Hey, everyone!

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

• Mashle Manga Sales Surge Following Viral Season 2 Opening

• Guinness World Records Announces the World's Most Popular Anime

• Over 60,000 Minutes of Anime Unavailable in the U.S. After Crunchyroll Shuts Down Funimation

• My Hero Academia Goes "Dark" in Epic New Movie 4 Trailer

• Jujutsu Kaisen Releases Limited-Edition Gojo & Geto Watches for International Preorder

Meme of the Day

Mashle Sales Increase 10X After Viral Season 2 Opening

Mash Burnedead is dancing all the way to the bank. Following the conclusion of Mashle: Magic and Muscles Season 2 on March 30, 2024, the manga's sales skyrocketed mainly due to the widespread popularity of its new anime opening.

A Shonen Jump news outlet on X (formerly Twitter) shared details from Tsukuru Publishing company about the Hajime Komoto series. According to Tsukuru, digital volume sales for the Mashle manga surged over tenfold after the Season 2 anime release. The online sensation of "Bling-Bang-Bang-Born," the Season 2 anime opening by Creepy Nuts, is credited for this remarkable increase.

If you're unfamiliar, Mashle: Magic and Muscles chronicles the adventures of Mash Burnedead, a kind-hearted youth determined to overcome magical trials with his extraordinary strength at Easton Magic Academy. This action-packed comedy series draws comparisons to One-Punch Man and playfully parodies the wizarding genre epitomized by Harry Potter.

While Season 1 garnered a devoted fanbase and ranked among the top 10 pirated shows of 2023, Season 2 propelled Mashle into the mainstream. Social media influencers embraced "Bling-Bang-Bang-Born" for viral content on TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram, often recreating the anime's dance sequence. TikTok alone boasts over a million videos featuring "Bling-Bang-Bang-Born." You can watch both seasons on Crunchy Roll now.

The World's Most Popular Anime Announced

According to Guinness World Records, Jujutsu Kaisen has been officially recognized as the most sought-after anime series of 2023, based on global viewership and engagement metrics. Despite fierce competition from well-established favorites like Attack on Titan and One Piece, Jujutsu Kaisen clinched the top spot by a narrow margin.

The mainstream appeal of anime has surged in recent years, as demonstrated by Jujutsu Kaisen's rise to prominence. This anime adaptation of Gege Akutami's manga series surpassed popular TV shows like Loki, The Last of Us, Black Mirror, and The Witcher to claim the title of the most in-demand TV show of the year. Parrot Analytics, a leading global entertainment analytics consultancy, unveiled these rankings through Guinness World Records following an extensive study.

Fans can stream Jujutsu Kaisen on Crunchyroll, while the manga is available in English through Viz Media. You can read more here.

Over 60,000 Minutes of Anime Unavailable in the U.S. After Crunchyroll Shuts Down Funimation

After Funimation's services were terminated, fans noticed the absence of nearly 200 anime and live-action films and series upon switching to Crunchyroll. As of April 4, this accounts for over 60,000 minutes of anime content that has not yet been transferred.

The delay in transitioning these titles may be attributed to existing licensing agreements between the content creators and Funimation rather than Crunchyroll. While the specifics remain uncertain, it is plausible that Crunchyroll is actively working on migrating some of these series over in the foreseeable future. You can read more here.

My Hero Academia Goes "Dark" in New Movie Trailer

Ahead of its release on August 2, 2024, My Hero Academia Movie 4: You're Next has unveiled an exciting new trailer. This visually stunning preview introduces the film's new antagonist, Dark Might, and his criminal organization. Iconic heroes like Endeavour and Class 1-A students, including Ochaco, Bakugo, Todoroki, and Deku, are showcased, with Deku boldly declaring, "The likes of you could never be All Might!" The trailer concludes with Dark Might, voiced by Kenta Miyake, proclaiming the emergence of a new symbol to replace All Might's Symbol of Peace, emphasizing the film's release date. Watch the official trailer on Toho Animation's YouTube channel for a glimpse of the upcoming action.

Jujutsu Kaisen Releases Limited-Edition Gojo & Geto Watches

The beloved Jujutsu Kaisen franchise has launched a series of limited-edition watches inspired by the series, offering fans a chance to subtly showcase their love for the popular anime.

Super Groupies, a Japanese apparel outlet, has unveiled its exclusive Jujutsu Kaisen collaboration. The collection is themed around Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto from the anime's "Hidden Inventory/Premature Death" arc. The lineup includes watches, bags, and long wallets, all featuring a connected design.

The collection's highlight is the wristwatches in the Gojo and Geto versions. Gojo's watch incorporates various motifs, such as his "Blue" technique and cursed Technique Reversal: "Red" and "Purple." On the other hand, Geto's watch draws inspiration from his Rainbow Dragon cursed spirit and Cursed Spirit Manipulation techniques. Priced at $116 each, both watches will be available for worldwide shipping through the WorldShopping service by late August 2024. Fans have until April 15 to reserve their orders here.

Did you know?

Ryomen Sukuna's fingers taste like soap!

Gege Akutami recently disclosed in the new Jujutsu Kaisen fanbook that Sukuna's fingers taste like soap. This peculiar flavor is attributed to the coating of grave wax that encases the fingers. Grave wax, a substance resembling wax, forms on corpses during the initial stages of decomposition. It typically exhibits an orange hue and tastes far more unpleasant than one might envision.

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