Fire Force Season 3 & My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Lead the Season

One of the biggest highlights of the Spring 2025 anime season is the highly anticipated return of Fire Force for its third season. Fans have been waiting for YEARS for more fire fighting action, and the wait is finally over.

Also, the long-awaited adaptation of My Hero Academia: Vigilantes is set to premiere, bringing the beloved prequel manga to life. This spin-off dives into the underground world of heroes before the events of My Hero Academia. With the final season of MHA right around the corner, this is a nice side journey to scratch that itch in the meantime.

Full List of Crunchyroll Spring 2025 Anime

Below is a complete list of the anime announced so far coming to Crunchyroll this spring, along with their premiere dates and available dubs.

What to Watch This Season?

With so many anime premieres this spring, it can be hard to decide what to watch first! Here are some recommendations based on different interests:

• For action fans: Fire Force Season 3, My Hero Academia: Vigilantes, The Beginning After the End
• For isekai lovers: I’ve Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed Out My Level Season 2, The Too-Perfect Saint
• For romance enthusiasts: Can a Boy-Girl Friendship Survive?
• For classic anime fans: Black Butler -Emerald Witch Arc-, One Piece: Egghead Arc Part 2

Stay Tuned for More Anime Updates

Crunchyroll’s Spring 2025 lineup is packed with amazing titles, and there may still be more surprises in store. Be sure to bookmark this page as we’ll update it with any new announcements!

Which anime are you most excited for this season? Let us know in the comments!

Looking for more to read between episodes? Check out our ever-growing collection of diverse manga. HIT THAT LINK BELOW!

The post Crunchyroll Spring 2025 Anime Lineup: Every Show Announced So Far appeared first on Saturday AM.

We were extra thrilled to see that Underground Vol. 1 , by our very own JR De Bard was featured in one of the articles! He was recently awarded the bronze award for the 18th Annual Japan Manga Awards.  We were so proud of his work so it was awesome to see his accomplishment recognized.  They even highlighted the newly released Orisha Vol. 1 on top of it.

Our publisher took to social media to share his appreciation for the shoutout:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Saturday AM – Try Our App (@saturday_am)

Thanks to ICv2 for showing our titles some love.  Go check out this article, and more over on their website HERE.  Happy Manga Week!

And if you haven’t already, grab a copy of the epic, action-packed Underground Vol 1. AVAILABLE NOW! 

The post Underground Gets the Spotlight in ICv2’s Manga Week 2025! appeared first on Saturday AM.

Saturday AM: What influences have had the greatest impact on your current art style? What are you currently improving with your art?

Nodowdy: Oh my God, so many I guess the largest one for a while was work done by Kohei Horikoshi, Atsushi Ohkubo, obviously Gege Akutami, and Hiroyuki Imaishi from studio trigger are what comes to mind! That’s what I’m currently improving. I could always improve more with my anatomy. As well as improving on using grayscale instead of full color because the transition between the two is a little more difficult sometimes when I’m using grayscale or half tones in a manga style because I’m so used to doing colors, the pages end up looking a bit overstimulated is the best way I can describe it. For example, one of the things I learned when it comes to using the manga art style is less is more when it comes to shading and half tones, etc..

Saturday AM: How do you approach the process creating art, and what challenges have you faced in honing your craft?

Nodowdy: For me, I always end up drawing something that stems from two questions is it funny to me or is it cool when you go through my feed usually you’ll see stuff that for the most part, I think it’s cool but sometimes I’ll draw something simple because the idea came to my mind and it made me laugh. One thing I hate is creating art because I have to not because I want to. Like my goal is always to find some sense of joy out of what I’m doing because then otherwise I don’t really want to do it and I’ll drag my feet. I hate feeling like I have to force it.

You can check out his art and the rest of the interview here in issue #169!

https://app.saturday-am.com/#/reader/527443/1907417

The post NODOWDY ABOUTY INTERVIEW appeared first on Saturday AM.

If you’re black like me, every day is a celebration of being black as hell. Being black has such a powerful connotation; there’s so much richness in black culture. But there will always be someone who has something to say just because they see a black person getting their flowers.

The trolls, the microaggressions, and backhanded compliments are a part of the black experience. Our election is a prime example. Saturday AM is a prime example of folks hating on our primary goal of promoting diversity.

I can count on my hand how many black characters I’ve seen that are the main characters and not in a supporting role. When black characters do receive a lead position they receive an enormous amount of backlash. Look at Halle Bailey as Ariel in The Little Mermaid, the director himself chose Halle. Take a look at our very own Clock Striker, manga’s first-ever black female shonen character (might I add has won a 2024 YASLA award) someone white-washed her on Twitter proving our point. A black artist changed the race of Dandadan’s two main characters just for funsies and might I add Okarun is voiced by a black man himself. Twitter users were splitting their wigs. So, what’s tea? 

Find out more in our latest issue of Saturday AM #169!

https://app.saturday-am.com/#/reader/527443/1907417

The post Black Main Characters: Whats the Controversy? appeared first on Saturday AM.

A Promising Premiere

This series had an incredible premiere, to say the least. As I mentioned in my episode 1 review, the show hit the ground running. The tone and atmosphere of that first episode truly nailed what fans had hoped for in this adaptation of Junji Ito’s work. The monochromatic color palette, the manga-like aesthetic, and the nightmare-inducing body horror all landed perfectly.

Missteps and Quality Concerns

Then came episode 2… which, in a word, took steps in the wrong direction and hinted at what may have gone awry behind the scenes. There were noticeable dips in animation quality, especially in a scene where two young lovers from Kirie’s class run across the beach, desperately trying to escape from their overbearing families who want to tear them apart. The running animation is so clunky and out of sync that it’s hard not to laugh—it immediately pulls you out of what’s meant to be a dramatic, tense moment.

Pacing and Story Limitations

With episode 2, it also became clear that the show’s pacing and limited four-episode run might become an issue. The original manga contains so many events, it would be nearly impossible to fit them all into such a short amount of time. Needless to say, some impactful moments were glazed over for the sake of time.

Not so Smooth Sailing

Since the show aired, there’s been much speculation about the unexpected drop in quality, with many suggesting that higher-up interference may have played a role. Content creator Mother’s Basement had also pointed out in his recent video that one major delay occurred soon after the WarnerMedia and Discovery merger—hinting that CEO David Zaslav may be partly to blame. Animation director Henry Thurlow even shared his thoughts in a recent Twitter thread about what he believes may have happened:

5/6 …As for the Uzumaki production, at the end of the day it’s almost certainly *some* western producer’s fault. “This is taking too long so force some other studio to finish it I don’t care what it looks like.” I’d bet everything I have that’s how it went down. …

— Henry Thurlow (@henry_thurlow) October 9, 2024

Even more damning, in a now-deleted Twitter thread Jason DeMarco, Adult Swim’s senior vice president of anime, stated in a somewhat cryptic message that Uzumaki was expected to fail after a sudden ultimatum was pushed onto the team.

Whatever happened—whether due to budget cuts, stone walling from higher-ups, or Production I.G biting off more than it could chew with all of its other projects—I think we can all agree it’s a shame the final result had to suffer as it did.

What the Adaptation Got Right

Despite the animation issues and the show’s short runtime, I believe the adaptation succeeded in some areas. The story remained largely faithful to the source material, aside from the ending. There were also some fantastic scenes that were still entertaining to see on screen, like the horrifying hospital sequence. Also the score for the show was amazing – the flutes and off-kilter music were truly unsettling and eerie.

All in all, I’m happy we finally got to see Uzumaki: Spiral into Horror completed, even if it felt a bit like a bait and switch. It seems like, for now, the curse of Junji Ito’s anime adaptations still stands, but this, by far, has been the closest we’ve gotten to a series capturing the true energy behind his mesmerizing work.

But what did you all think of the series? Did you enjoy the ride? Let us know in the comments below!

Need a palette cleanser after all that grotesquerie? Check out our diverse catalog of amazing manga! HIT THAT LINK BELOW

The post Uzumaki: An Unraveling 5 Years in the Making appeared first on Saturday AM.

They discussed the ever growing international manga scene, highlighting popular titles from outside Japan like Tony Valente’s RADIANT & DREAMLAND by Reno Lemaire out of France. Then there’s SPAIN’s GRYPHON by Luis Montes, & Germany’s GOLDFISCH by Nana Yaa.

“Saturday AM offers a very diverse portfolio of titles and creators emanating from as far field as Nigeria, Brazil, Denmark, France and North America. These creators are also influencers in their own right. One of SaturdayAM’s biggest titles is Apple Black. Created by Odunze Oguguo, who goes by the name @whytmanga on Instagram where he has amassed over 136,000 followers. Oguguo is Nigerian, one of MyFutprint’s founders and he currently resides in North Texas

Clock Striker is co-created by Frederick L. Jones and Isaka Galadima who is based in France and originally from the Repbulic of Niger. Isaka runs the Insta account @gladiskstudio. Clock Striker is a YALSA award winner for 2024 and TLA4 nominated book of the year for teen readers. Another new title to launch on the label is Gunhild by Fred Tornager. A strange and moving fantasy series that combines Tornager’s personal experiences growing up in Denmark as an adopted child from Colombia with their love of Nordic folklore.”

Jerome Mazandarani – Manga! Everyone is Doing it

Big thanks to Jerome for sitting down with us to converse about the growth of the diverse manga market. You can read the full article right HERE

HIT THAT LINK BELOW to read some of the fore mentioned Diverse Manga

The post Explore International Manga with Frederick L. Jones & Accidental Otaku appeared first on Saturday AM.

“Walker infuses the [manga] genre with some fresh perspectives, cultural references, and corny punchlines”

 

Check out the full article from SLJ right HERE 

Follow the boxer with a heart of gold! Dante’s adventure to save his friends’ souls and take on his greatest opponent yet —- the DEVIL!

GET SOUL BEAT VOL. 1 AVAILABLE NOW!

The post SLJ: Soul Beat Vol. 1 Review appeared first on Saturday AM.

Picking up after the titanic battle between the teenager Nilay Rao and seasoned assassin Gato, the World of GHOSTS, a secret society where select “players” can summon GHOSTS to fight battles, is in chaos! Nilay is not only the son of former decorated players, but he has acquired the mythical GHOSTS Vyper Neo, capable of unseating the balance of power of all royal players.

Comics Beat got a super secret exclusive first look at the new volume and hey so do you. 

Check out the Full Preview Right HERE

MAKE SURE TO PREORDER MMWOG VOL. 2 COMING June 25th 2024

The post Comics Beat: MMWOG VOL. 2 Sneak Peak appeared first on Saturday AM.

Diving Into the Plot

The series serves as an epilogue to the wondrous story of One Piece. We meet Luffy as he rounds up his pirate crew, setting their sights on the legendary treasure of Gol D. Roger somewhere along the Grand Line. As Luffy encounters new allies and adversaries, his unwavering ambition to be crowned “King of the Pirates” shines through.

A Vivid Reimagining

The show’s casting is impeccable. Each actor truly embodies their character – a commendable achievement given the original’s cartoonish and exaggerated designs. The meticulously crafted sets, practical effects, and vibrant environments transport viewers straight into the world of One Piece. And the fight sequences? Their choreography is nothing short of spectacular, resonating with the over-the-top action anime fans adore. The CGI further complements these scenes, making the exaggerated brawls feel incredibly lifelike.

Comparing Past Adaptations

Historically, anime and manga live-action adaptations have been a mixed bag. Some, like Netflix’s Death Note and Cowboy Bebop, were met with skepticism and disappointment. These missteps often arose from altering the narrative or not staying true to the source material. One Piece isn’t entirely free from these challenges, as certain events from the original are absent, possibly due to runtime constraints or a desire to highlight the most thrilling early series moments. However, the dedication and respect for the source material are evident. While not perfect, this adaptation sets a new standard for future projects and distances itself from past failed attempts. Could this signal the end of lackluster live-action adaptations?

So, is the era of underwhelming live-action anime behind us? Share your thoughts in the comments below! And if you’re a One Piece fan, consider exploring HAMMER by Jeyodin. He often cites One Piece and its creator, Eiichiro Oda, as significant inspirations for his work. Don’t miss out!

VOLUMES 1 – 3 AVAILABLE NOW FIND OUT MORE!

The post A Fresh Take on One Piece: Has Netflix Finally Broken the Live-Action Anime Curse? appeared first on Saturday AM.

Imagine the shock when Naruto and Hinata are whisked away to another dimension by Kawaki, supposedly for safety. Eida, totally in the dark about Kawaki’s real intent, unlocks her new omnipotence powers, reshaping the memories of Leaf Village’s inhabitants. Suddenly, everyone’s convinced that Kawaki is Naruto and Hinata’s genuine offspring, while Boruto stands accused of their horrifying murders.

Interestingly, just as they were resistant to her charm, Sadara and Sumire appear unaffected by Eida’s newfound omnipotence jutsu. Even as Shikamaru shouts for Boruto’s capture, Sadara pushes Sasuke to help Boruto flee. Initially skeptical, he chooses to trust Sadara’s judgment and assists Boruto.

Character Glow-ups & Plot Twists

Three years on, Leaf Village remains ensnared by Eida’s Jutsu. Sadara, ever-determined, strives to convince the rest, including Hokage Shikamaru, to give Boruto a fair shot at proving himself innocent. Her efforts, for now, seem futile. But oh, the glow-ups! Our young ninjas, especially Sadara, Kawaki, and Himawari, have transformed. Sadara flaunts a chic streetwear vibe, Kawaki rocks a new trench coat with his emblem, and Himawari? She’s Hinata’s spitting image! – That’s just to name a few!

Tension grips the village as Boruto remains elusive. As claw marks appear around town, it’s clear Code’s lurking. His crafty strategy? Use a resident to unleash a monster attack, aiming to draw out Boruto.

The Grand Return of Boruto

Code’s ploy hits the mark. After a three-year absence, Boruto dives into action, landing smack on Code and quipping, “It’s that kind of twisted thinking that gives girls the creeps.” Our hero’s new look? Total Sasuke vibes! Sporting predominantly black gear and a red-and-black cloak, Boruto brandishes a sword much like Sasuke’s katana.

This explosive comeback concludes the chapter, leaving readers on the edge of their seats. Talk about a kickstart to the series! We can’t wait to uncover what’s next.

Where can you read the Chapter?

Dive into chapter 01 of BORUTO: TWO BLUE VORTEX and its official translation HERE at Viz or Manga Plus Share your thoughts! And if you want to get your Shonen fix, don’t forget to explore our exciting Graphic Novels LINKED BELOW!

The post The Time Skip We’ve Been Waiting For: Unraveling ‘Boruto: Two Blue Vortex appeared first on Saturday AM.