Most anime series will come from the manga of the same name, but Leviathan — released on Netflix today (Thursday, July 10) — is a little different as it is adapted from a 2009 illustrated young adult novel written by American author Scott Westerfeld.

This is a move straight out of the Studio Ghibli playbook, though, with many of their beloved animated movies — including The Secret World of Arrietty and Howl’s Moving Castle — being based on Western novels.

And that's not where the Ghibli links end for Leviathan. In fact, close your eyes and you could almost be in a Studio Ghibli movie, as Joe Hisaishi (Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, and Castle in the Sky) composed both the opening and closing themes for the new show. Excited already? Me too, and that’s before really diving into everything else Leviathan has in store. On paper, it is set to be one of the biggest anime shows of the year.

Leviathan takes place in an alternative steampunk World War One with the guns, tanks, and artillery, replaced by mechs, walkers, and genetically engineered creatures — including a gargantuan whale airship. Beyond the battlefields, however, there is a touching friendship (and later romance) between Alek (Ayumu Murase) — the son of Austria-Hungary’s Archduke Franz Ferdinand in this universe — and Deryn (Natsumi Fujiwara) — a teenage girl who disguises herself as a boy to fight in the war.

It’s worth knowing going into it that the anime series is still heavily targeted at the YA audience of the book, so this is a more sanitised version of war than you might expect. That being said, it is the perfect watch for all the family, presenting a unique vision of a familiar period in history and fusing steampunk-style weaponry and machines with a timeless love story — with the "girl in disguise" trope not being dissimilar to Disney’s Mulan.

As well as Hisaishi, there is some formidable talent involved in bringing Scott Westerfield’s vision to life. The series is produced by Qubic Pictures (Star Wars: Visions) and Orange (the company behind the hugely popular anime series, BEASTARS), so the beloved story is in trusted hands.

At the helm is director Christophe Ferreira, and while this may be his directorial debut, he is credited as the “mechanical designer” for Netflix anime series Eden. This delightful show saw two robots raising a human child, and much like Leviathan, it blends impressive technical machines with a deeply moving human story.

Even if the story is brand new to you, Leviathan is the perfect show for anime beginners — and those who may have only dabbled in the more mainstream offerings from Studio Ghibli before. It is the perfect blend of Japanese animation style with Western storytelling, with a fascinating alternative vision of a world a little like ours, but not quite.

The machinery is impressive, the music exquisitely emotive, and the characters beautifully realised — Leviathan is a show that ticks all the boxes.

Leviathan is on Netflix now. See our best shows on Netflix guide for more recommendations.

Horror and slice of life are two anime genres that don't often meet, but the new Netflix series The Summer Hikaru Died — released today on Netflix (Saturday, July 5) — makes a strong case for them being such a perfect blend that you'll wonder why they haven’t always gone together.

Based on the manga of the same name by writer and illustrator, Mokumokuren, The Summer Hikaru Died combines elements of body horror and body-swap comedies and explores the friendship between Yoshiki (voiced by Chiaki Kobayashi) and the titular Hikaru (voiced by Shuichiro Umeda).

Following a solo hiking accident, Hikaru tragically dies from his injuries. However, much to Yoshiki’s bemusement, Hikaru later returns from his adventure unscathed — but there is something different about him. This Hikaru looks like the real one, and has all the same memories Yoshiki’s lost friend had, but there is a darkness in him that might just be impossible to contain.

So why am I particularly excited for this series? Well, the manga has already garnered a pretty impressive critical reaction, earning nominations at the American Manga Awards in 2024 and 2025. Based on this and the reactions from fans of the manga, there is plenty to be excited about in The Summer Hikaru Died. Fans and reviewers rave about the relatable characters in particular — the friendship between Yoshiki and Hikaru has an unignorable queer subtext that readers loved, even though their relationship is never explicitly said to be romantic.

While the full-color art style of the anime series differs from the stark black-and-white of the manga serial, early glimpses in the trailer show that the unique art style will still effectively translate from page to screen. This is particularly evident in the beautiful patterns used to show Hikaru’s metamorphosis into something otherworldly. Speaking to An An, creator Mokumokuren talked about his influences, saying, "I feel like I'm influenced by the works of directors such as Koji Shiraishi and Guillermo del Toro, as well as stylish horror movies from overseas."

In a series that deals with a character who has seemingly been reincarnated from the dead, you can expect a little weirdness in The Summer Hikaru Died, but there is a subtlety to the strangeness that means it is one you’ll want to keep both eyes on — and possibly return to for repeat watches. It toys with the psychological idea of the “uncanny valley” — something that looks real, but there is also something just a little … off. Not only is this something that is evident in Hikaru’s character, but it is woven through the immersive soundscape. The sounds of the cicada insects are lifelike, but not quite, and the sound of the wind could just be the wind, but it could also be whispers of something more sinister.

Expect twists and turns as The Summer Hikaru Died explores grief, love, acceptance, and what it means to be human … plus the pitfalls of being a teenage boy whose best friend just turned into some kind of mythical entity.

The Summer Hikaru Died is on Netflix now. Check out our best series on Netflix guide for more recommendations.

In the ever-evolving catalogue of TV shows and films available to stream on Netflix, there is a great selection of anime — and anime-adjacent — series to enjoy. With an English-speaking voice cast and an animation style that blends 2D and 3D, Arcane falls under the category of anime-adjacent, but it is the perfect show for fans of anime to get stuck into.

Anime lovers will frequently rave about their favorite show on online forums and platforms such as Reddit, but Arcane is one of the rare series that also gets the critical stamp of approval, with both seasons so far earning the coveted 100% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes.

This French-produced animated show is set within the popular League of Legends video game universe, and it is no wonder it has proven to be so successful. While I am a huge fan of anime, and animation in general, this show had passed me by until recently, but now, I finally understand what all the fuss is about.

The great news is that you don’t need to be a clued-up fan of League of Legends to jump straight into Arcane (I’m certainly not!), as it does an incredibly effective job of establishing this world and the key characters. For fans of the game, it also expands upon the lore, providing the backstory for popular champions such as Vi, Jinx, and Jayce.

At the center of the story are orphaned sisters Vi (voiced by Hailee Steinfeld) and Jinx (voiced by Ella Purnell), and much of the focus is on the rift that develops between them after the rescue attempt of their adoptive father, Vander (voiced by JB Blanc), goes disastrously wrong.

Vi and Jinx grew up in the underground city of Zaun, under the oppression of the wealthier city, Piltover. When the scientific minds of Piltover dabble in magic to create a technology known as “Hextech,” it not only pushes Zaun further underground, but leads to dangerous clashes between the two cities when the technology risks falling into the wrong hands.

While Arcane incorporates many elements that will be familiar to anime fans — such as class conflict, family drama, and the dangers of magic being used improperly — it stands out particularly for its brilliant worldbuilding and strong character development.

It also effectively balances the action between Piltover and Zaun — there are good, bad, and morally gray characters in both places, making it much harder to try and choose your allegiance. Crucially, it doesn’t take long at all to really care about these characters, and by the time it came to the explosive conclusion in Episode 3 of Season, I was completely hooked.

I’ve watched a lot of anime and anime-style programmes, and Arcane managed to grip me from the beginning. It is rare that a show based on an existing property — particularly one with as many fans as League of Legends — manages to be both accessible to complete newcomers and still satisfy the diehards. The rich storytelling and wonderfully fleshed out characters make this a must-watch for anime fans.

Both seasons of Arcane are streaming on Netflix now.

We're finally starting to learn more about One Piece season 2. The first season of One Piece came out in 2023 and it was a hit for Netflix, and after years of waiting, we now know about the future of the show.

And I do mean future because as well as giving a nod to the show's release window and revealing a first-look trailer for One Piece season 2, Netflix also confirmed that a third season is in production.

Oh, maybe I shouldn't call it One Piece season 2, because that's something else Netflix confirmed. The new batch of episodes will be called One Piece: Into the Grand Line, similar to the title of the second season of the anime.

One Piece is a swashbuckling adventure series set in a fantasy world, about a young boy who sails the seas to find the 'One Piece' a mythical artifact which makes one the king of the pirates. With his band of friends, called the Straw Hats, he fights strange villains and traverses deadly lands in order to find it. A smash hit, One Piece quickly became popular as one of the best series on Netflix.

Season one of One Piece firmly cemented the Straw Hats as a band of friends and set our hero, Monkey D. Luffy, on his quest... now we just need to see where he goes. Here's everything we know about One Piece season 2 right now. 

One Piece season 2 potential release date

We know that One Piece: Into the Grand Line will release at some point in 2026.

Now I know that this isn't a very narrow window, with 365 days in the year, but after years of speculation it's the only official word we've heard from Netflix so far.

Given that Netflix has already started showing first-look tidbits from the series, I'd hazard a guess that it'll release earlier in the year.

One Piece season 2 trailer

At the time of writing, there's been one One Piece season 2 trailer released, but Netflix is billing it as a 'First Look' instead of a full trailer. You can see it here:

Based on precedent, Netflix will probably show us a longer teaser, and then a full story trailer, closer to release.

What will One Piece season 2 be about?

Signs currently point to One Piece season 2 adapting the original series' Arabasta Saga. This story arc saw the Straw Hats finally venturing to the Grand Line for the first time and sees them being targeted by Baroque Works, the criminal syndicate who sent "Mr. 7" to try and recruit Zoro (who promptly cut the agent in half) at the start of season 1. 

The first season's final episode also included a couple of teases for what's to come. For one thing, we learned that two of Luffy's pirate foes, Captain Alvida and Buggy the Clown, have forged an alliance and are likely to seek revenge on the Straw Hats in the near future. 

Plus, the pre-credits teasers set up another villain from the universe. In that scene, we saw a man smoking two cigars burn a wanted poster of Monkey D. Luffy who we strongly suspect is none other than Captain Smoker. Smoker is a Marine Captain who has the power to turn his body into smoke, and he ruthlessly pursues pirates with his Devil Fruit abilities.

Thanks to the season 2 announcement video, we also suspect that Tony Tony Chopper will appear in the new season. For newcomers to the franchise, Chopper is an anthropomorphic reindeer doctor, and a fan-favorite character at that.

One Piece season 2 cast

We'd expect the Straw Hat crew will be back on deck for One Piece season 2. That means we're hoping to see Iñaki Godoy reprise his role as the future King of the Pirates, Monkey D. Luffy, along with Mackenyu Arata as the expert swordsman, Roronoa Zoro, Jacob Romero Gibson as sharpshooter Usopp, Emily Rudd as the expert navigator, Nami, and Taz Skylar as their chivalrous chef, Sanji. 

And since Captain Alvida and Buggy the Clown have teamed up, we expect Ilia Isorelýs Paulino and Jeff Ward will return for season 2, along with Morgan Davies as Marine Vice Admiral Garp. 

Some new faces have been confirmed. One of these is Joe Manganiello (True Blood, Magic Mike) as Mr. 0, or Sir Crocodile, a former sea-faring warlord who works for Buggy in the anime. The other is Lera Abova (Anna, Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin) as Nico Robin or Miss All Sunday, who in the anime is an archaeologist who comes to work for the Straw Hat Pirates.

What is The One Piece on Netflix?

Netflix clearly has One Piece fever. Along with giving One Piece season 2 the go-ahead, the streamer announced they are currently in production on a new anime adaptation of Eiichiro Oda's iconic story that will begin with the East Blue saga.

This adaptation will be known as The One Piece and will be 'distinct from the TV anime series that has captivated audiences for over 25 years', according to a Netflix statement.

Produced in collaboration with representatives from Shueisha, Fuji Television Network and Toei Animation Co, The One Piece aims to 'provide viewers witha fresh yet familiar experience, utilizing cutting-edge visual technology to reimagine Luffy's adventures through the beloved East Blue saga.'

The One Piece will be brought to life by WIT Studio, who have previously worked on hit shows like Attack on Titan and Spy x Family. 

After a long wait, the live-action One Piece finally made its debut on Netflix at the end of August. 

Although there was some skepticism about Netflix developing another live-action anime adaptation (following the cool reaction to 2021's Cowboy Bebop), reactions to One Piece have been way more positive, and the show has continued to hold onto a spot in the Top 10 shows since its premiere date. 

As any longtime One Piece fan will know, this first season only skimmed the surface of Monkey D. Luffy's long-running quest to become the King of the Pirates. With all this in mind, is One Piece season 2 on the cards? Here's what we know right now. 

Has One Piece been renewed? Will there be a One Piece season 2?

Netflix has finally confirmed that One Piece season 2 is happening! 

Two weeks after the show's debut, One Piece creator delivered the good news (via Transponder Snail) revealing that Netflix had renewed the live-action adaptation of One Piece for a second season. 

Oda says in the video that 'it'll still take a while to get the scripts ready' and urged fans to be patient, but in an earlier interview with Variety, CEO of Tomorrow Studios, Marty Adelstein, said: "we've got scripts ready". 

Tomorrow Studios President Becky Clements went on to claim that they could have more episodes ready as early as next year, if the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike is resolved (as they can't go into production otherwise). "Realistically, hopefully, a year away, if we move very quickly, and that is a possibility. Somewhere between a year and 18 months, we could be ready for air", she said.

So, seems we're still in the dark when it comes to a possible release date. In the meantime, you can check out our picks for the best anime on Netflix if you've already raced through the entirety of One Piece's first season.

What could happen in One Piece season 2? 

This section contains spoilers for One Piece - don't read on if you're not caught up.

One Piece's first season followed the events of the anime's first series and drew in elements of the East Blue manga arc, but where could the show go next if it returns?

Thankfully, we've already seen a brief tease of what's to come in a pre-credits scene. At the end of episode 8, just after their cast-off ceremony aboard the Straw Hats' ship, we see a brief glimpse at a new figure whom fans think is the infamous Captain Smoker (owing to his white hair and the two cigars in his hand). 

Whilst we don't get to see their face, we see the cigar-smoking Marine burning a hole in a Monkey D. Luffy wanted poster. Like Luffy, Smoker has also eaten a Devil Fruit; he's got the ability to create, control, and turn himself into pure smoke and he comes equipped with a weapon tipped with Seastone, a material that negates Devil Fruit powers. In short, he will be the most dangerous adversary the Straw Hats have crossed paths with in the live-action series. 

In the season 2 announcement video, Eiichiro Oda also teased that the Straw Hats 'will need a great doctor', all but confirming that Tony Chopper is due to appear in the forthcoming season.

Speaking to Variety about the show's potential future, co-showrunner Steven Maeda kept pretty quiet both about this new character's exact identity.  "I don't want to confirm or deny at this point", he said of the reveal. "But it's a good mystery, I think, and should have people guessing and wondering what's going on."

As for season 2 —and what could come next — he had the following to say: "It's a worthwhile ask — and answers will be forthcoming."

"I don't want to speak on the continuation of One Piece at this point in time, just because the first season was such a bear. It was a wonderful challenge, but it took years out of our lives and I want to really let the focus be on that for the launch."

Of course, there is plenty more material for showrunners Matt Owens and Steven Maeda to draw from, so it only makes sense that they might want to take a pause to consider what adventure to bring to life next. At the time of writing, there are over 1,000 episodes of anime and more than 100 volumes of manga to pick and choose from.

One Piece is now streaming on Netflix. 

This article contains spoilers for One Piece episode 1, "Romance Dawn".

Netflix's live-action One Piece has arrived! In the very first episode, we're introduced to Monkey D. Luffy, the enthusiastic adventurer who is determined to track down the titular One Piece treasure and become King of the Pirates. The season premiere gives us a bit of background info about Luffy, introduces us to his super-stretchy powers, and sees him crossing paths with a few potential crewmates. Here's what happened in One Piece episode 1.

The Great Pirate Era

The episode opens with a prologue introducing the hunt for the mythical One Piece treasure. We find ourselves in Loguetown, 22 years ago, where Vice-Admiral Garp brings the legendary pirate Gold Roger in front of a huge crowd. 

On behalf of the World Government, the Vice-Admiral from the Marines orders his execution; as a final act of defiance, Gold Roger encourages the onlookers to take to the seas and seek out his treasure, the One Piece. This causes countless people to rush out, ushering in The Great Pirate Era. 

In the present day, we find Monkey D. Luffy adrift in a sinking ship, shouting about his dreams... to a bird. His boat continues to take on water, so he abandons the ship by emptying out a barrel of fish, climbing inside and floating away. Unfortunately, his barrel floats past a conflict between Captain Alvida and her crew, right as they're attacking another ship on the hunt for the pirate hunter, Roronoa Zoro. 

After boarding, seizing the treasure (and bringing Luffy's barrel onboard), Alvida's men round up the crew of the defeated vessel. She asks where Zoro has gone; one man lets slip he bought passage to Sixis Island, but doesn't know where he went afterwards. He draws her ire when he says she wasn't on Zoro's list of bounties and brains him with her maul. 

That evening, Luffy finally busts out of his barrel, coming across Koby, a lad who is being kept by Alvida as a deckhand. Luffy questions him about the ship and is shocked when Koby lambasts pirates as murderous thieves. Luffy refutes his claims, and we cut to a flashback.

Monkey D. Luffy's Origins

10 years ago, a young Luffy wakes up, excited for the return of Shanks to Windmill Village. He rushes to meet him and finds his crew hauling in their latest cache of treasure, where he asks to join his crew.

Shanks tells him that Luffy simply isn't ready to join up just yet. Annoyed, Luffy says he will prove he's capable of joining up. One of Shanks' crewmates pulls him aside, telling him Luffy has no family to speak of and that he should probably go easy on the kid. Then, they hear Luffy shouting for their attention; he's stood at the prow of the ship. In an effort to prove he's ready, he stabs himself in the face.

Back in the present, Luffy tells Koby life as a pirate is really all about freedom, and tells Koby he shouldn't let Alvida tell him what to do. Koby helps Luffy prepare to escape the ship, but Luffy accidentally ends up waking the entire crew as he plots a course back to land. 

Captain Alvida approaches, demanding to know what the fuss is about, and where Luffy came from. In the confrontation, Luffy tells Alvida Koby had called her cruel and dumb. She flies into a rage, but Luffy shows off his stretchy, rubbery body and deftly avoids her swings and keeps Koby out of trouble. Eventually, he clocks her with a powerful punch, and he and Koby flee on a lifeboat. 

The Gum-Gum Fruit

We jump to Sixis Island, where a mystery man called "Mr. 7" approaches Roronoa Zoro. He wants to recruit Zoro to the Baroque Works organization; when Zoro refuses, Mr. 7 tells him he's forfeited his life... though Zoro defeats him and cuts him in half. 

On their boat, Luffy tells Koby the story of his powers. In another flashback, we find Shanks stitching up Luffy's new cut. He tells Luffy that this still doesn't mean he's ready. Luffy storms off in a huff and finds a chest containing a strange-looking fruit (the Gum-Gum Fruit, to be precise) that he quickly chows down on. 

Shanks' crew is celebrating at a bar, but another crew rolls in and starts causing trouble. Shanks simply apologizes on their behalf, and the crew strolls off to find a "real bar". Luffy sees this as a sign of weakness and challenges Shanks; when the pirate captain grabs him, Luffy tries to run away, revealing his stretchy powers.  

Back in the present (again) Luffy tells Koby he wants to sail to the Grand Line. Koby is shocked that he doesn't have a map. Luffy resolves to take him to the nearest Marine base so Koby can start training with them, whilst he plots to steal a map from the Marines. Elsewhere in the East Blue Sea, Nami tricks two pirates into thinking she's escaped an attack.. but she really just wants to steal their ship.

Off to Shells Town

Luffy and Koby arrive in Shells Town, where the 153rd Marine Branch is located. They find a bar and start tucking into some food whilst he plans how to break into the base. Zoro and Nami are also in there; Zorro walks in with Mr. 7's body in a bag, and orders two drinks, whilst Nami fends off advances from a Marine. 

A young girl called Rika tries to bring a meal, but she bumps into another patron, Helmeppo. Zoro defends Rika, and Helmeppo threatens Zoro with his sword. Zoro tells him not to, but he persists... prompting Zoro to take him and a bunch of Marines on without even drawing his own sword as a fight breaks out. In the scrap, Nami knocks out another Marine and steals his uniform.

Subdued, Helmeppo tells Zoro his father is Captain "Axe-Hand" Morgan, and will give him whatever he wants so long as Zoro doesn't kill him. Unfortunately, when Zoro is brought before him, Morgan instead tries to recruit him. Zoro refuses, and Morgan leaves him two choices: to never be allowed to collect another bounty at any Marine branch, or be strung up without food or water as punishment for putting four Marines in the infirmary. Zoro coolly chooses to be imprisoned. 

Breaking into the base

That evening, Luffy tells Koby to prep his boat, whilst he breaks into the base. First, he lifts a grate to find himself inside the yard where Zoro is being held. Impressed by his swordsmanship, Luffy wants to recruit him for his crew, but Zoro refuses, telling the pirate that he once promised someone he'd become "the world's greatest swordsman". Regardless, Luffy unties him and sets him on his way.

Inside the base, Nami is wearing the Marine's uniform and searching for a map to the Grand Line. She's confronted by another Marine, but she uses her staff to knock the pair out. Luffy then finds his way into the same room, and tells her the map is his. 

Shortly, the pair find themselves face to face with Captain Morgan. Nami improvises that Luffy is her prisoner (whilst secretly stealing his keys), and they head to Morgan's office after he dismisses them. Luffy also tries to recruit Nami to his cause, but she refuses as well.

They start searching his office, and Luffy eventually stumbles on a lever which reveals a safe in the floor. At that point, Morgan comes across the two Marines from earlier, and has the alarm sounded. The Captain rushes to his office and begins chopping down the door with his axe-hand. Nami fails to crack the safe, so Luffy uses his powers to rip the safe out of the ground, catapulting himself and Nami out into the yard in the process.

There, they're beset by Marines and a huge brawl breaks out. Zoro (having humiliated Helmeppo earlier) is preparing to stroll out of the base, but comes to their aid and joins the fray. Morgan comes down to even the odds, but Luffy teams up with Zoro (who deploys Three-Sword Style fighting, by clenching his third sword in his mouth) to take him down for good. 

The trio head to the dock; Helmeppo tries to arrest them, but Koby knocks him out with a punch to the face. He then tells Luffy that he's going to stay behind and do what he wants to do (become a Marine), but lets Luffy, Nami and Zoro set sail (though the others maintain they're not a crew). 

Elsewhere, Vice-Admiral Garp receives a call on his snail phone about the invasion, and he plots a course back to Shells Town. The episode then ends with a pirate giving a report about the stolen map to Buggy the Clown, who resolves to retrieve it, no matter the cost. 

One Piece is now streaming on Netflix.

The One Piece cast is gracing our screens as the long-awaited live-action One Piece adaptation is finally here!

After previously adapting the influential anime, Cowboy Bebop, Netflix has turned to another much-loved series: Eiichiro Oda's One Piece. Whilst this swashbuckling adventure has been running for some time in both manga and anime form, this is the very first time that the series has gone live-action. Now, we'll get to see Monkey D. Luffy on the hunt for the mythical One Piece treasure in a whole new way. 

Below, you can find more information about the One Piece cast, including who's playing each member of the Straw Hats, plus where else you might have seen them before.

Meet the One Piece cast: Iñaki Godoy as Monkey D. Luffy

Iñaki Godoy leads the One Piece cast as Monkey D. Luffy. As a child, he ate the Gum-Gum Fruit, which gave him the power to stretch his body far out of proportion, like rubber. He's on a quest to track down Gold Roger's mythical treasure, the One Piece, and wants to become the King of the Pirates.

Where else have you seen Iñaki Godoy? Godoy has also appeared in The Imperfects, MexZombies, Blue Demon, Go Youth!, La querida del Centauro, ¿Quién mató a Sara? and Sin miedo a la verdad.

Colton Osorio (Cha Cha Real Smooth) plays a younger version of Luffy in the show.

Emily Rudd as Nami

Emily Rudd plays Nami. She's a fiercely independent thief, expert navigator and wields a Bo Staff with great effect. Speaking to Tudum, Rudd described her as the "cool, calm, collected cat burglar of the group."

Where else have you seen Emily Rudd? You might remember Rudd from the Fear Street movies or she's also starred in The Romanoffs, Electric Dreams, Sea Change and Olive Forever. She also appeared in DJ Snake and Justin Bieber's "Let Me Love You" music video.

Lily Fisher (General Hospital, Blonde) will portray the younger version of Nami, showing how she always knew how to take what she wanted, even at a young age.

Mackenyu as Roronoa Zoro

Mackenyu is playing "Pirate Hunter", Roronoa Zoro. Zoro is a highly gifted fighter who wants to become the greatest swordsman to ever live, and is known for wielding a trio of swords (one in either hand, with the third in his mouth). He's standoffish at first, but is loyal to the end. 

Where else have you seen Mackenyu? You might have seen Mackenyu in Oyaji, the live-action Fullmetal Alchemist movies, Bitter Sweet, Pacific Rim: Uprising, Peach Girl, Rurouni Kenshin: The Final, Knights of the Zodiac, or The Kindergarten Detective, among others. 

Maximilian Lee Piazza plays the younger zoro, revealing how he became the greatest swordsman ever.

Taz Skylar as Sanji

Taz Skylar portrays Sanji, a talented (and impeccably well dressed) chef who channels his charm into his waiting style working at the floating restaurant, Baratie. Like Luffy, he's also got a dream: finding the All Blue, supposedly the only place where fish from all four of One Piece's seas can be found. He also hates oregano. 

Where else have you seen Taz Skylar? He's also been in The Lazarus Project, Agatha Raisin, Boiling Point, The Deal, Lie Low, The Kill Team, and The Deal. 

Christian Convery (Sweet Tooth, Cocaine Bear) plays the younger version of Sanji.

Jacob Romero as Usopp

Jacob Romero is playing Usopp, a good-natured member of the Straw Hats. Like his father, he's a talented sharpshooter and knows how to use a slingshot to great effect. He also knows how to spin a good story, even if he's a little prone to telling tall tales about adventures he's not actually been on (yet). 

Where else have you seen Jacob Romero? Whilst he's part of the One Piece cast, you might also recognize Romero from Rap Sh!t, All Rise, Grey's Anatomy, Greenleaf, or The Resident. 

Kevin Saula is playing the young Usopp, making One Piece his first professional acting credit.

Langley Kirkwood as Captain "Axe Hand" Morgan

Langley Kirkwood plays Captain "Axe Hand" Morgan. He's in charge of the Marine base, and is easy to spot because he has a metal prosthetic for a lower jaw and, unsurprisingly, given the nickname, an axe in place of a hand. He uses his formidable presence to inspire fear to those around him, including his son, Helmeppo.

Where else have you seen Langley Kirkwood? Kirkwood has appeared in Collision, The King's Horseman, Dominion, Banshee, The Catch, Invictus, My Country, Son of God and Black Sails.

Vincent Regan as Vice Admiral Garp

Vincent Regan plays Vice Admiral Garp. Garp is a bit of a legend in the Marines, being the man who captured the current King of the Pirates, Gold Roger. He's also keen to try and steer Luffy away from the life on the high seas.

Where else have you seen Vincent Regan? Regan has had roles in Luther: The Fallen Sun, The Royals, 300, Traces, The Bay, Poldark, Victoria, Strike Back and Snow White and the Huntsman, among others.

McKinley Belcher III as Arlong

McKinley Belcher III is on hand to bring Arlong, the half-human, half-sawfish shark hybrid pirate to life. Arlong is one of the most feared pirates sailing the East Blue, one of One Piece's oceans. Arlong's also not a fan of humans, and is ready to do whatever it takes to claim the One Piece treasure for himself.

Where else have you seen McKinley Belcher III? McKinley Belcher III has also been featured in Marriage Story, Mercy Street, Ozark, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Rizzoli & Isles, We Own This City, Law & Order: LA and FBI.

Craig Fairbrass as Zeff

Craig Fairbrass stars as Zeff. Once a fearsome pirate, he's now known as Chef Zeff and runs the Baratie, the floating restaurant in the sea. He's also become a surrogate father to Sanji. 

Where else have you seen Craig Fairbrass? Besides One Piece, Fairbrass has also starred in EastEnders, For Queen & Country, Emmerdale London's Burning, Killing Time, Far Cry, Get Lucky, Villain, and A Violent Man, among other projects.

Who else is in the One Piece cast?

Whilst we've listed the Straw Hats above, Netflix has assembled a huge number of stars for the One Piece cast. Below, you can find more of the stars you can expect to see in the first season. 

• Jeff Ward as Buggy the Clown
• Alexander Maniatis as Klahadore
• Steven Ward as Dracula Mihawk
• Jandre Le Roux as Kuroobi
• Ilia Isorelýs Paulino as Alvida
• Peter Gadiot as Shanks
• Aidan Scott as Helmeppo
• Armand Aucamp as Bogard
• Morgan Davies as Koby

One Piece is streaming on Netflix from Thursday, August 31.

Want to start streaming One Piece? Trying to find out when One Piece will be on Netflix? 

It's been a long time coming, but the live-action adaptation of the mega-popular manga series, One Piece, is upon us. Very soon, we'll be setting sail with the Straw Hats on an epic quest as their leader, Monkey D. Luffy, heads off on a quest to track down the legendary titular treasure, the One Piece. 

Excitement for the series has been building up over the last few months as we've learned more and more about the new series. Now that it's finally upon us, there's only one question left: When can we watch it?!

One Piece release time

You'll be able to start streaming One Piece on Netflix on Thursday, August 31, 2023. If you're hoping to binge One Piece, you're in luck, as the whole season will be available at launch.

The show will be available from 12 am PT/3 am ET in the US, meaning UK viewers will be able to tune in from 8 am.

We've also included a list of other major time zones below, so you're ready to get watching the minute One Piece lands.

• 12 am PT
• 3 am ET
• 5 am Brazil Standard Time
• 8 am BST
• 9 am CEST
• 1.30 pm India Standard Time
• 5 pm Sydney, Australia
• 7 pm New Zealand Standard Time

If you're looking for more to watch whilst you wait for the final few hours to count down, why not check out our recommendations for the best anime series on Netflix or the best Netflix shows you should be streaming right now. Or, have a look at the ten other anime adaptation we hope Netflix will take on next. 

How many episodes of One Piece are there? 

Netflix's live action One Piece series is eight episodes long. 

This means the series is just a bit more manageable than the long-running anime, as the animated One Piece series passed the 1000 episode mark back in 2021, and is up to episode 1076 at the time of writing. 

The episode titles for the new season are: 

• Episode one: Romance Dawn
• Episode two: The Man in the Straw Hat
• Episode three: Tell No Tales
• Episode four: The Pirates Are Coming
• Episode five: Eat at Baratie!
• Episode six: The Chef and the Chore Boy
• Episode seven: The Girl with the Sawfish Tattoo
• Episode eight: Worst in the East

Rarely-seen One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda has appeared in a new video to give his blessing to the Netflix live-action adaptation of his much-loved manga and anime series. 

In a video (which we've embedded below) shared on One Piece social feeds, One Piece's lead actor Iñaki Godoy (who plays Monkey D. Luffy) presents the manga artist with a gift: his very own "Transponder Snail" (otherwise known as a Den Den Mushi, to fans of the manga). 

Whilst Oda himself does not appear in the video — he's known for not liking his face to be shown publicly, and his face is covered with a drawing whilst he's on-camera — we do hear his voice coming loud and clear through the bizarre communication device. By the sounds of things, he's very happy with how things have progressed on the Netflix series!

"As a Hollywood production, the action and VFX are great, not to mention the performances by the cast", Oda said. "But above all, I want to call attention to how perfect the Straw Hat cast are. It's like you're watching the Straw Hats in real life, which I'd love for you to savor."

For anyone unfamiliar with the story, One Piece follows Monkey D. Luffy, an adventurous young boy who dreams of setting sail on the high seas and becoming the King of the Pirates by claiming the mythical One Piece treasure. In order to realize his dreams, he assembles a star crew known as the Straw Hat Pirates and sets off for all manner of adventures on the high seas. 

Joining Iñaki Godoy on his voyage are: Mackenyu as Roronoa Zoro, Emily Rudd as Nami, Jacob Romero as Usopp and Taz Skylar as Sanji. 

Additional cast for the series includes Vincent Regan, Ilia Isorelýs Paulino, Morgan Davies, Aidan Scott, Langley Kirkwood, Jeff Wars, Celeste Loots, Alexander Maniatis, McKinley Belcher III, Craig Fairbrass, Steven Ward, and Chioma Umeala. 

One Piece starts streaming on Netflix on Thursday, August 31, with all eight episodes available at launch. 

For more recommendations, check out our picks for the best Netflix shows and the best anime on Netflix that you should be streaming right now.

Netflix is getting ready to release it’s much-anticipated live-action adaptation of One Piece. Based on one of the most popular manga and anime series of all-time, One Piece is an action-comedy about pirates on the hunt for a legendary treasure. It signals the latest step by American entertainment giants to pluck beloved IPs from Japanese pop culture in the hopes of gaining some of those devoted audiences.

There are certainly plenty of incredible anime series that would make for stunning live-action shows if done properly. So we've put together our list of 10 anime adaptations we would love to see brought to life on the small screen.

1. Wolf's Rain

Worked on by some of the same people who brought the world Cowboy Bebop, Wolf's Rain is a far darker and more melancholy offering. Blending dark fantasy with dystopian drama, the series follows a group of wolves looking for their promised Paradise at the end of the world. 

The focus on non-human characters with a heavily philosophical bent and near-Shakespearean levels of tragedy could translate well to live-action, especially if they maintain the aching beauty of its aesthetics and score (the latter by the legendary Yoko Kanno.) Wolf's Rain was also infamously poorly paced, and left a lot of ideas behind that a new adaptation could explore.

2. Attack on Titan

It's somewhat surprising that we haven't seen someone try to make a lavish live-action series of Attack on Titan, one of the most popular anime of the past two decades. It would certainly be an ambitious undertaking, thanks to the grotesque titans who wreak havoc onto the dregs of mankind who are desperately trying to stave off extinction. 

It director Andy Muschietti did sign on to direct a film of it in 2018, but Attack on Titan needs the space of TV to fully explore its sprawling narrative, dense mythos and deeply prickly political ideas.

3. Revolutionary Girl Utena

A cross between a baroque fairy-tale and feminist dissection of that very genre, Revolutionary Girl Utena has left behind an immense legacy for anime fans. Utena is a girl who dreams of being a gallant prince. She finds herself drawn into a world of sword dueling, all in the name of fighting for the hand of the mysterious Anthy, who is said to possess the "power to revolutionize the world." 

The anime is stunning, heavy in ideas and endlessly romantic, but it's also a sharply subversive and queer take on well-worn territory. The fight scenes alone would be perfect for live-action.

4. Mob Psycho 100

Poor Mob is a mostly normal teenage boy who happens to possess intense psychic powers that explode out of his control when he loses his grip on his emotions. He'd rather lead a simple life but his scam boss Reigen wants to use him to make money and there are legions of powerful demons eager to get their hands on him. Mob Psycho 100 is crammed full of action but it's also laugh-out-loud hilarious, which we could always use more of in anime adaptations.

5. Baccano!

Imagine if Quentin Tarantino made a gangster movie with time jumps, alchemists and maniacal hitmen. You'd probably get Baccano! Set in a fictional America where magic is common, the series takes place over several decades and covers a sprawling cast of mafioso, thieves and magicians as they fight for dominance and the elusive elixir of immortality. 

Baccano! has everything. It's so complex and detailed that you could mine it for several seasons' worth of stories. It's truly thrilling to watch a series go from funny to brutal to painful and back again with such ease.

6. Monster

Dr. Kenzo Tenma once saved a young boy who had been shot in the head, only for that boy to be the product of a Nazi experiment who has grown up with plans to destroy the world for his own amusement. Now, Tenma must kill that which he saved. 

Monster is one of the most tense and ethically fascinating anime crime series ever, so eager to explore the duality of man that it goes to places many American shows refuse to. Guillermo del Toro was once attached to make it into series for HBO. Here's hoping someone else picks up the reins.

7. Steins;Gate

Starting as a visual novel, Steins;Gate evolved into one of the most popular sci-fi anime of the 2010s. A group of friends create a machine capable of sending messages across time, but the consequences are vast and cause ripples throughout the past, present and future, putting themselves and the entire world at stake. 

With time jumps and a well-defined set of rules for how time travel works (a rarity in the genre), Steins;Gate could make for a striking series at a time when sci-fi adaptations are getting the budgets and creative attention they deserve.

8. Trigun

It's the 32nd century, in the middle of No Man’s Land, and Vash the Stampede is the most sought-after man on the planet, with a bounty on his head higher than any criminal alive or dead. But this so-called menace to society hates violence and has a dark past he's trying to uncover before it's too late. 

There's a reason you often see Trigun listed as one of the greatest anime series of all-time: a Western sci-fi drama comedy with layered mortal depths and an endlessly compelling protagonist. What more could you possible want?

9. Samurai Champloo

Director Shinichirō Watanabe decided to follow up the massive success of Cowboy Bebop with a samurai tale that proudly spat in the face of historical accuracy. Blending hip-hop with Hollywood road movies and Edo period Japan, Samurai Champloo follows the exploits of tea waitress Fuu, vagrant outlaw Mugen and ronin Jin as they try to find a mysterious samurai who smells of sunflowers. 

The blend of modern and ancient works surprisingly well, much like Cowboy Bebop's blend of jazz and sci-fi, and its themes of tolerance and the inevitability of death are always relevant.

10. Haikyu!!

Sports anime is popular for a reason and Haikyu!! is one of the best in the genre. Junior high school student Shoyo Hinata becomes obsessed with volleyball and decides to become the greatest athlete in the game, despite the fact he's below the height of the average player and nobody else in his school cares about the sport. 

Even if you don't care about volleyball, the frenetic energy and pure heart of Haikyu!! will have you invested in no time. All of its most exciting qualities could easily make the translation to live-action.

Watch One Piece when it premieres on Netflix August 31. In the meantime, check out the best Netflix shows to watch right now.

Scott Pilgrim vs the World started off as a series of graphic novels before Edgar Wright made it into a cult classic live-action movie. But now the story is returning to its roots with Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, an anime adaptation that is coming to Netflix in fall 2023.

Though the Scott Pilgrim vs the World movie was a flop at the box office, it has become beloved by many and, to some, is the best video game movie that Hollywood has made (despite not being based on an actual video game). In addition, the at-the-time young cast has become some of the biggest stars in the world, but remain closely associated with these roles and are slated to return to provide their voices for the new series.

Read on to find out everything else you need to know about Scott Pilgrim Takes Off.

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off release date

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off is now streaming exclusively on Netflix. 

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off plot

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off is not reinventing the wheel with its story, as it will follow the basic plot of the original graphic novel and live-action movie that sees the titular Scott Pilgrim try to win the heart of Ramona Flowers. However, to do so, he's going to need to defeat her seven evil exes.

The anime series was written by Scott Pilgrim's original creator Bryan Lee O'Malley and BenDavid Grabinski. And in case you were wondering, Edgar Wright is serving as an executive producer on the new series.

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off episodes

Here are the synopses for all Scott Pilgrim Takes Off episodes:

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off episode 1, "Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life"
"Slacker Scott Pilgrim leads a sweet and simple life. Until sparks fly — and ignite total chaos — when he meets the rainbow-haired girl of his dreams."

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off episode 2, "A League of Their Own"
"An eclectic crowd of familiar faces gathers under unusual circumstances. Elsewhere, the League of Evil Exes meets up at a secret lair."

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off episode 3, "Ramona Rents a Video"
"Motivated by a dream, Ramona follows a hunch and confides in a receptive Julie. At a video rental store, a tense run-in with Roxie fuels big feelings."

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off episode 4, "Whatever"
"Ramona heads to a film set to see Lucas, her movie star ex, whose role in a major Canadian motion picture attracts media attention — and the paparazzi."

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off episode 5, "Lights. Camera. Sparks?!"
"A documentary about the Toronto production reveals drama — and steamy romance — behind the scenes. Ramona takes on a daring but demanding gig."

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off episode 6, "WHODIDIT"
"Ramona arrives at Julie's doorstep with more questions and curiosity. A surprise visitor seeks forgiveness from Gideon. Knives taps into new talents."

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off episode 7, "2 Scott 2 Pilgrim"
"Unfinished business, mind-blowing revelations — and a mix of lovers, friends and exes. What could go wrong?"

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off episode 8, "The World vs Scott Pilgrim"
"Scott, Ramona and their friends must face their toughest challenge yet in a knockdown epic showdown that could change everything."

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off cast

When the anime adaptation of Scott Pilgrim vs the World was announced, it was shared that the original Scott Pilgrim cast would be back to voice their animated counterparts. That includes: 

• Michael Cera as Scott Pilgrim
• Elizabeth Winstead as Ramona Flowers
• Kieran Culkin as Wallace Wells
• Anna Kendrick as Stacey Pilgrim
• Brie Larson as Envy Adams
• Alison Pill as Kim Pine
• Aubrey Plaza as Julie Powers
• Johnny Simmons as Young Neil
• Mark Webber as Stephen Stills
• Ellen Wong as Knives Chau
• Satya Bhabha as Matthew Patel
• Chris Evans as Lucas Lee
• Brandon Routh as Todd Ingram
• Mae Whitman as Roxy Richter
• Jason Schwartzman as Gideon Graves

O'Malley said this to Netflix Tudum about the cast when the project was first announced:

"They've all gone on to do incredible things, but to me, they're family. There — to this day — is still a group email with the entire cast on it, that's been going since 2010. I was happy to be able to reach out to everyone with the news that we had finally come up with a way to continue the adventure. Seeing (and hearing) everyone come back to their roles has been a true pleasure."

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off trailer

The official trailer for Scott Pilgrim Takes Off is here, telling the familiar story of the graphic novel and cult movie, but with an all new look. Watch the trailer directly below, along with the previously released teaser trailer:

Netflix has also shared the first clip from the series, which you can watch directly below:

Check out some of the stills for the show right here as well:

How to watch Scott Pilgrim Takes Off

As a Netflix original series, you need to have a Netflix subscription in order to watch Scott Pilgrim Takes Off. In addition to that, you’ll have access to all of the best TV shows on Netflix.

If you want to watch the 2010 movie of Scott Pilgrim vs the World, that is currently streaming on Peacock.

Thirteen years ago, the movie adaptation of Scott Pilgrim vs the World hit screens everywhere. While it didn't do great at the box office, it quickly became a cult classic, featuring an exceptional cast that almost all have become major stars. Well, the band is getting back together as the entire Scott Pilgrim cast has been tapped to reprise their characters in an anime version of the graphic novel on Netflix.

And we mean everybody. Michael Cera (Arrested Development), Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Cloverfield 10), Chris Evans (Ghosted), Anna Kendrick (Pitch Perfect), Kieran Culkin (Succession), Aubrey Plaza (The White Lotus), Jason Schwartzman (Asteroid City), Brie Larson (Fast X), Brandon Routh (Superman Returns), Ellen Wong (GLOW), Allison Pill (The Newsroom), Mark Webber (Green Room), Mae Whitman (Up Here) and more are all back, set to voice the same characters they played in the Edgar Wright-directed movie.

In case you need a refresher, Scott Pilgrim vs the World follows the young bass player Scott Pilgrim, who must contend with the seven evil exes in order to win the heart of Ramona Flowers.

The movie and the new anime series are based on Bryan Lee O'Malley's original series of graphic novels. O'Malley, along with BenDavid Grabinski, created, wrote and executive produced the new series, which is actually going to be a continuation of the Scott Pilgrim story, rather than an adaptation of the original books.

"Over the years fans had asked if there would be a sequel to the film or some other kind of continuation," Edgar Wright, who is an executive producer on the series, told Netflix's Tudum. "I knew that a live action sequel was unlikely, but I would usually defer by suggesting that perhaps an anime adaptation was an interesting way to go. And then, lo and behold, one day Netflix got in touch to ask about this exact idea. But even better, our brilliant creator Bryan Lee O’Malley had an idea that was way more adventurous than just a straight adaptation of the original books."

The Scott Pilgrim cast, who have gone on to win Oscars, lead billion dollar movie franchises and earn numerous other accolades, but they've stayed close, per Wright. 

"Luckily, the Scott Pilgrim cast became a close-knit family and friendships were forged for life. There — to this day — is still a group email with the entire cast on it, that's been going since 2010. I was happy to be able to reach out to everyone with the news that we had finally come up with a way to continue the adventure. Seeing (and hearing) everyone come back to their roles has been a true pleasure."

"Everyone is putting their heart and soul into this thing and we’re having the most fun making it," O’Malley added. "It's hilarious. It's emotional. It's visually stunning. The action scenes will blow your mind. And there might be a few surprises along the way."

There is no release info or footage from the new anime series, so we'll just have to keep our eyes peeled for when Scott Pilgrim's next adventure may land on Netflix. Take a look at the cast announcement below.

Netflix's live-action One Piece adaptation has finally set sail!

Following live-action takes on prominent animes like Cowboy Bebop and Death Note, Netflix is plowing ahead with its next live-action adaptation. This time around, the streaming service has turned to the long-running series, One Piece.

Like the original show (and the manga One Piece is based on), the series follows the antics of Monkey D. Luffy, a young pirate on a quest with his crew to find the mythical "One Piece" treasure. 

Just before the series launched, One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda heaped praise on the Netflix show, where he highlighted the action, the visual effects and made great pains to praise the cast. And now it's launched, you can find out whether you enjoy the series just as much yourself. Here's everything we know about One Piece.

One Piece release date

All eight episodes of One Piece are available to stream on Netflix. The series debuted on the streaming service on Thursday, August 31. 

Will there be a One Piece season 2?

Netflix confirmed that they had renewed the live-action One Piece series on September 14, so we can look forward to more high-seas adventures in One Piece season 2!

Who's in the One Piece cast?

Obviously, you can't have One Piece without Monkey D. Luffy, and he's being played by Iñaki Godoy in the live adaptation.

We also know that Monkey will be sailing to the Grand Line alongside some of his well-known crewmates, including Roronoa Zoro (played by Mackenyu), Nami (Emily Rudd), Usopp (Jacob Romero Gibson), and Sanji (Taz Skylar).

You can see just how excited the main cast were to be working on the series in their announcement video:

They're far from the only names attached to the show, as the One Piece cast boasts an impressive amount of stars. You can find a list of additional names below:

• McKinley Belcher III as Arlong 
• Morgan Davies as Koby
• Aidan Scott as Helmeppo
• Vincent Regan as Garp
• Peter Gadiot as Shanks
• Jeff Ward as Buggy
• Craig Fairbrass as Chef Zeff
• Langley Kirkwood as Captain Morgan
• Celeste Loots as Kaya
• Alexander Maniatis as Klahadore
• Colton Osorio as Young Luffy
• Ilia Isorelýs Paulino as Alvida
• Chioma Umeala as Nojiko
• Steven Ward as Mihawk

Below you can get a closer look at our main stars in costume:

What's One Piece about?

Because there's so much material to work with, it was pretty difficult to guess exactly which parts of One Piece the Netflix adaptation would focus on. The manga series that One Piece is based on has been released weekly practically non-stop since its debut in the summer of 1997, and the anime adaptation crossed the 1000-episode mark in November 2021 after being on the air for more than 20 years.

However, we've got a clearer idea of what will feature in the series, thanks to the plot synopsis. It reads: "Based on Japan’s highest-selling manga series in history by Eiichiro Oda, ONE PIECE is a legendary high-seas adventure unlike any other. Monkey D. Luffy is a young adventurer who has longed for a life of freedom since he can remember. Luffy sets off from his small village on a perilous journey to find the legendary fabled treasure, ONE PIECE, to become King of the Pirates! But in order to find the ultimate prize, Luffy will need to assemble the crew he’s always wanted before finding a ship to sail, searching every inch of the vast blue seas, outpacing the Marines, and outwitting dangerous rivals at every turn.

Who worked on One Piece?

One Piece is being produced by Tomorrow Studios and Netflix, with Matt Owens and Steven Maeda serving as writers, executive producers and showrunners for the adaptation. 

Netflix has also confirmed that One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda is on board as an executive producer, too, along with Marty Adelstein and Becky Clements. 

Oda has provided his feedback and support for the project throughout production and shared some letters with fans to share how he feels about it. Judging by his latest one (released alongside the new trailer), Oda is pretty happy with the first season, as he wrote; "by now I just love this production team and the cast so much that I can't wait for them to get the acclaim they deserve from everyone around the world. And if by chance people have some gripes I'll be there to receive them together!"

Is there a One Piece trailer?

The full One Piece trailer dropped on July 22. In it, we see Gold Roger telling a crowd to go out in search of his legendary treasure, the One Piece. Before long, it descends into an action-packed look at what's to come, including plenty of seafaring and overblown fights and the live-action reveal of Arlong the Saw, one of Luffy's many foes.

The teaser trailer saw us introduced to Luffy as he set off on his journey to become King of the Pirates. Along the way, we meet his crewmates and get to see them in action fending off some fellow pirates. Check it out below:

You can also find a behind-the-scenes video that showed off some of the sets during production from June 2022 below:

Despite having one of the most controversial releases in this era of gaming, CD Projekt Red had far reaching ambitions for 2020’s Cyberpunk 2077. This includes recruiting top talent for their anime adaption, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, inspired by the classic pen-and-paper role playing game created by visionary Mike Pondsmith. 

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is being adapted by Star Wars: Visions writer Masahiko Otsuka and Yoshiki Usa of Promare fame, while Rafal Jaki serves as the showrunner and executive producer for the show. Other behind the scenes contributors include Akira Yamaoka (Silent Hill) to push the kinetic soundtrack, while Studio Trigger is serving as the animation studio bringing the world of Night City to life.

Netflix is continuing its streak of anime (check out some of the best anime series on Netflix) and video game adaptations, including Castelvania, Arcane: League of Legends and Tekken: Bloodline.  

Here’s everything we know about Cyberpunk: Edgerunners. 

When is the Cyberpunk: Edgerunners release date?

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners releases on Netflix Tuesday, September 13. All 10 episodes are now available

Who is in the Cyberpunk: Edgerunners cast?

Expect a who’s who of popular anime voice actors for Cyberpunk: Edgerunners. Starring as street kid David is Zach Aguilar, best known for his voice acting work on series such as One Punch Man and JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind. Higurashi: When They Cry – GOU and Shadows House lead Emi Lo voices mysterious netrunner Lucy. 

Other actors lending voice work includes Gloria Garayua, William C. Stephens, Marie Westbrook, Stephanie Wong, James Corlett and even Better Call Saul’s Giancarlo Esposito himself. 

What is the Cyberpunk: Edgerunners plot?

Though details on the plot are sparse, we know that Cyberpunk: Edgerunners takes place within the world of Cyberpunk 2077, before the events of the game take place. Here’s the official logline from Netflix: 

"It tells a standalone,10-episode story about a street kid trying to survive in a technology and body modification-obsessedcity of the future. Follow the journey of teenage protagonist David Martinez. Riddled with debt in the aftermath of a personal tragedy, David makes a decision to enter the deadly underworld of Night City in order to take control of his own destiny and spit in the face of a city that has taken everything from him. He chooses to become an edgerunner — a mercenary outlaw also known as a cyberpunk."

Expect themes like the pen-and-paper and video game adaptation from corporate greed and social inequality to consequences of human body modification. 

Those who play Cyberpunk 2077 got some teasers for the upcoming series as part of a recent update. This included outfits and missions revolving around events in Cyberpunk: Edgerunners.

Cyberpunk: Edgerunner episodes

Here are all the episode synopses for Cyberpunk: Edgerunner.

Cyberpunk: Edgerunner episode 1, "Let You Down"
"After a night of streaming illegal braindance, David wakes up to reality: a rundown apartment with a broken washing machine and an overworked mother."

Cyberpunk: Edgerunner episode 2, "Like a Boy"
"With his newly enhanced body, David heads to the Academy seeking revenge on his bully. Later, he meets a mysterious woman who wants to recruit him."

Cyberpunk: Edgerunner episode 3, "Smooth Criminal"
"Surrounded by a group of rowdy edgerunners, David makes a plea to join their team. Meanwhile, sinister forces plot to lure him back to Arasaka Academy."

Cyberpunk: Edgerunner episode 4, "Lucky You"
"Eager to learn the edgerunner ropes, David pesters Maine for another mission. Instead, Maine tasks Lucy with training him."

Cyberpunk: Edgerunner episode 5, "All Eyez on Me"
"David makes a clever suggestion when the team strategizes for their next mission. However, he soon learns that their target can't be underestimated."

Cyberpunk: Edgerunner episode 6, "Girl on Fire"
"Maine doesn't seem to be himself. But the team has bigger fish to fry: they must race against time to extract vital information from their prisoner."

Cyberpunk: Edgerunner episode 7, "Stronger"
"Now an all-star edgerunner enhanced with more cybernetics, David leads his team into a new mission. An old contact reaches out to him for a big job."

Cyberpunk: Edgerunner episode 8, "Stay"
"Faraday finds himself stuck between Arasaka and Militech. Lucy and Rebecca confront David about his change in behavior, but he refuses to listen.

Cyberpunk: Edgerunner episode 9, "Humanity"
"Lucy's captors learn about her secret mission and dark past. David and his team head out to complete Faraday's job but realize that something is off."

Cyberpunk: Edgerunner episode 10, "My Moon My Man"
"On the edge of cyberpsychosis but determined to save Lucy, David storms into Night City as Arasaka plots to deploy their ultimate lethal weapon."

Cyberpunk: Edgerunner trailer

Netflix released an official trailer from Studio Trigger featuring the lead character.

Then shared a NSFW trailer to display the ultra-violent mayhem that’s to be expected from the series.    

How to watch Cyberpunk:Edgerunners

The only way to watch Cyberpunk: Edgerunner is on Netflix when released September 13, meaning you must be a subscriber to the streaming service.  

The live-action adaptation of Cowboy Bebop premiering on Netflix in November has fans waiting with bated breath, but the streamer is helping to alleviate that wait by making the original Cowboy Bebop anime series available worldwide starting Oct. 21.

Netflix revealed the news on the Netflix Geekend account.

The original Cowboy Bebop anime was released in 1998 and depicted “the futuristic misadventures and tragedies of an easygoing bounty hunter and his partners,” per IMDb. Fans got to enjoy those adventures of Spike Spiegel, Jet Black, Faye Valentine and the corgi Ein for 26 episodes, all of which will be available on Netflix. This will make the series more widely available to long-time fans and newbies alike, as before its Oct. 21 debut Cowboy Bebop was only available to rent online, watch through a Hulu premium subscription or on Tubi. 

Netflix’s upcoming live-action adaptation of Cowboy Bebop is set to debut on the streaming service Nov. 19. John Cho stars as Spike Spiegel, with Mustafa Shakir playing Jet Black and Daniella Pineda as Faye Valentine. Additional cast members include Alex Hassell (Vicious), Elena Satine (Julia), Blessing Mokgohla (Santiago) and Mason Alexander Park (Gren).

Also: ‘Cowboy Bebop’ — What makes John Cho the perfect Spike Spiegel

Cowboy Bebop is just one of many high-profile shows that Netflix has coming out in the last few months of 2021. Some recent releases have included miniseries Midnight Mass and Maid, as well as the debut of the final seasons of both On My Block and Dear White People. Coming down the pipe will be the return of some of Netflix’s most popular shows, including Cobra Kai, The Witcher and the second volume of Money Heist: Part 5. But can Cowboy Bebop, or any of these shows, be more popular than Squid Game has been for Netflix?

If you want to watch Cowboy Bebop, the original anime or live-action adaptation, on Netflix you’re going to need a Netflix subscription. The standard streaming subscription starts at $13.99 per month.

Get ready, Sailor Scouts! Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Eternal The Movie parts one and two are officially headed to Netflix for a global — outside of Japan, of course — release of June 3rd. That's this June 3rd, for those who have been starving for Sailor Moon content. Sounds like the development teams are just as stoked on the news as fans (and who wouldn't be, given how many streaming hours this is going to wrack up on Netflix). Read their comments, check out the trailer, and dig into the full synopsis below. 

"We have long been hoping to bring Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Eternal The Movie to people around the world since the initial release in Japan in January and February, 2021," said Fumio Osano, Editor-in-Chief, Comic IP Development Team at Netflix. "Today, we are excited to bring these movies to our fans through Netflix. Amidst these challenging times, it is our greatest pleasure for viewers to feel courage and hope by watching this story about love and justice."

“Like so many others around the world, I trace my love for anime back to watching Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon when I was a toddler - pictures of me in Usagi’s Bun Head have become a family treasure. It’s no surprise that these characters and tales about love and justice still touch the hearts of so many fans around the world,” said Ema Hirayama, Manager of Content Acquisition at Netflix. "It’s a dream come true for all of us at Netflix to have Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Eternal The Movie join our expansive anime slate and to share this incredible story with fans around the world."

Here's the full synopsis for Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Eternal The Movie:
The upcoming adventures are set in April, when the cherry blossoms are in bloom and Tokyo is in a festive mood as it celebrates the largest Total Solar Eclipse of the century. As the new moon obscures the sun and gradually dims its light, Usagi and Chibi-Usa encounter Pegasus, who is in search of the chosen Maiden who can break the seal of the Golden Crystal. Meanwhile, a mysterious troupe called the Dead Moon Circus appears in town who’s nefarious plan is to scatter the nightmare incarnations known as Lemures, seize the ‘Legendary Silver Crystal,’ rule over the moon and the earth, and eventually dominate the entire universe…

Netflix’s latest anime series, Yasuke, opens with on a battlefield full of mages, monsters, mechas, and master swordsmen set in an alternate Japan during the feudal era brought to fantastical life with striking animation by Japanese animation studio, MAPPA. Created, and directed, by LeSean Thomas, this six-episode anime series written by Nick Jonas Jr. fills-in the historical blanks with a heavily speculative - and far favorable - tale of the fate of the first African warrior-turned-samurai after witnessing the daimyō (warlord) he served commits seppuku. 

20 years later, a deeply tormented Yasuke (LaKeith Stanfield) just wants to live peacefully in obscurity. He works as a boatman in a small village and drinks himself into a stupor in the hopes of outrunning his demons. He’s withdrawn and standoffish with all but the villages’ children. 

While the story revolves around Yasuke, this series is about the journey this Ronin finds himself on after agreeing to ferry a mother (Gwendoline Yeo) and her daughter Saki (Maya Tanida) to a special doctor who can help her understand the magic she can barely control and is sapping her strength. But when the duo’s past catches up to them along the way, Yasuke finds himself thrust into the midst of battle that tests his will and triggers painful memories. Tragedy strikes, with chaos swiftly following. When the dust settles, Yasuke finds himself shepherding a magically unstable child through dangerous territory as secrets and new enemies dog their heels. And as their enemies get bolder expect the blood to flow, the banter to entertain, and the magical mayhem to keep things interesting.

Despite the thirty-minute episodes, Yasuke blends in the facts of how an enslaved African owned by Jesuits ends up in the service of daimyō Oda Nobunaga and ultimately trained to be a samurai in 16th century Japan into the series’ worldbuilding with a telling simplicity. With a slow and steady pace perfectly maintained by the score created by artist Flying Lotus, Yasuke’s a subtle, yet attention-grabbing, journeyman's tale. Just don't expect the villain's origins or the magic system in this world to ever be properly explained before major displays of power break out.

The overall historical setup is great but there's a few glaring missteps in the story development. Though it almost feels deliberately withheld. Given the major trauma in Yasuke's past, there should be big emotional highs and devastating lows as his history unfolds. The flashbacks do a good job of hitting the highlights but the plot focus is too narrow.  

Like a lot of anime, Yasuke is a polished mix of “show and tell.” There are no wasted moments. But there a few missing one. the series has a villain whose role in Yaskue's past is poorly explained. As a result, the character development around key figures is too uneven to ensure present day reveals land with the proper amount of emotional heft. It also exposes a major issue. Stanfield’s vocal portrayal struggles to consistently evoke the right emotion and connect to his scene partners. Yaskue really needed to better connect the past to the present narratively. Without it, character and story arcs essential to investing in that relationship fall short of the mark emotionally. 

Visually every scene is spot on, but Stanfield has a lack of chemistry with key characters (at key moments, like finding out he’s been double-crossed) and his often too monosyllabic delivery bleeds away needed tension and occasionally rings false. The majority of Yasuke’s character development unfolds via flashbacks; it's imperative every beat “hit” to properly understand his mental state in the present. So, while the story building is rock solid, it sometimes feels like the mood would be better maintained with the sound muted. If it weren’t for the fact that the remainder of the voice casts’ performances are in lock-step with the animation, Yasuke would be utterly missing the necessary intensity altogether. 

Writer Nick Jonas Jr. deftly uses the protector and child trope to its best advantage as Yasuke and Saki grow closer, and trust becomes ever more vital to their survival. This is where the series hits is stride and some of the dialogue missteps even out. The narrative constantly dips in-and-out of the heavy moments with a touch of camp and large helpings of the weird and supernatural. 

Thankfully, the chemistry between the pair continues to improve as the story progresses; largely due to Tanida’s effervescent and occasionally unholy portrayal of Saki. As Yasuke’s forced to return to his fighting ways, the action sequences and fight animation shift the intensity and carry the day. It’s obvious this is where Stanfield truly settles into the role and the character shines. Well, that and his never-ending struggle to contain one tiny girl who can knock him flat with her mind. The growing affection between Yasuke and Saki keeps this narrative on the right side of the "magical negro" trope...barely. The storyline making a point of having each rely on and teach the other saves it from wandering too close to making Yasuke matter only in relation to Saki's journey. That, coupled with the ever-evolving danger surrounding this powerful little girl keeps the narrative developing into a layered story fed by a judicious use of cliffhangers and chaotic energy. 

Although the dense episodes offer more than a few dark moments, the overall narrative never loses its buoyancy. This is due, in large part, to a rag-tag ensemble of bounty hunters comprised of a werewolf woman (Julie Marcus), a scepter wielding lady assassin (Dia Frampton), a shaman (William Christopher Stephens) with a fondness for knives and summoning shadow fighters and a sentient mecha (Darren Criss) highly likely to cause as many problems as it solves. Their contributions to keeping the narrative alive can’t be overstated. As the story climbs towards its climax, their timely return rounds out the emotional beats. 

It’s an absolute plus that director LeSean Thomas chooses to allow the themes and touchy cultural issues to play out casually within the story order. The inference that as a foreigner, and a Black man, Yasuke treads carefully to avoid being returned to slavery lingers subtly in the background. It's a reoccurring refrain that somehow still feels underdeveloped by the end. But, overall, avoiding heavy-handed signaling and metaphors makes the stark comment on the brutality and complexity of life and politics in feudal Japan all the more apparent through compelling visuals. Though, the homophobic inferences in an early story arc is a decidedly sour — and unnecessary — note. But it becomes clear that this story is designed to be a slow burn; always throwing out threads that can be picked up in the future. If the series has one. 

The script constantly leaves space for levity, absurdity, and well placed moral lessons without losing the sense it's driving both Yasuke and Saki towards big face-offs worth all the angst and growing pains confronting one's destiny requires. Yasuke doesn’t always hit the mark when it comes to character development or tone; but with its straightforward plot, bloody fights and magical battles it definitely entertain. From the beginning of the credits to the screen fades to black prepare for a sweeping landscape full of eye-catching color, enticing details and a pair learning how not to be alone together. 

No one knows what ultimately became of the real-life Yasuke but this series offers an after credits tease that offers up the possibilities for future adventures. Here’s hoping Netflix decides the world could do with more Yasuke because there will be questions it's be nice to see fleshed out in this vividly crafted world.

All six episodes of Yasuke will be available to stream April 29 on Netflix.

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Set after the Uprising War, Pacific Rim: The Black dives directly into the action in the first (of seven) episode as Kaiju inundate the continent of Australia forcing humans to abandon the country and the Pan-Pacific Defense Corps to initiate Operation Blackout (destroying satellites, evacuating Jaegers, and burying bases). While it's unclear exactly how long after Uprising, the pick-up feels seamless.

Pacific Rim: The Black follows Hayley (Gideon Adlon) and Taylor (Calum Worthy) children of Jaeger pilots who were forced to leave them behind in order to go in search of evacuation assistance in their Jaeger. Five years passed with no word and no rescue. Now teenagers, Hayley and Taylor live in a small hidden community (with the other children their parents rescued). Due to its isolated location, the community's been relatively safe from kaiju attacks thus far.

Taylor refuses to believe his parents aren't coming back. He struggles to keep his sister Hayley's given up hope and thinks they'd be better served leaving their haven behind. A moment of recklessness leads to the loss of their sanctuary. With no other choice, Hayley and Taylor set off in search of their parents in a decommissioned training Jaeger found abandoned underground in what was once a PPDC facility base. What starts as a quest to find their parents swiftly becomes a journey with a steep learning curve.

The next six episodes build out the Pacific Rim Universe by putting its overly confident (and woefully naïve) main characters in almost immediate peril. The pair must go into a city — on foot — in search of power cells for their Jaeger. After a series of anxiety inducing events, the siblings suddenly find their scavenger hunts turned into a rescue mission.  It's a smart move that forces the pair to learn on the fly and sets in motion events that pave the way for a Mad Max meets The Golden Child inspired plot rife with uneasy alliances, violence, desert chases, betrayal, and mecha v kaiju fight sequences absolutely worth the emotional rollercoaster ride watching such young (and inexplicably reckless) protagonists try not to get themselves killed takes you on.

Since Legendary Television produced Pacific Rim: The Black, do expect its style and aesthetic to call back to the feature films. It's best to buckle up because there are high-level references to both pilots and Jaegers from both feature films. In fact, a major part of Taylor's character development revolves around solo drifting and the concept of "ghost drifting." Definitely establishing the films as canon, The Black often introduces vital information (and the series' comic relief) and story elements via Lola (Erica Lindbeck), the training Jaeger's AI, the flashback montage sequences. The drift turns into a character all its own as these tweens learn to handle the neural link necessary to pilot a Jaeger. By the end of episode seven, a seamless timeline and compelling storyline emerge. 

The only notable downside — other than wondering where all Australia’s non-white population that didn’t manage to evacuate are — is how long it takes the siblings to stop going off halfcocked. Otherwise, The Black's entire narrative flows from a skillful blend of expected dystopian tropes (like warring factions of humans) and some of the most fascinating and twisted unresolved threads of that conspiracy to create kaiju-mech hybrids that went so very awry in Uprising. I wouldn't be surprised if more than a few theories living in the fandom found their way on-screen.

Pacific Rim: The Black offers a colorful dystopian world full of dynamic action sequences, conflicted characters, and far too many unanswered questions for anyone's survival to be guaranteed. Season one sets an intriguing stage for big things to come.  Mind those cliffhangers, they're a doozy.

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The DOTA: Dragon’s Blood official trailer has been released by Netflix.

DOTA: Dragon’s Blood is a co-production between Valve and Netflix. It follows a young Dragon Knight named Davion (voiced by Yuri Lowenthal). The anime also features voice acting from Josh Keaton (Voltron: Legendary Defender), Lara Pulver (Sherlock), Troy Baker (The Last of Us 1&2), and Tony Todd (Platoon).

The trailer for their upcoming epic video game adaptation from Seoul-based animation studio Studio Mir promises plenty of conflict. Between sweeping shots of crowds rallying for war, powerful dragons, unknown powers and powerful magic, the stage is set for some epic confrontations. 

DOTA: Dragon’s Blood’s summarised as a story following “a conflicted yet courageous Dragon Knight must use the power of the dragon within to stop a deadly demon in this epic fantasy based on the online game.” 

DOTA: Dragon’s Blood will release on Netflix worldwide on March 25, 2021. 

DOTA: Dragon’s Blood is based on the hugely popular video game series of the same name from Valve. The current title, DOTA 2 (Defense of the Ancients), is a hugely successful MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) game that pits two teams of five players against one another in strategic team battles. In a match, each player selects one of the many heroes, each with their own unique abilities, and brings them to the fray.

Netflix also unveiled a selection of character art posters on Twitter at the same time the trailer dropped:

DOTA: Dragon’s Blood is far from the only anime Netflix currently have in production. The streaming service recently revealed they’re working on a Terminator anime with The Batman co-writer Mattson Tomlin. They also dropped the official trailer for their upcoming animated series Pacific Rim: The Black just a few days ahead of its March 4 release date. 

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Idris and Sabrina Elba's production companies are teaming up with Crunchyroll for an animated fantasy series with the working title Dantai. This is the first producing collaboration for Idris and his wife, Sabrina, and they’ve come out the gate swinging. The news of the production team up came just as Crunchyroll reported surpassing four million subscribers. The WarnerMedia anime hub is currently being sold to Sony’s Funimation in a $1.2 billion deal.

As one of anime fans go to streaming option, Crunchyroll had just passed three million subscribers last summer. It added two higher-level subscription tiers beyond the $8-a-month “Fan” basic tier during that time. The new tier additions included $10 “Mega Fan” and $15 ‘Ultimate Fan” plans. With the recent growth of over one million subscribers, it’s safe to say the addition of the new tiers was a huge success. Crunchyroll was founded in 2006 and has accumulated a library of more than 1,000 titles and 30,000 episodes available in more than 200 countries and territories. 

Idris and Sabrina Elba’s Dantai should make a great addition to the Crunchyroll streaming platform. It’s described as a dark fantasy and an Afro-futuristic science fiction series. Green Door Pictures and Pink Towel Pictures will produce the series, with both Elbas working as executive producers. 

The Elbas had this to say about their upcoming project, 

“We’re really excited to be announcing this deal on our first anime. We’re both fans of the genre and see a huge opportunity to create something unique for a powerhouse like Crunchyroll. The story of Dantai is our first collaboration as producers together and is one that is close to our hearts.”

According to the Dantai official logline, the series will be set in a city where the rise of biotechnology has created an “ever-widening gap between the haves and have-nots,” according to the official logline. “Two rising stars from either side of this divide are pitted against each other in a story that will ultimately explore equality and kinship within a corrupt society.

Pacific Rim: The Black is the latest anime series coming from Netflix, and the streaming service has just announced when we can finally watch it.

Earlier today, Netflix released a teaser trailer for this latest animated series. It gave us a new look at our twin heroes suiting up to fight giant kaiju in their equally destructive Jaeger mech. They're looking to take the fight back to the giant monsters that completely overran Australia as they search for their missing parents.

More importantly, it also revealed that we’ll finally get to see Pacific Rim: The Black on Thursday, March 4. Flashes of destruction and fraught kaiju encounters aside, we get basically no other info about the show besides this release date, so it’s a good thing it's not far away.

The few plot details we do have come from a plot summary Netflix distributed when the show was first announced late last year. This read:

There was a time when Kaiju rose from the Pacific Rim only to encounter gigantic robots, Jaegers, built to fight them back. That time has passed. Now, Australia has been overrun by Kaiju, forcing the evacuation of an entire continent. Left behind, teenage siblings Taylor and Hayley embark on a desperate search for their missing parents, teaching themselves to pilot a battered, long-abandoned Jaeger to help in their quest and give them even the slightest hope of surviving.

Netflix has already stated that Pacific Rim: The Black will run for at least two seasons, though we don’t know how long each season will be just yet. 

The show is a co-production between Legendary Pictures and anime studio Polygon Pictures, known for their work on the Godzilla anime which already aired on Netflix. 

Elsewhere, Netflix continues to expand its animated roster. Last week, the streamer announced it was collaborating with Legendary Pictures on anime adaptations of both Kong: Skull Island and Tomb Raider. 

Netflix has announced Tomb Raider and Skull Island animes will be joining their growing roster of animated adaptations.

In a press release, Netflix revealed they’re working with Legendary Television on two more animated shows. The first will be based on Square Enix’s Tomb Raider franchise, and the second expands on Legendary Pictures’ King Kong reboot, Kong: Skull Island.

The Tomb Raider anime is based on game developer Crystal Dynamics and Eidos-Montreal’s recent trilogy of games. The Tomb Raider anime series will pick up after the events of the final game, Shadow of the Tomb Raider. The video game franchise has sold over 81 million copies worldwide in the 25 years since its inception.

This isn’t the first time we’ve seen Lara Croft appear outside of video games, but it will be the first time the legendary tomb raider has ever appeared in an anime. This new series will be an all-new globetrotting adventure for Lara, one not seen in either the movie or video game Tomb Raider franchises. 

Tasha Huo (Witcher: Blood Origin, Red Sonja) is writing the series and will executive produce alongside dj2 Entertainment Founder and CEO Dmitri M. Johnson (Sonic the Hedgehog), Stephan Bugaj and Howard Bliss and Jacob Robinson, under his company Tractor Pants.

It joins the ranks of Netflix's expanding roster of animated series based on video games. There's already a Resident Evil series in production, and we're currently awaiting the fourth season of Netflix's Castlevania anime, too!

Elsewhere, the Tomb Raider live-action sequel has a new writer-director, in the form of Misha Green of Lovecraft Country fame.

The Skull Island anime series is also being labelled ‘a new chapter in Legendary’s MonsterVerse franchise.’ It will apparently follow “shipwrecked characters desperate to escape the most dangerous place on Earth—a mysterious island home to prehistoric monsters, including the greatest titan of them all, Kong.”

The Skull Island anime will be written by Brian Duffield (Underwater, The Babysitter) and executive produced by Duffield and Jacob Robinson, again under his company Tractor Pants.

The MonsterVerse is about to expand with the latest entry, Godzilla Vs. Kong, coming very soon. Sadly, the release date was just pushed back by a week, so we’ll have to wait just a little bit longer to see the two titular titans face off.

No release dates or further information for the Tomb Raider and Skull Island anime series have been given just yet.

This isn’t the first time Netflix and Legendary Television have collaborated. They are also currently in production on the previously announced anime series Pacific Rim: The Black.

When picking up a new anime like My Hero Academia, a problem of sorts often emerges. "What format do I watch this in? Do I go subbed like everyone else, or should I watch this dubbed and skip subtitles?" Typically, the default recommendation is to go with the subbed version over the dub, but it's often a lot more nuanced than that.

Let's dive into the topic.

What's a sub and what's a dub?

Setting aside that all animated features are technically "dubbed", when it comes to movies and tv shows, these terms mean something quite specific. As anime is recorded in Japanese for a Japanese speaking audience, subbed and dubbed are terms that refer to the method of translation. A subbed anime is one that is subtitled. It would retain the original audio of the Japanese broadcast, albeit with subtitles at the bottom. Dubbed anime completely replaces the Japanese voiceover with a new language, in this case, English.

Wait — so how is this a problem?

When it comes to subs and dubs, there are many issues that force people into one camp or the other. A potential one that comes up often is scheduling. Dubs may be behind their subbed counterparts by months to years, forcing fans to choose the subbed version by necessity if they want to participate in contemporary discussions. To give an example, the popular anime, One Piece is so far behind in the dub as compared to the sub that there is a gap of 400 episodes between them.

Barring that, precious dubbed anime sometimes took liberties with the source material, changing names, cutting out storylines, and creating something generally unrecognizable.

Creators and critics don't neatly fall into one camp or the other on the topic. "When you watch the subtitled version you are probably missing just as many things. There is a layer and a nuance you're not going to get. Film crosses so many borders these days. Of course it is going to be distorted," said Hayao Miyazaki.

He's not wrong. Just like a joke about idiot presidents is updated to remain relevant to the listening audience, sometimes it's important to get the message of the line being spoken across rather than the exact line. How far this goes is up to the judgment of the individual translator. On the other hand, some critics have stronger opinions on the topic than Miyazaki.

"When it comes to animation, I accept at least some degree of conversation on the subject. After all, in that case you're replacing the work of one group of craftsmen with another comparable group. But if it's live action and you have a choice between subtitled or dubbed and you take dubbed, you deserve to be stripped naked, smeared in Nutella and left tied to a stake at the base of a hill of fire ants," The Hollywood Reporter's Daniel Fienberg told IndieWire .

How does this work out for My Hero Academia?

Well, it's 2020 and most relevant complaints with regards to dubbing have been resolved. Mainstream anime like My Hero Academia are no longer subject to having their plot distorted by overzealous translators. For both subbed and dubbed users, you'll be getting the same plot, story, and general mood no matter which format you pick. My Hero Academia's dub is generally well done and regarded as one of the best among seasonal anime.

Scheduling issues are also resolved with what is called a simuldub. This means that you'll get the dubbed version at the same time as the subbed release, reducing the previously onerous delay between subbed versions and dubbed versions.

What this ultimately means is that when it comes to picking between My Hero Academia's dub or subbed version, it's a matter of preference. With the series now legally freely available in both formats, it's now possible to watch one or both without feeling like you're missing out.

How to watch My Hero Academia if you've cut the cord