Hey, everyone!

Here’s what’s going in the world of Anime today:

• MAPPA fans get excited, because Mitsue Yamazaki is partnering with the studio for a new anime film about animators.

• Dragon Ball theme park teaser trailer released.

• We have yet another addition to the video game corner for anime lovers.

Zenshu, MAPPA’s look into the world of Animation

If you’re an anime fan, then chances are you’ve watched an anime produced by studio MAPPA. Whether it’s been big name titles like Attack on Titan and Jujutsu Kaisen, or more niche series like Banana Fish and Terror in Resonance, MAPPA’s produced something for everyone. With unmatched credibility and a strong emphasis on captivating visuals and OSTs, it’s no wonder the anime world is stuck in one long drumroll waiting for the release of Zenshu.

Zenshu is set to be an anime movie that delves into the complicated lives of animators and the struggles they must undergo to achieve success. With the first teaser trailer premiering as recently as March 22nd, 2024, (here on YouTube) we’ve yet to hear of a release date.

Since we have so little information to go off of, anime fans have taken to social media to speculate as to what Zenshu will be like and what prompted such a reflective project for Studio MAPPA. One popular comment on Twitter even said, “So MAPPA chose to tell their own story, huh?”

Speaking of the story, MAPPA has come together with Mitsue Yamazaki, famous for his directing in Attack on Titan, specifically in the latest season and the long-awaited finale. So get excited, because this anime movie’s going to have the visuals to draw you in, and the meticulously crafted plot to keep you around.

Hopefully Zenshu’s realism will hit close to home with anime fans and animators alike. But for now, all we can do it wait to hear more from our favorite studio.

Dragon Ball Theme Park Teaser Trailer Released

The Dragon Ball series has brought joy to adults and children alike through the screen since 1986. And now, after nearly forty years, the series is taking to the real world. After original creator Akira Toriyama’s recent passing, it’s since been announced that the first ever Dragon Ball themed amusement park will open in Saudi Arabia due to Qiddiya Investment Company cutting a deal with Toei Animation.

While the park has yet to begin construction, conceptually the design is quite progressed. The park’s teaser trailer has been released, showcasing a variety of rides and activities that can be found here.

An approximate opening date has yet to be announced by Qiddiya, but it can be assumed that we’re at least a few years away given the scale of the project, which will span over 500,000 square meters. It has been said, however, that Saudi Arabia wishes to use this theme park to prop up the economy in Riyadh and hopefully make it a “top global tourist destination by 2030.”

In the wake of such awful things, perhaps the Dragon Ball theme park will serve to keep Akira Toriyama’s legacy alive and bring more joy to all of his loving fans.

The anime where you’re the main character

If you’re an avid video game enjoyer, and have been for the last couple years, then you know the Final Fantasy series. The games are Japanese RPGs that range from turn based combat games to open world RPGs and massively multiplayer dungeon runners.

Final Fantasy XV was a turning point in the world of gaming, so for the sake of not boring you all we’re going to focus on this game. FFXV, much like other popular JRPGs like Genshin Impact or Nier: Automata, plays like an anime. Every movement is fluid. All the comedic quips and one-liners from the playable squad of four feels natural, witty, and in character.

The game follows prince Noctis Caelum and his best friends as they travel the kingdom so the prince can get married. Only things, as they always do in this game, go horribly awry. With fun and challenging combat combined with an amazingly cinematic telling of Noctis’s tragedy, it’s a no-brainer that this game would reach the heights that it did, grossing over $460 million and having 45 million+ downloads.

To be honest, a game this worthy of praise for the anime community is rare. The characters you play, and even the ones you don’t, clearly love each other. The main antagonists are menacing and their reasons for doing what they do are relatable. The combat flows freely and not a single input feels meaningless. Even the soundtrack is phenomenal, with dramatic cutscenes lasting a full song’s length to provide an emotional roller coaster of an experience. So, if you’re an anime fan and want to be the protagonist for once instead of just watching them, go buy Final Fantasy XV here on steam. For a taste of the magic, check out this video here.

Quiz Time!

In Final Fantasy XV, Noctis’s three companions’ names are?

1. Hiroki, Ignis, and Hakota

2. Cor, Prompto, and Hiroki

3. Ardyn, Hakota, and Cid

4. Gladio, Prompto, and Ignis

And the answer is…

Gladio, Prompto, and Ignis!

An Otaku’s Commentary