Everything My Hero Academia Fans Need to Know About the Movies

By now, almost everyone in the anime fandom knows at least the basics of the My Hero Academia anime, based on author Kohei Horikoshi's shonen manga of the same name. My Hero Academia is set in a wild future where everyone has superpowered Quirks, and the "academia" comes from the fact that protagonist Izuku Midoriya/Deku is a student at UA High School for heroes. The main story is still going strong with six anime seasons complete and the seventh My Hero Academia anime season right around the corner, but what about the movies?

Like many of its anime peers, such as Demon Slayer and Jujutsu Kaisen, the My Hero Academia anime has tie-in movies to expand the adventure even more. None of the My Hero Academia movies are absolutely essential to watch, but they are all well-regarded by the fandom and add some remarkable depth to the story, including new characters, Quirks, and themes to dig into. Any new or veteran My Hero Academia anime fan is encouraged to explore these tie-in movies and see what they can offer for fans.

My Hero Academia: Two Heroes is a Decent Tie-In Movie With Some Standout Characters

The first tie-in My Hero Academia movie, Two Heroes, might be the weakest of the three MHA movies so far, but it still holds up as a worthwhile watch for any fan of the franchise overall. In many ways, it's the same as older anime movies, which feel like obligatory spinoff adventures to give fans more of what they like and keep the franchise running on full steam. The main difference is that the three My Hero Academia movies are all canon, even if they feel like total spinoffs, which helps them feel more relevant and worthwhile. Thus, all the movies, starting with Two Heroes, have real contributions to make to the franchise and aren't just indulgent what-if adventures to keep fans happy between seasons.

The Two Heroes movie takes place fairly early in the story, since the symbol of peace, All Might, is still capable of using his muscle form and can fight with what remains of One For All in his body. More specifically, Two Heroes is set between the students-vs-teachers battles and the forest training camp arc with the Wild, Wild Pussycats. In the Two Heroes anime movie, protagonist Deku and a handful of his class 1-A friends end up on a high-tech artificial island known as I-Island, a place that Deku had been looking forward to visiting. There, he will briefly see new pro heroes, including a Godzilla hero in an Elvis Presley getup, and then he will meet the story's best Quirkless character, Melissa Shield.

Melissa is one of the best parts of My Hero Academia: Two Heroes since she represents the apex of the shrinking Quirkless population. She never felt bad about being Quirkless, and there's no evidence that she was bullied or mistreated about it, either. Instead, Melissa vowed to embrace science and technology to make support items for heroes, making her Mei Hatsume without the Zoom Quirk. Melissa is a hopeful, confident, and friendly person who gladly joins Deku and All Might on their quest to save I-Island from the villain Wolfram and his allies, and even if Melissa can't fight, she does help save the day in her own way. Much later in the My Hero Academia manga, Melissa Shield makes a brief cameo in the final fight, which is a major clue that the three My Hero Academia movies are indeed canon.

All Might, the Symbol of Peace himself, is the other main draw to My Hero Academia: Two Heroes. He isn't just Deku's defender and source of exposition in the movie; he is the co-lead. In this era of My Hero Academia, Deku still clings to All Might as a protector and coach, and it shows. A major plot development is All Might's escape from capture and his role in helping Deku defeat Wolfram in the final battle since it's a fight Deku cannot win alone. That fact sets Two Heroes apart from the next two movies, where Deku won't need a pro hero to bail him out of trouble. It's exciting to see Deku and All Might fighting Wolfram's final form side by side with One For All, but it also detracts from Deku's protagonist status. Fortunately, that will change as the movies and anime progress.

My Hero Academia: Heroes: Rising is an Excellent Ensemble Cast Adventure

The second My Hero Academia movie also takes place on a secluded island like Two Heroes, but otherwise, these two movies differ a great deal. This time, Deku has his entire class with him, not just a handful of friends, and there are no pro heroes around to support them. Class 1-A is reassured that Nabu Island is a peaceful place free of villains, and until the main antagonists arrive, that is indeed true. In this movie, the villain is a man named Nine, who wields the power of All For One and needs another Quirk to make his fighting style more sustainable. Thus, Nine arrives at Nabu Island and seeks out the Shimano family, ready to steal their Quirks to find a self-healing Quirk. With no pro heroes around to help, all of class 1-A must band together to face this incredible threat and save the day.

The overall My Hero Academia franchise is an ensemble adventure with a huge cast of heroes to follow, but in most story arcs, it's up to just a few major heroes to take the lead, while most of class 1-A and 1-B are sidelined. That led to some underdeveloped character arcs in the series, with Deku, Shoto, Ochaco, and Bakugo being the real stars; something similar happened in Two Heroes. By contrast, the Heroes: Rising movie really does juggle all of class 1-A and allows everyone to play a part, creating a true superhero team. Only a few times in the main anime does My Hero Academia go that far, such as class 1-A's battles in the provisional hero license exam and the battle against Gigantomachia in Season 6.

Plot-wise, Heroes: Rising doesn't accomplish that much, since Nine is defeated and totally written out of the story as the superfluous character he is. But even if Nine is just an excuse for more fight scenes, at least he enabled one of My Hero Academia's best and most iconic fights during Heroes: Rising's climax. In that movie, Deku couldn't defeat Nine alone in the final fight, so he broke new ground and actually shared One For All with Katsuki Bakugo, allowing the two rivals to use One For All at 100% and obliterate Nine once and for all. It's unlikely Bakugo will use One For All again, but the mere fact he did so proves what a trustworthy ally he is in Deku's eyes.

My Hero Academia: World Heroes Mission Dives Deeper Into the Meaning of Quirks and Humanity

The third and most recent tie-in movie, World Heroes Mission, ups the ante in a big way compared to Two Heroes and Heroes: Rising. While those first two missions focused on local and personal stakes, such as rescuing David Shield and protecting Nabu Island from Nine, the World Heroes Mission movie has global stakes, outdoing anything even the main anime has to offer. In My Hero Academia: World Heroes Mission, a villainous organization called Humarise is poised to strike; they're ready to use bombs in many different countries and wipe out all Quirk users. Humarise aims to restart humanity with no Quirks, viewing Quirks as a sickness to be cured from the human race. That "cure" comes at the price of 80% of the global population losing their lives.

It's up to a coalition of pro heroes and hero students to take down Humarise and disable those bombs in nations ranging from Japan and the United States to France and Singapore, but the real battle is fought between just three characters: Deku, Flect Turn, and Rody Soul. The latter is a new character and a civilian who lived as a rogue, but now, inspired by Deku, Rody Soul will help Deku confront Flect Turn and shut down his genocidal scheme before humanity faces its doom. Thus, World Heroes Mission not only has the greatest stakes out of all the movies but also the deepest themes. My Hero Academia isn't just a superhero adventure; it also asks serious questions about what would happen if almost everyone had X-Men-style powers and abilities. It wouldn't be fun — it would be confusing, chaotic, and challenging for all.

Already, the My Hero Academia anime has explored topics like the frequent discrimination against the Quirkless, the dreaded Quirk singularity, and the necessity of having villains in a society run by self-proclaimed pro heroes. The advent of Quirks changed everything for humanity ever since that glowing baby was born. While pro heroes fight to defend the innocent and uphold justice, the Quirk-based, hero-run society of tomorrow has serious systemic issues that no Detroit Smash can solve. World Heroes Mission dives deep into that thematic area. Is humanity actually twisted beyond recognition thanks to Quirks? Should the problematic existence of Quirks be eliminated, and at what price? What will the heroes say and do when disgruntled civilians reach critical mass about these systemic issues, resulting in the likes of Flect Turn and Humarise?

For now, World Heroes Mission is the most recent My Hero Academia tie-in movie and is set later in the story's chronology than the rest. That will soon change, with the fourth My Hero Academia movie on the horizon. Based on recent trailers, the story is about to go "dark," opening up some intriguing new possibilities about where this action-packed superhero adventure may go next.

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Roronoa Zoro Receives Official One Piece Prequel

After nearly 30 years of publication, the One Piece manga by Eiichiro Oda has established a rich world filled with many characters worth exploring. An upcoming prequel release will examine the past of former Pirate Hunter Roronoa Zoro.

News broke on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) that the One Piece series will release a light novel prequel dedicated to Monkey D. Luffy's second-in-command. As reported by Shonen Jump News, the new One Piece light novel will be called ZORO - Josho Sasakaze and focus on Zoro's early adventures before becoming a member of the Straw Hat Pirates. X user @/MoonGod_Zika states that the Zoro light novel will be written by Jun Esaka with illustrations by Nakamaru.

Esaka is an accomplished light novel writer who has worked on Naruto with releases like Naruto Shinden and the Naruto Retsuden series. Previously, Esaka penned the female-driven One Piece novel HEROINES, which features Nami, Nico Robin, Boa Hancock, Uta and more. Esaka also worked on the One Piece novel Odyssey, a literary adaptation of the One Piece Odyssey video game coming soon for the Nintendo Switch. Nakamaru also worked with Esaka on the light novel adaptation as an illustrator.

One Piece's Upcoming Release Will Include a Poster and Stickers for Zoro and Sanji Fans

Additionally, ONE PIECE Magazine Vol. 18 "will be a Special 'Wings' feature for Zoro and Sanji," including a special poster, in-depth character information and stickers. Sanji, the playboy chef of the Straw Hat Pirates, recently received a spinoff manga of his own from the creative team behind Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma. One Piece: Shokugeki no Sanji, currently available in English by Viz Media, explores various points in Sanji's life before and after he became a pirate. One chapter explores Sanji's history at the Baratie restaurant with his father figure "Red-Leg Zeff," while another chapter presents his perspective during the "Arabasta Arc."

Before the announcement of ZORO - Josho Sasakaze, the One Piece series explored Zoro's past in a way through the anime adaptation of Monsters. Monsters is a one-shot manga by Oda that's set in the world of One Piece but years before Luffy sets off to become King of the Pirates. The story tells the tale of legendary samurai Shimotsuki Ryuma slaying the dragon that would make him renowned throughout the world.

Ryuma was introduced in the One Piece modern timeline as a zombie being manipulated by Gecko Moria in the "Thriller Bark Arc." Zoro defeats Ryuma and is rewarded with a "Black Blade" sword named Shusui by the undead samurai. Oda revealed in One Piece Volume 105 that Zoro is a descendant of Ryuma and the Shimotsuki clan from Wano Country. The connection between the two is made more obvious in the Netflix anime, as the special is narrated by Kazuya Nakai, the Japanese voice actor for Zoro.

Source: X (formerly Twitter)

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Every Standalone Sailor Moon Movie, Ranked

Sailor Moon is an epic saga about a middle school student turned superhero who fights for love and justice, in the name of the Moon. There are five seasons in the original Sailor Moon anime, and three seasons in the anime reboot, Sailor Moon Crystal. There are also two movies between seasons in the original anime series.

Sailor Moon Crystal also has two related, two-part movies, each with its own encapsulated story arc. Some of the Sailor Moon movies are filler arcs, and some tie in with the major plot of the series, but they all cover a story arc in its entirety. All five movies are worth watching, but some have higher production quality, poignant writing, engaging themes, catchy music, and gorgeous animation.

5 The Sailor Senshi Fight an Elegant Fairy Tale Villain in Sailor Moon S: The Movie, Hearts in Ice

Sailor Moon S: The Movie, Hearts in Ice gives a Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale the magical girl treatment. The central villain, Princess Snow Kaguya, is directly inspired by the villain in Anderson's "The Snow Queen." Rather than wanting to steal away someone's childhood friend, like in the original fairy tale, Princess Snow Kaguya wants to freeze the Earth over, entering it into a second Ice Age. Armed with her beautiful and threatening Snow Dancers, all Princess Snow Kaguya needs is a comet fragment to make her catastrophic dreams come true.

Hearts in Ice is a filler arc movie. The animation is very pretty, and the concept is both elegant and humorous, but the story isn't quite as epic as other Sailor Moon movies. It's more of a sweet, holiday-themed anime interlude with medium-high stakes. Though Princess Snow Kaguya's story is a filler arc that doesn't advance the central plot of the story, it is based on a canon short story in the Sailor Moon universe by Naoko Takeuchi: "Princess Kaguya's Lover." Though Tuxedo Mask has some humorous cameos and Luna has a bittersweet love story, the villains are what make Hearts in Ice shine. Takeuchi draws from many epochs of folklore and artwork to inspire her manga. Princess Snow Kaguya's design is inspired by an Art Deco antique piece, and dancerlike German china figures inspire her Snow Dancer designs.

4 Chibiusa Gets Trapped in a Nightmare in Sailor Moon SuperS: The Movie, Black Dream Hole

Sailor Moon SuperS: The Movie, Black Dream Hole has the same '90s cel animation from the original series and very smooth and dreamy colors. So many fans enjoy the blue- and pink-wash Sailor Moon aesthetic and this movie really captures that feeling from start to finish. The villains are threatening in a surreal and beautiful way; the evil Queen Badiane looks like a vampiric goddess and her henchman, Poupelin, is deeply inspired by the fairy tale character, the Pied Piper of Hamelin.

Though Black Dream Hole is a filler movie, the central themes tie in with Sailor Moon Season Four, which takes place around the same time. Season Four's villains are circus-inspired (the Dead Moon Circus), which is very similar to Queen Badiane and the nightmare world she rules, made of broken dreams and twisted fairy tales. The story isn't directly adapted from any Naoko Takeuchi manga or short story, but she did work closely with SuperS anime writers to craft the overall concept, especially for the villains. This movie is criminally underrated, perhaps because it focuses on Chibiusa, who many fans dislike. Disliking Chibiusa isn't very fair considering that she's a child with great responsibilities who is often terrorized by evil forces; avoiding stories about her means missing out on a gem like Black Dream Hole.

3 Sailor Moon Eternal Highlights the Outer Senshi & the Series' Best Magical Boys

Sailor Moon Eternal introduces so many great Sailor Moon events, like the Outer Senshi, and some of Sailor Moon's greatest abilities, like Starlight Honeymoon Therapy Kiss. The Outer Sailor Senshi are Sailor Neptune, Sailor Uranus, Sailor Pluto, and Sailor Saturn. Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune are huge fan favorites, and their talisman powers combined with Sailor Pluto's truly shine in Sailor Moon Eternal.

In the original anime, characters like Tuxedo Mask and Sailor Pluto tend to get shunted to the side, especially when it comes to big battles. Sailor Moon Eternal does a great job of balancing all the characters and their participation in Sailor Moon's battle against Queen Nehelenia. There are also some great magical boy moments. It's Naoko Takeuchi's rule that Sailor Senshi can only be girls, but that doesn't mean she didn't write some amazing magical boys. Pegasus, a.k.a. the priest, Helios, has a beautiful magical boy transformation as he turns from priest to Pegasus. Tuxedo Mask turns out to be integral, as he hosts his own powerful crystal. Everyone combines their powers — Inner Senshi, Outer Senshi, and Tuxedo Mask to assist Eternal Sailor Moon, and it's truly goosebump-inducing. And though there's still plenty of CGI animation in Sailor Moon Eternal, it does a better job of weaving it into the battle scenes than in the earlier parts of the Sailor Moon Crystal series.

As is tradition, this Sailor Moon movie incorporates some fairy tale themes and archetypes, but in a more subtle way than in the other movies; it's not an outright fairy tale retelling. Queen Nehelenia is Sailor Moon's dark double — she's a powerful ruler in her own right, and Nehelenia struggles with fears and insecurities, just like Sailor Moon does. They foil one another like Snow White and the Evil Queen do in the fairy tale "Snow White and the Seven Dwarves." Queen Nehelenia goes down the evil queen path because she gives in to her insecurities.

2 Sailor Moon Cosmos Digs Deep into Lore & Sailor Moon's Future

Sailor Moon Cosmos encapsulates the final Sailor Moon arc. This reboot version promises to dig deep into Sailor Moon's lore and the complicated implications for Sailor Moon's future. The original anime covered this arc in its final season, too, but it ignored and rewrote some of the more complex manga conclusions. Sailor Moon Cosmos promises to confront these complexities head-on.

Sailor Moon has many lighthearted and hopeful themes, like good triumphing over evil, compassion, healing, the power of friendship, teamwork, and selfless love. But to go along with those lofty, optimistic themes, the manga wasn't afraid to get dark and philosophical. A magical girl character destined to fight evil that never sleeps can be quite a lonely existence. Sailor Moon gets her fair share of happiness, like a romantic wedding, a future family, and support from her closest friends. With her great power and happiness, however, comes a mantle of responsibility so heavy that it would suffocate most.

Sailor Moon's final form, Sailor Cosmos, sparks a lot of fan debate, especially because the original anime tried to soften the meaning of Sailor Cosmos. Sailor Cosmos is powerful enough to fight evil, but being the most powerful means that she ultimately fights alone. Sailor Moon Cosmos fully leans into the glitter and the sadness in the Sailor Moon manga.

1 Sailor Moon R: The Movie, The Promise of the Rose Is Pure Romance

Sailor Moon R: The Movie, The Promise of the Rose is the very first Sailor Moon movie, and nothing beats it. It's the movie that fans reference the most. The settings and animation may not be as grandiose as in the reboot movies, but the cel animation is elegant and communicates the movie's bittersweet tone perfectly. The Promise of the Rose is an encapsulated filler storyline, but it sheds some light on key characters, like Tuxedo Mask.

Tuxedo Mask lost his parents and most of his memories at a young age, and The Promise of the Rose explores some of those shadowy memories and how they influence the person he grows into. It also reveals some of his sweet backstory with Usagi when they were children. Sailor Moon R: The Movie, The Promise of the Rose follows the first Sailor Moon season finale, and even though it's just one feature-length movie, the finale feels just as epic and romantic as the Dark Kingdom arc finale.

Fiore makes an excellent, sympathetic villain with plant powers and a touching redemption arc. He's such a dynamic character that it almost feels like a shame that he's only in the one Sailor Moon movie. Interestingly, Naoko Takeuchi butted heads with anime staff over The Promise of the Rose, and the film was mostly written not by her but by Kunihiko Ikuhara. The movie keeps true to many of Naoko Takeuchi's central Sailor Moon themes, though, like love conquering all, swoon-worthy romance, complex villains, and healing and compassion over domination.

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Dragon Ball: Why Is Gohan Stronger Than Trunks?

Akira Toriyama's perennially popular manga/anime franchise Dragon Ball became a generational story by the start of Dragon Ball Z, with Goku and his wife Chi-Chi welcoming a son in Gohan. Revealed to be a hybrid of Saiyan and human genetics, Gohan demonstrated an immense amount of combat power from an early age, shocking his father during a battle against the evil Raditz. Upon learning of Gohan's unmatched potential, Vegeta even considered whether half-blood saiyans may be the key to creating Super Saiyans, long before Goku reached the form for the first time.

While DBZ would introduce another human-Saiyan hybrid in Trunks -- the son of Vegeta and Bulma -- Gohan would always have a significant edge as the strongest mixed-race Super Saiyan in the franchise to date. Despite them having similar genetic backgrounds, there are some things about Gohan and his background that made him surpass both Trunks and his future timeline counterpart, and that's highly unlikely to ever change.

Updated by Brett Cardaro, April 24, 2024: The gap between Gohan and Trunks' power has increased substantially, especially by the end of the Super Hero arc in Dragon Ball Super. Taking into account both Gohan and Trunks' newest transformations, this article has been updated with more relevant information as to what makes Gohan stronger than Trunks.

Trunks' Path to Strength in DBZ and Super

Trunks Underwent a Number of Transformations Through the Years That Kept Him on Par With the Other Z Fighters

The future timeline's Trunks was trained by an adult Gohan to battle androids that had devastated Earth and killed most of the Z Fighters after Goku succumbed to a terminal heart virus. While this timeline's Trunks showed potential, it wasn't until he was a teenager and fueled by grief over Gohan's death that he would become a Super Saiyan for the first time. Still no match for the androids himself, Future Trunks traveled to the prime DBZ timeline to save Goku from the virus while training to become even stronger. Despite this, the prime timeline Gohan became a Super Saiyan 2 roughly around the same age as Future Trunks had achieved his base Super Saiyan form, with Gohan being the most powerful Z Fighter for a time.

Seeing the power of mixed-race Saiyans firsthand, the prime timeline Vegeta trained his Trunks ever since the boy could walk to one day become just as strong as Gohan as part of his obsessive quest to surpass Goku's legacy. While this Trunks was able to transform into a Super Saiyan years earlier than his divergent timeline counterpart, Gohan consistently outpaced him as he reached new power levels, as seen towards the end of DBZ into the sequel anime series Dragon Ball Super.

How Gohan's Power Differs From Trunks'

Gohan's Power is on Another Level From Almost Any Other Saiyan in the Series, Trunks Included

What is the reason behind this gap between Trunks and Gohan's ability? Is it time spent training, or does it come down to genetics -- factoring in their respective mothers, Bulma and Chi-Chi. After all, Chi-Chi's background included martial arts training, especially in Dragon Ball, while Bulma took up more technological pursuits. Even in the series' more comical moments where Chi-Chi's rage comes out, she's often shown as strong in her own right. Still, while their mothers undoubtedly contributed to Gohan and Trunks' growth and potential, there is a significant factor that edges Gohan ahead.

The biggest reason behind Gohan becoming stronger than Trunks is that he had two separate power boosts outside conventional training that gave him a crucial edge. While on Namek, Gohan and Krillin both had their latent powers awakened by the Namekian elder Guru to aid them in the fight against Frieza. Years later, as an adult, Gohan would undergo a lengthy process by the Elder Kai, which similarly raised his combat potential -- unlocking the Mystic Gohan form -- later dubbed "Ultimate Gohan" by Goten and Trunks -- that was initially depicted as being on par with Super Saiyan 3.

By the time of Dragon Ball Super, Gohan revealed to his father that his Mystic transformation was separate from the traditional Super Saiyan progression, with untold levels of power waiting to be discovered. Mystic Gohan was able to spar with Goku while the latter was transformed into a Super Saiyan Blue, showcasing just how much stronger Gohan had become since the end of DBZ. The extent of Gohan's power became even clearer during the Super Hero Saga, when Gohan achieved the Gohan Beast Form. This is a transformation entirely unique to Gohan, which is likely the result of his unique half-saiyan heritage and his Ultimate Gohan form being combined. In his Beast form, Gohan was confirmed as being able to overpower Ultra Instinct Goku, making him the strongest of the Z Fighters once again.

While Future Trunks has had his own power-up via his Super Saiyan Rage transformation during the fight with Zamasu, that's still a largely traditional form that has been reached by other warriors in the series. Specifically, the canonical version of Broly, as first shown in Dragon Ball Super: Broly, appears to tap into a similar form of SSJ, as does Universe 6's Kale. Despite this impressive power-up, Trunks still pales in comparison to Gohan Beast.

Few Have Potential Like Gohan, But Trunks May Be One of Them

Present Timeline Trunks is Younger and More Inexperienced Than Gohan

While Gohan's power far surpasses both Future and Kid Trunks, his edge over Kid Trunks specifically can be explained by two factors. The first is that Trunks has far less real combat experience. Gohan was fighting terrifying alien threats since he was even younger than Goten and Trunks were during the Buu Saga, and he rarely got a break from fighting until he was in his teens. Trunks, on the other hand, has seen numerous times of peace, and he has even been kept off the battlefield along with Goten, largely due to the influence of their mothers.

The other main reason Gohan is stronger than Kid Trunks is that he hasn't slacked off on his training. This contrasts with both Goten and Trunks, who have largely had the kind of childhood which Gohan lost to the constant battles he was forced to take part in. Since Trunks is still quite a bit younger than Gohan, though, it's not outside the realm of possibility that he could still catch up eventually. After all, he and Goten did put up a fairly decent fight against Gohan's first two forms, as seen in Dragon Ball Super Chapter 103. However, Gotenks would have stood little chance if Gohan transformed into Gohan Beast.

Trunks is still one of the most formidable Z Fighters in the franchise, reaching Super Saiyan 2 by his return in Dragon Ball Super and achieving the Super Saiyan Rage form in his duel against merged Zamasu, but Gohan remains significantly stronger. The two processes that boosted Gohan not only catapulted him above the other mixed-race Super Saiyans but set him on a completely different path to power altogether. With Gohan reaching new forms of power which even Goku can't match, it doesn't appear that Trunks will catch up to the older Saiyan anytime soon.

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10 Darkest Tokyo Ghoul Villains

Tokyo Ghoul is a dark and twisted fantasy anime where humans live in fear of super-powered humanoids called ghouls that feed on humans to survive. When series protagonist Kaneki Ken survives an attack, he becomes a half-ghoul and finds that he must now consume flesh to survive like the wicked ghouls that humanity has grown to hate.

With such a morbid premise, it's no surprise that Tokyo Ghoul is a controversial anime that's been banned in several countries, and its dark story often comments on and criticizes the nature of humanity. This allows Tokyo Ghoul's villains to go beyond mere mindless flesh-eating monsters, and the darkest villains are some of the series' most complex, adding valuable layers and intricacy to the story when it needs it most.

10 Kanae von Rosewald's Name Comes From Her Tragic Backstory

Born Karren von Rosewald, Kanae is one of Tokyo Ghoul's many characters with a tragic backstory, and she is the last survivor of her family after they were exterminated by Matsuri Washuu. Karen was then forced into servitude by the Tsukiyama family, where she pretended to be a boy and used the name Kanae. She derived the name Kanae by combining the initials of her family members as a beautiful and tragic homage to her fallen family.

Later in the series, Kanae falls victim to Eto, one of Tokyo Ghoul's many Owls, and she endured terrible torture as a result. Kanae may have been one of the series' cannibalistic ghouls, but her sad and complex backstory makes it hard not to feel pity for her.

9 Noro was Eto's Guardian and Subordinate

Tokyo Ghoul remains one of the scariest shonen anime, and characters like Noro are part of the reason why. Noro was a subordinate of the One-Eyed King and was previously a ghoul known as Noroi who raised Eto and eventually became her subordinate. As Eto's foster father, Noro was a surprisingly loving parent and cared greatly for her well-being.

Noro is known for being silent and deadly and was often unpredictably aggressive. Under his mask, it is revealed that Noro's decapitated head has no eyes or nose and takes on a truly terrifying mummified appearance, making him one of the series' creepiest villains.

8 Kishou Arima was a Twisted Double Agent

Kishou Arima was actually one of Tokyo Ghoul's Ghoul Investigators charged with eliminating ghouls and protecting Japan's citizens. He was known as the "Reaper" and revered as the undefeated ghoul investigator thanks to his impressive skills, but underneath it all, he was actually siding with the ghouls in a dark twist of events.

Despite often being depicted as a good guy, Arima was the One-Eyed King working with Eto Yoshimura, and he was a master manipulator throughout the series, bending both ghouls and humans to his will. Tokyo Ghoul regularly blends the line between hero and villain, and Arima playing a hero on both sides of the conflict between humans and ghouls is a prime example.

7 Roma Hoito was a Powerful Ghoul with a Split Personality

Roma Hoito may have an innocent-looking appearance in Tokyo Ghoul, but she's by far one of the most terrifying and strong characters in the entire series, especially when she takes on her terrifying Dodgy Mother form. At first glance, she may appear to be a ditzy waitress, but she can very easily switch off her innocent facade and turn into a sadistic and powerful ghoul.

Roma was the founder of Tokyo Ghoul's Clown gang, and she was also the Dodgy Mother, an SSS-ranked ghoul that fought the famed Tsuneyoshi Washuu in battle. When assuming her mighty Dodgy Mother form, Roma's evil cannibalistic nature is revealed — the polar opposite of her innocent appearance as a waitress in Anteiku.

6 Seidou Takizawa is a Lost Soul

Seidou Takizawa is one of Tokyo Ghoul's characters who went through a complicated journey that started with him as one of the admirable Ghoul Investigators. In a tragic turn of events, Takizawa became one of the anime's many villains who used to be good, with him turning into a one-eyed ghoul and member of the Aogiri Tree.

The ghoulification experiments Takizawa endured saw him transform into a villain and go after the good guys in the series, despite formerly being one himself. Eventually, he joined Ken Kaneki's Goat organization, which aims for coexistence between humans and ghouls — but Takizawa can never escape his dark past.

5 Yakumo Oomori References a Horror Movie Icon

Yakumo Oomori was one of the Aogiri Tree's executives and the founding leader of Tokyo Ghoul's White Suits gang. He went by the alias Yamori, but his dark and brutal love of violence earned him the nickname Jason after the iconic masked horror villain from Friday the 13th.

Yamori's mask pays homage to the legendary slasher film, and the dark and sadistic Tokyo Ghoul character lives up to the name of Jason. Yamori took advantage of Kaneki's regeneration and tortured him for his own pleasure, ironically becoming the reason Kaneki accepted himself as a Ghoul and embraced his transformation.

4 Tatara was One of Aogiri's Top Leaders

Tatara was one of the Aogiri Tree's leaders, working closely with the One-Eyed King and killing any and all of his enemies in cold blood. He consistently shows a lack of respect for the low-ranking members of the Aogiri Tree, considering them as disposable and referring to them as stray dogs, proving that even his own allies aren't safe from his villainous ways.

Tatara is an SS- ranked Ghoul, making him one of the highest rated Ghouls in the series and capable of unspeakable power. His evil deeds include mass murder, attempted genocide, cannibalism, and other acts of terrorism.

3 Eto Yoshimura is a Deadly One-Eyed Ghoul

Eto Yoshimura was the founding leader of Tokyo Ghoul's terror organization Aogiri Tree, the natural enemies of the CCG Ghoul Investigators. She is the One-Eyed Owl, being a half-human and half-ghoul, and she often hides her appearance in bandages that give her an eerie appearance coupled with her right eye kakugan.

Eto often finds joy in the suffering of others, especially the ghoul investigators who try to bring an end to her terror. She also possesses a sharp wit and incredible empathy — something she uses to her advantage for her malicious deeds, manipulating her victims and ensuring their suffering is never-ending.

2 Rize Kamishiro was a Gluttonous Femme Fatale

Rize may not have been a villainous character in Tokyo Ghoul from the start, but her evil deeds launched many of the series' most terrifying plot points, including her being the reason Ken Kaneki turned into a one-eyed ghoul. Her nickname was "Binge Eater," due to her gluttonous ways and the terrifying threat she posed to other ghouls, using her beauty to lure and charm her victims.

Later in the series, Rize would become the host for the Dragon, who was responsible for the ghoulification of Tokyo. This resulted in a confrontation between Kaneki and Rize that saw the former have to kill her to end the Dragon's mighty rampage, giving Rize one of the darkest and saddest deaths in Tokyo Ghoul.

1 Nimura Furuta's Aliases Hid His Villainous Deeds

Nimura Furuta was the Rank 1 Ghoul Investigator and former Bureau Director of the CCG in Tokyo Ghoul, but as the series went on, it was revealed he was actually the primary antagonist of the entire series. His real name was Kichimura Washuu, and Furuta used many aliases to hide his devilish deeds and keep them hidden until the end of the series, making it a thrilling ride.

Furuta ended up being a master manipulator, and he frequently used his high-ranking status to further his evil agenda. He was a sadistic genius whose crimes included genocide, torture, treason, and killing his own father, Tsuneyoshi Washuu. As the evil mastermind behind much of Tokyo Ghoul's story, Furuta is not just a wicked sadist, but also the darkest character in the entire series, but fans had to wait until the very end to see just how dark and wicked he truly was.

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10 Best Naruto: Shippuden Filler Episodes, Ranked

Filler episodes in anime are generally regarded as skippable by viewers. Many choose to skip any and all episodes that contain filler content, as they don't feel it's relevant to the story and take away the impact from interrupted, high-stakes moments. Naruto also has an absurd amount of filler to get through; both classic Naruto and Naruto: Shippuden are a whopping forty-one percent filler, and some of it can definitely be skipped.

Some of Naruto: Shippuden's filler episodes have interesting premises, meaningful character moments, or genuinely entertaining plotlines that make them well worth watching, despite being non-canon. The prologue to Naruto's highly-regarded Road to Ninja movie and the follow-up to the classic Naruto filler episode where Team Seven tries to peer under their sensei's mask are two of several great non-canon episodes that still deserve a watch.

10 Sora's Father And His Army Wage War On The Hidden Leaf Village

Naruto: Shippuden Episode 65: "Lockdown Of Darkness"

"Lockdown of Darkness" is the twelfth episode of Naruto: Shippuden's Twelve Guardian Ninja arc, focusing on Sora, a child who has traces of the Nine-Tails' chakra, making him a partial Jinchuriki. Sora's father, Kazuma, is alive and well as this arc's antagonist, returning after trying to assassinate Konohagakure's head to wage war against the village. Going under the alias Furido, Sora's father and his underlings, which include reanimated zombie ninja, begin their assault.

While the village panics as the attack mounts, Sora tries to leave the village and is stopped by Naruto, who believes Sora was the one who attacked Lady Tsunade. Thankfully, Asuma arrives and realizes that something doesn't feel quite right, and they have to get to the bottom of things before it's too late. This is a tense episode going into the end of the Twelve Guardian Ninja arc, raising the stakes before the final showdown.

9 The Power Arc's Final Episode Is A Cinematic, Explosive Conclusion

Naruto: Shippuden Episode 295: "Power - Episode Final"

Naruto: Shippuden's Power arc is a six-episode, semi-filler arc that's animated closer to the style of a Naruto movie than a typical set of episodes. Tonika Village was wiped out by Kabuto and a group of reanimated ninja, and Team Kakashi is sent to investigate. The people of the village team up with Team Kakashi and Team Asuma to fight back not only Kabuto and his gang but Hidan as well.

Kabuto's group has access to a powerful cloning ability that allows a clone of Four-Tails Naruto to be created, which eventually powers up into a fully-formed Nine-Tails version that nearly swallows the original. While trying to fight back against the clone's influence, Minato's voice urges Naruto on, which gives one of the children enough time to break through to Naruto and allow him to defeat his clone. It's always sweet to have Naruto's family mentioned in some way, and the animation in these episodes is top-notch.

8 Sai's Difficulties With Understanding And Working Through Emotions Are Highlighted

Naruto: Shippuden Episode 284: "The Helmet Splitter! Jinin Akebino"

Because of everything Sai's gone through, he has difficulty understanding and expressing emotions. This is a key part of his character when he's first introduced and comes up again in a later filler arc that's part of the Fourth Shinobi World War: Confrontation. In Naruto Shippuden's 284th episode, Sai and Rock Lee are tasked with sealing the reanimated shinobi by Kakashi, which ends up being an incredibly strenuous task for Sai.

Sai has to use emotional energy to use a special jutsu, but because he trained to suppress his emotions, this is incredibly difficult for him. He can be swallowed up by negative emotions if he isn't careful, and Sai comes to understand that he can feel negative emotions without being overwhelmed by them, which lets him use the technique. This episode marks a powerful moment of growth for Sai's character, and it's fun seeing Rock Lee act as his bodyguard.

7 The Bond Between Naruto And His Close Friends Is Heartwarmingly Showcased

Naruto: Shippuden Episode 311: "Prologue of Road to Ninja"

Naruto: Shippuden's 311th episode isn't part of a filler arc, but is rather a prologue episode to the Road to Ninja movie. The Akatsuki are briefly seen, using a telescope to look into Naruto's apartment and try to learn his desires, so they can use the Infinite Tsukuyomi against him. Naruto's alone in his apartment, entertaining himself by playing cards with his Shadow Clones. This showcases how his childhood loneliness still permeates into much of his life, but thankfully, a group of friends saves the day.

Rock Lee, Neji, Shino, Kiba, Shikamaru, and Choji all take Naruto to the bathhouse, although he's kicked out after a misunderstanding involving the women. Dejected, Naruto expects to spend the night alone in his apartment — but the guys show up to play cards with him. It's a heartwarming scene that stands in sharp contrast to the start of the episode where Naruto plays alone; it's a rare moment that showcases the relationship between him and the other male members of the Konoha Eleven.

6 Kakashi's Past With Minato And The ANBU Black Ops Is Revealed

Naruto: Shippuden Episode 350: "Minato's Death"

Kakashi has always been one of Naruto's fan-favorite characters, and any episode delving further into his backstory is a welcome one, whether it's canon or otherwise. In "Minato's Death," Kakashi is asked by Minato to guard Kushina, and he tells Rin the news afterward. He is unknowingly followed by Obito, though, who uses this information to unleash the Nine-Tails before it can be sealed inside Naruto and wreak destruction upon the village.

It's here that Hiruzen promises Kushina and Minato that he'll take care of Naruto after they're gone, in a heartbreaking scene. After they pass and Hiruzen takes over as the Third Hokage once again, Kakashi is recruited into Root by Danzo. This is where he meets another ANBU member with the ability to use Wood Release, who turns out to be Yamato.

5 Team Seven's Formation Is Retold With Extra Details From Kakashi's POV

Naruto: Shippuden Episode 361: "Team 7"

"Team 7" is a fittingly-named recap episode that aired after detailing Kakashi's tragic past and his time in the ANBU and Root. "Team 7" goes over Kakashi meeting the members of Team Seven and performing the bell exercise with them. In addition to covering the bell exercise and Team Seven's first victory together, this episode includes additional details from Kakashi's point-of-view that make it worth watching, even for viewers who are intimately familiar with this early Naruto arc.

For one, when Kakashi is approached about becoming the sensei of a team, he's hesitant — and it's the fact that Naruto is Minato's son that piques Kakashi's interest. This episode also shows the reason why Kakashi was late for his first meeting with Team Seven; he was spending time at the Memorial Stone honoring his fallen comrades and exchanging words with Yamato before heading off to meet his team.

4 Fans Finally Get To See Kakashi's True Face

Naruto: Shippuden Episode 469: "A Special Mission"

One of the best Naruto filler episodes involves Team Seven trying and failing to see what's under Kakashi's mask, and though they still fail in the Naruto: Shippuden follow-up episode, audiences finally get to see Kakashi's true face. Shikamaru tries to help Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke restrain Kakashi so they can look at his real face, along with a strange photographer named Sukea. Kakashi vanishes, actually a mere shadow clone, and Sukea is revealed to be the true Kakashi once he's alone.

Kakashi removes his disguise, enabling viewers to get a look at Kakashi's true face. This episode is a fantastic follow-up to the original, with plenty of the same wacky and frustrating hijinks from other characters that stop Naruto and company from completing their mission at every turn. This episode is smack-dab during the fight against Kaguya and makes for a more lighthearted breather.

3 This Semi-Filler Episode Ends With Madara's Monumental Reveal

Naruto: Shippuden Episode 321: "Reinforcements Arrive"

The end of Naruto: Shippuden's 321st episode, "Reinforcements Arrive," includes one of the series' most impactful canon moments. Much of what happens in this episode is skippable; Naruto and the others spend the episode tracking down a masked man who they believe to be Madara, and they're both mistaken and never find out who that other masked man actually is. This episode is worth watching just for the ending, though, as Madara is finally revealed.

Madara's domineering power is evident as he glares down, arms crossed — and though fans note this episode's animation quality is on the lower end, Madara still feels imposing and his entrance is impactful. The entirely canon episode after looks much better, and dives deep into the heart of matters, making "Reinforcements Arrive" a mostly filler episode that builds excitement for everything to come.

2 The Conflict Between Asura And Indra Is Further Delved Into

Naruto: Shippuden Episode 468: "The Successor"

Naruto: Shippuden's 468th episode is the final episode of Hagoromo explaining the history of Asura and Indra to the four Hokage; it also explains the connections their rivalry has with Naruto and Sasuke. Asura is chosen as Hagoromo's successor instead of Indra, and when Indra's followers suggest that they get on Hagoromo's good side, Indra doesn't hesitate to kill them.

Indra awakens the Mangyeko Sharingan and attacks Asura, but with the help of Hagoromo and the other followers, Asura can defeat Indra. Defeated but alive, Indra escapes and becomes obsessed with amassing power in a tale that sounds incredibly similar to Sasuke's abandonment of the Hidden Leaf Village in search of more power.

1 Itachi Awakens The Mangekyo Sharingan After His Close Friend's Death

Naruto: Shippuden Episode 358: "Coup d'Etat"

This Naruto: Shippuden filler episode delves into the past of Shisui and Itachi, and the events that lead to Itachi taking one of Shisui's eyes. Because of the abilities the Sharingan possesses, the Uchiha Clan is put under surveillance, suspected of being responsible for the Nine-Tailed Fox's attack. This only increases tension further, and Shisui gets permission to try to clear the suspicion surrounding the Uchiha name.

During a meeting with Danzo, Shisui's attacked by him and stops Danzo's attempt, but not before Danzo can steal one of his Sharingan eyes. After this, Shisui decides to entrust his other eye to Itachi, who's irreversibly transformed after his best friend's suicide and determined to honor his wishes. Getting to see more of Itachi's past is heartbreaking, helping fans empathize further with the older Uchiha sibling.

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Official One Piece Animator Teases Epic Garp & Koby Scene – Months Before the Episode's Release

The "Egghead" story arc in the One Piece manga continues its streak of epic moments as it sails toward its final destination. One highly-anticipated moment is already being teased by a fan-favorite animator for the anime TV series.

One Piece animator Katsumi Ishizuka uploaded a powerful illustration of Marine Vice Admiral Monkey D. Garp and Marine Captain Koby on the social media website X (formerly Twitter). The artwork shows a bruised but intimidating depiction of Koby, while Garp is behind him with his back toward the viewer. Both are in the middle of an all-or-nothing battle as flames consume the surrounding area. Ishizuka's artwork is inspired by a significant moment in the "Egghead" storyline in the manga.

One Piece Fans Eagerly Await Chapter 1088's Anime Adaptation

For fans who keep up with the One Piece manga, the moment being teased by Ishizuka's artwork comes from Chapter 1088, which features a heated confrontation between Garp and former Marine Admiral Kuzan -- who now works for the Blackbeard Pirates. The chapter in question also demonstrates Koby's incredible growth in power; a far cry from the fearful character that fans were introduced to in Episode 1 of the anime.

Like many moments in the "Egghead" arc, Chapter 1088 is an unforgettable experience that holds huge ramifications for the series moving forward. For anime fans, Ishizuka -- behind celebrated scenes like Roronoa Zoro vs. King the Conflagration and Trafalgar D. Water Law vs. Marshall D. Teach (Blackbeard) -- teasing the animated adaptation of this event is enough to declare it the best One Piece episode yet. This isn't even the first time Ishizuka has teased this story, as previous social media posts also featured dramatic illustrations of Garp and Koby.

Unfortunately for One Piece fans, at the current rate of the anime, it will be a few months before the TV series hits this point from the manga. However, the anime adaptation of the "Egghead" arc continues to woo fans with its engaging story and incredible animation. Episode 1100, "Powers on a Different Level! Luffy vs. Lucci," is currently the highest-rated episode in the series. Meanwhile, the ongoing manga by Eiichiro Oda continues its hectic escalation of action, excitement and revelations.

Source: X (formerly Twitter)

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10 Best Retro Dragon Ball Games, Ranked

Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball is one of the most successful anime and manga series of all time, but it’s managed to translate this success into an evergreen presence in the video game industry. More than 50 Dragon Ball video games have been produced since the series’ debut and a steady stream of content helped Toriyama’s series stay relevant during the anime and manga’s dark years. Dragon Ball games tackle a wide range of genres and modern titles beautifully capture the anime’s heightened energy and combat.

Recent Dragon Ball video games such as Dragon Ball FighterZ, Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot, and Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 are among the biggest and best games that the franchise has ever seen. Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO’s upcoming release also has plenty of lapsed gamers excited to jump back into a Dragon Ball title. That being said, it’s important to not forget the decades of retro titles that helped Dragon Ball video games get where they are today. These games might be on older hardware and lack the polish and precision of modern titles, but there are some exceptional retro Dragon Ball retro games out there that are still fun to play.

10 Dragon Ball Z: Collectible Card Game Translates Card-Based Chaos To The Game Boy Advance

Release Date: May 29, 2002; Console: Game Boy Advance

Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh! have set new standards when it comes to anime-based collectible card games, which have almost become a rite of passage for popular anime series. Everything from My Hero Academia to Mobile Suit Gundam has received a CCG, but it's always interesting when the card game's success facilitates a digital version of the experience. Dragon Ball Z: Collectible Card Game, much like Pokémon Trading Card Game for the Game Boy Color, distills the tangible CCG into a compelling video game.

Dragon Ball Z: Collectible Card Game features over 300 cards that span up to the CCG's Cell Saga expansion with gameplay that properly simulates the real thing. Dragon Ball Z: Collectible Card Game is a brilliant way for newcomers to get a taste of the CCG without having to shell out money for booster packs that may or may not contain new cards. The Game Boy Advance game merges the anime's kinetic combat with card-based battle and functionality with the Game Boy Advance's Link Cable, so players can trade cards and engage in battle with other humans, rather than exclusively facing CPU opponents.

9 Dragon Ball: Revenge Of King Piccolo Is An Action-Packed Love Letter To The Original Series

Release Date: October 20th, 2009; Console: Wii

For decades, Dragon Ball video games focused almost exclusively on Dragon Ball Z's story and characters. There was an exciting period when it felt like Dragon Ball Z had been tapped dry and there was greater value in exploring stories from its predecessor, Dragon Ball. Dragon Ball: Revenge of King Piccolo is a game that many audiences missed due to the fact that it was exclusive to Nintendo's Wii console. Revenge of King Piccolo is a beat-'em-up platformer akin to the Game Boy Advance's Dragon Ball: Advanced Adventure, but it's the stronger of the two titles. For one, Revenge of King Piccolo skips over Dragon Ball's introductory story material and instead focuses on the Red Ribbon and King Piccolo Sagas.

There's a surprisingly sophisticated yet simple combat style and an attractive 3D visual design that captures the magic of Akira Toriyama's source material. Revenge of King Piccolo has a strong story and mild RPG elements that deepen the gameplay, but there is also an abundance of hidden collectibles that incentivize repeated playthroughs. Revenge of King Piccolo also includes a robust multiplayer versus mode that features a varied roster that includes Spike the Devil Man, Bandages the Mummy, Grandpa Gohan, Drum, and even Dr. Slump's Arale.

8 Dragon Ball Z: Supersonic Warriors & Supersonic Warriors 2 Are Tight, Creative Fighting Games

Release Dates: June 22, 2004 (Supersonic Warriors), November 20, 2005 (Supesonic Warriors 2); Consoles: Game Boy Advance (Supersonic Warriors), Nintendo DS (Supersonic Warriors 2)

The Game Boy Advance’s Dragon Ball Z: Supersonic Warriors and its Nintendo DS sequel are handheld fighting games that cover the entirety of Dragon Ball Z and feature detailed combat and character systems that reward those who value strategy in their fighting games. The original game gives each character three distinct forms, while the sequel focuses on team battles where the player builds a team of three fighters.

There are more than a dozen playable characters in each of the Supersonic Warriors games, all of whom have original story modes instead of the same repetitive experience. These games, particularly Supersonic Warriors 2, go all out with the support players and have some surprisingly deep cuts, like Neko Majin Z from Toriyama's gag manga of the same name. One of the biggest selling points of both of these fighting games is the creative "What If?..." scenarios that they explore, which get into genuinely compelling ideas, like what if Meta-Cooler came to Earth and challenged Cell or what if Babidi made Piccolo Majin instead of Vegeta.

7 Dragon Ball: Origins & Origins 2 Give Dragon Ball A Zelda Makeover

Release Dates: November 4, 2008 (Origins), June 22, 2010 (Origins 2); Console: Nintendo DS

Dragon Ball: Origins and Origins 2 are a pair of Nintendo DS games that take the excellent action-adventure framework from the handheld console's The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass and translate it to the Dragon Ball world. These titles collectively cover up to the original Dragon Ball's Red Ribbon Army Saga and really celebrate the DS' dual touchscreen and stylus gameplay — although this has also led to the games remaining as Nintendo DS exclusives. The stylus leads to a very natural control scheme that makes combat and ki attacks a delight to deliver.

There's also clever incorporation of racing levels where Goku barrels ahead on the Flying Nimbus. Dragon Ball: Origins only features Goku as a playable character, but Origins 2 incorporates Bulma, Krillin, and Yamcha into the mix, as well as a satisfying two-player co-op mode. These are underrated DS games that get great mileage out of Dragon Ball and it's a shame that they haven't been ported to modern consoles. The Japanese version of Dragon Ball: Origins 2 even includes an emulated version of Shenlong no Nazo for the Famicom, the first Dragon Ball console game, as an excellent bonus.

6 Dragon Ball Z: Buyu Retsuden Is The Sega Genesis’ Standout DBZ Fighter

Release Date: April 1, 1994; Console: Sega Genesis

The '90s were full of Dragon Ball Z fighting games for the Super Nintendo. However, encouraging sales for the Sega Genesis — especially in Europe — created a demand for comparable content on Sega's 16-bit gaming console. The SNES benefitted from a trilogy of Super Butoden games, while Buyu Retsuden was developed as the Genesis' equivalent. Dragon Ball Z: Buyu Retsuden is a fairly standard one-on-one 2D fighter that borrows a lot from Street Fighter II and Mortal Kombat. It essentially operates like a remix of Super Butoden and Super Butoden 2.

Gameplay is nearly identical to the SNES games and the story, settings, and characters largely pull from Dragon Ball Z's Frieza and Cell Sagas. Buyu Retsuden slightly pales in comparison to the height of the Super Butoden series, but it's still a fun enough time for the Sega crowd. It’s also satisfying to have characters like Recoome and Captain Ginyu included in Buyu Retsuden’s 11-character roster.

5 Dragon Ball Z: Shin Butoden Is A Stellar 32-Bit Fighter With A Unique Bonus Mode

Release Date: November 17, 1995; Console: Sega Saturn

Dragon Ball Z: Ultimate Battle 22 was a popular 2D fighter for the PlayStation, albeit one that didn't receive much critical acclaim. The game's developer, TOSE Software, developed a counterpart for the Sega Saturn, Dragon Ball Z: Shin Butoden (also known as Dragon Ball Z: True Fighting Story), which is a worthy improvement. Shin Butoden benefits from the Sega Saturn's hardware and features detailed battle environments and crisp music.

The game's story mode only covers the Androids and Cell Games Saga, but the roster of 27 characters spans the entire series, including deeper cuts like Dabura, Shin, Zarbon, Master Roshi, and Great Saiyaman. Shin Butoden also includes a rather creative Mr. Satan Mode where the player bets on battles and cheats their way to success through the use of items like banana peels, mines, and dynamite. Ultimate Battle 22 still gets a lot of attention, but it’s Shin Butoden who’s the true 32-bit winner.

4 Dragon Ball Z: Super Butoden 2 Is The Peak Of Super Nintendo Fighting Games

Release Date: October 20, 2015; Console: Super Nintendo

The Super Nintendo's trilogy of Super Butoden games were an impressive benchmark for 2D anime fighters. The original Dragon Ball Z: Super Butoden is an ambitious game that spans from the Piccolo Jr. storyline all the way to the Cell Saga with many fresh features for a fighting game. That being said, Super Butoden 2 is an improvement in nearly every regard and the trilogy's apex.

The fighting game's mechanics get ironed out to be more agreeable and precise, plus the game's story mode features branching paths and multiple endings. Super Butoden 2 is one of the best-looking Super Nintendo games, and it was a big deal at the time for it to feature several movie characters, like Broly, Bojack, Zangya. Even Cell Jr. makes the cut. Unfortunately, Super Butoden 3 lacks a story mode and loses Piccolo from its roster, which is why Super Butoden 2 remains the franchise's strongest entry and a standout SNES fighter in general.

3 Dragon Ball Z: Hyper Dimension Is The Final Super Nintendo Dragon Ball Fighting Game – And The Best

Release Date: March 29, 1996; Console: Super Nintendo

Dragon Ball Z: Hyper Dimension is frequently considered to be the crowning achievement of Super Nintendo Dragon Ball fighting games that beautifully synthesizes everything that came before it. While not officially a Super Butoden game, Hyper Dimension was largely developed by most of the same team that worked on the previous SNES fighting series. Hyper Dimension is easily the most visually impressive Dragon Ball Z game for the Super Nintendo that benefits from its 1996 release date. Hyper Dimension incorporates many mechanics from not only the Super Butoden series but also Street Fighter II.

There's a customizable six-button control scheme that features special moves, meteor combos, and a new "Rush Battle System" that's activated when two ki attacks are triggered at the same time. Hyper Dimension also includes desperation moves that are activated when a character's health becomes exceedingly low. Hyper Dimension plays well and features an engaging story that begins with the Frieza Saga and concludes with Dragon Ball Z's ending. The only real concession is that the game's limited roster of ten characters focuses on the franchise's most popular fighters instead of a more creative selection of characters.

2 Dragon Ball Z: Legendary Super Warriors Is A Turn-Based Card Fighter That Punches Way Above Its Weight

Release Date: June 30, 2002; Console: Game Boy Color

There are many Dragon Ball games for Nintendo’s Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS. However, there’s a modest Game Boy Color game that’s still among the best Dragon Ball Z games of any generation. Dragon Ball Z: Legendary Super Warriors is a card-based strategy game that covers the entirety of Dragon Ball Z — including The History of Trunks special — and gives the player so much to do. Legendary Super Warriors features 125 cards and 48 playable characters (including transformations) that gives this Game Boy Color title incredible replay value.

Secret characters are unlocked under specific conditions. The player also has the luxury of using any character in story mode once they've beaten the game. It's particularly satisfying to put Super Saiyan 3 Goku up against Frieza, Nappa against Cell, or Captain Ginyu against Kid Buu. It's a truly fun game that rewards the player for their dedication. Despite being a Game Boy Color game, there are still multiplayer and battle modes available, too.

1 The Dragon Ball Z: Legacy Of Goku Trilogy Is A Masterpiece That Can Compete With Any Modern Title

Release Dates: May 14, 2002 (Legacy Of Goku), June 17, 2003 (Legacy Of Goku II), September 14, 2004 (Buu's Fury); Consoles: Game Boy Advance

The majority of Dragon Ball games were initially developed in Japan, only to then get localized to North America and Europe. The Legacy of Goku trilogy – Legacy of Goku, Legacy of Goku II, and Buu’s Fury – were a significant turning point in the sense that they were the first North American-developed Dragon Ball Z games. Buu’s Fury didn’t even get a release in Japan. These RPGs are such a love letter to the Dragon Ball franchise and they cover the entire series across three games, as well as incorporating several events and characters from Dragon Ball Z’s most popular movies, such as Cooler, Broly, and Janemba.

Webfoot Technologies does excellent work with the games’ sprites, battle mechanics, and gameplay. Legacy of Goku II and Buu’s Fury even feature Bruce Faulconer’s soundtrack from Dragon Ball Z’s English dub, which is incredibly nostalgic for many fans. The first Legacy of Goku just features Goku as a playable character. However, Legacy of Goku II and Buu’s Fury are much more ambitious with their rosters and they aren’t afraid to make Goku more of a casual inclusion, particularly in the Cell Saga-centric Legacy of Goku II. This trilogy of titles still holds up two decades later and many fans prefer it to the modern open-world Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot.

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10 Naruto Characters with the Best Style, Ranked

Over the years, Naruto has become one of the most well-known and beloved anime series around the world. Throughout Naruto, Shippuden, and Boruto, the Naruto franchise has always been praised for its character development and amazing storylines, with the show having some of the best character designs in anime, too.

Naruto has earned its status as one of the best anime of all time, and as the titular character goes on his adventures and meets a wide cast of characters, plenty of them have memorable fashion and style. Part of Naruto's charm comes from its fusion of different time periods into a unique world full of martial arts and jutsu, and the most stylish Naruto characters mix these elements into their designs to be truly unique and unforgettable.

10 Deidara's Flamboyant Style is Explosive

Deidara was a rogue ninja from the Hidden Stone Village, and he had a flamboyant style that matched his explosive personality and fighting style. He was an exceptionally smart ninja, often utilizing memorable clay explosives with a unique-looking mouth seal on his palm to unleash devastation.

Along with his bombs and interesting hand seal, Deidara's scope was another fashionable accessory in his arsenal that also served the practical function of enhancing his eyesight. Deidara may not have been Naruto's strongest warrior, but he was certainly one of the most stylish.

9 Shikamaru's Simple Style Matched His Personality

Shikamaru was one of the Hidden Leaf Village's shinobi from the Nara clan, and throughout the franchise he proved himself to be Naruto's most loyal and best friend. However, he was far from hardworking, and his natural laziness aligned perfectly with his laid-back sense of style.

Shikamaru often wore loose-fitting clothing that was simple but effective. He may not have been thinking outside the box with his style choices, but Shikamaru is always well-dressed and looking sharp, which perfectly matches his lazy but brilliant and loyal personality.

8 Madara's Regal Style Suits His Legendary Status

Madara was the legendary leader of the Uchiha Clan and is widely considered one of the most powerful characters in the Naruto franchise. He's quite a frightening man, and his imposing style complements his status as one of Naruto's most intimidating characters.

Madara's style was shown to be regal and bold, full of intricate patterns and accessories that matched his dark personality while also giving him a competitive edge in battle. He certainly always looked the part of an evil, yet legendary shinobi who would do anything — including defying death — to achieve his goals.

7 Neji's Modern Fashion Set Him Apart

As far as Naruto characters go, Neji's style is one of the few that is sleek and modern, feeling like it was inspired more by current fashion trends than anything else. Even years later, some of Neji's most memorable outfits in the series still feel fresh and exciting, with his neutral color palette being truly timeless.

Neji's unique style along with his confidence in his fighting skills and amazing Byakugan eyes make him one of Naruto's most striking warriors. While Neji's unfortunate death was necessary in the series, it was nonetheless a devastating loss of one of Naruto's most fashionable fighters.

6 Sakura's Style Matches Her Character Growth

While some Naruto fans have their reasons for disliking Sakura, it's hard to deny her elite style throughout the franchise. Another amazing part of Sakura's journey is how her style also reflects her growth as a character, with her fashion evolution seeing her go from a simple pink dress to a more practical ninja outfit as she hones her skills and becomes a more powerful ninja.

Even as she trains and becomes stronger, Sakura never loses her signature pink color palette, which does a fantastic job of setting her apart from the other ninjas in the series. Whether she's in leisurewear, a party dress, or her iconic sleeveless red outfit, Sakura's fashion in Naruto is always legendary.

5 Naruto's Baryon Mode Is Runway Ready

As the titular character of the franchise, Naruto's different outfits tend to reflect his extroverted and electric personality. His orange-accented clothes give a touch of flair to his style, but his recently revealed powerful Baryon Mode makes him look cooler than ever.

In Baryon Mode, Naruto's hair becomes spikier, and his clothes turn a darker shade of orange. Most striking of all, he dons a chakra cape with nine flowing fox tails that look like what you'd expect if the legendary Nine Tails were to be the inspiration for a fashion runway.

4 Hinata's Purple Attire Reflected Her Grace

Naruto and Hinata share plenty of cute moments in the Naruto franchise, and Hinata's soft purple color palette perfectly complements her graceful demeanor. No matter what kind of adventure she and Naruto are going on, Hinata's purple attire sets her apart from the rest of the series' characters.

While Hinata's Shippuden outfit remains one of her most iconic, her wedding dress remains her most beautiful look by far. Dressed in a traditional white outfit with red accents and a flower in her hair, Hinata never looked more gorgeous.

3 Kakashi's Style is Chic and Enigmatic

Kakashi is both a talented ninja and a respected leader, and his laid-back and mysterious style wonderfully matches his personality. He's independent and confident in his abilities, often choosing to be by himself rather than work with others, a trait that he expresses through his style by hiding most of his face.

While Kakashi usually wears pretty traditional ninja clothing, his famous face mask lends a touch of mystery to his appearance. This, along with his striking silver hair, makes him one of Naruto's most stylish and easily recognizable characters.

2 Itachi's Flowing Black Outfits Remain Legendary

Itachi was the Naruto ninja who massacred his own clan, and his legendary black outfits matched the appearance of a cold-blooded assassin. His long black hair, glowing red eyes, and unique fishnet shirt gave him a distinct style and a mysterious sense of elegance throughout the series.

In his younger days, Itachi joined the Anbu and donned an iconic mask that furthered his mysteriousness and unsettling appearance. After the series revealed more about Itachi and his backstory, he was redeemed from his days as a ruthless villain, resulting in him being one of the greatest and most stylish ninjas in the world of Naruto.

1 Sasuke's Style Evolution Makes Him an Anime Fashion Icon

Sasuke is the one character in the Naruto franchise that is constantly changing and pushing his style to new heights, and his outfits often reflect his cool and composed demeanor. Sasuke's outfits pair perfectly with his Sharingan eyes to create different looks that are both striking and stylish, making Naruto's rival quite the fashion icon. Sasuke is also one of very few Naruto characters who is unafraid to switch up the colors of his outfits, with his early wardrobe being black before shifting into shades of blue and dark purple.

Sasuke's many outfit changes throughout the series reflect his growth as a character on his journey from being a vengeful loner to a powerful and mature ninja warrior. His fashion sense remains stylish and functional, showcasing his brooding personality while remaining practical in battle, allowing him to train relentlessly to prove that he's a better ninja than Naruto. While the rivalry between the two may have ended with both characters realizing that they are more similarly skilled than either would like to admit, one thing's for sure: Sasuke's style beats Naruto's every time.

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One of Dragon Ball Creator Akira Toriyama's Final Designs Used for Home City's 20th Anniversary Logo

In January 2024, celebrated manga artist Akira Toriyama chose to create a brand-new logo for Kiyosu City in Japan's Aichi Prefecture. Now Kiyosu's leaders are honoring the late creator by using his logo to represent the region for its upcoming 20th anniversary celebration, which will be held in 2025.

Toriyama was originally approached to create Kiyosu's logo because of his personal ties to the area. As detailed on Kiyosu City's official website, Kiyosu City mayor Sumio Nagata presented Toriyama's completed design during a recent press conference regarding the city's future plans. As shown below, Toriyama's logo features a cute samurai character, likely inspired by the region's principal attraction, Kiyosu Castle. Created during Japan's Warring States Era, this structure is an ancient stronghold that is believed to have been used by the famous feudal lord Oda Nobunaga.

Akira Toriyama's Oda Nobunaga-Like Samurai Character Will Be a Legacy for His Home City

News of Akira Toriyama's death sent ripples of grief echoing across the artist's home nation, including Kiyosu. Shortly after his death, Nagata posted a farewell message on his city's behalf on Kiyosu's official X page. "We would like to express our deepest condolences upon hearing of the passing of Toriyama-sensei," Nagata wrote. "We would like to express our deepest respect for the professor's achievements and pray for the repose of his soul." Thankfully, Toriyama will continue to live on through his work, his Nobunaga-esque mascot acting as a personal ambassador for the city he loved. As detailed in a statement on Kiyosu's website, Kiyosu's 20th anniversary project will "look back on the achievements of those involved in town development in the past, foster a sense of unity among citizens...and form the foundation for Kiyosu City to make further progress in the future."

The Original Dragon Ball Is One of the Top-Selling Manga of All Time

Akira Toriyama is best known as the creator of the hit shonen franchise Dragon Ball, which began in November 1984 and has since touched the lives of millions of readers across the globe. The original Dragon Ball series is currently the fourth highest-selling manga title of all time, with over 260 million copies in circulation worldwide. Toriyama's bibliography also includes popular works like Dr. Slump, Sand Land, Go! Go! Ackman and many others. Prior to his death, he was working on both the Dragon Ball Super manga series alongside illustrator Toyotarou and on Toei Animation's upcoming anime series Dragon Ball Daima.

While Dragon Ball Super is currently on hiatus, the franchise recently confirmed that Super will eventually return to Shueisha's V-Jump magazine. On April 19, the official Dragon Ball website created a post that reads, "until the Dragon Ball Super manga returns to start its new story, Jump will feature illustrations and commentary from Toyotarou..." In no uncertain terms, this post assures fans that Super will run for at least one more arc. Additionally, Dragon Ball Daima is still slated to premiere in Fall 2024.

Dragon Ball, in addition to many of Toriyama's other works, is available in English from VIZ Media.

Sources: X (formerly Twitter), Kiyosu City official site

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