The 2000s were a truly magical time to grow up. Some of the most successful and captivating cartoons and anime aired during the time. Rushing back home just to catch an episode of Ben 10 or Naruto was probably the golden time of life you will never get back.
Still, these nostalgic series will forever hold a place in the hearts of fans. But did you ever think that these two mega-successful series from different continents would ever refer to each other?
Some fans noticed a startling Naruto reference when they rewinded some old Ben 10 episodes.
The Sneaky Naruto Reference in Ben 10 Ben 10 | Cartoon Network Studios
Merry Christmas is the third episode of Ben 10, season 3. The episode features an evil entity called Mr. Jingles who inhabits a cursed Christmas theme park called Holiday Village. Max’s Rv, the Rust Bucket, broke down in the middle of...
Still, these nostalgic series will forever hold a place in the hearts of fans. But did you ever think that these two mega-successful series from different continents would ever refer to each other?
Some fans noticed a startling Naruto reference when they rewinded some old Ben 10 episodes.
The Sneaky Naruto Reference in Ben 10 Ben 10 | Cartoon Network Studios
Merry Christmas is the third episode of Ben 10, season 3. The episode features an evil entity called Mr. Jingles who inhabits a cursed Christmas theme park called Holiday Village. Max’s Rv, the Rust Bucket, broke down in the middle of...
- 5/27/2024
- by Aaheli Pradhan
- FandomWire
As Knocked Loose has grown in prominence, they’ve become more unapologetically themselves. Viral sets at Coachella, Lollapalooza, and Reading & Leeds scored massive wins for a scene that has long been considered one of outsiders. With their brand new album, You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To , the band brings their punishing form of hardcore/metalcore into the mainstream. In many ways, their journey mirrors that of anime’s rise to prominence. No one embodies these analogous journeys more than guitarist Nicko Calderon, whose creative voice, both figuratively and quite literally, can be heard throughout the new album’s aggressive 27-minute run time. We spoke with Calderon on the eve of the album’s release to learn more about how anime has impacted his songwriting style, his love of Flcl and The Pillows, and the extremes of anime and heavy music. Can you introduce yourself to the Crunhcyroll audience?...
- 5/11/2024
- by Alex Lebl
- Crunchyroll
Mayumi Tanaka, the voice actor of Monkey D. Luffy, the captain of the Straw Hat Pirates in One Piece, might have found the perfect replacement who can take over her role as Luffy. Tanaka has been voicing Luffy for almost thirty years, and she has done a great job portraying the character over the years.
Luffy in One Piece
However, as she is getting old and the series is still a little far away from the conclusion, the creators might have to find someone else who could do justice to the character of Luffy. This has also become a major concern for Eiichiro Oda, the creator of One Piece. Oda never imagined that the series would go on for so long.
In an interview, Oda talked about how Masako Nozawa, the character who voiced Dr. Kureha in One Piece, offered to take Tanaka’s role as Luffy’s voice actor in One Piece.
Luffy in One Piece
However, as she is getting old and the series is still a little far away from the conclusion, the creators might have to find someone else who could do justice to the character of Luffy. This has also become a major concern for Eiichiro Oda, the creator of One Piece. Oda never imagined that the series would go on for so long.
In an interview, Oda talked about how Masako Nozawa, the character who voiced Dr. Kureha in One Piece, offered to take Tanaka’s role as Luffy’s voice actor in One Piece.
- 4/28/2024
- by Tarun Kohli
- FandomWire
No one else out there sounds like Diamond Construct. They blend the new nü-metalcore sound with electronic influences in a manner that will have your head bobbing every which way. On their new album, Angel Killer Zero they showcase the evolution of that sound alongside a slight change in overall aesthetic. The videos for the two lead singles, “Jynx” and “Switchblade” illustrate a newfound inspiration from the band to fly the flag of their anime fandom. Vocalist, songwriter and founding member Kynan Goldwater gave Crunchyroll News a sneak peek into his anime fandom and mindset behind the inspired new creative direction. Read the conversation below and then listen to Angel Killer Zero while you pilot your mech! So excited about the new album, Angel Killer Zero ! The art direction for the album and even the album title seem to draw some pretty heavy influence from Neon Genesis Evangelion ? Kynan Groundwater : 100 percent.
- 4/28/2024
- by Alex Lebl
- Crunchyroll
So far, 2024 has been a wonderful year for gaming. Perhaps not the triple-a titles in particular, but the indie gaming community feels quite content. Thanks to games like Palworld, Helldivers 2, and Stellar Blade, there’s a restoration of faith in the industry’s future and all the games we could potentially play.
While it’s surprising how so few triple-a titles are taking any spotlight, it’s good news for the industry at large that smaller studios are in the focus now, and we can expect a lot of creative experiments going forward.
It started with Palworld, and Helldivers 2 has been carrying the hype for indie games One after another, indie games are taking over the gaming community.
Towards the end of January, the world saw the arrival of an Mmo game that challenged the nuances of giants like Pokémon and Digimon and revolutionized the idea of creative survival games.
While it’s surprising how so few triple-a titles are taking any spotlight, it’s good news for the industry at large that smaller studios are in the focus now, and we can expect a lot of creative experiments going forward.
It started with Palworld, and Helldivers 2 has been carrying the hype for indie games One after another, indie games are taking over the gaming community.
Towards the end of January, the world saw the arrival of an Mmo game that challenged the nuances of giants like Pokémon and Digimon and revolutionized the idea of creative survival games.
- 4/3/2024
- by Tanay Sharma
- FandomWire
And while the franchise currently doesn’t have an ongoing anime series, the Digimon franchise is very much active, with numerous non-anime projects being released. But, despite all of that, the highly-anticipated home release of last year’s hit film, Digimon Adventure 02: The Beginning, which is set within the original universe and follows the 02 DigiDestined in a new adventure, has been announced for US fans – it is June 11, 2024!
It has been known for a while that the Blu-ray edition of the Digimon Adventure 02: The Beginning movie will come out on May 29, 2024 in Japan, and while some fans had been worried about a potentially long(er) wait for the US release, we can confirm that the movie will be released not long after the Japanese edition. Pre-orders are already available on Amazon for $26.98, for which you will get the special Blu-ray+DVD edition.
While the movie is set after the original anime,...
It has been known for a while that the Blu-ray edition of the Digimon Adventure 02: The Beginning movie will come out on May 29, 2024 in Japan, and while some fans had been worried about a potentially long(er) wait for the US release, we can confirm that the movie will be released not long after the Japanese edition. Pre-orders are already available on Amazon for $26.98, for which you will get the special Blu-ray+DVD edition.
While the movie is set after the original anime,...
- 4/3/2024
- by Arthur S. Poe
- Fiction Horizon
If you like lifting heavy things, Beyblades and crying while laughing, you’ll absolutely love Bilmuri. The band, which is the brainchild of Johnny Franck (formerly of Attack Attack!), has music that is second only to their presence on social media and their fan base known as the incredible “Muri Naysh.” As you might imagine for someone with such a creative approach to art, Franck is heavily inspired by anime. However, the creative spark he gets from the medium is unique, stemming less from the specific content and more from the overall “packaging” of each episode. Hear from the man himself below to learn more about how the craftsmanship of anime broadened his musical horizons. Johnny, how are you? How's everything going? Franck: I'm doing great. We just got out of the studio like 30 minutes ago. That’s my favorite place to be in the world. We've been writing for about two years straight now.
- 3/24/2024
- by Alex Lebl
- Crunchyroll
One clear memory I have in regards to being a creative, and I’m sure it’s something many creatives have been told, is that my field of choice (in my case writing) is not a real job . Creativity can feel like a space where so many people enjoy what comes out of it... yet don’t miss a beat when it comes to putting it down as an occupation. This is why I’m always so happy to see creators recognized for their work, so you can imagine the joy I felt in seeing Gabe Kunda receive his flowers from Forbes late last year. I first heard Kunda in My Hero Academia for his portrayal of Rock Lock before going down a bit of a rabbit hole with the actor. Not only is he in anime series like Chainsaw Man (the Bat Devil), Hell’s Paradise (Genji Yamada Asaemon) and...
- 3/15/2024
- by Briana Lawrence
- Crunchyroll
Digimon is one of the most recognizable brands in the world of anime, and this year, the franchise celebrated its 25th anniversary during the Digimon Con 2024, which was held in Japan on March 9 and 10, 2024. To celebrate the success of the event, as well as 25 years of the franchise, the producers have released an official Pv video for the fans, which chronicles the 25 years of the Digimon franchise:
Aside from showing us the clips from all the seasons released so far, the video also includes the first four Japanese Op songs, all performed by the late Koji Wada, who died of cancer in 2016, but will forever be remembered by Digimon fans all around the world as his voice and his songs helped make the franchise what it is. The songs featured are “Butter-Fly” (Digimon Adventure), “Target ~ Red Shock” (Digimon Adventure 02), “The Biggest Dreamer” (Digimon Tamers), and “Fire!!” (Digimon Frontier). Aside from this,...
Aside from showing us the clips from all the seasons released so far, the video also includes the first four Japanese Op songs, all performed by the late Koji Wada, who died of cancer in 2016, but will forever be remembered by Digimon fans all around the world as his voice and his songs helped make the franchise what it is. The songs featured are “Butter-Fly” (Digimon Adventure), “Target ~ Red Shock” (Digimon Adventure 02), “The Biggest Dreamer” (Digimon Tamers), and “Fire!!” (Digimon Frontier). Aside from this,...
- 3/12/2024
- by Arthur S. Poe
- Fiction Horizon
Pupil Slicer has been pushing the boundaries of what heavy music is for quite a while now and received critical and fan acclaim for their 2023 album Blossom . Blending elements of numerous genres, the album (which made its way to many a Top 10 End of Year list last year) is a microcosm of the types of anime vocalist Kate Davies and drummer Josh Andrews like to watch. Read all about how anime weaved its way into the writing process, how their anime journey started, and Shinji-core in the conversation below! You received a ton of acclaim for your most recent album, Blossom . How exciting was it to get that album out into the world? Kate : It’s been sick. We sat on the first album for way too long before it came out and we were sort of bored of it by the time it was released. Whereas with this album,...
- 3/2/2024
- by Alex Lebl
- Crunchyroll
Anime power-ups are a trope as old as time, bringing excitement to the heat of battle, freshness to the hero (or villain) and their attacks. They also teach young readers and viewers that through training they can grow bigger and stronger — or in the case of Luffy's Gear 5 in "One Piece," they can turn into cartoon chaos gods.
Ever since "Astro Boy" introduced the idea of characters with different levels of power, authors have tried to introduce new and cooler ways to have their characters evolve. Mecha shows like "Mazinger Z" had their giant robots gain upgrades over time. "Sailor Moon" and other magical girl anime added their own spin with the guardians getting boosts to their power while also getting shiny suits. "Digimon" had evolutions that gave characters physical transformations. Of course, there's the seminal anime power-up — the Super Saiyan form from "Dragon Ball Z." Inspired by Bruce Lee,...
Ever since "Astro Boy" introduced the idea of characters with different levels of power, authors have tried to introduce new and cooler ways to have their characters evolve. Mecha shows like "Mazinger Z" had their giant robots gain upgrades over time. "Sailor Moon" and other magical girl anime added their own spin with the guardians getting boosts to their power while also getting shiny suits. "Digimon" had evolutions that gave characters physical transformations. Of course, there's the seminal anime power-up — the Super Saiyan form from "Dragon Ball Z." Inspired by Bruce Lee,...
- 2/12/2024
- by Rafael Motamayor
- Slash Film
Digimon: The Movie. Angela Anaconda.
“Two properties tied together by forces beyond their control. You could even call it destiny.”
That’s how Angela Anaconda expert Alexandra Bender summarized the intertwined legacy of these two franchises and its spot on. In 2000, Digimon: The Movie premiered in theaters but before fans could watch the flawless masterpiece they were greeted with an unexpected Angela Anaconda short film that in the years since has drawn no shortage of ire.
The four-minute short features the characters and distinctive cutout animation of the Angela Anaconda TV series, which at that time was airing on the same network as the Digimon series, Fox Kids. The plot focuses on the titular Angela in her attempts to get a good seat for Digimon: The Movie, “the best movie of all time.” (Angela has excellent taste.) However, Angela’s mortal enemy, Nanette, is able to snag a better seat and block her view.
“Two properties tied together by forces beyond their control. You could even call it destiny.”
That’s how Angela Anaconda expert Alexandra Bender summarized the intertwined legacy of these two franchises and its spot on. In 2000, Digimon: The Movie premiered in theaters but before fans could watch the flawless masterpiece they were greeted with an unexpected Angela Anaconda short film that in the years since has drawn no shortage of ire.
The four-minute short features the characters and distinctive cutout animation of the Angela Anaconda TV series, which at that time was airing on the same network as the Digimon series, Fox Kids. The plot focuses on the titular Angela in her attempts to get a good seat for Digimon: The Movie, “the best movie of all time.” (Angela has excellent taste.) However, Angela’s mortal enemy, Nanette, is able to snag a better seat and block her view.
- 2/10/2024
- by Shamus Kelley
- Den of Geek
This article is part of Collector’s Digest, an editorial series powered by:
This has been a stellar year for anime. From the end of Attack on Titan and the continuation of hits like My Hero Academia and Demon Slayer to the debut of new hits like Zom 100, there’s plenty to love for every kind of anime fan. The same is true of anime collectibles. Whether you’re attached to your childhood favorites or are caught up on the latest and greatest, there’s every kind of collectible you can think of out there.
With help from eBay, we’ve identified a few anime items you’ll want to get your hands on this holiday.
Asuka Langley Figure
One of Evangelion’s main characters, Asuka Langley should not be trifled with. She’s mostly known for her serious outfit when piloting her Eva unit, which is why this particular figure stands out.
This has been a stellar year for anime. From the end of Attack on Titan and the continuation of hits like My Hero Academia and Demon Slayer to the debut of new hits like Zom 100, there’s plenty to love for every kind of anime fan. The same is true of anime collectibles. Whether you’re attached to your childhood favorites or are caught up on the latest and greatest, there’s every kind of collectible you can think of out there.
With help from eBay, we’ve identified a few anime items you’ll want to get your hands on this holiday.
Asuka Langley Figure
One of Evangelion’s main characters, Asuka Langley should not be trifled with. She’s mostly known for her serious outfit when piloting her Eva unit, which is why this particular figure stands out.
- 11/24/2023
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
"Digimon Adventure 02: The Beginning" begins, like all good "Digimon" stories should, with Maurice Ravel's "Boléro." The track starts playing as a giant Digi-egg appears floating above Tokyo Tower. It quickly starts emitting an electromagnetic pulse that impacts every screen on the planet and declares "May everyone in the world have friends. May they each have a Digimon," in several languages. When the egg hatches, it spells chaos around the world, and it is up to the second-generation DigiDestined to stop it.
Except, there's not much in terms of fighting. There are no Dark Masters threatening to destroy the world. Compared to other "Digimon" movies, the action is barely there, but the film still offers a dark and engrossing story that brings "Digimon" to psychological and even body horror territory. It may not be the big "Digimon" event that fans of the emotionally devastating "Last Evolution Kizuna" may be expecting,...
Except, there's not much in terms of fighting. There are no Dark Masters threatening to destroy the world. Compared to other "Digimon" movies, the action is barely there, but the film still offers a dark and engrossing story that brings "Digimon" to psychological and even body horror territory. It may not be the big "Digimon" event that fans of the emotionally devastating "Last Evolution Kizuna" may be expecting,...
- 11/7/2023
- by Rafael Motamayor
- Slash Film
Steve Miner's "Halloween H20: 20 Years Later" was the seventh "Halloween" film, but it came during a slasher revival that was sparked by the success of Wes Craven's "Scream" two years earlier. "H20" ignored the mythology laid out in "Halloween III: Season of the Witch," "Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers," "Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers," and "Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers."
The film caught up with Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis), still overcoming the trauma of Halloween night back in 1978 (covered in "Halloween" and "Halloween II"), and learning to live with the fact that Michael Myers is her brother. Moreso, "H20" focuses on Laurie's son John (Josh Hartnett) and his hip-talking teen peers. The teen cast contained a few notable stars-to-be, including Michelle Williams and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. If the kids sound like characters from a Kevin Williamson film, it's because Williamson served as...
The film caught up with Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis), still overcoming the trauma of Halloween night back in 1978 (covered in "Halloween" and "Halloween II"), and learning to live with the fact that Michael Myers is her brother. Moreso, "H20" focuses on Laurie's son John (Josh Hartnett) and his hip-talking teen peers. The teen cast contained a few notable stars-to-be, including Michelle Williams and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. If the kids sound like characters from a Kevin Williamson film, it's because Williamson served as...
- 10/24/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Some cliche somewhere said that ‘a picture is worth a thousand words.’ This has proven to be the case for me and especially when it comes to fan art. I have always sought out great fan art and have wanted to share it with as many people as possible. “Awesome Art We’ve Found Around The Net” is the outlet for that passion. In this column, I will showcase the kick-ass artwork of some great artists, with the hopes that these artists get the attention they deserve. That’s the aim. If you have any questions or comments, or even suggestions of art or other great artists, feel free to contact me at any time at theodorebond@joblo.com.
Akira by David Velásquez
Digimon by kentaropjj
The Exorcist by Nuno Sarnadas
Gamera by Matt Frank
Invasion of the Body Snatchers by Ted Hammond
Kickboxer by Forsaken Folklore
Ryu by Stanley...
Akira by David Velásquez
Digimon by kentaropjj
The Exorcist by Nuno Sarnadas
Gamera by Matt Frank
Invasion of the Body Snatchers by Ted Hammond
Kickboxer by Forsaken Folklore
Ryu by Stanley...
- 9/9/2023
- by Theodore Bond
- JoBlo.com
"One Piece" is not just one of the most popular manga ever, but a total phenomenon, and one of the best works of modern fiction. Eiichiro Oda crafted a story with great thematic depth, one that explores subjects of imperialism, oppression, racism, slavery, and that's just scratching the surface. It also expands its world to become one of the most fleshed-out fictional landscapes ever. Each island and each character exude a rich history and mythology, which make for a fleshed-out saga with extensive lore.
What keeps it such an entertaining and not at all convoluted story is the fact that Oda has never lost track of the sense of childlike wonder, of adventure, or the goofy tone from the early days of the manga. Even at its darkest moments, when someone died or when we experienced huge battles against governments, "One Piece" always has moments of absurd and ludicrous humor that make you smile.
What keeps it such an entertaining and not at all convoluted story is the fact that Oda has never lost track of the sense of childlike wonder, of adventure, or the goofy tone from the early days of the manga. Even at its darkest moments, when someone died or when we experienced huge battles against governments, "One Piece" always has moments of absurd and ludicrous humor that make you smile.
- 8/31/2023
- by Rafael Motamayor
- Slash Film
While "Pokémon" continues to be an incredibly popular franchise after what feels like a bazillion movies and seasons of TV, "Digimon" never quite achieved the legendary status it deserved.
Yet those who grew up watching "Digimon Adventure" know this show to be a great gateway anime and an effective introduction to serialized storytelling. As a kid, realizing that I either had to tune in every week or miss a key part of the story was a terrifying yet thrilling realization. You could skip several episodes of "Pokémon" and be completely fine, but miss the broadcast of the new "Digimon" and suddenly the kids are in another continent, there is a brand new character, a major lore reveal, and a new big bad.
And this is not to mention the complex character arcs, and relatable problems and themes tackled by the show, including a couple of devastating deaths.
Sadly, the franchise...
Yet those who grew up watching "Digimon Adventure" know this show to be a great gateway anime and an effective introduction to serialized storytelling. As a kid, realizing that I either had to tune in every week or miss a key part of the story was a terrifying yet thrilling realization. You could skip several episodes of "Pokémon" and be completely fine, but miss the broadcast of the new "Digimon" and suddenly the kids are in another continent, there is a brand new character, a major lore reveal, and a new big bad.
And this is not to mention the complex character arcs, and relatable problems and themes tackled by the show, including a couple of devastating deaths.
Sadly, the franchise...
- 8/31/2022
- by Rafael Motamayor
- Slash Film
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