The 14 Best Shoujo Manga You’ll Fall in Love With
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Since shoujo is such a feminine genre, some people avoid reading anything from it. Don’t let the romance put you off; shoujo manga has some amazing storylines that will draw you right in. We created this list to help you decide which shoujo manga to start with if you’re new to the genre. Now, let’s move past small talk and discuss what brought you here.
Here’s the 14 best shoujo manga ever!
14. Skip Beat! (Yoshiki Nakamura, 2002 – Present)
The sweetest revenge in a story! A sixteen-year-old girl, Kyoko Mogami, gushes over her childhood friend, Shotaro Fuwa. As a rising pop sensation, Kyoko travels with Fuwa to do whatever he tells her to do.
She cooks, cleans, and everything else for him. Yet, she wonders why he does not notice her. Then, Kyoko overhears Shotaro telling his manager that he keeps her around so she can be his maid.
As Kyoko is now devastated and full of rage, she refuses to cry. Instead, she becomes a pop star with her new look and attitude, bringing sweet revenge to Shotaro’s ego. She enters a new world ready to demand respect as she faces new challenges.
Why It Made the List:
Skip Beat is a deceptive book, making you think it’s a regular love story. However, Kyoko’s personality becomes dark and vengeful, making you love her even more.
You can find the first volume of this series on Amazon here: Skip Beat! Vol. 1
13. Strobe Edge (Io Sakisaka, 2007 – 2010)
The story revolves around Ninako, a high school girl with a crush on Ren, who grows closer to her. There is only one problem: Ren is in another relationship with Mayuka. Spending time with Ninako, Ren develops feelings for her. However, he stays committed to Mayuka despite his feelings for Ninako.
Why It Made the List:
Ninako is discovering what “love” really means and the range of emotions it brings along. The book shows her complicated journey through young love and all the many ups and downs it brings. As the story follows the highs and lows of love, it’s perfect for new shoujo readers.
Check out the volume 1 on Amazon: Strobe Edge, Vol. 1
12. Akatsuki no Yona (Yona of the Dawn) – (Mizuho Kusanagi, 2009 – Present)
She lives a lavish lifestyle as the princess of Kouka, but she has a deep love for her cousin Su-won. Yona’s life is perfect until one day. She witnesses Su-won killing her father, the king.
Hak, Yona’s bodyguard, helps her escape, and together they live in exile. Having lost her kingdom, she sets out to find the four dragons to help her restore her kingdom and save the people.
Why It Made the List:
Akatsuki no Yona is a fantasy shoujo manga that puts you in the character’s shoes. The story draws you in to witness each character’s development. For example, Yona begins as a delicate young lady unaware of the danger and grows into an influential leader.
Volume 1 can be found here on Amazon: Yona of the Dawn, Vol. 1
11. Dengeki Daisy (Kyousuke Motomi, 2007 – 2013)
In the wake of her brother’s death, Teru Kurebayashi discovers a cellphone with only one contact. Daisy (male character) is the contact who Teru’s brother advises her to call when she needs someone to talk to. It sounds like a good idea since Teru is all alone now.
She talks to him almost every day and slowly grows feelings even though she has never met him in person. Even so, Daisy’s kind words and encouragement bring Teru’s spirits up during rough patches, which often helps when she becomes Tasuku Kurosaki’s servant (the school janitor).
Tasuku is often disrespectful and rude to her but eventually warms up to her. Teru doesn’t realize that Tasuku is her special friend Daisy. Of course, it is not as simple as it seems, and Tasuku plays the role very well.
Why It Made the List:
The key to Dengeki Daisy’s appeal is the humor and chemistry between the two characters. This story is different from most “high-school love stories” because it is a slow romance with a unique plot.
Beginning primarily with comedy, it switches to total drama with small comic elements. Despite the romance being more open, the characters’ overall tone gets heavier. Compared to the typical shoujo stories, Dengeki Daisy is a breath of fresh air.
You can find volume 1 of the series here on Amazon: Dengeki Daisy, Vol. 1
10. Lovely Complex (Aya Nakahara, 2001 – 2006)
Also known as Love Com, the story offers comedy relief and shows how love attracts opposites. But, despite their flaws, the light-hearted romance makes the characters charming and lovable.
Risa Koizumi is pretty tall for a 17-year-old girl in high school. On the other hand, Atsushi Ōtani is seen as the underdog due to his small size. However, the struggle of high school draws the two close, and they develop feelings for each other. As they began their relationship, their classmates saw it as a comedy. It’s an odd relationship between the tallest girl and the shortest boy.
Why It Made the List:
The romance starts slowly by allowing the characters to be friends first. The two share the same interests, enjoy each other’s company, and so they rely on each other during tough times. Lovely Complex is a romantic comedy that reverses a classic trope into something fresh.
Check out the first volume on Amazon here: Love Com, Vol. 1
9. Nana (Ai Yazawa, 2000 – 2009)
Nana is an exciting story that mixes romance and music while exploring the views on the love of two girls with the same name. Nana Komatsu is a naive high school student who desperately wants to attract her love. She thrives on him loving her, but he denies it. Nevertheless, Komatsu keeps her spirit up, wanting to experience true love.
On the other hand, Nana Osaki is an expiring rock artist who is aggressive and proud. So, when she had to choose between her career and her boyfriend, she decided to leave him.
On their 20th birthday, both girls board the same train and find themselves sitting next to each other while traveling through the city to eventually live in the same apartment.
Why It Made the List:
The two characters form a deep and unique bond during their journey together. The reader follows through with their saga of love, music, friendship, and heartbreak.
The characters have two different personalities and lives but a lot in common. Their adventures bring them together and grow close together to develop a deep bond.
You can purchase the first volume on Amazon here: Nana, Volume 1
8. ReLIFE (Sō Yayoi, 2013 – 2018)
In a twist of fate, Arata Kaizaki meets Ryō Yoake after quitting his first job. Ryō is a member of the ReLife Research Institute and offers Arata a magic pill to help him change his life.
For one year, Arata must attend high school as a transfer student after becoming a test dummy for an experiment. While he believes that this is his chance not to repeat past mistakes, he realizes it will not be easy. In addition to being out of shape and failing his classes, Ryō must also keep an eye on him all the time. Yet, despite everything, Arata connects to some of his classmates who show him the one thing he needs to be happy in his life.
Why It Made the List:
A significant strength of ReLIFE is its characters and the way they are portrayed. As a result, the series focuses primarily on developing the characters’ relationships rather than on the storyline.
The series is so special because of how it presents each character and their progress. In addition, the series tackles several significant themes, both for teens and adults.
Volume 1 can be found on Amazon, but only the Japanese version is currently available here: ReLIFE (アース・スター コミックス)
7. Vampire Knight (Matsuri Hino, 2004 – 2013)
During a dark winter night, a rogue vampire attacks Yuki, and Kaname Kuran, a Pureblood vampire, comes to save her. Yuki’s childhood crush, Kaname, is a vampire leader at the elite boarding school Cross Academy.
She is a student at the Academy and the adopted child of the headmaster, Kaien Cross. On top of this, Yuki is the guardian of the vampire race and tries to protect her love from being discovered by anyone.
Her childhood friend, Zero Kiryu, distrusts and hates the vampire race. He wants to destroy them, believing they should never live among the human race.
However, Zero holds a dark secret about himself that may keep this from ever happening.
Why It Made the List:
Sometimes compared to Twilight, it tells the tale of a forbidden romance. Twilight comes across as soft by comparison to its gothic darkness. There is even more danger in the love triangle than in Twilight! The willingness of the Vampire Knight to descend into gothic horror and the disturbing aspects of vampire love make it unique.
You can find the first volume on Amazon: Vampire Knight, Vol. 1
6. Your Lie in April (Naoshi Arakawa, 2011 – 2015)
Kōsei Arima, a piano prodigy, has a breakdown during a recital when his mother dies unexpectedly. Due to his mental state, he can no longer hear the sound of a piano, although all other sounds are perfectly audible.
Two years after abandoning his piano and living in a monotonous world, Kaori Miyazono enters his life. She is a violinist with an unorthodox style who turns Kosei’s world upside down. Through her love of music, Kaori attempts to bring Kosei back to life.
Why It Made the List:
The story conveys the characters’ connection through the art of music. Every scene and conversation hides behind the music. Behind it all, your griefs and sorrows buried within rise to the surface. As you read, you will feel the emotions of sadness and happiness as the characters heal through music.
You can purchase the first volume of on Amazon here: Your Lie in April 1
5. Wolf Girl and Black Prince (Ayuko Hatta, 2011 – 2016)
Erika Shinohara is in high school and wants to be one of the popular girls. To fit in, she tells lies about having a boyfriend so that the girls will allow her to join their group.
She even brings a picture of a guy telling her friends it’s her boyfriend, but she doesn’t know who it is. He is Kyoya Sata, who is the most popular guy in school. So she asks him to pretend to be her boyfriend, and he agrees on one condition. As his pet, she had to play the role of his wolf girl.
It turns out that Kyoya is not a very great guy, but Erika gets to know him and eventually softens him a bit. After a while, Erika stops playing Wolf Girl, and Kyoya begins treating her like a real girlfriend. Throughout high school, they struggle to deal with many challenges, all of which bring them closer together in the end.
Why It Made the List:
Many of us express a desire for acceptance, and we may even go to extremes in pursuit of it. The premise isn’t necessarily original, but for the shoujo series, it is. In the story, we learn not to bite off more than we can chew, as it can get you into some trouble.
Check out volume 1 here on Amazon: Wolf girl and black prince t.1
4. Ghost Hunt (Shiho Inada (Original Story by Fuyumi Ono), 1998 – 2010)
As Mai Taniyama and her friends told ghost stories, they decided to visit an abandoned building on their campus. It is haunted by a mysterious figure. Kazuya Shibuya, a manager who works for the Shibuya Psychic Research Company, is asked to investigate the legend surrounding the building.
Mai interferes with Kazuya’s investigation but ends up becoming a part of the team. As a ghost hunter, Mai learns about the paranormal and uses her psychic abilities.
Why It Made the List:
It’s a fun and exciting story that gives you a realistic view of how ghost hunting works. Ghost Hunt is full of twists to keep you wondering and guessing what’s going to happen next. Each chapter is full of mystery, making your heart skip a beat while it unravels.
Check out the first volume on Amazon: Ghost Hunt, Vol. 1
3. Fruits Basket (Natsuki Takaya, 1998 – 2006)
We are continuing with the ghostly world with a spiritual twist.
Tohru Honda’s mother dies in a terrible car accident, leaving her to live with her grandfather. The home situation with her grandfather proves to be hectic and lonely, and Tohru refuses to move in with her family. After learning how to support herself, she lives in a tent it is destroyed.
As Tohru lives with the Soma family, she learns a secret about them. It turns out they are cursed and can turn into the Chinese zodiac animals. Tohru initially thinks the curse isn’t so bad, but she soon realizes it’s deeper and darker than she thought.
Why It Made the List:
At first glance, Fruits Basket is your typical shoujo manga. However, you can see each character grow and interact with one another as the story advances. There is a lot of slapstick humor throughout, and a dash of romance is thrown in for good measure.
Fruits Basket is a fun and memorable read. Considering it is regarded as one of the most iconic manga of the 20th century and very dear to many shoujo fans, it is no surprise that it holds such a special place in many fans’ hearts.
You can find the first volume of the collector’s edition here on Amazon: Fruits Basket Collector’s Edition, Vol. 1
There is also a 10 volume set available here: Fruits Basket Complete Set Volumes 1-10 Tokyopop Manga
A set with volumes 1 – 15 of this manga can also be purchased here: Fruits Basket Set (Volumes 1-15)
2. Orange (Ichigo Takano, 2012 – 2017)
Imagine that your future self 10 years from now sends you letters of warning to help you avoid your biggest regret! Unfortunately, Naho Takamiya decides not to pay attention to them initially since she has a crush on the new transfer student, Kakeru Naruse.
Naho is told not to invite Kakeru on an outing, but she does it anyway, causing him to miss two weeks of school. Naho decides to listen to the letters before she makes any more mistakes that could harm Kakeru. Having realized that her decisions affect Kakeru significantly, she strives to make the right ones in his best interest.
Why It Made the List:
An adorable, well-intentioned shoujo manga, Orange is sweet, tender, and warmhearted. However, it also addresses suicide and how the family of a deceased loved one copes years after the event.
There is a unique plot, and every character in the book is well-developed, making you love them unconditionally. A bittersweet ending makes Orange the perfect manga for those tired of the usual romance of shojo manga.
Check out volume 1 of the complete collection on Amazon: Orange: The Complete Collection 1
1. Hana Yori Dango (Yoko Kamino, 1992 – 2008)
This manga is also known as “Boys Over Flowers.” Makino Tsukushi, an Eitoku Gakuen student, comes from a low-income family but attends an educational establishment intended for upper-class families. Makino feels like an outsider at the school and wants to make it through her last two years.
She goes unnoticed until she stands up for her friend when the F4 clique mess with her. The group consists of the four most popular boys in school and sends a red card to Makino declaring war.
Makino discovers that the situation has more to do with her than meets the eye. However, when she refuses to be beaten by the F4 and falls in love with one of them.
Why It Made the List:
Hana Yori Dango (also known as Boys Over Flowers) provides an excellent example of everything that looks perfect doesn’t mean it is. Makino is a strong character who refuses to be walked over by anyone, and having a robust female character is rewarding to see in most shoujo mangas. A total pleasure, this story also has some heartfelt moments that may make you cry.
Check out the first volume on Amazon here : Boys Over Flowers (Hana Yori Dango), Vol. 1
Is there any shoujo manga we missed on our list? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below. We would love to hear what you think about our best shoujo manga list!
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We Don’t Need Hollywood Saint Seiya
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Hollywood’s Saint Seiya film could be the revival the franchise has been searching for, but it could also be its downfall if not handled carefully.
Masami Kurumada’s Saint Seiya has maintained its position as an anime classic for over 30 years. Its ability to evolve undoubtedly contributes to its longevity, as the franchise has morphed to fit trends by producing fresh spinoffs and shiny CG adaptations. It also continues to push boundaries with its cast of magical boys and feminine men, giving it a unique and modern edge when it comes to shonen titles.
A recent casting announcement for Hollywood’s upcoming live-action film Knights of the Zodiac has reignited conversation about the series and live-action adaptations in general. Everyone seems nervous about the adaptation for a slew of valid reasons (see: Dragonball Evolution and Netflix’s Death Note). However, while some fans already consider the film a failure, others are excited to see such a beloved series brought to life, or at least hopeful that it may be a solid adaptation.
One thing that has fans shaking their heads is the severe lack of Japanese actors signed onto the film, but they shouldn’t write the movie off too soon for this. Saint Seiya has always addressed issues of race, especially through its Greek and mixed-raced characters, so this could actually be a great chance for the filmmakers to create depth and add commentary. Of course, casting should be relatively faithful in order to avoid whitewashing, but the context surrounding this series in particular does allow for some leeway. Moreover, a clear glimmer of hope for the film likes in Tomasz Baginski at the helm, whose work on The Witcher is impressive. Fans can therefore expect potentially great things with him as the director of Knights of the Zodiac.
It’s also unrealistic to expect an exact one-to-one remake of the anime, as the people working on the film are artists just as much as Kurumada. It may be a challenge to recreate the more over-the-top elements that make Saint Seiya a ‘magical boy’ anime, but the series has always been about more than just fights and epic powers. With great writing and characters, Knights of the Zodiac could be a fine addition to the franchise — and since revision is a critical part of the creative process, it could be said that fans should be open-minded when it comes to adaptations in more general terms.
But why is Hollywood so obsessed with snatching up foreign franchises to begin with? Critics have begun questioning why it seems impossible for the industry to create anything original these days. Still, it goes without saying that Hollywood is the global industry standard for film and television, and “making it” in Hollywood is the epitome of success. If Knights of the Zodiac succeeds, both Hollywood and the Saint Seiya franchise will benefit greatly, as Hollywood will have captured a massive dedicated fanbase, with the shonen title reaffirming and emphasizing its legitimacy as a major pop culture force.
At the end of the day, it’s impossible to judge the film before it’s released. While Hollywood may not have the best track record when it comes to live-action anime films, we can still hope that the talented creators behind Knights of the Zodiac will do the series justice and provide fans with a satisfying adaptation.
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I’m the Villainess, So I’m Taming the Final Boss Review
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I’m the Villainess, So I’m Taming the Final Boss may lag in some spots, but it’s inversion of otome tropes are largely successful.
In some romance anime, manga and otome games, the protagonist will have a rival who is there to progress the hero’s story while they are restored to the role of villain. This can lead to said villain feeling more one-dimensional or expendable should a new obstacle, conflict or plot point come into play. This formula is tried and true, seeing the hero triumph at the end of the day while also securing their love interest; however, something like this can get boring after so many iterations of it in varying media, which is why I’m the Villainess, So I’m Taming the Final Boss is a breath of fresh air while still feeling familiar to fans of this sort of romance.
Written by Sarasa Nagase and art by Mai Murasaki, I’m the Villainess, So I’m Taming the Final Boss is about Aileen Lauren d’Autriche, the villainess for an otome romance game; however, this is not the usual Aileen. A woman from the real world, who happens to be a fan of the game, died and was reincarnated as Aileen, so she knows, for the most part, what’s in store for her character, and it’s not good. Using what she can remember from the past, as well as her own wits, determination and charm, Aileen must do what she can to prevent her fated death, even if that includes romancing Claude Jean Ellmeyer — the demon king, an un-romanceable character initially and the source of her death.
Off the back, for fans of Beauty and the Beast like romances, this light novel may be up your alley, as Claude is cursed to become a demon under certain circumstances, thus making him vulnerable to lethal attacks. This gives him a more cynical and cold personality, but Aileen refuses to give up on her plan to save her life through this unexpected romance. While her reasons for pursuing Claude are self serving at first, over time, one buys that these two would fall for each other and make for an ultimate pairing as the villainess and the final boss.
This shift in perspective is also a strong selling point, as the light novel not only makes the villainess the protagonist of the story, but it actively shows how from hers and Claud’s points of views the “real” heroes of the game can be villainous and despicable in their own ways. Aileen and Claud do not lose the charm or cool often associated with villains, but they do gain more empathy and relatability in this version of classic tale. So much so, one is rooting for them to be together and win, even when the heroes are supposed to be perfect and pure.
While the story and leads are compelling, some of the more technical issues with I’m the Villainess, So I’m Taming the Final Boss are not as strong. While it’s clear this is Aileen’s story, the perspective it’s written in doesn’t commit to this fully, making certain sections jarring when information is given to us that she would have no idea about.
Along with that, there are large chunks of exposition that bring the momentum to a halt, particularly in the middle. The beginning of I’m the Villainess, So I’m Taming the Final Boss can be forgiven for this because it is establishing that Aileen is familiar with the game she is in, and because of that, she does not need to relive everyone’s backstory. However, as the novel progresses, having her cue the audience in multiple times about who is who and what the events are without us seeing them can get tiresome and make the story lag.
Overall, I’m the Villainess, So I’m Taming the Final Boss delivers a classic romance that inverts tropes often seen in otome games, making it engaging for fans of these two things, as well as those getting tired of the same old same old. While some of the more technical aspects can make it difficult to power through, the beginning is enough to catch one’s interest, and the end is satisfying for those who’ve made it this far.
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Heike Monogatari Kicks Off the New Anime Season With a Bang
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Let’s dive into Heike Monogatari’s premiere episode to see how it kicks off the new anime season with a bang before October starts.
WARNING: The following contains spoilers for “If You Don’t Belong to the Heike, You Won’t Be a Person,” the premiere episode of Heike Monogatari.
With the fall anime season really beginning in October, some new shows have started airing early, with Heike Monogatari being one of them. The premiere episode, “If You Don’t Belong to the Heike, You Won’t Be a Person” has been catching quite the buzz thus far, with a clever blend of history, substance and style. With that in mind, let’s dissect how it kicks off the new anime season with a bang.
Firstly, the anime must be commended for the plot so far, which cleverly blends humor with drama. The plot begins with young Biwa and her father walking through a town governed by Emperor Shirakawa during the Genpei War period. Sadly, after seeing some of the royal soldiers — the “kaburo boys,” who work for the Emperor’s enforcers, the Taira clan — enacting violence against naysayers to the throne, Biwa comments on their cruelty as well.
This leads to them killing her father to teach her a lesson, beginning a bitter path for the child. Ironically, she ends up in the Taira household, promising an end to these injustices. However, Shigemori, one of the sons, realizes Biwa has a gift — she can see into the future — so he wants to harness this to save the clan. He seems like a good person, and he has a similar gift: he sees the dead and can spot the ghost of Biwa’s father. Thus, he wants to make amends, taking her in to atone while hoping she can help redeem his family.
The problem is, his sister Tukoko is to be married off to the royals, and with his own father Kiyomori hating on the Emperor, it creates a lot of conflict. Kiyomori wants to punish some of the Emperor’s guards for scolding his grandson, Sukemori, for breaking etiquette and being disrespectful to their caravan. The episode hints at plenty of familial tension, civil war and a coup — all of which Biwa may end up being a pawn in as she and Shigemori decide their destinies.
Clearly, this is an intriguing angle of redemption amid all the politics. Outside of the palace, viewers also see rampant classism, as Biwa is viewed as an outsider by the children in Shigemori’s court, which touches on Asian dynasties and the centuries-old caste system. Watching Tukoko being part of an arranged marriage adds some intrigue to the proceedings, not to mention how Biwa is berated for being a tomboy — something Mulan lovers would enjoy, as it speaks to feminism in a feudal era where women were viewed as little more than concubines.
Most of all, the duality in Shigemori is what stands out because apart from The Last Samurai angle of earning Biwa’s forgiveness, one has to wonder if his soul will eventually become corrupted. He is loyal to the crown and views his father as overly hasty, so he will have to choose wisely, as betrayal could easily mean death. Conversely, it could mean power and control, and Biwa will likely be treading carefully as the man becomes a father figure to her, hoping not to be used.
These are all powerful statements in the narrative that make for an alluring watch, but what eases this is the aesthetic of the show. Its visual style isn’t heavy and thick a la Boruto or My Hero Academia — it’s light and feathered, evoking that classic style that truly acts as a nostalgic draw for conventional anime fans. Along with the thin linework, the fluttering music and truly ethereal hum of the show add so much to pave this as a strong period piece. Moreover, it’s not as dense or morose a title such as Moriarty the Patriot, as its brighter feel offers beauty amid all the darkness in which Biwa finds herself entrenched, compounding this as more a cerebral story than one steeped in physical war and turmoil.
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Luffy & Momonosuke Edge Closer to Victory Over Kaido
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One Piece Chapter #1026 sees Luffy give Momonosuke the strength he needs to face down the mighty Kaido.
WARNING: The following contains spoilers for One Piece Chapter #1026, “The Pivotal Clash,” by Eiichiro Oda, Stephen Paul and Vanessa Satone, available in English via Manga Plus and Viz Media.
Chapter #1025 of One Piece ended on an inspiring final note as Momonosuke and Luffy finally returned to Onigashima’s rooftop to face the tyrant Kaido. Now in his impressive dragon form, Momonosuke might finally stand toe-to-toe (or talon-to-talon) with Kaido, but can the future shogun find the strength to fight the man who killed his father and mother? Chapter #1026 answers that.
As One Piece #1026 kicks off, there’s a serious tension in the air on the rooftop of Onigashima. With the appearance of this massive pink dragon, a bit of uncertainty now hangs in the back of the Beast Pirates’ minds, unaware this dragon is in fact the aged-up Kozuki Momonosuke. Kaido tries to end his life quickly with a Blast Breath, but Momo dodges out of the way. Luffy then jumps off Momo and Gum-Gum Elephant Guns Kaido straight into the ground.
Doubt suddenly clouds Momonosuke’s mind as he wants to help Luffy, but images of Kaido’s cruelty from the past come rushing back. Yet Momo finds the strength to fight and lunges forward to bite into the villain’s serpentine body. Kaido doesn’t seem all too fazed by this and is ready to return this disrespect, until Luffy snaps back to strike Kaido.
We then get a great line out of Luffy as he screams out Momonosuke’s name: “That’s an emperor of the sea you just took a bite out of! Is there a single thing left in the world for you to be scared of?!” All the doubt and fear in Momonosuke dissipates and the dragon responds with an initially hesitant, but affirmative “NO!”
Luffy then responds with a guarantee that he will defeat Kaido, with his voice reaching everyone across Onigashima still fighting, including Sanji, Zoro, Big Mom, Kidd, and Law. As Luffy and Kaido clash once again, the force of their blows causes the clouded skies to pull back, revealing the shining moonlit sky above — a great visual representation for how far the rubber pirate has come in One Piece. This directly results in elevating Dogstorm and Cat Viper into their Sulong Forms, so they can unleash a final blow on Jack the Drought and Charlotte Perospero respectively.
One Piece #1026 reinforces Luffy’s ability to not only have others believe in him, but themselves as well. Time and time again it’s proven his unwavering determination never falters, even in the face of insurmountable odds. That determination proves to be infectious, as it’s what helps Momonosuke to find his own courage. With Onigashima now in view of the Flower Capital, the end of the Wano arc is fast approaching. Hopefully, with Yamato and Momonosuke by his side, Luffy can defeat Kaido once and for all.
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Dragon Ball: Weird Secrets About Beerus’ Body
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As Universe 7’s God of Destruction in Dragon Ball Super, Beerus has the power to rip apart the universe. Here’s what other secrets his body hides.
Dragon Ball Super‘s God of Destruction, Lord Beerus, has been playing a major role in how Dragon Ball‘s universe works since appearing in the movie Dragon Ball Z: Battle of the Gods. Only one of 12 Gods, he watches over Universe 7, home to our favorite Saiyans, and while shown to be lazy and often used for comedic purposes, that doesn’t mean that he should be underestimated. Here are five facts about Beerus’ impressive anatomy you might not be aware of.
Is Lord Beerus a Cat?
Despite being a cat, Beerus has no fur. This is because his design is based on a specific breed of cats. Not only are they hairless, but they also tend to have webbed feet. Personality-wise, Beerus was modeled after creator Akira Toriyama‘s Cornish Rex, but his physical design is based on the similar-looking Sphynx.
The color of his skin also implies that if he did have fur, it would be purple, as Sphynxes’ skin color denotes what color their fur is and what kind of pattern, if any, they have. The Sphynx cat breed also fits into the Egyptian iconography that the Gods of Destruction share.
Why Does Lord Beerus Look This Way?
Beerus’ design is based on the Egyptian gods Anubis and Sekhmet. Sekhmet is the Egyptian goddess of healing and would protect the pharaohs and lead them into battle. She has the head of a lioness, which the shape of Beerus’ head resembles. She would also carry out divine punishment, usually in the form of destruction and plagues, much like the God of Destruction in question.
Anubis is the jackal-headed god that watches over the dead and the mummification process. He is normally depicted with sharp features, which Beerus is shown to have in profile. In the Underworld, Anubis would carry out the judgment of a person’s soul using a scale and an ostrich feather. As a God of Destruction, this fits Beerus’ job description to a tee as he judges whether something is a threat to order or not.
What Is Lord Beerus’ Power Level?
As a God of Destruction, it makes sense that Beerus is able to destroy things, and the level of destruction he can cause is astronomical. Just by tapping his nail, he’s destroyed half a planet in Dragon Ball Super. His Angel Attendant, Whis, has gone on record saying that if he wanted, Beerus could destroy the entire Solar System without trouble.
In another instance, Beerus let a single drop of his energy drip onto a planet that was immediately destroyed. Even the Supreme Kais have concurred with Whis’ statement on Beerus’ power. In fact, it is said that just his sneezing would be enough to destroy a planet.
What Is Lord Beerus’ Energy of Destruction?
When Beerus enters his Fury state, he begins radiating an aura of destructive energy. This Energy of Destruction has the power to erase anything from existence. The only things that can destroy it are other godly beings and the Tokitoki bird’s Wings of Nullification. If the user of this power chooses to, they can transfer the energy onto another person as an orb. While Beerus isn’t ever shown transferring this energy, we have seen Sidra transfer his to Top in his fight against Frieza. The Energy of Destruction can also be used defensively by creating a protective barrier.
Is Lord Beerus the Strongest God of Destruction?
Despite how slim and gangly Beerus’ body is, this apparently is a sign that he is more powerful than his twin brother Champa. This fact is confirmed by Vados, who says that it should be obvious by their builds who is stronger. While both brothers are Gods of Destruction, Champa doesn’t have the stamina or resilience that Beerus has, demonstrated during a rock-paper-scissors competition between the two when Champa complains that his hand was beginning to hurt while Beerus was fine.
Still, his slim figure is rather odd given that his appetite rivals that of Goku’s and his penchant for taking years-long naps. While Champa is shown to be even lazier than his brother, Beerus should still show some signs of weight gain. It could be that because of the amount of destructive energy his body produces, he needs large amounts of food and sleep to maintain it, whereas Champa’s body doesn’t need as much because he doesn’t produce as much energy.
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Ultraman Season 2 Will Feature The Return of the Six Ultra Brothers
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The next season of Netflix’s Ultraman anime will expand its roster of Ultras by introducing its version of the classic Six Ultra Brothers.
Ultraman Season 2 will feature the return of the classic Ultra crossover team, the Six Ultra Brothers.
The brothers were revealed during Netflix’s TUDUM event on Sept. 25. The Ultraman section of the event was hosted by Ryohei Kimura, who plays the role of Shinjiro Hayata in the series. The Six Ultra Brothers originally referred to the team up of the first six Ultra beings to come to Earth, which includes the first Ultraman, Zoffy, Ultraseven and Ultraman Taro. No details were revealed about how all these new Ultramen will fit into the world and story of the Netflix anime, which takes place in a unique continuity that branches off from the original 1966 Ultraman tokusatsu series but ignores all of the sequels and spinoff series that were released in the many years that followed it. Netflix now lists the series as coming out in 2022, while it previously announced a slightly more specific spring 2022 premiere date for the series.
The Ultraman anime begins several decades after the original series. Shin Hayata, who served as Ultraman’s partner in the original show, now has a teenage son, Shinjiro. When the monsters his father once defeated return to ravage the Earth once again, Shinjiro becomes the new host for Ultraman, and protects the Earth in his father’s place.
The anime series is based on a manga by writer Eiichi Shimizu and artist Tomohiro Shimoguchi, which was first published in 2011. The original season of the anime adaptation debuted as a Netflix exclusive in 2019, and was co-directed by Kenji Kamiyama and Shinji Aramaki, who previously collaborated on Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex and are also once again working together on the upcoming Blade Runner: Black Lotus CG anime, which will debut on Adult Swim and Crunchyroll this fall. The series was produced by CG specialists Sola Digital Arts and Production IG, a prolific anime studio that has worked on everything from Batman: Gotham Knight to the volleyball anime Haikyu!!.
Source: Twitter
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The Real-Life Legend of Toilet-Bound Hanako (and Other Toilet Ghosts)
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Toilet-Bound Hanako is based on a real-life ghostly legend, of which there are plenty in Japan — some of which appear in other anime as well.
Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun is a series that draws on the ghost stories children tell to scare one another. While one may think that a child haunting a school bathroom is rather strange, it isn’t the only legend of its kind, with several ghosts lurking in the shadows of public restrooms. It could be said that the idea comes from the fear of something getting you in one of the most vulnerable situations a person could be in — and usually also in an area away from prying eyes.
In the West, we dare each other to go into a dark bathroom and chant Bloody Mary or even Candyman, expecting to glimpse a vision of a vengeful specter. To give you an idea of what kind of spirits hide in the dark bathroom stalls of Japan, here are four ghosts you should watch out for the next time you need some “privacy.”
Hanako-San
While a male in Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun, the original story features a young girl, usually wearing a red dress or skirt and sporting a bobbed haircut. While the story varies from school to school, the outcome is usually the same: dying in some gruesome fashion. The legend began making the rounds in the ’50s, when World War II was still fresh in the minds of Japanese citizens. Some claim that she is the spirit of a girl who was killed in an air-raid while playing hide-and-seek. Other sources say she was killed by a stranger or even an abusive parent in the toilet of the school.
Summoning her is as simple as knocking on the third stall of the third-floor girl’s bathroom three times and asking, “Hanako-San, are you there?” You may hear her say, “Yes, I am.” You may also see a bloody hand, or even Hanako-san herself, just before you get dragged to hell for disturbing her.
Aka Manto
Usually translated as “Red Cape,” “Red Cloak” or “Red Mantle,” this spirit was once a handsome young man who always wore a red manto (traditional Japanese vest) or cape, and was immediately loved by any woman who laid eyes on him. Because of the constant attention, he started wearing a mask to conceal his face. At some point, he died, although how is never really clarified. However, it’s said that he died in the last stall of the school bathroom. He returned as a vengeful spirit, wearing his trademark cape and mask. Now, he haunts the last stall of public restrooms.
He’ll ask bathroom visitors, “Red paper or blue paper?” or “Red cloak or blue cloak?” Should you answer red, he’ll either cut your throat or head off, causing the blood to turn your body red. If you answer blue, he’ll suffocate you until your face turns blue. If you try to outsmart him and answer a different color, a pair of hands will come through the toilet and drag you to hell. The story has origins in the 1930s and is most likely inspired by a series of 1906 killings known as the Blue Blanket Murders.
Noppera-Bo
Fans of Studio Ghibli may recognize this spirit as No-Face, who was featured in Spirited Away. It’s said that usually, this creature was a badger or raccoon-dog called a mujina or a kitsune (fox spirit). It would take on the form of Noppera-Bo, which would be humanoid in form but have only a flat sheet of skin where the face should be. Real Noppera-Bo spirits like to haunt public toilets — usually, women’s restrooms, lonely roads or anywhere humans can be isolated. While not as threatening as the other spirits listed, this still isn’t something people would probably want to see when doing their business. This story has roots in the Edo Period of Japan.
Teke-Teke
Normally found near train tracks, Teke-Teke is actually an onomatopoeia of the sound this spirit’s elbows make as she drags herself along the ground. Usually, she’s a schoolgirl who tragically fell onto the tracks right as a train approached, severing her torso from her legs. As a result, she returned as a vengeful ghost, looking for her lost legs. Appearing at night, she’ll chase people down with a scythe, which she uses to slice them in half.
In terms of haunting restrooms, there’s a particular version of this story that features a Teke-Teke by the name of Kashima Reiko. Her story is said to predate that of modern Teke-Teke legends, with her spirit haunting public restrooms, usually that of train stations. She’ll ask if you know where her legs are, to which the correct answer is “On the Meishin Expressway.” She’ll ask you, “Who told you?” The correct reply is “Kashima Reiko.” Finally, she will ask what her real name is, to which the answer is “Kamen shinin ma.” This roughly translates to “Mask Death Demon” and is a possible phonetic root of “Kashima.” You might want to save these answers somewhere, as it’s said that she’ll appear within one month of learning about her…
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Dragon Ball Fan Animation Creates Epic Goku Vs. Vegeta Fight
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Stephen Universe storyboard artist Etienne Guignard has animated their take on what Ultra Instinct Goku vs. Ultra Ego Vegeta would look like.
Professional story board artist Etienne Guignard has released an animated short that once again pits Dragon Ball‘s Goku against Vegeta.
The new short was released through Guignard’s Twitter account and features Goku, in his silver-haired Ultra Instinct form, going up against Vegeta in his new Ultra Ego form. Through the use of classic sound effects and some dynamic fight choreography and camera work, the short recalls the scenery destroying brutality of Goku and Vegeta’s original brawl from the first half of the Dragon Ball Z anime.
Guignard has previously worked as a storyboard artist on animated series such as Steven Universe, Lastman and Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir. The original completed short was retweeted over 3,000 times and received over 13,000 likes. The artist followed-up the short by thanking everyone for their support and posted a black-in-white, rough version of the animation as a bonus.
Wow !!! Thanks you sooo much for all the love given to my Dragon Ball animation !
Here is a litte “Making of” Video of some shots ! 🙂
(Music remix by Styzmask) pic.twitter.com/ZvWzN8ng0h— Etienne Guignard (@cocoshonen) September 25, 2021
Dragon Ball was created by Akira Toriyama and was first published in Weekly Shonen Jump in 1984. The martial arts comedy began as a very loose reimagining of the classic Journey to the West folktale, and is now third best-selling manga series of all time, ranked only behind Golgo 13 and Eiichiro Oda’s 100-volume epic One Piece. The anime based on Toriyama’s manga was initially brought to the West in syndication, where it built up a small following, but found mainstream popularity when Dragon Ball Z was broadcast on Cartoon Network’s Toonami block during the late ’90s and early ’00s. The highly celebrated and influential series has now generated over $27.9 billion USD in revenue worldwide, and is widely credited with helping to popularize both anime and manga internationally.
The manga series continues to this day with the on-going Dragon Ball Super manga, which is overseen by Toriyama and is drawn by the self-taught artist Toyotarou. The series fleshes out the events that happen during the ten year timeskip seen at the end of the original Dragon Ball manga.
The next animated work in the series, a movie entitled Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, will debut sometime in 2022 and will feature a new art style that seeks to feature a seamless combination of CG and hand-drawn animation. The new movie is set several years after the events of Dragon Ball Super: Broly and will feature new designs for Krillin and Goku’s granddaughter, Pan.
Source: Twitter
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Avatar: Kyoshi Was a Trash Earthbender
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Avatar Kyoshi was legendary by The Last Airbender, but even she had to start somewhere.
By the time of Avatar: The Last Airbender, the ancient Avatar, Kyoshi, was a figure of mythic proportions, legendary for her bending prowess. The more fans learned about her the more superlative her abilities seemed to get, but just like any other Bender, she was not always that way. Kyoshi’s early problems with earthbending were unique. Delving into her origins reveals not just how human the legendary Avatar actually was, but also that she was a downright terrible Earthbender before she was a legend.
The displays of bending that define the true masters of the Avatar franchise are nearly always prove huge, monstrous moves performed at a scope that dwarfs all others. Aang’s Avatar State is so awe-inspiring early on because of how he rips apart buildings and sweeps away entire fleets of ships, and even more typical masters like Bumi and Iroh display overwhelming power demonstrative of their status. Yet when it comes to Kyoshi, it turns out there are more puzzling questions about what defines a skilled Bender.
In The Rise of Kyoshi, the first Avatar novel by author F.C. Yee, Kyoshi does not even realize she is the Avatar at the start of the story. Untrained in her Earthbending, she does not even consider herself particularly special and has little reason to hone her abilities. It is revealed early on that Kyoshi actually has the opposite problem of most Earthbenders. While she has raw power in abundance, said to be able to crack apart mountains, her finesse is totally lacking in those early days. This offers insight into the age-old debate among Avatar fans about what defines a master Bender.
Whenever Kyoshi tries to bend smaller amounts of earth she invariably destroys whatever she is focusing on, and as she realizes the destiny ahead of her as Avatar, she undergoes training to gain the control other Earthbenders show in spades. Her war fans see their most valuable usage during her early training, honing in Kyoshi’s powers precisely enough to slice a pebble in half when it is thrown at her. While others are naturally privileged with an ability to bend such minute amounts of earth, Kyoshi gains it through hard work.
Her struggles early on reinforce Kyoshi’s human side, and it’s only then that she truly reaches the legendary status that fans first knew her for. At times throughout the first novel, Kyoshi unleashes the full force of her earthbending without restraint, tilting over entire buildings or carving 50-foot trenches around an expansive estate. Yet her mastery of earthbending is only defined once she is capable of subtler maneuvers. By The Shadow of Kyoshi, she could suffocate men with hunks of wet clay, or retrieve errant shards of glass from a wound sustained in battle.
This goes to show how true mastery in Avatar is a union between the precise and the powerful. Even as a novice Kyoshi could unleash gargantuan displays of earthbending, but in her first duel against another Earthbender that power proves useless, as he mirrors her movements to cancel out her bending. In learning to defeat the greatest villains of her era, Kyoshi herself had to learn a balance between those extremes that so often prove crucial in Avatar. As ever, the ending echoes the beginning: Kyoshi’s earthbending skills were great, but she had a lot learn before she was ready to save the world.
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