The Boy and the Heron has attracted widespread attention due to the chance that it might be Hayao Miyazaki’s last film, but one interpretation of the movie might mean there’s hope for one more work from the acclaimed director.

In an interview we conducted with the film’s English dub director Michael Sinterniklaas, the illustrious voice actor and director made mention of a theory brought to his attention by Mark Chang, the production manager at NYAV Post’s New York office.

If you were to name one of the more influential anime films to come out in the past few years, chances are Michael Sinterniklaas is responsible for its English dub.

Involved in the dubbing industry for decades, he has provided voice work for film and television series in addition to being at the helm of several prominent dubs as a casting and dialogue director. His most notable works in anime range from crafting the English dub for the Oscar-nominated Mirai to voicing in the dub for the global smash hit Your Name.

This past year was packed with amazing anime, and there were a plethora of incredible moments that forced the community at large to stop and stare in awe. Either because of their hype or emotional resonance, these are our picks for the best anime moments of 2023.

Do be aware, however, that we’ll only be including one moment from any given show. This means that you won’t be seeing multiple moments from Jujutsu Kaisen, Attack on Titan, or other offerings that did admittedly have multiple epic scenes and events to choose from but would dominate the entire list if given the chance.

Darkest Dungeon II: Binding Blade DLC on PC

When it comes to expansions, the Darkest Dungeon series is held in fairly high regard thanks to its exceptional expansions for the first game. Given this, it’s little surprise fans have been eagerly anticipating the Binding Blade DLC for Darkest Dungeon II.

Offering two new characters to choose from and an extended in-game quest that impacts runs, the new content held the potential to give players plenty of new content that builds on the base game’s solid foundation. Or at least, it did in theory. In practice, it could bog down the experience with yet more mechanics and features to juggle, further increasing the difficulty of an already punishing game.

After a barn-burner of a year for anime, some classics in the making have set themselves apart. These shows are must-watch material for any self-respecting anime fan, and more than deserve the distinction of being among our picks for the best anime of 2023.

10. Ancient Magus Bride Season 2

The first season of Ancient Magus’ Bride was already an imaginative twist on the usual Shojo trappings, but the second season only raised the bar further to establish itself as one of the best anime of the year.

Look, you saw what we saw this year. 2023 was practically raining men capable of making fans’ legs go weak. And yet, as is always the case, some stood out more than others, which is why they made our list of the top 10 best anime Husbandos of 2023.

Before proceeding, it’s worth noting that only one Husbando has been selected from each show to make sure Jujutsu Kaisen doesn’t dominate the entire dang list. Likewise, Levi of Attack on Titan has been left out of the competition on the grounds that the poor man needs to be left alone to process and heal following the proverbial and literal hell he went through.

Whelp, it’s official: Baldur’s Gate 3 is the game of the year, and you’ve likely got a super fan in your life who would appreciate some merch tied to the game this holiday season.

Luckily for you, we’ve got a plethora of suggestions that can make for great stocking stuffers and big gifts alike.

The Mana series has a new entry on the way for the first time in 15 years in the form of Visions of Mana, and Square Enix has released a reveal trailer teasing what it has in store.

Streamed during the 2023 Game Awards, the trailer provides a quick look at the general aesthetic of the title through bits of gameplay, story cutscenes, and cryptic bits of on-screen dialogue. The graphics style is also on full display, with the game looking like a touched-up version of the more recent entries and remakes put out for the series in recent years.

By fist, blade, or fighting spirit-fueled drill, there’s something enthralling about a good fight in anime. Oftentimes representing the climax of an arc or storyline, it culminates everything the viewer has invested themselves in, with wills and ideologies on the line along with the characters’ lives. Common sense goes out the window as each new attack tears through the air, sometimes as the swing of a sword and other times as a cataclysmic laser meant to rend the planet in half.

Since the medium was first created, we’ve seen a number of great fights, but these ones in particular are among the best anime fights of all time.

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora on PC

It’s almost shocking how perfectly a moment from my review playthrough of Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora captured the wider experience in a truly poetic fashion. 

After a hard-fought battle to free a sturmbeest from RDA forces — complete with stealth kills a la trip mines, long-distance sniping with a heavy bow, and a tense final push with a Na’vi-sized shotgun — it brushed itself off, gave a huff of appreciation to my character, and galloped into the gorgeously detailed greenery of the nearby jungle. As it ran free and without worry, I was really pulled into the themes of cohabitation with nature and hoped it would continue to run wild without issue.

The first official trailer for the Dandadan anime has only been out for a few days, but anime fans have already taken to starting a tried and true discussion. More specifically, they’ve posited whether or not the series will be “the next Chainsaw Man”.

At first glance, it’s a fair discussion to have. After all, both offer a wildly irreverent take on the usual Shonen framework through exaggerated perversion, wild spins on world-ending threats, and less than noble protagonists. Heck, Dandadan‘s creator Yukinobu Tatsu was even an assistant to Tatsuki Fujimoto during the creation and publication of the first part of Chainsaw Man, so surely his breakthrough work takes heavy inspiration from the series he worked on in the past.

Heroes are all well and good, but when it comes to great anime, there’s almost always an iconic villain bringing them to new heights. Whether they were a hitherto ally whose true agendas are laid bare, or a mustache-twirling tyrant without a hint of subterfuge, they are amongst the most compelling and intoxicating characters in any given narrative.

That’s why we’re here today to rank the best anime villains of all time. Like the medium itself, this list is always evolving and ever-changing as new seasons come and go, so be sure to check back in to see the risers and fallers of villainy!

Hulu is home to a variety of shows and movies to watch across a number of genres. In particular though, it has a metric ton of anime to peruse for those interested, and that’s why we’re here to show you the 20 best anime you can watch on Hulu.

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Anime that aren’t based on a pre-existing manga or property are a rarity nowadays, but those that do pop up tend to carry a high benchmark of quality.

Jujutsu Kaisen is host to some truly impressive story arcs, but there are those that stand as the best of the bunch. That’s why we’ve created this list of every current Jujutsu Kaisen arc ranked from run of the mill Shonen fodder to Special Grade exemplars of storytelling.

Please note that this list is based off of every currently available arc in the series, which does include those from the manga. Consider reading up to the most recent chapter of the manga via the official Shonen Jump app or website before proceeding, as this is your one and only *Spoiler Warning*.

Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name is, to put it bluntly, not the best Yakuza or Like a Dragon game out there and certainly not the best adventure we’ve seen Kiryu star in.

While admittedly a budget entry in the series more in line with a large-scale expansion or DLC offering, it’s not without some notable gaps. Its gameplay can get repetitive fast if players try to dig into the side content, and its story is substantially smaller than in most modern entries. It’s even host to a handful of localization errors, which definitely says something given the series’ track record of meticulously translating or modifying jokes and word play from Japanese to English.

While it might not have as much to prove as the first game in the series, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth still has some steep expectations to meet.

Boasting major story revelations and the continuation of Kasuga Ichiban’s adventures, the sequel is intent on surpassing the original in as many ways as possible. This is no small feat, considering Yakuza: Like a Dragon managed to usher the series into a new gameplay genre as it ever so slowly moves away from the saga of Kiryu Kazuma.

Like a Dragon Gaiden on PlayStation 5

It’s not very often that a game leaves me frustrated and genuinely entertained in equal measure, but that’s exactly what Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name achieves.

For every spat of gameplay segments that left me feeling exhausted and irritated, there was something to bring me back into the narrative. Each repetitive fight was followed by a fantastic boss battle, and lackluster side stories were matched by ones which did justice by the series’ reputation.

People seem to be excited about Fortnite’s OG map returning, as the game has seen a record-breaking influx of players.

Following the release of Fortnite Chapter 4 Season 5 and the return of the original map from the game’s first chapter, the game broke its old published record for concurrent players by over 300,000 players. This put its all-time peak player count at 3,313,794, up from the old total of 2,992,583.

If the recent reveal of Dragon Ball Daima left you a little less than hyped for the franchise’s future, rest assured that you’re not alone. 

The series’ premise of all the major characters being turned into younger versions of themselves left many a fan unsure of the creative direction. After all, Dragon Ball found the popularity that it did with the framework of constant battles, self-improvement, and all the other core aspects of a Shonen anime. To stray away from that for a cutesier, lighter tone would only risk damaging the product’s longevity.

While the suits featured in Spider-Man 2 might not offer any specific abilities or buffs, there are still some that outshine their contemporaries. This might be due to the fact that they feature extra bells and whistles which help players stand out during their web-slinging escapades; or, it could be thanks to their designs nailing what makes Spider-Man an iconic hero. Regardless, we’ve compiled our list of the 12 best suits in Spider-Man 2 you need to get first.

Anti-Ock Suit

Originally reserved for the finale of Marvel’s Spider-Man, the Anti-Ock costume is hands-down one of Insomniac’s best suit designs and one of the best suits in Spider-Man 2.