Buckle up, weebs, Texas is coming for your waifus. Sen. Pete Flores’ Senate Bill 20 (SB 20) went before the Texas Senate last week, with them unanimously approving a new law that will make the possession of any material depicting a minor in an “obscene” way a felony offense.

The bill’s stated aim is to crack down on AI image generators being used to create illegal material involving children. That’s a laudable goal and is something that should be criminalized. However, the scope of the bill isn’t limited to AI-generated images, as it also covers “cartoons or animation,” promising that:

“An offense under this new section is considered a state jail felony, or a third-degree felony if a person has been previously convicted, or a second-degree felony if a person has been previously convicted two or more times”

The bill covers a huge scope of existing media and gives judges and politicians the power to decide what’s considered “obscene,” saying it’s “[material or a performance that] taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, and scientific value.” This has left many fans of massive video game franchises, anime, and manga realizing with a chill that continuing to own their collection could put them behind bars.

What would this cover?

For example, video games set in high schools that feature dating mechanics — like the wildly popular Persona series — arguably fall under this umbrella. You could also apply this to iconic anime series like Neon Genesis Evangelion, Dandadan, Dragon Ball, Kill la Kill, and Hunter x Hunter.

It’s ittedly unlikely that cops will pursue individuals for owning a copy of Persona 5 Royal on Switch, but if this bill becomes law video game companies may decide to avoid any legal liability by restricting sales of certain products, individual comic book shops might cease carrying manga, and that streaming services like Crunchyroll could geo-restrict content in Texas.

Do they have a point?

Now, there is a (pretty good) argument that the depiction of minors in anime and manga is often extremely gross, to say nothing of the insanely creepy “waifu” worship culture that’s become so common online it’s an unpleasant background noise. Maybe that stuff should be cracked down on! That said, there’s a litany of historical examples that laws banning media on subjective grounds are generally used as a political cudgel to beat people the state doesn’t like.

So, perhaps you’ve been protesting something in Texas and politicians decide to make an example of you. They raid your house, seize your copy of Persona 5 and your End of Evangelion Blu-ray, and suddenly you’re facing felony charges of obscenity involving minors. With that on your charge sheet expect many people who’d otherwise defend you to vanish, and even after whatever sentence you receive is spent you’d likely still end up on an offenders’ .

That’s perhaps the worst-case scenario, but with the government cracking down hard on self-expression and violently enforcing conformity we should be wary about giving them more weapons against citizens. Fortunately for Texans, Senate Bill 20 isn’t law yet and still needs to be ed by the Texas House of Representatives. But, let’s face it, unanimous from the Senate means it stands a good chance of making it onto the law books.

Born on Nov. 9, 1992, in Detroit, Michigan, CoryxKenshin is a massively popular 32-year-old YouTuber with over 20 million subscribers. He’s best known for how he comedically plays through horror video games, such as Five Nights at Freddy’s and Bloodborne, but also for his love of manga and anime, which he can regularly be heard talking about and often discussing the possibility of creating one of his own. It’s now been revealed that he has, and it’s called “Monsters We Make.”

Starting on June 27, 2023, he disappeared from YouTube for around a year and a half. However, he recently reemerged on the popular video-sharing platform with two new s that revealed the big news and explained his 18-month absence.

The first video, ed on Dec. 13, was 107 seconds long and titled “Hey.. long time no see.” The first half of the video was an animated trailer that ended with the words “A new manga emerges” above the Monsters We Make title card. CoryxKenshin then appears on screen and delivers a short speech saying it’s good to be back. The video ends with the date 12.16.24.

On Dec. 16, as the previous video teased, a second video was ed to CoryxKenshin’s YouTube channel. This one was much longer — 23 minutes and 12 seconds, to be precise — and titled “Where I’ve been for the past year…”

In the video, CoryxKenshin goes into great detail about his recently released manga (which can be purchased digitally at the official Monsters We Make website before the release of physical copies, incidentally) and the extensive work that’s been put into it.

It’s getting excellent reviews, and the synopsis for the story reads, “For Jabari Booker, New Edyn Academy promised a future of music and mastery. But on his first day, that promise shatters into a nightmare. As he’s dragged deeper into the abyss, he realizes that true horror awaits at the end of the broken road. To survive, he must battle not only New Edyn’s monsters but also the corruption festering within its walls.” But will it ever be made into an anime series?

Will Monsters We Make become an anime?

After explaining his aims for the Monsters We Make manga, CoreyxKenshin was very specific about his intentions to have it adapted into an anime. After explaining that his first ambition was for a rich, thought-provoking story that was positive in nature, he said, “My second ambition for Monsters We Make, is to adapt the manga into an anime. You can do anything that you set your mind to. I believe in my heart that I can get this to become an anime. The ultimate goal for Monsters We Make is to get it to a studio. So again, Netlflix, CrunchyRoll, MAPPA, I’m looking at you. Whoever wants to come put in their bids, do it early.”

Those are some lofty ambitions, given the major studios and streaming services he’s calling upon to express an interest in Monsters We Make. However, if the manga proves to be as popular as early reviews suggest throughout its whole run, there’s every chance they could become a reality. We’ll keep you posted.

Warning: This article contains spoilers for episode 7 of Dandadan.

For most Dandadan fans, Acrobatic Silky’s backstory acts as a turning point in the story. It’s the moment when the series goes from being a fun, little romantic comedy to a serious contender for one of the best anime of all time. 

Manga readers have known that Dandadan is more than just a funny tale about retrieving one’s “family jewels.” The story begins when a boy who believes in aliens and a girl who believes in ghosts make a bet to prove the other wrong, only to realize they’re both right. After getting possessed by a grandma who can reach speeds of 100 kph and awakening psychic powers (respectively), Okarun and Momo continue to encounter the supernatural while falling in love. A premise like that all but promises to be lighthearted, bingeable fun, right" allowfullscreen>

Warning: This section of the article contains descriptions of trafficking, suicide, and violence.

Yukinobu Tatsu hasn’t shared what happened to Acrobatic Silky’s daughter, but it’s implied that she died shortly after her mother’s death. 

As a human, Acrobatic Silky worked several jobs in order to provide for her daughter and herself and it’s implied she had gone into debt with an organized crime group in the process. The group ostensibly realizes Acro-Silky has been earning more money while defaulting on her repayment and breaks into her home to recoup their funds. They search the home for valuables, leaving Acro-Silky beaten and kidnapping her daughter. Acro-Silky then chases after the group’s car before collapsing and ultimately dying by suicide. 

There are several possible outcomes we can see for Acro-Silky’s daughter after her kidnapping and unfortunately, they’re bleak. The most likely scenario is that the group killed her shortly after learning of Acro-Silky’s death and sold her organs. It’s also possible that she was trafficked and ended up in a situation like her mother’s. However, both the anime and the manga imply she has already died and reunites with Acro-Silky in the afterlife. 

It’s unlikely Yukinobu Tatsu will revisit this plot-line and provide closure beyond what he’s already shared. While we’d love a happy ending, that isn’t the story he set out to tell with these two characters. Any additional details would satisfy our curiosity but aren’t necessary. Acro-Silky and her daughter have one of the most tragic backstories in all of Dandadan, but after giving her aura to Aira, we see the two reunite in the afterlife where Aira accepts Acro-Silky and calls her mother (no, the two aren’t actually related). It’s tragic and bittersweet, but that’s all the closure we need for this story.  

These past few days have been a rollercoaster of emotions for One Piece fans. On one hand, the anime is on a six-month break — right in the middle of the Egghead arc. New episodes won’t arrive until April 2025, making this one of the longest — if not the longest — breaks in the history of the anime.

If that wasn’t enough to break our hearts into tiny pieces, the One Piece manga also just had a two-week-long break. And as it appears, it’s about to enter another dry spell. But before you jump to conclusions, we’re fully ive of Eiichiro Oda taking as many breaks as he needs — however, conflicting reports have added even more fuel to the fire, leaving fans concerned regarding this sudden pause, and whether it is real or not.

The first of notice came on November 11, when fans noticed that Shueisha had issued a delay in the One Piece schedule. It indicated that instead of a November 17 release, chapter 1132 would drop on December 1. Shortly afterward, however, Shueisha updated the release date again, reverting to the original schedule. This led fans to assume it was simply a database error, and that the chapter would still be released on the originally-scheduled date.

In this already confusing situation, fans started speculating on social media — after all, Oda rarely takes unplanned breaks, and retracting such an announcement as an apparent mistake was even weirder. But it didn’t end there. Just a few hours ago, Shueisha officially confirmed that the manga would not only be on break this week but also next week, returning on December 1.

The notice also confirmed everyone’s fears and suspicions: Oda’s health isn’t at its best. One Piece fans are all too familiar with the author’s tireless attempts to delivering chapters week after week. It’s no coincidence that for 26 years, One Piece has held the title of the best-selling manga in history — thanks entirely to Oda’s relentless work and talent. However, this dedication comes at a cost. On more than one occasion, the One Piece creator has been forced to take breaks following emergency hospital visits.

Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time a manga author’s health is at risk. Akira Toriyama, the author of Dragon Ball and Dr. Slump, ed away earlier this year from an acute subdural hematoma, inspiring other authors like Eiichiro Oda to be more mindful of their own health. Yoshihiro Togashi, author of Hunter x Hunter, is also chronically ill, and he often takes long breaks due to severe back pain, which affects his ability to draw on a daily basis.

Health issues seem to impact manga creators more than your average creator, but given Japan’s intense work culture, it’s not entirely surprising. This grind isn’t confined to office workers — even the biggest manga authors are affected by the relentless drive to meet deadlines. Creators like Oda are in a constant state of stress, working tirelessly to produce quality chapters on time.

With stories like One Piece, which have an intricate and expansive lore, this task becomes even more challenging. In fact, a quick look at the latest chapter, chapter 1131, reveals the level of detail Oda maintains. In this recent chapter, Luffy finally reaches Elbaph — first mentioned in chapter 116 — and there, he meets Loki, the Prince known as “the shame of Elbaph.”

Meanwhile, Nami, Usopp, Sanji, Zoro, and Chopper are also in Elbaph, running on a bridge away from something that we still have no idea what it is. Amidst all this chaos, Jinbe, Brook, Robin, and Franky are on the Giants’ ship, with Brook giving Robin a haircut. The chapter ended on a cliffhanger, after Sault fell — and we won’t know the answers until December 1. Get well soon, Oda!

Nearly everyone who watches anime tends to assume that most characters are Japanese. After all, if an anime is written by a Japanese author and produced in Japan, it’s almost obvious that the characters will also be Japanese — it’s just basic reasoning. But, of course, One Piece breaks away from this norm.

In fact, given the world of One Piece, where guns eat magical fruits and turn into dogs, it’s not far-fetched to imagine it has some hint of realism and that certain characters are based on real-world nationalities and even historical figures. Shonen manga isn’t the only genre that does this either — cue in Attack on Titan, and Fullmetal Alchemist. So, considering the Straw Hats may not even be Japanese or Asian, where is someone like Robin from?

What is Robin’s nationality in ‘One Piece’?

Based on appearances alone, Eiichiro Oda, the creator of One Piece, has previously confirmed that in the real world, Robin would be Russian. This information was revealed in the SBS (Shitsumon o Boshū Suru) section of each volume, where the genius behind One Piece answers fan questions. In this case, Oda was asked about the real-world nationalities and ethnicities of the Straw Hats, and he responded based on their physical appearances.

Given Robin’s dark hair and light blue eyes, it’s not far-fetched to associate her with an Eastern European stereotype. Russian men and women are often stereotyped for their coldness and emotional distance, traits Miss All Sunday exhibited at one point. However, the Robin we know now and love is warm, caring, and incredibly funny, breaking away from that cold persona.

Moreover, after the Sabaody Archipelago arc, Kuma sent each of the Straw Hats to different islands, where they learned new skills and became stronger for their reunion at Fishman Island. Robin, for instance, was sent to Tequila Wolf, where she trained under Dragon, Luffy’s father, along with the rest of the Revolutionary Army. Coincidentally, the island was snowy, and many fans have noted the similarities between that landscape and various regions of Russia.

Who will be playing Robin in the ‘One Piece’ live-action?

Lera Abova, 31, has been cast as Nico Robin (aka Miss All Sunday) in the season of the One Piece live-action series on Netflix, according to the streaming service’s latest casting announcement. Abova, best known for her role as DJ Das Boot in Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin, is also widely recognized for her modeling career in Russia — which is perhaps, where most of her expertise lies.

The actress was born on November 4, 1992, in Siberia, Russia, and it’s abundantly clear that the showrunners did their homework when casting her. While she may not have extensive acting experience, her appearance aligns perfectly with Robin’s facial features. Considering that Oda is deeply involved in the casting process, fans can rest assured that she’s a great fit, and so far the casting choices have not disappointed.

Abova will Joe Manganiello, who is set to play Mr. 0 (or well, Crocodile), a leader of the criminal organization Baroque Works, some of whom were already introduced in season 1. Also ing the cast are Charithra Chandran as Miss Wednesday, Katey Sagal as Dr. Kureha, Mark Harelik as Dr. Hiriluk, Sendhil Ramamurthy as Nefertari Cobra, and Callum Kerr as Smoker. The new season is expected to premiere in 2025.

Fairy Tail never quite reached the same heights as the Big 3 anime, but Hiro Mashima’s 2006 series is still considered one of the best fantasy shonen titles of all time. Following wizards Natsu Dragneel, Lucy Heartfilia, and a diverse cast of powerful magic s, Fairy Tail is a powerful tale of friendship and family. 

Set in a world where magic is both commonplace and often extremely deadly, many wizards belong to guilds like the eponymous Fairy Tail in order to find stable work and safety in numbers. Belonging to a guild isn’t a requirement for wizards, however, and some powerful mages practice magic alone. It’s difficult to gauge just how strong the characters in Fairy Tail are but these seven are considered the most powerful in the series.

7. Laxus Dreyer

The grandson of Guild Master Makarov, Laxus comes from a line of powerful wizards. He is a Dragon Slayer with Lightning Magic and is able to conjure lightning bolts to attack his opponents at a distance or at close-range. His magic is also great for defense, allowing him to create shields or move at lightning-speed. Laxus is first introduced as an arrogant and untrustworthy mage, but his redemption arc is one of the best in Fairy Tail. 

6. Irene Belserion 

Irene is the one of the strongest of the Spriggan 12 and created Dragon Slayer magic 400 years before the story takes place. She is known for her unparalleled skill in enchantment magic and has the ability to manipulate objects, people, landscapes, and climates. She also possesses Universe One, a magic which manipulates world geography in order to bring people or things to particular locations at will. 

5. August

The child of Zeref and Mavis, August is a powerful mage often referred to as the “Wizard King.” His ability, Copy, allows him to master another magician’s magic while also nullifying it. In addition to this overpowered ability, he also possesses superhuman strength and durability. 

4. Gildarts Clive

Gildarts is an S-Class mage of the Fairy Tail guild and also served as its fifth guild master. Unlike most mages, Gildarts is physically strong and highly skilled in hand-to-hand combat. Combined with his devastatingly powerful Crush ability, he’s a tough wizard to beat.

3. Zeref Dragneel

Zeref, Natsu’s immortal brother, is the most powerful dark mage of all time. He is capable of using death waves to kill living creatures and of creating countless demons to carry on his whims. His strongest power, the Curse of Contradictions, is also his biggest bane and kills anyone who Zeref grows to love.

2. Acnologia

Acnologia is the ultimate villain in Fairy Tail and one of the first Dragon Slayers. His 400 years of life and hatred twisted him into a villain beyond recognition bent on destroying all Dragons and Dragon Slayers. Even Zeref feared Acnologia’s power. His abilities, like turning into a dragon and eating magic, are undeniably powerful but even then he doesn’t reach the top ranking on this list…

1. Natsu Dragneel

Natsu as number one is a controversial choice, but hear me out. While Natsu isn’t the strongest on paper, he never backs down from a challenge and inevitably defeats any opponent he faces. It’s this tenacity and perseverance that sets Natsu apart from other Fairy Tail characters and makes him the strongest of them all. 

If you’ve been eagerly following the BL manhwa Low Tide in Twilight, you probably noticed that the series recently hit a major milestone with the release of its 100th chapter. 

Needless to say, the BL manhwa been an exciting journey full of emotional twists and turns. But now that chapter 100 is finally out, fans have been wondering when chapters 101, 102, and the rest of the post-100 storylines will be released. 

Chapter 100’s recap

The 100th chapter of Low Tide in Twilight opens with Taeju waking up. As he spots Euihyun, the reality of his actions hits him, prompting him to quickly inject himself with a suppressant, fearing that he might have triggered Euihyun’s heat. When they finally sit down to talk, Taeju learns that Euihyun had secretly drugged his water with an aphrodisiac, hoping it would lead to Taeju impregnating him. Although Euihyun apologizes, Taeju initially reacts with anger, upset that Euihyun would go to such lengths. However, Taejusoon forgives him.

Euihyun then asks Taeju to take him to the sea. Once there, Euihyun confronts Taeju about his decision to quit his gangster life and his plan to leave him. Taeju its that he believes staying together would only bring Euihyun more suffering. In response, Euihyun ionately expresses his deep love for Taeju, explaining that Taeju’s desperate efforts to keep him alive have made him want to live, too. The chapter concludes with the two embracing each other tightly, finding comfort in the cool beach air as they hold on to what they have.

Chapter 102’s release date

There’s a bit of news that might come as a surprise — Low Tide in Twilight has actually come to an end, with chapter 100 as the manhwa’s finale. The story wrapped up at chapter 100, so there won’t be a chapter 101 or 102 to look forward to. While it’s always a little bittersweet when a beloved series comes to a close, the ending provided a satisfying conclusion to the characters’ arcs, and tied up the storyline in a way that feels complete.

For those who have been holding out hope for more chapters, it’s natural to feel a bit disappointed. After all, Low Tide in Twilight has been a significant part of the manhwa scene, especially within the BL subgenre, and many readers have grown attached to the characters and their stories. But if there’s one thing to take away from this, it’s that the series ended on its own , with a full, cohesive narrative that didn’t drag on unnecessarily.

So, while there isn’t a release date for chapter 101 or 102 of Low Tide in Twilight, the good news is that you can always revisit the series from the beginning and relive all the moments that made Low Tide in Twilight such a standout. And who knows? The end of one story could very well open the door for side stories and even new projects from the creator, potentially giving us another manhwa to fall in love with. In the meantime, you can purchase the manhwa’s official perfume, and if you’re still craving more BL content, there are plenty of other ongoing series that are worth checking out. You can catch up on Low Tide in Twilight on Lezhin Comics and Bomtoon.

The newest One Piece chapter is almost out and the Straw Hats are finally going to Elbaf. After literal decades of foreshadowing, fans are excited for Luffy and crew to finally step foot on the Giants’ homeland.

After the crew escaped Egghead, the World Government must deal with the monumental mistake of letting Vegapunk’s message reach the world. Saint Figarland Garling just ed the Five Elders after Saint Jaygarcia Saturn’s position was, um, made redundant by Imu. Edison combined with the other surviving Vegapunk variations while the Revolutionary Army, including Dragon who actually speaks in this chapter, discuss what to do now that Vegapunk’s shared his truth. 

Meanwhile, our favorite Straw Hat pirates are heading toward the land of the Giants, but if spoilers are anything to go off of, Elbaf will have to wait.

One Piece chapter 1126 spoilers

According to One Piece leaker @Pewpiece the newest chapter, titled “Payback,” starts off with Shanks’ crew facing off with Bartolomeo’s crew. It comes as no surprise when the Red Hair Pirates reign victorious but Shanks gives Bartolomeo a vial of poison with instructions to deliver it to Luffy within a month. Et tu, Shanks! Does he really want Luffy dead">The Red Hair Pirates are certainly capable of worse. Is this Shanks’ way of making sure Luffy’s Fleet is tough? And speaking of villains,  who knows what nefarious plan Blackbeard has up his sleeve now that he has Garp. 

One Piece chapter 1126 will be released on Sunday, Sept. 15 at 8am PT. 

To no one’s surprise, the insight into the Straw Hats’ families is limited — exactly as Oda intended when writing One Piece. After all, let’s not forget that the reason we still don’t know Luffy’s mother is because Oda believes mothers always oppose fun and adventure.

Generally speaking, Oda only includes information he deems relevant to the story. While we can appreciate this pragmatic approach, we still crave the nitty-gritty details about these characters. For instance, it’s fully confirmed that Ryuma is Zoro’s ancestor — but we only got this confirmation through an SBS, much to my own chagrin.

Now, there has been some speculation going around social media about Queen being Franky’s father, but is it confirmed? Why is it even a theory? Let’s go over that real quick and put an end to the rumors.

Who is Franky’s dad in One Piece?

We still don’t know if Queen is truly Franky’s father, but it is possible. The theory originated from the Vivre Cards, the One Piece Visual Dictionary, which is essentially a collection of cards that provide information about characters and even islands. You might have seen translations of these cards circulating on social media already, and in Queen’s Vivre Card, there’s a timeline indicating that 36 years ago — three years before being recruited by Kaidou — Queen had a child.

This immediately raised eyebrows, as Franky was born exactly 36 years ago. But the eerie part comes next. The Vivre Card states that 26 years ago, Queen abandoned his child to the Beast Pirates. As we know from Water 7, Franky was 10 years old when he was abandoned by his parents, who threw him off a ship to pursue a life of piracy. This oddly specific timeline in Queen’s life perfectly aligns with Franky’s birth and subsequent abandonment, and the stories seem to match.

For this reason, many fans did the math, and it seems likely that the Vivre Card was hinting that Queen is indeed Franky’s father. However, here’s the catch: while the Vivre Cards are supervised and sometimes even written by Oda himself, they can contain outdated or incorrect information — and it does happen quite often.

In fact, there’s a specific section for redacted and wrong information on the Vivre Card’s website. For instance, a Vivre Card indicated that Momonosuke’s fruit was a SMILE, and later on, Oda confirmed and corrected, through a SBS, that Momo’s devil fruit had a different composition from SMILEs.

So while the timelines of events match — almost perfectly — there is no exact confirmation that Queen is Franky’s father. We also don’t know for sure if this kind of connection was even considered by Oda during Wano, as there wasn’t a single moment of interaction between Queen and Franky. For now, we’ll have to wait until someone asks Oda during an SBS, and if it turns out to be true, we were definitely robbed of a personal fight in Wano.

Every anime fan knows that some series can run for a very (very) long time. Isn’t that exactly why many of us put off watching One Piece until our friends wouldn’t stop nagging us about it and threatening to end our friendship? It’s practically a rite of age at this point.

Imagine our surprise when we discovered that there are even older and longer-running anime out there — some of which you might never have heard of. Actually, I take that back because many of them are children’s anime that we all grew up watching — and if you didn’t, you were watching the wrong channels. You might also be surprised that some titles, like Dragon Ball, are not part of the longest-running anime series of all time —simply because they aren’t comprised of a single, continuous series. Shucks.

So, if you’re even remotely curious about which anime have stood the test of time, persevering where others have faltered with barely any breaks, we’ve got you covered, as always.

10. One Piece (1999 – present)

Despite what you might have assumed from our introduction, One Piece is one of the big Shounen that did make the cut for the longest-running anime list, though not by much. Eiichiro Oda’s magnum opus was first televised in Japan in 1999, making it 25 years old this year (yes, we feel old). Aside from the occasional breaks from Toei Animation, One Piece — both the anime and the manga — has never truly stopped releasing new episodes and chapters. With over 1,100 episodes, it is one of the longest-running anime of all time.

9. Ojarumaru (1998 – present)

Ojarumaru is exactly the type of niche anime you wouldn’t normally think would be on this list — especially since it never really became popular outside of Japan. However, its family-friendly format has earned it the status of one of the longest-running anime of all time since 1998.

Despite not being widely broadcast outside of Asia, Ojarumaru remains a staple kids’ show in Japan. Created by Rin Inumaru in 1998, it is the second-longest-running anime on NHK and the ninth-longest-running anime on our list, with over 2,000 episodes.

8. Doraemon (1979 – 2005)

Anyone who grew up watching Doraemon won’t be surprised to learn that it is still one of the longest-running animated series of all time. Telling the story of Doraemon, an earless robotic cat, and Nobita, his unlucky and lazy owner, Doraemon became a huge phenomenon from the moment it first aired in 1979 — especially in Asia and Southern Europe.

While its second iteration began in 1979 and ended in 2005, the series had another adaptation that started in 2005, and if we considered it for the list, Doraemon would rank even higher. But for the sake of continuity, we’re only considering the 1979 version, which lasted for 26 years.

7. Pokémon The Series (1997 – 2023)

Pokémon is, unsurprisingly, an anime that has sured generation barriers for decades. Since its first episode aired 28 years ago, Pokémon has been a constant presence in our lives, with films, games, and new episodes releasing periodically.

Unlike Dragon Ball, which has gone through various iterations, studios, and series, Pokémon has steadily produced and released episodes since 1997 under the same company, with only two main series released: Pokémon The Series, which ended last year, and its sequel, Pokémon Horizons: The Series.

6. Case Closed (1994 – Present)

Also known as Detective Conan, Case Closed is another show many of us grew up watching. It follows the story of detective Shinichi Kudo, who is still solving crimes despite having his body transformed into that of a high school student. Over the years, Case Closed has become known not only for its appeal to younger audiences but also for its longevity. Its first episode aired in 1994, adapted from the manga series by Gosho Aoyama, and to this day, it continues to grace our screens with over 1,000 episodes.

5. Chibi Maruko-chan (1995 – Present)

Chibi Maruko-chan is another anime many non-Japanese viewers will have missed. Created by Momoko Sakura, this is a wholesome manga and anime that depicts the life of Momoko Sakura and her daily adventures with her family in suburban Japan in 1974. Known as a children’s series, Chibi Maruko-chan remains a beloved anime in Japan across generations, despite lacking popularity in the West. Still, it continues to air new episodes, and after 29 years, it has amassed over 1,400 episodes.

4. Ninjaboy Rantaro (1993 – Present)

Ninjaboy Rantaro, also known as Nintama Rantaro, might be unfamiliar. It’s yet another example of a show that remains incredibly popular in Japan and Asia but – shamefully – may not have even aired in most Western countries. The story follows Nintama Rantarō and his friends, who attend a school for budding ninjas. The anime, inspired by the manga by Sōbe Amako, first aired 31 years ago, in 1993.

3. Crayon Shin-chan (1992 – Present)

A far more popular title in the top 3 is Crayon Shin-chan. This anime series aired its first episode in 1992, and to this day, new episodes are still released regularly. Unlike many entries on this list, Shin-chan became quite popular in the West, with an English dub making it widely accessible across the U.S. in 2001. While this show might not be the best choice for children, Shin Nohara’s mischievous and often inappropriate behavior makes it a perfect show for a fun binge-watching session with family.

2. Soreike! Anpanman (1988 – Present)

The second longest-running anime series of all time is Soreike! Anpanman. Once again, this is the type of show that didn’t gain much momentum in the West, but across Asian countries, Anpanman remains an absolute staple for many anime fans.

The first episode aired in 1988, and the story, adapted from Takashi Yanase’s picture book series, is still airing today. Anpanman has arguably earned the title of one of the most successful and commercialized shows and characters in Asia, becoming the inspiration for many shows, including One Punch Man, and even songs like BTS’ “Anpanman.”

1. Sazae-san (1969 – Present)

The number one spot for the longest-running anime series of all time is, by a mile, Sazae-san. Following the story of Sazae Fuguta and her family, Sazae-san first aired in 1969 and has remained a steadfast presence in Japanese households every Sunday night for over 55 years(!). The series has managed to keep its beloved vintage art style, which continues to attract both old and new viewers. With over 2,500 episodes, it easily holds the record as the longest-running anime of all time.

With big hitters like My Hero Academia and Jujutsu Kaisen saying goodbye, it’s time for Shounen Jump to embrace new works. Empyreal Cabinet is one of the latest manga to step up to the plate, swooping in to fulfill the needs of shonen fans.

Penned by Fumiji Yuba, this series began publication on Aug. 15, and it’s already getting traction due to its gorgeous art and themes. The manga follows spellcaster Toya Tatsumori in a world where monsters roam Japan. Thankfully, people like Toya are there to hunt these creatures down and exorcise them, but sometimes, humans pose a bigger threat than monsters. Mixing elements of Japanese mythology with modern political issues, Empyreal Cabinet is shaping up to be a treat for dark fantasy enthusiasts, which naturally means that folks want more content.

Chapters 1 and 2 did an incredible job informing readers of the story’s premise and painting a picture of the in-world dynamics. Sadly, though, the manga went on a short break after those two. If the series had continued its weekly release, chapter 3 would’ve dropped on Aug. 29, but alas, it didn’t happen. While disappointing, this just gets fans even more curious about what’s coming their way.

When will Empyreal Cabinet chapter 3 come out?

Chapter 3 of Empyreal Cabinet will be released in English via Viz Media on Thursday, Sept. 5, at 10am CDT. Besides Shounen Jump Plus, the manga is being published on the Manga Plus website and app, so if you’re looking for a way to read it legally and free of charge, those are the places you should be hitting up.

The number of pages for this chapter isn’t known yet, but fans should try to keep expectations low. Chapters 1 and 2 were unusual in their lengths — with 61 and 89 pages, respectively — and it’s unlikely that the author will manage to keep that pace up for long. While you wait for Empyreal Cabinet chapter 3, though, check out some other titles on Viz Media’s incredible manga collection. There will surely be a few that pique your interest.

Insect Girl is a new manga by Kanya Aki that made its debut last week. Chapter 1, titled “Numerous Deaths in the Night,” has helped build a little hype, and the newcomer manga has shown some promise.

Human-animal hybrid stories are not a new concept in manga and anime, so Insect Girl has big shoes to fill, especially with entries like So I’m a Spider, So What?, and My Deer Friend Nokotan currently dominating. Thankfully, the second chapter of the manga is coming soon, and you don’t have to wait long at all to know if this story is worth your time.

Insect Girl’s synopsis

In this manga, insects and humans co-exist, albeit in conflict. When Mashiro ventures into the mountains to eliminate a major threat, he encounters a mysterious girl named Yuren, who lives on a dangerous, bug-infested hill with her mother. Mashiro can’t understand what the mother-daughter duo are doing in such a place, but he soon realizes that Yuren might be hiding more than she lets on: she’s not an ordinary girl.

Insect Girl chapter 2’s release date and time

Chapter 2 of the Insect Girl manga will be released on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, at 4:00 PM JST. The exact release time may vary depending on your time zone, and the various times are as follows:

• Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, at 12:00 AM PT
• Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, at 2:00 AM CT
• Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, at 3:00 AM ET
• Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, at 7:00 AM GMT
• Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, at 8:00 AM BST
• Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, at 9:00 AM CET
• Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, at 12:30 PM IST
• Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024, at 3:00 PM ACT

Ahead of chapter 2, fans and curious minds can catch up on the debut episode of Insect Girl on Shueisha’s Manga Plus. The platform offers free access as well, so you can stay up-to-date with the manga.