‘MUSHOKU TENSEI’ Season 3 Episode 12 has become one of the highest-rated episodes of the season, with its score reaching 9.7. Despite being driven almost entirely by dialogue, the episode creates huge tension through a conversation between Rudeus and another mysterious character. The episode’s impact comes from its dialogue, tension, character writing, and emotional weight, proving that Mushoku Tensei can deliver one of its biggest moments without relying on a major action sequence.

SUMMER 2026 ANIME IS COMING TO AN END The Summer 2026 anime season is nearing its end, with several major series approaching their finales over the next few weeks. Re:ZERO Season 4, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 4, and Mushoku Tensei Season 3 are all entering their final stretch, with their remaining episodes scheduled to air throughout September. Meanwhile, ONE PIECE is approaching the end of its 2026 run, while BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Calamity has had its final two episodes delayed until October 19 and October 26.

FIVE ANIME CLASSICS ARE RETURNING TO THE BIG SCREEN IN 2026 Five iconic anime films are getting major theatrical re-releases in 2026, including several new 4K presentations: • AKIRA (1988): September 4 • GHOST IN THE SHELL (1995): September 18 • NINJA SCROLL (1993): October 4, 5 & 7 • VAMPIRE HUNTER D: BLOODLUST (2000): Select screenings this fall • COWBOY BEBOP: THE MOVIE (2001): October 30 in Japan AKIRA, GHOST IN THE SHELL, and NINJA SCROLL are confirmed for 4K theatrical presentations, while VAMPIRE HUNTER D: BLOODLUST will return in a new HD master ahead of a wider theatrical release in 2027. Meanwhile, COWBOY BEBOP: THE MOVIE is receiving a 4K remaster theatrical release in Japan on October 30, celebrating its 25th anniversary. For fans of classic anime, 2026 is giving some of these legendary films another chance to be experienced on the big screen.

NYC MAYOR ZOHRAN MAMDANI IS A DIGIMON FAN New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is getting attention from anime fans after naming DIGIMON as his favorite anime. His love for nostalgic Japanese pop culture apparently goes beyond Digimon. In a recent interview with mitú, Mamdani recalled going to see a POKÉMON movie as a kid and hoping to get a Mewtwo, a reference to the promotional Pokémon cards given out around Pokémon: The First Movie. Mamdani has also embraced gaming culture in public, previously using Mario Kart references while discussing New York politics and later playing Mario Kart World during a Twitch livestream. He has even shown support for Anime NYC, welcoming the convention and its attendees to the city.

Jujutsu Kaisen Visuals Through The Years🌀 JUJUTSU KAISEN has had some of the most striking anime visuals in recent years, with each major arc and project getting its own distinct visual identity, from Season 1 and JUJUTSU KAISEN 0 to Hidden Inventory, Shibuya Incident, and the Culling Game. Which visuals are your favourites?

‘JUJUTSU KAISEN’ has featured two opening themes by Japanese rock band King Gnu, and both became fan-favorite anime openings. King Gnu, consisting of Daiki Tsuneta, Satoru Iguchi, Kazuki Arai, and Yu Seki, have been making music since 2015 and have built an international following with hits like “Hakujitsu,” “Boy,” “Ichizu,” and “Sakayume,” while also contributing music to anime including Weathering with You, Ranking of Kings, and JUJUTSU KAISEN 0. King Gnu’s distinctive sound, built around heavy basslines, distorted vocals, brass accents, and addictive hooks, fits perfectly with the chaotic nature of Jujutsu Kaisen. Their music brings a frantic, unpredictable energy that mirrors the series’ darker arcs. For the Shibuya Incident, “SPECIALZ” takes on a darker, almost villainous tone, with its chaotic sound and imagery matching the destruction unfolding throughout the arc. For the Culling Game, “AIZO”, meaning “love and hate”, reflects the complicated relationships and brutal death matches at the heart of the arc. MAPPA’s animation further elevated both songs by matching their visuals to King Gnu’s experimental style, making “SPECIALZ” and “AIZO” feel less like openings and more like musical extensions of their respective arcs. King Gnu delivered peak twice, but which one do you prefer: “SPECIALZ” or “AIZO”?

‘DEMON SLAYER: INFINITY CASTLE’ is officially coming to Netflix in the U.S. and other regions on September 28. The first film in the Infinity Castle trilogy dominated theaters after its 2025 release, remaining in U.S. theaters for nine months and taking an entire year to receive its first official digital release. After initially being exclusive to Crunchyroll following its digital release in July, Demon Slater: Infinity Castle is now expanding to Netflix in the U.S. and other regions, following its earlier availability on Netflix in select Asian regions. Meanwhile, ‘INFINITY CASTLE Part 2’ is already in the works, but no release window, promotional material, or production staff have been revealed yet.

BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War’s latest episode has become the lowest-rated episode of the season so far. The episode’s rating has dropped to 8.3, below every previous episode of the season. While many fans praised the episode, others were disappointed by its pacing and buildup, particularly after weeks of anticipation surrounding Aizen’s return. For some viewers, the long-awaited moment simply didn’t have the impact they were expecting.