Category Archives: Movies

Miraculous Ladybug The Movie | REVIEW

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When “Miraculous Ladybug” first debuted in 2015, it instantly captured the attention of anime enthusiasts and garnered a significant cult following. This captivating animated series was brought to life through the collaboration of ZAGtoon and Method Animation, with the renowned Japanese animation company, Toei Animation, serving as a co-producer. Thomas Astruc, a talented cartoonist, developed the character of Ladybug and played an integral role in shaping the TV series alongside Jeremy Zag, the CEO, director, and producer of ZAGtoon.

Miraculous Ladybug” revolves around the lives of two teenagers, Marinette Dupain-Cheng and Adrien Agreste. When duty calls, they transform into the fearless superheroes Ladybug and Cat Noir. Together, they valiantly protect the city from the clutches of supervillains. While the series was initially intended to be in a 2D anime style, it ultimately evolved into a CGI production, a decision made by the French producers. However, fans can still find the original anime-style promotional OVA video on YouTube, animated by Toei Animation.Over time, “Miraculous Ladybug” has cultivated a devoted fandom, including passionate cosplayers and artists who proudly call themselves “Miraculers.” The series has expanded into a successful media franchise, encompassing comics, a web series, novels, video games, a manga series, and most recently, the highly anticipated motion picture, “Ladybug & Cat Noir: The Movie“. With its growing popularity and array of merchandise, “Miraculous Ladybug” has firmly established itself as an enchanting world that continues to captivate audiences of all ages.

The Highly Anticipated Motion Picture Film

Embark on a captivating cinematic experience as you delve into this highly anticipated animated film of the year! The film follows the thrilling journey of two teenagers, Marinette Dupain-Cheng and Adrien Agreste, who must uncover the truth about themselves and harness their extraordinary powers to safeguard the illustrious city of Paris. The film is a heartfelt tribute to the dedicated Miraculous Ladybug fandom while appealing to newcomers.


The film briefly introduces the Miraculous and showcases the various Miraculous, leaving room for potential future film projects. As an origin story, the film explores the beginnings of our main protagonists, Marinette and Adrien, and their journey to becoming superheroes and reveals how they obtained their Miraculous. The film touches on universal teenage themes of courage and selflessness, capturing the challenges of adolescence, such as fitting in and facing one’s fear.


It becomes apparent that the film’s narrative adheres to a relatively straightforward and predictable trajectory, albeit keeping in mind its intended target audience encompassing the younger demographic. However, the animation compensates for its anticipated plot developments. Distinct from its television counterpart, where character portrayal tends to lean towards stylized plasticity, the film’s creative team dedicatedly strived for meticulous detailing and hyper-realistic verisimilitude in rendering both Marinette Dupain-Cheng and Adrien Agreste. Their meticulously crafted appearances feature nuanced facial expressions, lustrous hair, and mesmeric eyes. Noteworthy locations such as The Cheng’s boulangerie (French for “bakery”) and Adrien’s mansion beautifully showcase opulent French architectural design and, in certain instances, timeworn interiors, lending an air of “lived-in” authenticity.


In addition, characters’ facial expressions play a crucial role in conveying their emotions and setting the overall mood of the scenes; this is further supported by the production team, animating characters with detailed and realistic skin textures, making them come to life and feel more like lifelike on the screen.


The animators strived for realism, at least more than the TV series. An interesting and subtle highlight is that the animators animated the characters’ hair in various directions, ensuring the hair is not perfectly styled. By adding intersecting strands and different hair directions, the animators created a more natural and authentic look for the characters, once again bringing them to life on the screen.


While there is no official confirmation, avid followers of the series may find several sequences within the film that bear a striking resemblance to scenes from an unaired 2D anime-style ‘OVA Promotional Video’ dating back to 2015. The uncanny similarities between the two raise the possibility that the film’s storyline was initially intended to serve as the introductory episode for the projected 2D anime series. Of course, the speculation surrounding this potential connection is pure conjecture, as the 2D anime iteration never came to fruition, and ZAG has never mentioned the 2D project since.

The Music

One prominent aspect of the film that deserves special mention is its captivating musical score. It becomes evident from the very beginning that the melodic voices of the main characters differ from their spoken voices, adding an intriguing layer to the overall experience. Marinette is brought to life through the talented voice acting of Cristina Vee, while the prolific Bryce Papenbrook voices the charming Adrien. The singing voice of Marinette is portrayed by the French singer Lou Jean while Drew Ryan Scott performs Adrien’s singing voice with music composed by CEO and film director Jeremy Zag himself with assistance from Australian filmmaker Michael Gracey.


Noam Kaniel, the talented cartoon music composer, was surprisingly not involved in the film’s musical score. Despite his previous success composing the theme song for the TV series, his unique musical style was unfortunately absent from the film’s soundtrack.

The Plot

The film’s storyline might be predictable for more experienced viewers, but it remains highly enjoyable and entertaining. While the film does contain a few gaps in the plot, it serves as a compelling introduction to the TV series. Towards the end, there are some noticeable inconsistencies when compared to the TV show’s plotline. Nevertheless, with a bit of imagination, it gives room for speculation and wonder about what might have occurred after the film’s iconic and intense climax.It is not surprising that there is a romantic element between Ladybug and Cat Noir, although the TV series does not delve deeply into it in the first two seasons. However, the film takes the opportunity to explore their relationship in greater detail. Every emotional response from the characters is given careful attention, ensuring that romantic and conflicting feelings resonate with the audience.

Now on NETFLIX!

The movie premiered in Paris, France, on June 11th of this year with a limited release in theaters worldwide. As reported by the French magazine Paris Match, the film was produced with a budget of €80 million (or about $86 million), making it the second most expensive French film in history, second only to the 2017 movie Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets.

Need a new phone wallpaper?

If you are captivated by this review, prepare to immerse yourself in the enchanting world of Miraculous Ladybug, as both the captivating TV series and thrilling film are now streaming on Netflix! Be ready to join forces with the courageous heroes of Paris as Marinette Dupain-Cheng and Adrien Agreste transform into the extraordinary Ladybug and Cat Noir. Together, they stand as beacons of hope, defending the beautiful city Paris from the clutches of menacing supervillains orchestrated by the nefarious Hawk Moth. All this while struggling with their teenage life! Get ready for an exhilarating adventure that will keep you on the edge of your seat!

Our History with ZAG Studios and Miraculous Ladybug

I would like to express my gratitude to ZAG Animation and its Glendale-based Studio. Even before the release of season two of the TV series, The Kitsune Network has collaborated with Zag Studios to bring our subscribers and followers exclusive interviews and an insider’s perspective on Miraculous Ladybug since 2015. We began by conducting an interview with Jared Wolfson, formerly the Head of the TV Division at ZAG. This was followed by a delightful interview with voice actress Cristina Vee at ZAG studios! Ever since then, The Kitsune Network has been actively covering various, major, Miraculous Ladybug events. Most recently, we attended the exciting grand opening of the Miraculous Ladybug store in Santa Monica, CA. Congratulations to the entire team over at ZAG Studios for this incredible milestone! Let’s take a look at some of the memorable moments from those interviews and other Miraculous Ladybug coverage articles here.

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Check Our Other Articles:

Interview with Cristina Vee at ZAG Studios

Interview with Jared Wolfson at ZAG Studios

ZAG Store open in Santa Monica, CA

Mission: Impossible X SPY x FAMILY | Special Collaboration Video & Visual art

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In what has been officially labeled as the “most powerful spy collaboration decision“, Toho Animation collaborated with Paramount Studios to create a special promotional video for the upcoming installment of Mission: Impossible, Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning: Part One, and Spy X Family CODE: White, the first motion picture film from the hit anime series of the same name.

Theatrical version SPY x FAMILY CODE: White” super teaser visual

Spy X Family CODE: White is set to release in theaters on December 22nd of this year in Japan. While Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning: Part One its premiere in the U.S. on July 12th, In Japan, the film is set to release on July 21st. A special promotional collaboration between both IPs was released on July 10th, which consists of a collaboration video and visual art.

The collaboration video begins with the Forger family watching Mission Impossible on TV. Anya states she’s has never watched the film series before, and Loid then carefully explains who ‘Ethan Hunt’ is while watching the action scenes played by Tom Cruise. The video features highlights from the film alongside brand-new voice acting from Takuya Eguchi (Lloyd), Atsumi Tanezaki (Anya), and Saori Hayami (Yor). The video segment is followed by the teaser trailer of CODE: White.

 You watch the full video here; the video contains no English subtitles

A collaborative visual art piece by illustrator Kana Ishida was also released via the Spy X Family official website.

Original picture/Finishing/Special Effects by Kana Ishida

The image depicts the Forger family illustrated in the same poses as the Mission Impossible poster, with the Forger family, lined up precisely as Tom Cruise (Ethan Hunt), Hayley Atwell (Grace), Rebecca Ferguson (Ilsa Faust) & Esai Morales (Gabriel). Take a look at the comparison below,

Image Highlights: Look at Anya and Bond on the upper Right | Ethan running on the train is replaced by Anya

Spy X Family author Tatsuya Endo recently joined the fun by sharing an original illustration of Anya performing Enthan Hunt’s iconic rope drop from the famous vault scene in Mission: Impossible (1996).

Watch Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One, now in theaters, and Spy X Family CODE: White as they take on the ultimate mission to save the world!

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Interview With Anya Forger – Megan Shipman – Spy X Family

Spy X Family – CrunchyRoll Expo 2022 – Megan Shipman & Natalie Van Sistine Panel

ZOM 100 LIVE ACTION FILM Coming to Netflix | AX 2023 INTERVIEW Coverage

POKEMON CONCIERGE Coming to NETFLIX December 2023 | AX 2023 Coverage

EHAMIC’S “Koinu no Carnival – From “Minute Waltz” Going Viral After Being Featured on Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3

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Not many anime songs get featured anywhere other than their intended IP; however, in a rare move, Marvel included the song ‘Koinu no Carnival – From “Minute Waltz’ in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3. The song was originally used in the TV anime “Classicaloid.”

Musician EHAMIC

The song was produced by vocalic producer EHAMIC for BN Pictures’ Classicaloidis, an anime series that aired on NHK E-television between 2016 and 2017. It is a comedy in which classical composers such as Beethoven and Mozart appear as “Classicaloids” in the modern age. The songs of the classical composers in the series are called “musik” in the show, and the show has gained popularity because of the collaborations by famous musicians, such as Tomoyasu Hotei for Beethoven, TSUNKU♂ for Bach, and Daisuke Asakura for Liszt.

Koinu no Carnival is the only Japanese song selected to be included in the latest Marvel movie “Guardians of the Galaxy: VOLUME 3”. The song received a great response after the film’s release and ranked No. 1 on the Spotify Viral Top 50 Global & USA Chart (as of May 12), and it also reached the Viral Top 50 in countries and regions worldwide.

The bright and light Waltz No. 6 “Minute Waltz,” originally a solo piano piece, has been arranged by EHAMIC with a samba arrangement and lots of dog barks, together with about 50 Vocaloid voices (mainly of the VOCALOID Galaco) overlapping to create a festive and fun piece.

Japanese VOCALOID galaco developed by Internet Co., Ltd. and YAMAHA Corporation, under the Stardust Music, Inc.

Listen to EHAMIC on Spotify

Did you hear Koinu no Carnival in GoTG vol 3? Tell us your thoughts below!

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KEIICHI HARA’S “LONELY CASTLE IN THE MIRROR” Coming to Theaters Nationwide June

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Celebrating its 15th anniversary, producer and distributor of award-winning and artist-driven animation GKIDS announced the limited theatrical release of Keiichi Hara’s newest film, LONELY CASTLE IN THE MIRROR.

KEIICHI HARA’S LONELY CASTLE IN THE MIRROR

The film is directed by Keiichi Hara known for Miss Hokusai, Colorful, & The Wonderland. The film features animation from the lauded A-1 Pictures, and is adapted from the beloved novel of the same name by Mizuki Tsujimura. The film is set to screen in select theaters nationwide on June 21 and 22nd only.

The film held its International Premiere at the Rotterdam International Film Festival, making it the first time a Japanese animated feature was selected for the festival. Additionally, had its US premiere at the New York International Children’s Film Festival. The film was also nominated for the Japan Academy Prize for Animation of the Year, and was a box office hit during its domestic release in Japan in December 2022, grossing over one billion yen (approx. 7.3 million USD).

Keiichi Hara in 2011 at the Salón del Manga in Barcelona, Spain | (C) Mutari

Director Keiichi Hara has worked with various past collaborators on the project, including screenwriter Miho Maruo and composer Harumi Fuuki who also worked on Miss Hokusai & The Wonderland, in addition to acclaimed artist Ilya Kuvshinov (The Wonderland) for visual concept and castle designs.  

In Theaters Nationwide

GKIDS will release LONELY CASTLE IN THE MIRROR theatrically in both its original Japanese language with an all-new English dubbed version in select theaters nationwide on June 21 and 22nd, tickets are now on sale here. GKIDS also handles North American distribution for Keiichi Hara’s films, including his previous features Summer Days with Coo (2007) and Miss Hokusai (2015). 

Film Synopsis

Shy outcast Kokoro has been avoiding school for weeks when she discovers a portal in her bedroom mirror. She reaches through and finds herself transported to an enchanting castle where she is joined by six other students. When a girl in a wolf mask explains that they have been invited to play a game, the teens must work together to uncover the mysterious connection that unites them. However, anyone who breaks the rules will be eaten by a wolf. 

Learn more about on the official website, LonelyCastleMovie.com. You can read the novel by Mizuki Tsujimura here or listen to it in audiobook. Lonely Castle in the Mirror, by Mizuki Tsujimura is a heartfelt drama about the pains of growing up and the unlikely bonds that can bring people together. 

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STUDIO GHIBLI FEST 2023 Kicks off with 35th Anniversary of My Neighbor Totoro  

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STUDIO GHIBLI FEST 2023 is back this year bigger than ever, with celebration of the 35th Anniversary of My Neighbor Totoro on March 25th! All 10 of Hayao Miyazaki’s Masterpieces will be screened in theaters throughout the year including the 35th Anniversary screenings of My Neighbor Totoro, 15th Anniversary screenings of Ponyo, and the first-ever North American screenings of SPIRITED AWAY: Live On Stage, featuring two separate full performances filmed during the production’s acclaimed run in Tokyo last year.

GKIDS, celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, are proud to continue their partnership with Fathom events and expand STUDIO GHIBLI FEST 2023 to more screening dates than ever before to meet increased fan demand.

Each of the 10 animated features will be shown in both original Japanese and English dubbed versions and will include exclusive selections from the documentary series 10 Years With Hayao Miyazaki. Tickets for STUDIO GHIBLI FEST 2023 can be purchased online now by visiting FathomEvents.comGhibliFest.com or at participating theater box offices. (Theater participants are subject to change). 

STUDIO GHIBLI FEST 2023 SCHEDULE ( All event listings are in local time):

My Neighbor Totoro 35th Anniversary

●       Saturday, March 25 at 3:00 PM (Japanese with Subtitles)

●       Sunday, March 26 at 4:00 PM (English Dubbed) and 7:00 PM (English Dubbed)

●       Monday, March 27 at 7:00 PM (English Dubbed)

●       Tuesday, March 28 at 7:00 PM (Japanese with Subtitles)

●       Wednesday, March 29 at 7:00 PM (English Dubbed)

SPIRITED AWAY: Live on Stage *All performances in Japanese with English Subtitles*

●       Sunday, April 23 at 4:00 PM (with Kanna Hashimoto as Chihiro)

●       Thursday, April 27 at 7:00 PM (with Mone Kamishiraishi as Chihiro)

Ponyo 15th Anniversary

●       Sunday, May 7 at 4:00 PM (English Dubbed) and 7:00 PM (English Dubbed)

●       Monday, May 8 at 7:00 PM (Japanese with Subtitles)

●       Wednesday, May 10 at 7:00 PM (Japanese with Subtitles)

Kiki’s Delivery Service

●       Sunday, June 11 at 4:00 PM (English Dubbed) and 7:00 PM (English Dubbed)

●       Monday, June 12 at 7:00 PM (Japanese with Subtitles)

●       Wednesday, June 14 at 7:00 PM (Japanese with Subtitles)

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind

●       Sunday, July 9 at 4:00 PM (English Dubbed)

●       Tuesday, July 11 at 7:00 PM (Japanese with Subtitles)

Castle in the Sky

●       Monday, July 10 at 7:00 PM (English Dubbed)

●       Wednesday, July 12 at 7:00 PM (Japanese with Subtitles)

Princess Mononoke

●       Saturday, August 5 at 3:00 PM (Japanese with Subtitles)

●       Sunday, August 6 at 4:00 PM (English Dubbed) and 7:00 PM (English Dubbed)

●       Monday, August 7 at 7:00 PM (English Dubbed)

●       Tuesday, August 8 at 7:00 PM (Japanese with Subtitles)

●       Wednesday, August 9 at 7:00 PM (English Dubbed)

Porco Rosso

●       Sunday, August 20 at 4:00 PM (English Dubbed)

●       Tuesday, August 22 at 7:00 PM (Japanese with Subtitles)

The Wind Rises 10th Anniversary

●       Monday, August 21 at 7:00 PM (English Dubbed)

●       Wednesday, August 23 at 7:00 PM (Japanese with Subtitles)

Howl’s Moving Castle

●       Saturday, September 23 at 3:00 PM (Japanese with Subtitles)

●       Sunday, September 24 at 4:00 PM (Japanese with Subtitles) and 7:00 PM (Japanese with Subtitles)

●       Monday, September 25 at 7:00 PM (English Dubbed)

●       Tuesday, September 26 at 7:00 PM (Japanese with Subtitles)

●       Wednesday, September 27 at 7:00 PM (English Dubbed)

Spirited Away

●       Saturday, October 28 at 3:00 PM (Japanese with Subtitles)

●       Sunday, October 29 at 4:00 PM (English Dubbed) and 7:00 PM (English Dubbed)

●       Monday, October 30 at 7:00 PM (English Dubbed)

●       Tuesday, October 31 at 7:00 PM (Japanese with Subtitles)

●       Wednesday, November 1 at 7:00 PM (English Dubbed)

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Highly anticipated DEEMO Memorial Keys Coming to Bluray and Digital

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Produced by famed animation studios Production I.G. (Psycho-Pass, Ghost in the Shell, Attack on Titan) and Signal.MD (Birthday Wonderland, Cyborg 009: Call of Justice) comes the eagerly awaited feature film adaption inspired by the internationally acclaimed “DEEMO” rhythm video game, which has over 28 million downloads worldwide. Featuring visually stunning animation by Production I.G. and Signal.MD, DEEMO Memorial Keys is directed by Shuhei Matsushita (Fuse: Memoirs of a Huntress) with Junichi Fujisaku (Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Blood franchise) as a general director. Yuki Kajiura, a prominent music composer and producer who has worked on the scores for multiple anime hits (Demon Slayer, Fate/Zero), created the film’s theme and image songs.

This spring, step inside the extraordinary, ethereal world of DEEMO and beguiled by the awe-inspiring anime movie adventure packed with whimsical characters, beautiful animation, and unforgettable music with gorgeous melodies when DEEMO Memorial Keys hits home entertainment shelves and digital download on March 28, 2023 from Eleven Arts and Shout! Factory, following its nationwide theatrical release.

Film’s Snypois

Fall in love with the enchanting tale of Deemo, a mysterious, lonely character who lives in solitude, playing the piano in a castle. One day a girl who has lost her memory falls from the sky. Wanting to help her recover her memories and return to her world, Deemo discovers that a tree kept atop the piano will grow whenever the piano is played. But if Deemo succeeds in the helping her, will the loss of her companionship prove to be too much? This gentle, ephemeral story of love spun by Deemo, the girl, the mystical residents of the castle, and a tree that grows with the sound of the piano will make you want to return to this world again and again.

English Cast

The movie will feature the English voice talents of Michelle Marie (Ryoma! The Prince of Tennis, The House of the Lost on the Cape), Anairis Quinones (Rainbow High, My Hero Academia), Bryce Papenbrook (Attack on Titan, Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir), Mike Pollock (A Night Before Christmas, A Cat in Paris), Luci Christian (Gintama: The Movie, My Hero Academia) and Stephanie Sheh (Your Name, Sailor Moon Crystal).

Preorder Now

 DEEMO Memorial Keys is available for pre-order now on Amazon and will be available in stores and other fine retailers on March 28, 2023.

We’ll keep you updated on the theatrical release of DEEMO, meanwhile, subscribe to our articles below, and don’t miss any upcoming exclusive content!

Laika Limited Edition Steelbooks – Now Available

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For the first time ever, you can enjoy two LAIKA films on 4K UHD which includes a limited edition steelbook case.

Brought to you by Laika Studios and Shout! Factory, these two groundbreaking and Academy Award-nominated stop motion features, Coraline and ParaNorman, are now available in 4K for the first time ever! The films have been through 4K restoration with HDR and Dolby Vision plus Dolby Atmos for the ultimate entertainment experience.

Coraline and ParaNorman were painstakingly remastered by the team at LAIKA, led by LAIKA CEO (and Kubo and the Two Strings Director) Travis Knight, and Visual Effects Supervisor Steve Emerson, who pored over each film shot-by-shot, paying close attention to every last detail and color to present these groundbreaking films in the most dynamic format.

The use of Dolby Vision has made these films look more spectacular than ever before, with vivid colors and exacting picture quality, and with highlights brighter and essential dark elements darker, unleashing the full potential of HDR technology. The films were also mixed in Dolby Atmos spatial audio, bringing out more details and clarity in the sound, resulting in an even more immersive experience for fans.

The SteelBook releases feature new hand drawn art from auteur illustrators carefully selected to newly represent the films while keeping their original spirit alive. Known for creating bold and vibrant illustrations, Cancun-based illustrator and Art Director Cesar Moreno created the art for Coraline, and the ParaNorman cover art was drawn by Kevin Tong, an artist living and working out of Austin, TX.

The sets include all the bonus features of the recent LAIKA Studios Editions and a new booklet.

Laika films, Kubo And The Two String and The Boxtrolls are also set to be released in 4KUHD February 28, 2023. Each SteelBook + Blu-ray set with beautiful new hand drawn art. The sets include all the bonus features of the recent LAIKA Studios Editions and a new booklet. The Boxtrolls Steelbook case will be created by Cancun-based illustrator and Art Director Cesar Moreno, and the Kubo and the Two Strings cover art was drawn by Kevin Tong.

You can purchase Coraline and ParaNorman and PREORDER Kubo and The Boxtrolls below:

Knights of the Zodiac: Saint Seiya Live Action Film | Trailer

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On Thursday, December 1st, Sony and Toei Animation premiered the first trailer for Tomasz Baginski’s live-action Knight of The Zodiac, starring Mackenyu as the protagonist, Seiya.

Mackenyu as Seiya

The film stars Mackenyu as Seiya, Sean Bean as Alman Kido, Famke Janssen as Guraad, Madison Iseman as Sienna & Nick Stahl as Cassius. According to the film’s IMDB page, the film is set to be a live-action remake of the 1986 anime adaptation.

Knight of The Zodiac Live Action Teaser Trailer

Knight of the Zodiac: Saint Seiya Origins

The film is based on the Saint Seiya Anime series, which is adapted from Masami Kurumada’s manga series of the same name. Saint Seiya was published in Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine from 1986 to 1990,and according to comipress.com, the manga series has sold well over 25 million copies in Japan as of 2007 and has over 50 million copies in circulation as of 2022, according to Animate Times.

The series was adapted into an anime series in 1986, three months before the first manga volume was published. The anime series was produced more quickly than the manga; therefore, Toei Animation created original stories to fill in the gaps between story arcs. These original stories were not featured in the original manga.

Kurumada’s Highly Influential Series

The Seiya series is considered to be one of the most highly influential anime of the 80s, inspiring other works such as Mobile Suit Gundam Wing and Mobile Fighter G Gundam. According to Jonathan Clements and Helen McCarthy in their published work, The Anime Encyclopedia: A Guide to Japanese Animation Since 1917, Saint Seiya also inspired Legend of Heavenly Sphere Shurato, Ronin Warriors, and Wild Knights Gulkeeva, all released between the late 1980s and early 1990s.

The series was highly influential that, according to an article by Mark McHarry; Matthew Thorn, a cultural anthropologist and an Associate Professor at the Department of Manga Production at Kyoto Seika University, stated that at the peak of the Seiya popularity, the yaoi genre was also making its way to the top at the same time. The Seiya boom, alongside Captain Tsubasa, largely contributed to popularizing the term “Yaoi” in the late 1980s.

The Saint Seiya Media Franchise

The Saint Seiya manga is composed of three sagas Sanctuary, Poseidon, and Hades. All three sagas were then divided into different story arcs. As previously stated, the original 1986 anime series featured original stories that were not featured in the manga and were only made specifically for the anime series.

The Seiya manga series spawned several spin-offs, including Saint Seiya Episode G by Kurumada, The Lost Canvas by Shiori Teshirogi, Saintia Shō by Chimaki Kuori, and most recently, Dark Wing by Kenji Saito and Shinshu Ueda.

The 1986 anime also spawned a few spin-offs which included three original video animations released from 2002 to 2008. A fifth film, Saint Seiya: Heaven Chapter – Overture was released in 2004, followed by Saint Seiya: Legend of Sanctuary in 2014. Novels based on the series were also written between 1988 and 2002. Other media featured video games, musical productions and drama audio CDs. Netflix released an original net animation titled Knight of the Zodiac: Saint Seiya, which premiered in 2019.

The First Attempt at an American Adaptation

Sometime in the 1990s, an American adaptation/remake of the series was set to be produced by Renaissance-Atlantic Entertainment and retitled as Guardians of the Cosmos; apparently Guardians of the Galaxy was already taken. Unfortunately, or fortunately, the show was never aired and was eventually lost to time until Youtuber Ray Mona discovered the pilot in early December 2022.

With all this rich history, the only question in the mind of long-time Seiya fans is, will Hollywood get it right this time? Only time will tell. Film Director Tomasz Baginski is known for his work on The Witcher series, having worked on both the game and the 2019 TV series serving as exclusive producer. Lead star Mackenyu rose to fame with the Chihayafuru: Kami no Ku trilogy and is known in the anime community for portraying Enishi Yukishiro in the Rurouni Kenshin live-action film. Baginski’s Knight of the Zodiac is set to be released in 2023.

For more information and updates on the film, ahead on over to their official YouTube channel.

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One Piece Film: RED Premieres at AiFF 2022

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One Piece Film Red served as the centerpiece film at this year’s Animation is Film Festival and for the first time fans had the opportunity to experience film in English dubbed, two weeks ahead of its official U.S. theater release.

The film is directed by Goro Taniguchi, who previously directed the 1998 OVA, One Piece: Defeat The Pirate Ganzak! OVA and was the very first time the One Piece manga had been animated, making Taniguchi the first person to animate Luffy. According to the Japanese website, Mantan-Web, Taniguchi stated that he wanted to express a One Piece that has never been seen before and that he will show it in One Piece Film: Red. According to Shinji Shimizu, a staff of Toei Animation and producer of One Piece anime, One Piece Film: Red is the only One Piece film that Eiichiro Oda has actively participated in the most.

The film has been released in Tokyo, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Taiwan, and most recently at New York Comic Con 2022 with a massive New York Times Square billboard takeover.

NYC Times Square Sample – Press Release

Now for the first time ever, fans got to experience the film in English dubbed during this year’s Animation is Film Festival 2022, and we had the opportunity to catch with some of the cast and speak on this new anime film phenomenon:

As of 23 October 2022, the film has grossed ¥17.36 billion in Japan making it the highest-grossing film of the franchise and the highest-grossing film of 2022 in Japan. Worldwide the film has earned over US$144.7 million in eight countries making it the 13th highest-grossing Japanese film of all-time.

The film’s theme song “New Genesis” by Ado is currently number 48 in the Top 100 Global charts on Apple Music. The film is set to be released on the 4th of November 2022, if you haven’t purchased your tickets, now’s the time, you can purchase here.

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Article cover photo by, John photography.

‘A SILENT VOICE’ Celebrates 5th Anniv – AX Cinema Nights

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A SILENT VOICE is celebrating its 5th anniversary with limited engagement screenings beginning on Wednesday, October 12th, at nearly 300 theatres, as part of AX Cinema Nights. Brought to you by Anime Expo, Iconic events & distributed by Eleven Arts, this partnership marks the next installment of AX Cinema Nights.

Based on the best-selling manga series by Yoshitoki Ōima, A SILENT VOICE is the poignant and moving story of Shōya Ishida, a school bully, and Shōko Nishimiya, a young girl with a hearing disability. Their story begins in sixth grade when Shōko transfers to Shōya’s elementary school and quickly finds herself bullied and isolated. Years later, the tables turn, and Shōya finds himself isolated and alone. A SILENT VOICE depicts the struggles and challenges of adolescence alongside coming of age outside the norm.

The film was produced by the acclaimed studio Kyoto Animation, directed by Naoko Yamada (K-On!, Tamako Market, ) and written by Reiko Yoshida, featuring music by Kensuke Ushio. The film grossed over $31.6 million worldwide and received a Best Animated Film nomination from the Japanese Film Academy upon its initial release in 2017.

The English dub cast includes renowned voice actors including Robbie Daymond (as Shoya Ishida), Lexi Marman Cowden (as Shoko Nishimiya), Kristen Sullivan (as Yuzuru Nishimiya), Graham Halstead (as Tomohiro Nagatsuka), Kira Buckland (as Naoka Ueno), Melissa Hope (as Miyoko Sahara), Amber Lee Connors (as Miki Kawai), Max Mittelman (as Satoshi Mashiba), Michael Sinterniklaas (as Kazuki Shimada), and Sara Cravens (as Miyoko Ishida).

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