting more hints and trailer drops in the following nine months. After watching the trailer, I was ecstatic to finally see Garou, who is our next main villain. Having been kicked out of a top ranked hero’s dojo for crippling fellow students, he goes on a journey to seek out ultimate power. I can think of no one better to tussle with Saitama than a power-hungry-disgraced-former-student of one of the most powerful hero’s in the world.

In the mean time, I’ll be hitting the manga and trying to find out as much about Garou as I possibly can. Hang in there One-Punch fans, the wait is nearly over.

Are you excited for the new season? Tell us in the comments below!

The post One-Punch Man Season 2 Finally Has a Release Date appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Anime is one of those entertainment mediums that people seem to get a bit apprehensive about. We didn’t have a problem watching Dragon Ball Z or Sailor Moon before school in our younger years, and in fact, you probably look back on those memories with undeniable fondness. However, the older people get, the more likely they are to shunt anime off to the side and label it as a no-go. But in an effort to bring back the anime love, I’ve compiled a list of 10 reasons that everybody should be watching anime!

1. It’s rarely cancelled

There’s nothing worse than letting yourself get wholly invested in a TV series only to have the rug pulled out from under you when the network decides to cancel it *cough* Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency *cough*, but this rarely happens with anime. Either the show ends when the story does (Fullmetal Alchemist) or it keeps going in an attempt to catch up with the manga (One Piece). And if it does happen to get cancelled, you can always keep going with the manga.

2. The characters are unique and interesting

Anime boasts such vibrancy and diversity in its characters. People in anime have dynamic personalities, they’re whole people (even when they aren’t human); they have dreams and goals, and beyond that, there’s just so much variance in what they are. Ghosts, detectives, ghouls, pirates, demons, high school students, office workers… the list goes on, and there’s no limit to what a character might be, or who they might be.

3. Characters have flaws and die

Sort of the flip side of number 2 is that characters in anime are not spared by plot armour. Even a character that is absolutely pivotal to the plotline is not immune to death, or flaws. Perfect characters don’t exist in anime, and if they do exist, it’s usually because it’s being set up to prove a plot point.

4. Anime is relatable

Not the storylines specifically, but just because something is animated, doesn’t mean it can be realistic or relatable. Most animes will harbour serious moral philosophies from real-life situations. And things like decision-making, the ability to overcoming loss, and the importance of familial relationships form the corner-stone of almost any anime you watch.

5. There are ENDLESS possibilities

What’s the most random story you can think of? There’s probably an anime for that. School of compulsive gamblers? Check. Universe where humans co-exist with any number of mythical creatures? Check. Journeys of a guy who eats a magical fruit and is trying to become the Pirate King? Check. There are no limitations on what worlds or characters exist, it’s truly astounding.

6. It teaches you about Japanese culture

This one’s a bit subtler, but each anime is infused with information about Japanese culture; from commonly used phrases and colloquialisms, popular traditions, holidays and myths and folk law- there’s a little something from a magnificent culture blended into each story.

7. Strong female characters

There’s a bit of a misconception about the way anime portrays women, but I’m here to tell you that physicality aside, women in anime are not there as male fan service. They are strong, dynamic characters—no damsels in distress here (well, mostly)! Women in anime go toe-to-toe with males in action sequences and are just as likely to kick-ass and take names as any of the guys.

8. Amazing action sequences

And not just fight scenes either! Anime is all about the action—the way it’s written lends itself to action weaving itself into the plot of any story line. Even filler episodes tend to have something interesting going on. Fight scenes in particular can be spectacular, because the use of animation as a medium means that they’re limitless in a way you can’t achieve with live action.

9. It’s super easy to binge!

You know that feeling when you get super into a TV show and so you start from the beginning and binge watch through a couple of seasons… but then you catch up? And you’re left wondering what to do with your life while you wait for the next season? Depending on what anime you pick, you’ve got a while to go before you run out of episodes—with long running shows like Naruto and One Piece boasting over 700 episodes each.

10. It’s entertaining!

Perhaps the most basic of all the reasons on my list, but arguably the most important, anime is entertaining as heck! It’s all about fast paced, interesting and thought-provoking storylines kept moving by kick-ass action scenes and enough drama to keep anyone interested!

Well, there you go. Hopefully something on this list has convinced you to give anime another go! If you’re stuck for ideas on where to start, check out a few of our recommendations!

Why do you love anime? Tell us in the comments below!

The post 10 Reasons You Should Be Watching Anime (If You Aren’t Already) appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Most of us remember waking up early before school or on the weekends to watch our favourite cartoons. Tearing the covers off your bed and making a nest on the couch so that you could watch Dragon Ball Z, Pokemon, or Naruto in complete comfort. Anime as an entertainment medium has done a lot of growing up since the 90’s and is chock full of awesome action, laugh out loud moments, and stories that make you think about your place in the world. Maybe it’s worth giving it another chance?

Read on to discover seven anime series that you’ll quickly be hooked on and tell us in the comments below if you know of any others you would add!

1. Nichijou

Have you ever had an idea with your best friend that is so ridiculous that you can’t stop laughing? That is more or less what it feels like to watch this show. Nichijou is a slice of life comedy series that follows three girls through their “everyday lives”.  If you’ve ever fallen in love with a young nobleman who rides a goat, shot lasers out of your eyes because you had a fish land on your head, or bribed a policeman to not look at your personal diary, then this is the show for you.

2. One Punch Man

One Punch Man is the equivalent of Japanese Deadpool. The story follows an ordinary looking superhero called Saitama and after giving up his day job, he decides to become a hero for fun and gains god-like strength. His ability to destroy opponents with only a single punch is used to great comic effect as Saitama strives to find an equal sparring partner and his place in the world. Oh, and the show also has one of the best opening themes going around.

3. Sword Art Online

How do you cram sci-fi, fantasy, romance, action, and a decent story into 25 episodes? Simply set the story inside a virtual reality RPG that you can’t escape from. While the second half of the series polarised audiences, the first half is gripping, tightly written, and focuses on character development and relationships. The main character Kirito is likeable and Asuna is always up for adventure. The visuals are breathtaking and definitely worthy of owning on Blu-Ray. Be warned though, the story is an emotional rollercoaster. Keep a box of tissues handy!

4. Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann

Gurren Lagann is one of my all time favourite shows, let alone anime. It starts with the main character Simon digging tunnels for a living in an underground village when he stumbles across an artefact that will take him from the murky depths of the village up to the surface world and as far as different galaxies and stars. Gurren Lagann is a story that hits you hard from the beginning and only lets you catch your breath when it says that it’s time to breathe. Its animation style is quirky, playing with lots of motion blurring, highly saturated colours, and forced perspectives. It typifies the Mech-Robot genre of anime with a gradual power build and lovably flawed characters.

5. Cowboy Bebop

This is the granddaddy of modern anime. First released in Japan in 1998, Cowboy Bebop is one of the most awarded animated television shows around. Channelling a funky futuristic art style, it combines a serious crime noir story with incredible voice acting in both Japanese and English. This is a great place to start your adventure into anime due to its self-contained story, dry wit, and memorable characters.

6. Death Note

Death Note was what got me into anime. It is a dark, serious psychological thriller that will leave you wanting more. Light Yagami is an incredibly bright student with his future laid out before him, but everything changes when he picks up a notebook dropped by a Shinigami (God of Death). As he gets caught up in the immense power gifted to him, the world’s greatest and most mysterious detective begins the hunt for him. What ensues is a pulse pounding tale of cat and mouse and more twists than an M. Night Shyamalan film. Brace yourself to have your morals questioned.

7. My Hero Academia

This has been the biggest show in anime since its release in April 2016. The protagonist, Izuku Midoriya, is one of the few people in the world who hasn’t developed a genetic power.  Despite this, he still chases his dream of becoming the world’s best hero like his idol, All Might. That is until fate intervenes granting him a power and entrance to the premiere UA High School. Like X-Men, this series deals with how heroes are viewed in society and the ideas of belonging. With a huge cast of characters, all with their own unique abilities and personality traits, My Hero Academia will have you discussing your own dream powers with friends for hours.

Any other anime series you would add? Tell us in the comments below!

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