The Bleach manga covers are no stranger to decking its characters out in fashionable wear (or “drip”, as modern lingo would call it), so it’s only apt that the beloved series is celebrating its 20th anniversary with some sneaker flair. Japanese footwear brand Asics has joined forces with Tite Kubo’s anime classic to roll out a limited edition collaboration honouring two of its main characters, Ichigo Kurosaki and Renji Abarai.

Represented on the GT-2160, the former-themed kicks tout his signature palette of orange, black, and white. The spine of the heel is furnished with the Substitute Shinigami emblem, while the kanji spelling out his name can be found right next to it on the left-footed fit. On the inside is the Bleach branding, printed on the tongue.

Similarly, the Gel-NYC silhouette takes after Renji’s aesthetics. The red-and-black colourway is accompanied by a white sole and his name on the side of the left shoe, alongside the characters for the Sixth Division on the foxing. Both pairs of sneakers will be released in special packaging and men’s sizing, with prices ranging from US$145 to US$165.

The ASICS X Bleach collection launches sometime this holiday season, and can be purchased via Foot Locker and Champs Sports online and in-store. There’s no word on whether it will eventually be available outside of the U.S., but it’s set to debut at New York Comic Con, running from 17 to 20 October. It’s unclear if attendees will be able to buy the sneakers then, however.

This collaboration comes as Part 3 of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War, subtitled The Conflict, kicked off on 5 October. The anime’s first season premiered in October 2022, marking a welcome return after a ten-year hiatus and exciting fans with a brand-new, visually arresting art style. It adapts the final arc of the manga, which spans volumes 55 to 74, and will wrap up with four non-consecutive cours (quarters of a year).

Other 20th anniversary projects include a celebratory video that revisits iconic scenes from the original anime in the stylish, modern style the revival series is known for, and the forthcoming Bleach: Rebirth of Souls fighting game, due out in 2025.

The ASICS X Bleach collection will hit the streets when Holiday 2024 rolls around.

Si Jia

Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.

The post ASICS X ‘Bleach’ Sneakers Hits The Streets With 20th Anniversary Collaboration appeared first on Geek Culture.

Sailing the high seas is hard work, so the One Piece crew will temporarily stay anchored on dry land. Following the release of its 1122nd episode, Toei Animation announced a six-month hiatus for the anime on 13 October, with Egghead Arc Part II returning in April 2025.

In the meantime, a remastered version of the Fish-Man Island Saga and a special 25th-anniversary episode serve to tide over the wait. The former is set to run from 27 October 2024 to 30 March 2025, featuring 21 abridged episodes of abre-shot scenes and “new animation sequences, including opening and ending themes” in a “contemporary visual style and recorded in Dolby Atmos. “

The upcoming One Piece Log: Fish-Man Island Saga will also introduce a new opening called “We Go!”, sung by Kitadani Hiroshi and “special guests.” BE:FIRST is performing the ending theme song, “Sailing (Episodic Version)”. A first look at the remastered visuals can be viewed below alongside the key visual, breathing new life into the original arc that first aired between 2011 and 2012:

As for the One Piece Fan Letter special episode, it will premiere on 20 October with a young girl who admires Nami as the protagonist. “This 30-minute ensemble drama depicts the reunion of the Straw Hats crew from the perspective of non-pirate characters,” the official description reads. “Set in the Sabaody Archipelago after the Paramount War, the story follows its protagonist, a young girl and admirer of Nami, as she sets off on a small adventure.”

Fans of the franchise are in for a hectic time. Apart from the various anniversary initiatives, a One Piece anime remake is currently in the works at WIT Studio, with Netflix releasing a slew of updates for the second season of its live-action series. A release date has yet to be set, but there will be many new faces to expect, kicking off the debut of the Loguetown, Reverse Mountain (Twin Cape), Whiskey Peak, Little Garden, and Drum Island story arcs.

One Piece Log: Fish-Man Island Saga will run from 27 October 2024 to 30 March 2025, before Egghead Arc Part II airs in April 2025.

Si Jia

Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.

The post ‘One Piece’ Anime To Take 6-Month Hiatus, Shares Visuals Of Remastered Fish-Man Island Saga appeared first on Geek Culture.

The end of the road for My Hero Academia is nigh. After eight years of Quirk action, battle thrills, story twists, and character development (and deaths), the popular anime will wrap up with its eighth and final season in 2025.

Announced in a colour-page promotional Weekly Shonen Jump pull-out, the news comes after creator Kohei Horikoshi concluded the manga in August. A specific date for the finale wasn’t shared, but it was expected sooner rather than later, with the newly-released My Hero Academia: You’re Next film serving to tide over the wait.

The anime is currently in its seventh season, which began airing this May. Unlike previous outings, it will conclude with 21 episodes on 12 October, ending right in the middle of the penultimate Final War arc. It has come a long way since its small-screen debut in 2016, telling the story of a class of superheroes training prestigious U.A. High.

Izuku Midoriya leads My Hero Academia as a boy born without a superpower (called a “Quirk”), but still dreams of becoming a superhero himself. He gets scouted by the world’s greatest hero All Might, who bestows his Quirk to Midoriya after recognising his potential, and helps to enrol him in U.A. High.

The series has spawned various media over the years, including spin-off manga like My Hero Academia: Smash!!, My Hero Academia: Vigilantes, and My Hero Academia: Team-Up Missions, four feature films, and a host of video games. A live-action adaptation is also “actively” underway at Netflix, though there have been few updates on this front.

Si Jia

Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.

The post ‘My Hero Academia’ Ends 9-Year Run With Final Anime Season In 2025 appeared first on Geek Culture.

The anime, cosplay, and games (AGC) fever is set to wash over Singapore again, as Anime Festival Asia (AFA) 2024 will return for another wave of celebrating all things Japanese culture. Taking place from 29 November to 1 December, the annual affair brings back well-loved fare that regular attendees have come to expect, including concert performances, special stage programmes, meet-and-greet lineups, and a host of other activities.

Like previous iterations, the event features three nights of festivities, starting with the AFA X Japan Music Festival on Friday, 29 November. Aqua Timez, Shiyui, Takanori Nishikawa (T.M. Revolution), and TeddyLoid will take to the stage, followed by the AFA x hololive Meet Panel Session on Saturday. Happening before the concert, it stars FUWAMOCO and Ouro Kronii from the English arm, alongside Indonesian counterpart Kaela Kovalski.

The hololive STAGE World Tour ’24 – Soar – performance is scheduled to kick off in the evening, shining the spotlight on AZKi and Tsunomaki Watame from hololive, Moona Hoshinova and Kobo Kanaeru from hololive Indonesia, and Takanashi Kiara, Ninomae Ina’nis, and Hakos Baelz from hololive English.

The AFA X I Love ANISONG segment caps off the concert experience, led by KAF, KANA-BOON, ReoNa, May’n, and Sally Amaki (22/7). While 3-Day VIP packages are sold out, single-day tickets remain available at S$198 (Cat 1 Seated), S$178 (Cat 2 Seated), and S$158 (Cat 3 Seated). Cat 1 ticket holders also stand a chance to walk away with free subscription packages to Mediacorp’s meWATCH service, reserved for 1,000 lucky winners selected via online ballot.

As for general admission, tickets can be purchased on Ticketmaster starting 11 October, 12 pm SGT, with prices ranging from S$28 to S$110. The full list of details is as follows:

• 3 Day Exhibition + Stage: $110 / S$125 (after midnight of 28 November)
• 3 Day Exhibition-Only: $80 / S$92
• 1 Day Exhibition + Stage: $38 / S$43
• 1 Day Exhibition-Only: $28 / S$32

Over at the show floor, AFA Singapore 2024 will host live talk shows and special events on the Day Stage, featuring groups BAE, The Cat’s Whiskers, cozmez, and Akanyatsura for the Japanese mixed-media project Paradox Live; VTuber Shoto and his companion, Unnämed; Hiroyuki Itoh, CEO of Crypton Future Media, which created Hatsune Miku; Tower of God voice actors; Yuya Hirose, voice of Köinzell in Übel Blatt; and virtual singer Isekaijoucho.

Other notable highlights include:

• A special Hatsune Miku booth with activities like photo taking, special exhibitions, and exclusive merchandise.
• An Oshi no Ko stage event, where Takeo Otsuka and Yurie Igoma — who play twins Aqua and Ruby — will share the stage with show producer Shimpei Yamashita.
• The latest updates on Ranma 1/2 from Manabu Otsuka, MAPPA CEO and director Konosuke Uda.
• Stage appearance by Yusuke Kobayashi, the voice of Subaru Natsuki in Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- Season 3
• Rin Tateishi, the voice of Anon Chihaya, and Hina Aoki, the voice of Rāna Kaname for the BanG Dream! It’s MyGO!!!!! segment.

The meet-and-greet lineup, meanwhile, welcomes Sally Amaki (22/7), Takeo Ostuka & Yurie Igoma, Yusuke Kobayashi, Shoto, and Yuya Hirose, granting fans access to Q&A sessions, group photos, and autograph opportunities.

Additionally, Akiba Town is due to return with official exhibitors like Crunchyroll, which will bring a Solo Leveling experience dome and activities from the One Piece series, Mint TCG, and Bushiroad Expo Asia, as well as over 120 creators from 21 countries for the artist alley. The Cosplay Hub will also showcase close to 40 cosplayers from the region.

Rounding out the AFA Singapore 2024 show floor experience is the brand-new GameOn area, where gaming enthusiasts can check out current and upcoming titles, including CookieRun: Braveverse, Neopets, Infinity Nikki, Madness Arena, Ultraman Card Game, Yu-Gi-Oh!, and more. Further information about the event may be found on the official website.

AFA Singapore 2024 will be held at Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre from 29 November to 1 December.

Si Jia

Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.

The post Anime Festival Asia Singapore (AFA SG) 2024 Starts From S$28, Reveals Full Event Highlights appeared first on Geek Culture.

After four years of exploring the dark side of the entertainment industry and a showbiz-revenge narrative, the Oshi no Ko manga is ending. As announced on X/Twitter, the series will conclude in four chapters, with the 166th and final chapter scheduled for 14 November.

The final compiled volume lands in Japan on 18 December, available in a special edition featuring a special cover, a book stand, and stickers. Written by Aka Akasaka and illustrated by Mengo Yokoyari, Oshi no Ko is currently on hiatus until 24 October, after which the remaining chapters will be released weekly until the conclusion.

The synopsis for the manga is as follows:

“Gorou is a gynecologist and idol fan who’s in shock after his favorite star, Ai, announces an impromptu hiatus. Little does Gorou realise that he’s about to forge a bond with her that defies all common sense! Lies are an idol’s greatest weapon in this outrageous manga from Aka Akasaka
(Kaguya-sama: Love is War) and Mengo Yokoyari (Scum’s Wish).”

Oshi no Ko is published by Shueisha in its Weekly Young Jump magazine, where it debuted in 2020. It won Best General Manga in the 46th annual Kodansha Manga Awards in 2022 and was nominated for the 26th Annual Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize in the same year. The anime premiered in Japan in April 2023, with a second season following three months later in July.

Season 3 is currently in the works, while a live-action film and television series adaptation are due to air on 28 November and 20 December, respectively.

Si Jia

Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.

The post ‘Oshi no Ko’ Manga Ends Run In Nov 2024 appeared first on Geek Culture.

The Neon Genesis Evangelion universe may have drawn to a close (for now), but creator Hideaki Anno is far from done. Apart from expanding the Shin Japan Hero Universe, uniting the Shin Godzilla (2016), Evangelion 3.0 + 1.0 Thrice Upon a Time (2021), Shin Ultraman (2022), and Shin Kamen Rider (2023) franchises, the industry veteran is also set to produce a new Space Battleship Yamato anime film.

While details about the outing remain under wraps, Anno emphasised that it’ll differ from the ongoing remake projects launched by the Space Battleship Yamato 2199 anime. The news was announced during the 50th anniversary screening of the series, where he revealed that Studio Khara — which he founded — received license approvals from the original rights holders.

“If I had not encountered Space Battleship Yamato 50 years ago, I would not be where I am today,” said the filmmaker. “As long as I am involved with the Yamato series, I would like to spend the rest of my life creating interesting works that weave together the old and the new as much as possible and bequeath Space Battleship Yamato to future generations, with gratitude, respect and repayment to all the Yamato staff and cast.”

The team is looking to begin production in 2025 for theatrical release later, with Yutaka Izubuchi, chief director of the remake projects, also involved in another new work. In the meantime, Anno will oversee other anniversary initiatives for the franchise, including the launch of various art books and a planned artwork exhibition.

Released in 1974 by Yoshinobu Nishizaki and Leiji Matsumoto, the sci-fi anime follows Susumu Kodai and an international crew from Earth, tasked during an interstellar war to board the space warship Yamato, derived from the World War II battleship of the same name, in response to a message of aid.

It’s widely regarded as one of the most influential anime series in Japan, serving as an inspiration for subsequent works in the genre, such as Gundam, Evangelion, and Macross. Be Forever Yamato: Rebel 3199 is the current project in the remake pipeline, serving as a remake of both Be Forever Yamato and Space Battleship Yamato III. It will premiere as seven films, beginning on 19 July 2024.

Si Jia

Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.

The post ‘Evangelion’ Creator Hideaki Anno Working On ‘Space Battleship Yamato’ Anime Film appeared first on Geek Culture.

The second season of Oshi no Ko ended on an intense note, essentially leaving fans on a cliffhanger, but the wait will soon be over. Season 3 of the showbiz-revenge anime has been confirmed, with a new key visual and trailer offering a first look at the calm before the storm (or so it seems).

There’s no word on a release window or story details, but the series is expected to cover the Mainstay, Scandal, and Movie Arcs if it follows the manga’s pacing. Two new cast members were also announced: Mamoru Miyano (Bungou Stray Dogs, Death Note) as Hikaru Kamiki, and Hina Kino (Buddy Daddies, Genshin Impact) as Tsukuyomi.

The Mainstay Arc is set to uncover more dark secrets of the Hoshino family, including the true identity of Ruby and Aqua’s father. New characters, such as assistant director Shun Yoshizumi and his VTuber sister Mimi Yoshizumi will likely make their debut, too.

As with the past two seasons, Oshi no Ko Season 3 sees studio Doga Kobo returning to helm the animation. Takeo Otsuka and Yurie Igoma will reprise their roles as Aqua and Ruby Hoshino, alongside Megumi Han as Kana Arima and Manaka Iwami as Akane Kurokawa.

The anime’s second season aired on 3 July, focusing on a 2.5D stage play titled “Tokyo Blade”. It stars Kōki Uchiyama as Taiki Himekawa, Yūsuke Kobayashi as Sakuya Kamoshida, Tomoyuki Shimura as Toshirō Kindaichi, Ayane Sakura as Abiko Samejima, and Daisuke Ono as GOA, who are all new cast additions.

“A doctor and his recently-deceased patient are reborn as twins to a famous Japanese musical idol and navigate the highs and lows of the Japanese entertainment industry as they grow up together through their lives,” reads the synopsis for Oshi no Ko.

Si Jia

Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.

The post ‘Oshi no Ko’ Anime Unveils Season 3 With Additional Voice Cast appeared first on Geek Culture.

One of the more unexpected hits of the Summer 2024 anime slate, The Elusive Samurai caught the community by storm with its fluid and arresting visual style. Now that the first season has wrapped up, a second season is confirmed to be in the works.

Apart from a calligraphy announcement penned by calligrapher Kamari Maeda, no other information is known about the sequel, including a release window or casting details. The Elusive Samurai anime is based on Yusei Matusi’s historical fiction manga of the same name, with CloverWorks directing the first season, which ran from 6 July to 28 September. Toriko Tomita serves as composer, while Yasushi Nishiya provides the character designs.

DISH// performed the opening theme song “Plan A”, while Botchi Boromaru worked on the ending track, “Kamakura STYLE”. The ongoing series is serialised in Weekly Shonen Jump and released digitally in English through Viz Media and MANGA Plus.

The description for the first volume is as follows:

“After the massacre of his family by the traitor Ashikaga Takauji, Tokiyuki flees with the help of a handful of loyal retainers who have also survived the purge. One of them is Suwa Yorishige, an ally of the Hojo clan and lord of Suwa Province. The slightly odd Yorishige also claims to be clairvoyant and foretells that Tokiyuki will one day become the ruler of Japan. But for the moment, escaping from enemy territory is the priority!“

Si Jia

Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.

The post ‘The Elusive Samurai’ Anime Slashes Its Way To Season 2 appeared first on Geek Culture.

The long-awaited return of Bleach has breathed new life into an anime classic, with the Thousand-Year Blood War Arc becoming a dream come true for those who’ve always wanted arresting visuals, fluid action scenes, and stylish character designs in the anime’s original run.

A special commemorative video for its 20th anniversary gives a tantalising glimpse of the possibility, recreating iconic scenes in the modern style that the revival series is known for. In it, Ichigo’s first Hollow transformation and his battles against Kenpachi, Byakuya, the Arrancars, Aizen, and more are featured in cutting-edge animation, making for a glorious sight and prompting fan requests for a remake of the original show.

The influence of the anime’s visual revamp extends to the upcoming Bleach: Rebirth of Souls, a 3D arena fighting title due in 2025. As part of the celebration, a key visual and an accompanying video were previously unveiled, with the ending song sequence for Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 3 — The Conflict also shared in the wake of its pilot episode’s release on 5 October.

The first cour (quarter of a year) of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Arc aired from October to December 2022, concluding with a one-hour special that combined its 12th and 13th episodes. A sequel followed in July 2023, with the latest outing rounding out three out of the four planned non-consecutive cours.

The anime will cover the final arc of the manga, which spans volume 55 to 74. SIX LOUNGE performs the opening theme song “Kotoba ni Sezu Tomo” (Even if You Don’t Say It) for Part 3 — The Conflict, while suisoh helms the ending theme song “Monochrome”. Pierrot Films, Studio Pierrot’s new studio, is leading the production.

Si Jia

Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.

The post ‘Bleach’ 20th Anniversary Video Revisits Nostalgia In Stylish Modern Animation appeared first on Geek Culture.

Created in collaboration with Toei Animation Inc., the Secretlab TITAN Evo Dragon Ball Z Goku
Edition is upholstered in deep orange SoftWave Plus Fabric, reminiscent of Goku’s Gi. The chair utlises an advanced 3D multi-coloured gradient knit to achieve a stunning heat map gradient, evoking the crackling aura that surrounds Goku in his iconic Super Saiyan form.

The overlapping orange and blue speckles also mirror the way Goku’s Gi rips and tears during his epic battles. There is also a four-star Dragon Ball on the front-left side of the chair, which was what Goku started his journey with, a memento from his late grandfather, Son Goha.

The SecretlabTitan Evo also features the kanji symbols 亀 (Kame) on the front and 界王 (Kai-oh) on the rear, a nod to Goku’s training in the Kame School of martial arts and his time under King Kai. Let’s not forget the seven Dragon Balls on the rear as well.

Find out more about the Secretlab Titan Evo Dragon Ball Z Goku Edition at Secretlab’s website.

Yonk

Yonk is a geek who is fortunate enough to have an equally geeky Star Wars fan for a wife, who owns a LEGO Millennium Falcon encased in a glass coffee table as their home’s centre-piece.

The post Secretlab X Dragon Ball Z Goku Edition Celebrates Franchise’s 40th Anniversary appeared first on Geek Culture.

Hideo Kojima, the visionary creator behind the video games Metal Gear Solid and Death Stranding, is making strategic moves to bridge the worlds of gaming and Hollywood. In a recent interview with Variety, Kojima disclosed his collaboration with Hollywood talent agency WME to expand his influence into TV and film.

Since launching Kojima Productions in 2015 after departing Konami, Hideo Kojima released Death Stranding in 2019, which was his first game under the new banner. He now plans to leverage this creation further, laying out a three-phase strategy for his studio’s future. The initial phase focused on establishing Death Stranding within the gaming industry and expanding its accessibility on global platforms like Apple, PC, and Sony — a goal Kojima finds relatively straightforward.

The sequel to Death Stranding is on the horizon, set for release next year. But Kojima’s ambitions stretch beyond games. “What comes next are different forms of media: movies, anime, TV dramas, etc. Basically, expanding the game IP to other media. That’s the second phase,” he explains. “I created Kojima Productions under the scope of “digital entertainment,” but I don’t think it necessarily has to be a video game. We could create a new IP from a game, or an anime, or a film, or something totally different. Anything is possible.”

Kojima emphasised the potential for collaboration with global talents to create novel digital content, “For the third phase, I would like to work with talented people from around the world and create something new, with “digital” being the keyword. It could be a movie, a game, or something else entirely. I can’t die until then! I don’t think I’m trying to do anything too out of the ordinary!” While details remain vague, his enthusiasm for innovation is clear.

Despite his broad aspirations, Kojima assured he is not aiming to direct films himself. He confirmed his role in the upcoming Death Stranding movie, produced with A24, would be to supervise the plot and ensure its faithful adaptation, rather than direct. He named several top filmmakers like Jordan Peele, Guillermo del Toro, Nicolas Winding Refn, and George Miller as potential collaborators, underscoring his well-established connections within the film industry.

Kojima also teased multiple Death Stranding adaptation projects and another movie script he has written, which he hopes will serve as a pilot project for his expansive digital entertainment vision. His comment that “movies and games are two different branches, but pretty soon, it will be very similar,” suggests an impending convergence of these mediums, shaping a future where Kojima’s creations could transcend traditional media boundaries, offering fans a blend of cinematic and interactive experiences.

Natalie

Natalie is a big fan of anything related to movies, TV shows, games, and comics — you name it. When she’s not reading or geeking out about the latest shows on Netflix, she’s probably playing gacha and tabletop games, or daydreaming of meeting her idols.

The post Hideo Kojima Has Ambitious Hollywood Plans, Wants To Expand Into Movies, Anime & TV appeared first on Geek Culture.

The reign of DC Comics and Marvel Comics‘ “Super Hero” trademark is over. The two giants have lost their claim to the long-held joint trademark, after multiple successful attempts at defending it since 1979.

According to Reuters, the U.S. Patent And Trademark Office has enforced the cancellation in response to a challenge from Superbabies Limited. The company that produces a series of Superbabies comics about superhero babies posited that “Super Hero”, “Superhero” or “Super-hero” are generic terms that shouldn’t be subjected to exclusivity.

“DC and Marvel are wrong. Trademark law does not permit companies to claim ownership over an entire genre,” reads the petition. The default judgment of invalidating the patents was then granted in their favour when DC and Marvel failed to file an answer to Superbabies’ request by 24 July.

Now that others can use the terms, Marvel and DC will no longer enjoy trademark exclusivity. Reflecting on their win, Superbabies’ S.J. Richold said, “Superhero stories teach us to stick up for the little guy, so it’s only fitting that the liberation of Super Heroes would come at the hands of The Super Babies — the littlest of them all. My hope is that this victory will encourage smaller companies to share their stories with the world.”

Outside of trademark registration, the two giants have also joined forces to feature their iconic characters in crossover titles over the years, with Superman vs. The Amazing Spider-Man, Batman vs. The Incredible Hulk, and JLA/Avengers being some of the more notable works.

Si Jia

Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.

The post Marvel And DC “Super Hero” Trademarks Cancelled appeared first on Geek Culture.

It’s a good time to be a Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End fan. Hot on the heels of the manga’s return following a brief hiatus, a second season for the anime has been green-lit, with studio Madhouse set to take the reins yet again.

The announcement came by way of the show’s anniversary event, which saw both the main and new cast in attendance. A new key visual and trailer were also unveiled, alongside a commemorative visual by the manga’s illustrator Tsukasa Abe featuring Himmel’s original party of Frieren, Heiter, and Eisen.

“It has been decided that a second season of the TV anime will be produced! We owe it all to everyone who has supported us,” reads the official statement by series creators Kanehito Yamada and Abe. “We are eternally grateful to everyone involved in the anime who has made this wonderful anime. As a viewer, I look forward to Frieren’s journey as she sets off again. We hope you will continue to support Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End.”

The fan-favourite anime premiered with a two-hour special on 29 September 2023 and ran for two consecutive cours (quarter of a year) until March 2024. Keiichirō Saitō directed the first season at Madhouse, while Tomohiro Suzuki (ACCA: 13-Territory Inspection Dept., One-Punch Man) penned the script. Evan Call, of Violet Evergarden fame, served as composer, with Reiko Nagasawa (take op.Destiny) taking charge of character design.

Viz Media describes the story as follows:

“The adventure is over but life goes on for an elf mage just beginning to learn what living is all about. Elf mage Frieren and her courageous fellow adventurers have defeated the Demon King and brought peace to the land. But Frieren will long outlive the rest of her former party. How will she come to understand what life means to the people around her? Decades after their victory, the funeral of one her friends confronts Frieren with her own near immortality. Frieren sets out to fulfill the last wishes of her comrades and finds herself beginning a new adventure…“

While Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End has its fair share of action scenes, the series is at its best when exploring the themes of mortality, the passage of time, and the dynamics between the main characters. The original manga has won several awards, including the 25th Annual Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize and the 14th Manga Taisho Award in 2021, as well as nominations for Best Shōnen Manga for Kodansha’s 45th annual Manga Awards.

Season 2 of Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End has no release date.

Si Jia

Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.

The post ‘Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End’ Anime Gets Season 2 Alongside Manga Return appeared first on Geek Culture.

[UPDATE (as of 20 September): It’s official! The casting for Mr. 0 and Miss All Sunday was unveiled during a live table read as part of Netflix Geeked Week 2024, alongside a long-awaited first peek at Tony Chopper.

The beloved reindeer character will be brought to life using CGI, but there is no word on his voice actor yet. It’s also unclear if motion capture is being used for his debut, with more news expected to be on the horizon.

(original article as follows)

Netflix has added more pirates and mercenaries to the second season of its One Piece live-action adaptation. Joe Manganiello (True Blood, Magic Mike) and Lera Abova (Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin) are the latest stars to join the crew, with the pair playing Mr. 0 and Miss All Sunday respectively.

The update comes ahead of an official announcement from Netflix’s Tudum hub, continuing the wave of casting news for the sophomore season. Starting with Baroque Works agents Mr. 9, Mr. 5, Miss Valentine & Mr. 3, the expanded roster now includes Crocus, Dorry, and Brogy as well as Dr. Kureha and Dr. Hiriluk. Charithra Chandran, of Bridgerton fame, will play Miss Wednesday, joining Callum Kerr as Smoker, Julia Rehwald as Tashigi, Rob Colletti as Wapol, Ty Keogh as Dalton, and Sendhil Ramamurthy as Nefertari Cobra.

A behind-the-scenes featurette was also shared, with Buggy star Jeff Ward taking fans on a set tour of Season 2. There are some blurred bits due to spoilers, but major locations like the Ipponmatsu Arms Store and Twin Cape Lighthouse offer a tantalising look at what’s to come.

More notably, these recreations will be faithful to the source material. “The three shops next to the Arms Store are exactly from the manga,” said the production designers, referring to the reveal of the Doskoi Panda and The Polestar Gallery in the video.

While there’s no word on a release date, a 2025 premiere is expected for Season 2 of One Piece. It will reunite the main gang of Iñaki Godoy as Monkey D Luffy, Emily Rudd as Nami, Mackenyu as Roronoa Zoro, Jacob Romero as Usopp, and Taz Skylar as Sanji, alongside other returning members such as Ilia Isorelys Paulino (Alvida) and Michael Dorman (Gold Roger).

Story specifics remain sparse, but manga creator Eiichiro Oda confirmed that the beloved Arabasta Arc won’t be included in the upcoming season. Instead, it will cover Loguetown, Reverse Mountain (Twin Cape), Whiskey Peak, Little Garden, and Drum Island.

Si Jia

Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.

The post Netflix’s ‘One Piece’ Season 2 Casts Joe Manganiello As Mr. 0, Offers Long-Awaited First Peek At Chopper appeared first on Geek Culture.

There are superheroes, and then there are super pets. In the DC universe, Superman’s pet dog Krypto is one of the most recognisable animal sidekicks, even stepping into a main role in 2022’s DC League of Super-Pets.

Speaking to Capes and Lunatics Podcast, comic book writer Mark Waid — best known for penning Superman comic Kingdom Come alongside Batman/Superman: World’s Finest — revealed that the iconic canine will be part of James Gunn’s upcoming Superman film.

“I have a good feeling about this movie,” he said. “I like James Gunn. I like his reverential approach by and large to this kind of stuff. And reverential without taking it too seriously. The movie has a dog in it, a super-powered dog with heat vision, so there’s only so much… It ain’t Zack Snyder.”

While Krypto isn’t explicitly mentioned, the description fits his profile perfectly. The Snyder namedrop also seems to highlight the distinction between the grittier, dark tone of previous DC films and Gunn’s vision, which is expected to be more lighthearted with wild, wacky characters.

The news corroborates earlier set leaks of Krypto’s inclusion in the upcoming movie, where Edi Gathegi, playing Mister Terrific in the movie, was seen tracking and gesturing towards something that wasn’t there outside the Pet It Be store.

Gunn’s Superman will mark the first depiction of the character since Henry Cavill’s portrayal, beginning with Snyder’s Man of Steel in 2013. It stars David Corenswet as Superman, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen, Anthony Carrigan as Metamorpho, Nathan Fillion as Green Lantern, and more. Christopher Reeve’s son, Will, is also set to make a cameo.

The movie is slated to release on 11 July 2025, just around the same time as Marvel’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps, opening on 25 July.

Si Jia

Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.

The post James Gunn’s ‘Superman’ To Reportedly Take Flight With Krypto The Superdog appeared first on Geek Culture.