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Economic Times
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2025: Complete winners list and highlights
The global anime community's premier celebration, the 9th Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2025 was hosted at the Grand Prince Hotel Takanawa in Tokyo, Japan on Sunday. Distinguished guests from various entertainment sectors worldwide have gathered to present the awards. Here is the comprehensive list of winners across all categories. Solo Leveling dominated multiple categories, securing both Anime of the Year and Best New Series honours. Look Back claimed the Anime Film of the Year, whilst Ninja Kamui earned recognition as Best Original Anime. Ufotable's work on Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Hashira Training Arc received the Best Animation award. Notable achievements include Dandadan's victory in Best Character Design, and Keiichiro Saito's direction of Frieren: Beyond Journey's End earning Best Director. The musical categories saw Solo Leveling's score by Hiroyuki Sawano and Creepy Nuts' "Otonoke" from Dandadan receiving top performance categories, Aoi Yuki earned Best Voice Artist Performance (Japanese) for The Apothecary Diaries, whilst Aleks Le won the English category for Solo Leveling. Genre-specific awards went to Blue Box (Romance), Mashle: Magic and Muscles (Comedy), Solo Leveling (Action), and Frieren: Beyond Journey's End (Drama).Here's the full category wise list: Dandadan Kaiju No.8 Delicious in Dungeon Frieren: Beyond Journey's End The Apothecary Diaries Solo Leveling – WINNER Dandadan Kaiju No.8 Delicious in Dungeon Frieren: Beyond Journey's End The Apothecary Diaries Solo Leveling – WINNER Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle Mononoke The Movie: The Phantom in the Rain My Hero Academia: You're Next Spy x Family Code: White The Colors Within Look Back – WINNER Bucchigiri?! Girls Band Cry Jellyfish Can't Swim in the Night Metallic Rouge Train to the End of the World Ninja Kamui – WINNER Dandadan – Science SARU Kaiju No.8 – Production I.G Frieren: Beyond Journey's End – Madhouse Delicious in Dungeon – Trigger Studios Solo Leveling – A-1 Pictures Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Hashira Training Arc – Ufotable – WINNER Delicious in Dungeon Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Hashira Training Arc Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Kaiju No.8 The Apothecary Diaries Dandadan – WINNER Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Conflict My Hero Academia Season 7 One Piece Oshi no Ko Season 2 Spy x Family Season 2 Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Hashira Training Arc – WINNER Fuga Yamashiro (Science SARU) – Dandadan Haruo Sotozaki (Ufotable) – Demon Slayer: Hashira Training Arc Megumi Ishitani (Toei Animation) – One Piece Fan Letter Norihiro Naganuma (Toho Animation) – The Apothecary Diaries Yoshihiro Miyajima (Trigger) – Delicious in Dungeon Keiichiro Saito (Madhouse) – Frieren: Beyond Journey's End – WINNER Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Conflict Dandadan Demon Slayer: Hashira Training Arc Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Look Back Solo Leveling (Hiroyuki Sawano) – WINNER Abyss – YUNGBLUD ( Kaiju No.8 ) ) Bling-Bang-Bang-Born – Creepy Nuts ( Mashle ) ) Fatal – GEMN ( Oshi no Ko S2 ) ) LEveL – Sawano Hiroyuki [nZk] feat. TXT ( Solo Leveling ) ) The Brave – YOASOBI ( Frieren ) ) Otonoke – Creepy Nuts ( Dandadan ) – WINNER Dandadan Delicious in Dungeon Demon Slayer: Hashira Training Arc Pluto The Apothecary Diaries Frieren: Beyond Journey's End – WINNER A Sign of Affection Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines! Ranma ½ Scott Pilgrim Takes Off The Dangers in My Heart Season 2 Blue Box – WINNER Delicious in Dungeon Konosuba – Season 3 My Deer Friend Nokotan Ranma ½ Spy x Family Season 2 Mashle – WINNER Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Conflict Dandadan Demon Slayer: Hashira Training Arc Kaiju No.8 Wind Breaker Solo Leveling – WINNER Laid-Back Camp Season 3 Mr. Villain's Day Off My Deer Friend Nokotan Sound! Euphonium 3 The Dangers in My Heart Season 2 Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines! – WINNER Konosuba – Season 3 Mushoku Tensei – Season 2 Cour 2 Shangri-La Frontier Season 2 Suicide Squad Isekai That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 3 Re:Zero – Season 3 – WINNER A Sign of Affection Dead Dead Demon's Dededede Destruction Oshi no Ko Season 2 Pluto The Apothecary Diaries Frieren: Beyond Journey's End – WINNER Frieren ( Frieren ) ) Kafka Hibino ( Kaiju No.8 ) ) Momo ( Dandadan ) ) Okarun ( Dandadan ) ) Maomao ( The Apothecary Diaries ) ) Sung Jinwoo – Solo Leveling – WINNER Himmel ( Frieren ) ) Jinshi ( The Apothecary Diaries ) ) Seiko ( Dandadan ) ) Senshi ( Delicious in Dungeon ) ) Turbo Granny ( Dandadan ) ) Fern – Frieren – WINNER Frieren ( Frieren ) ) Okarun ( Dandadan ) ) Senshi ( Delicious in Dungeon ) ) Tokiyuki Hojo ( The Elusive Samurai ) ) Yuki Itose ( A Sign of Affection ) ) Anya Forger – Spy x Family Season 2 – WINNER Abyss – YUNGBLUD ( Kaiju No.8 ) ) Bling-Bang-Bang-Born – Creepy Nuts ( Mashle ) ) Fatal – GEMN ( Oshi no Ko S2 ) ) LEveL – Sawano Hiroyuki [nZk] feat. TXT ( Solo Leveling ) ) UUUUUS! – Hiroshi Kitadani ( One Piece ) ) Otonoke – Creepy Nuts ( Dandadan ) – WINNER Antanante – riria ( Ranma ½ ) ) Burning – Hitsujibungaku ( Oshi no Ko S2 ) ) KAMAKURA STYLE – BotchiBoromaru ( The Elusive Samurai ) ) Nobody – One Republic ( Kaiju No.8 ) ) Taidada – ZUTOMAYO ( Dandadan ) ) Request – Krage ( Solo Leveling ) – WINNER Atsumi Tanezaki – Frieren Kenichi Suzumura – Bravern! Shion Wakayama – Momo (Dandadan) Sayaka Sembongi – Mercilee (Delicious in Dungeon) Natsuki Hanae – Okarun (Dandadan) Aoi Yuki – Maomao (The Apothecary Diaries) – WINNER AJ Beckles – Okarun (Dandadan) Jessie James Grelle – Armin (Attack on Titan Final Season) Sarah Natochenny – Alya (Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian) SungWon Cho – Senshi (Delicious in Dungeon) Aleks Le – Sung Jinwoo (Solo Leveling) – WINNER
Time of India
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2025: Complete winners list and highlights
The global anime community's premier celebration, the 9th Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2025 was hosted at the Grand Prince Hotel Takanawa in Tokyo, Japan on Sunday. Distinguished guests from various entertainment sectors worldwide have gathered to present the awards. Here is the comprehensive list of winners across all categories. Solo Leveling dominated multiple categories, securing both Anime of the Year and Best New Series honours. Look Back claimed the Anime Film of the Year, whilst Ninja Kamui earned recognition as Best Original Anime. Ufotable's work on Demon Slayer : Kimetsu no Yaiba Hashira Training Arc received the Best Animation award. Notable achievements include Dandadan's victory in Best Character Design, and Keiichiro Saito's direction of Frieren: Beyond Journey's End earning Best Director. The musical categories saw Solo Leveling's score by Hiroyuki Sawano and Creepy Nuts' "Otonoke" from Dandadan receiving top honours. In performance categories, Aoi Yuki earned Best Voice Artist Performance (Japanese) for The Apothecary Diaries, whilst Aleks Le won the English category for Solo Leveling. Genre-specific awards went to Blue Box (Romance), Mashle: Magic and Muscles (Comedy), Solo Leveling (Action), and Frieren: Beyond Journey's End (Drama). Here's the full category wise list: Live Events Anime of the Year Dandadan Kaiju No.8 Delicious in Dungeon Frieren: Beyond Journey's End The Apothecary Diaries Solo Leveling – WINNER Best New Series Dandadan Kaiju No.8 Delicious in Dungeon Frieren: Beyond Journey's End The Apothecary Diaries Solo Leveling – WINNER Anime Film of the Year Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle Mononoke The Movie: The Phantom in the Rain My Hero Academia: You're Next Spy x Family Code: White The Colors Within Look Back – WINNER Best Original Anime Bucchigiri?! Girls Band Cry Jellyfish Can't Swim in the Night Metallic Rouge Train to the End of the World Ninja Kamui – WINNER Best Animation Dandadan – Science SARU Kaiju No.8 – Production I.G Frieren: Beyond Journey's End – Madhouse Delicious in Dungeon – Trigger Studios Solo Leveling – A-1 Pictures Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Hashira Training Arc – Ufotable – WINNER Best Character Design Delicious in Dungeon Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Hashira Training Arc Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Kaiju No.8 The Apothecary Diaries Dandadan – WINNER Best Continuing Series Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Conflict My Hero Academia Season 7 One Piece Oshi no Ko Season 2 Spy x Family Season 2 Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Hashira Training Arc – WINNER Best Director Fuga Yamashiro (Science SARU) – Dandadan Haruo Sotozaki (Ufotable) – Demon Slayer: Hashira Training Arc Megumi Ishitani (Toei Animation) – One Piece Fan Letter Norihiro Naganuma (Toho Animation) – The Apothecary Diaries Yoshihiro Miyajima (Trigger) – Delicious in Dungeon Keiichiro Saito (Madhouse) – Frieren: Beyond Journey's End – WINNER Best Score Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Conflict Dandadan Demon Slayer: Hashira Training Arc Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Look Back Solo Leveling (Hiroyuki Sawano) – WINNER Best Anime Song Abyss – YUNGBLUD ( Kaiju No.8 ) Bling-Bang-Bang-Born – Creepy Nuts ( Mashle ) Fatal – GEMN ( Oshi no Ko S2 ) LEveL – Sawano Hiroyuki [nZk] feat. TXT ( Solo Leveling ) The Brave – YOASOBI ( Frieren ) Otonoke – Creepy Nuts ( Dandadan ) – WINNER Best Background Art Dandadan Delicious in Dungeon Demon Slayer: Hashira Training Arc Pluto The Apothecary Diaries Frieren: Beyond Journey's End – WINNER Best Romance A Sign of Affection Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines! Ranma ½ Scott Pilgrim Takes Off The Dangers in My Heart Season 2 Blue Box – WINNER Best Comedy Delicious in Dungeon Konosuba – Season 3 My Deer Friend Nokotan Ranma ½ Spy x Family Season 2 Mashle – WINNER Best Action Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Conflict Dandadan Demon Slayer: Hashira Training Arc Kaiju No.8 Wind Breaker Solo Leveling – WINNER Best Slice of Life Laid-Back Camp Season 3 Mr. Villain's Day Off My Deer Friend Nokotan Sound! Euphonium 3 The Dangers in My Heart Season 2 Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines! – WINNER Best Isekai Anime Konosuba – Season 3 Mushoku Tensei – Season 2 Cour 2 Shangri-La Frontier Season 2 Suicide Squad Isekai That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 3 Re:Zero – Season 3 – WINNER Best Drama A Sign of Affection Dead Dead Demon's Dededede Destruction Oshi no Ko Season 2 Pluto The Apothecary Diaries Frieren: Beyond Journey's End – WINNER Best Main Character Frieren ( Frieren ) Kafka Hibino ( Kaiju No.8 ) Momo ( Dandadan ) Okarun ( Dandadan ) Maomao ( The Apothecary Diaries ) Sung Jinwoo – Solo Leveling – WINNER Best Supporting Character Himmel ( Frieren ) Jinshi ( The Apothecary Diaries ) Seiko ( Dandadan ) Senshi ( Delicious in Dungeon ) Turbo Granny ( Dandadan ) Fern – Frieren – WINNER 'Must Protect At All Costs' Character Frieren ( Frieren ) Okarun ( Dandadan ) Senshi ( Delicious in Dungeon ) Tokiyuki Hojo ( The Elusive Samurai ) Yuki Itose ( A Sign of Affection ) Anya Forger – Spy x Family Season 2 – WINNER Best Opening Sequence Abyss – YUNGBLUD ( Kaiju No.8 ) Bling-Bang-Bang-Born – Creepy Nuts ( Mashle ) Fatal – GEMN ( Oshi no Ko S2 ) LEveL – Sawano Hiroyuki [nZk] feat. TXT ( Solo Leveling ) UUUUUS! – Hiroshi Kitadani ( One Piece ) Otonoke – Creepy Nuts ( Dandadan ) – WINNER Best Ending Sequence Antanante – riria ( Ranma ½ ) Burning – Hitsujibungaku ( Oshi no Ko S2 ) KAMAKURA STYLE – BotchiBoromaru ( The Elusive Samurai ) Nobody – One Republic ( Kaiju No.8 ) Taidada – ZUTOMAYO ( Dandadan ) Request – Krage ( Solo Leveling ) – WINNER Best Voice Artist Performance (Japanese) Atsumi Tanezaki – Frieren Kenichi Suzumura – Bravern! Shion Wakayama – Momo (Dandadan) Sayaka Sembongi – Mercilee (Delicious in Dungeon) Natsuki Hanae – Okarun (Dandadan) Aoi Yuki – Maomao (The Apothecary Diaries) – WINNER Best Voice Artist Performance (English) AJ Beckles – Okarun (Dandadan) Jessie James Grelle – Armin (Attack on Titan Final Season) Sarah Natochenny – Alya (Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian) SungWon Cho – Senshi (Delicious in Dungeon) Aleks Le – Sung Jinwoo (Solo Leveling) – WINNER
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Anime studio wars: How MAPPA, Ufotable, and Wit Studio are shaping the future of Anime
Credits: Reddit Anime is more global than ever – and fans are tuning in to a fierce 'studio war' for the best shows. In just the past two years, MAPPA , Ufotable and Wit Studio have each rolled out hit series and films, sparking debate among audiences about style, quality and work culture. Fans voted in record numbers (34 million global votes in 2024 alone) to celebrate their favorites, from Jujutsu Kaisen to Demon Slayer . In fact, Jujutsu Kaisen 2 (produced by MAPPA) swept the 2024 Crunchyroll Anime Awards with 11 wins, including Anime of the Year t , and was named the world's top anime of 2023 by a Parrot Analytics/Guinness report. This rivalry among studios has become a narrative itself. MAPPA: Blockbusters and burnout Credits: TheGamer MAPPA has been on a tear with one big franchise after another. In 2023–24 it delivered Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 (Shibuya arc), the Attack on Titan: The Last Attack movie, and Chainsaw Man , among others. Fans praised Chainsaw Man 's cinematic action – it won 'Best New Series' at the 2024 Crunchyroll Awards – and Jujutsu Kaisen 2 was called an 'epitome of viewer fascination' with a global demand rating 71× an average TV show. Even Swordsmith Village (the third Demon Slayer arc, by Ufotable) won Best Animation and Art Direction in 2024, showing how much hype there is around these hits. Attack on Titan: The Last Attack (a MAPPA-run movie of the final chapters) crossed ¥1 billion (~$6.6 M) in Japan in just days, proving the franchise's box-office power. Yet all this success has come amid controversy. MAPPA's packed 2023 schedule drew criticism: some fans felt series like Hell's Paradise were 'sandwiched' between bigger hits. Reporters and insiders note animators regularly face crunch deadlines and long hours. A 2024 industry survey found anime staff work about 225 hours per month on average, highlighting systemic overwork. Even MAPPA's vice-president Hiroya Hasegawa admits the new generation of animators wants better balance. He told reporters in early 2025: 'There are more people… who want to separate their work and private lives and strike a balance', and MAPPA is rethinking schedules and mentorship programs to help artists learn on the job. The studio even plans formal mentor training to pass on skills, after seeing that rushed schedules left little time for corrections. Ufotable: Polished spectacles and event films Credits: FandomWire Ufotable has quietly become synonymous with 'spectacle'. It tends to invest years and big budgets into relatively few projects, aiming for perfection. In 2023–25 Ufotable's crown jewel remains Demon Slayer . Its Swordsmith Village arc (2023) earned rave reviews and several awards. The upcoming Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle movie, set for July 2025, is already anticipated worldwide – a follow-up to 2020's Mugen Train , which was Japan's highest-grossing film. On the Fate side, Ufotable is animating the long-delayed Witch on the Holy Night film (trailer released late 2023). Each Ufotable release is an event: the studio's lush 2D/3D animation, hand-painted lighting and dynamic camera work make each frame pop. Ufotable's business model is built on tentpoles. It often partners with Aniplex/Sony and Toho for big theatrical projects, rather than churning many TV series. Its revenue streams even include Ufotable Cafés, where fans queue to sample themed food (part of the Fortune Arterial franchise). Because it takes its time, Ufotable has avoided the worst of the reported crunch – at least publicly. (The studio's founder even went to jail in 2019 for tax evasion related to cafe revenues, but workplace abuse rumors have been fewer than at MAPPA. ) Audience response is consistently positive: fans praise Ufotable's animation as 'movie-quality,' and Swordsmith Village's award wins underscore that polish. Wit Studio: Collaboration and consistency Credits: Anime-Planet Wit Studio has long been the underdog that set the standard: it animated the first three seasons of Attack on Titan and hits like Ranking of Kings and Vinland Saga . In the new era, Wit is busy too, though it often shares projects. Its recent work includes the Spy × Family Code: White movie (co-produced with CloverWorks) and smaller series like Suicide Squad Isekai (December 2023) and the upcoming My Deer Friend Nokotan (summer 2024). Wit's strategy has been to grow steadily and partner where needed. CEO George Wada (formerly of Production I.G) explained that WIT 'doesn't look for studios [to work with]… we look for projects' and then decide how to staff them. For example, when Attack on Titan needed to finish after Wit's seasons, Wada praised MAPPA: 'the reason that we were able to complete the series was because MAPPA took it on…and it's a wonderful studio'. Wit is also exploring new structures. With Aniplex and CloverWorks, it co-founded JOEN, a studio-conglomerate meant to pool talent and resources for big TV projects. Wada has voiced caution about unsustainable pacing: quality comes from investment. He told reporters, 'I don't think it's possible to keep [current] pace up… the number of anime fans in the world needs to continue to grow. Once…fans increase, businesses will put more money towards creating anime, which will allow…high quality'. He emphasized that money should go 'into the people… growing the personnel and the talent pool' – an eye on both production value and working conditions. Production pressures and fan reactions All three studios share one reality: global audiences now demand cinematic spectacle on tight schedules. This pressure has fans cheering the results and lamenting the process. Online forums buzz over who has the best sakuga (animated action), with some calling MAPPA's action 'jaw-dropping,' while others point to occasional rough CGI cuts when deadlines bite. Ufotable devotees applaud its detail but sometimes wonder if slow output is a missed chance. Wit fans celebrate its storytelling and co-productions ( Moonrise on Netflix in 2024) but worry about outsourcing keeping animators happy. In the background, a 2024 survey confirmed what anime workers have long known: most animators still toil long hours for low pay. In public, studio heads have begun to talk about balance. MAPPA's Hasegawa insists 'animation is hard work' but admits the studio must let staff live fuller lives. And Wada of Wit bluntly told Netflix (a major funding source for anime) that it needs to market shows individually, not just its platform, 'because each and every title is important to the creators'. Industry-wide, joint strategies like JOEN and multinational funding (Crunchyroll, Netflix, etc.) reflect that studios must innovate their business models as much as their art. Anime fans around the world are watching closely. For many, MAPPA is the fearless action powerhouse, Ufotable the perfectionist artist, and Wit the wise collaborator. Each studio's approach – whether all-in on big hits, or steady collaborative growth – highlights changes in the anime industry. As Crunchyroll Awards show and Guinness records prove, the rewards are huge: anime is 'pop culture dominance' now. But with success comes scrutiny. The 'Studio Wars' of 2023–25 show a creative boom – and a reminder that behind every stunning frame, real people deserve support too. Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
Time of India
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Demon Slayer: Mugen Train tickets are now on sale in North America
Demon Slayer: Mugen Train Returns to North American Theatres in 4K From May 14 Good news for anime fans! The blockbuster movie Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Mugen Train is coming back to theatres. This time, it will release in a high-quality 4K version. The movie will be shown in theatres across the United States and Canada on May 14. Tickets are already available online. This special re-release will have both Japanese (with English subtitles) and English dubbed versions. It's the perfect chance for fans to experience the movie again – or for new fans to watch it on the big screen for the first time. Mugen Train's return is a big deal Mugen Train is a popular anime movie released in 2020. It became one of the highest-grossing anime films ever, setting box office records worldwide. In the story, Tanjiro Kamado and his team from the Demon Slayer Corps board a mysterious train where many people have gone missing. They must stop a dangerous demon that is on the train. With its beautiful animation and emotional scenes, "Mugen Train" became a global success. Haruo Sotozaki directed the film, and Ufotable, a studio known for its impressive visuals, animated it. Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures released the movie. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like My Stepdad Demands I Pay Him Rent On My 18th Birthday. He Doesn't Know I Own The House So I Did This Beach Raider Undo Now, fans can watch the movie in 4K resolution, making the visuals sharper, brighter, and even more stunning than before. What's next for Demon Slayer The re-release of Mugen Train is just the start. A new trilogy of Demon Slayer movies is coming. The first film, called Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle, will come out in Japan on July 18, 2025, and in US and Canadian theatres on September 12, 2025. Now is the perfect time to catch up on one of the most popular anime movies, whether you're a long-time fan or just starting the series. Also Read | Studio Ghibli's Grave of the Fireflies gets new Blu-ray and limited edition SteelBook release
Time of India
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Vagabond: The timeless manga masterpiece that deserves an anime
Credits: VIZ Vagabond, the critically acclaimed manga by Takehiko Inoue , stands tall as one of the greatest stories ever told in the samurai genre — and arguably, in all of manga. Based on Eiji Yoshikawa's novel Musashi, the manga adapts the life of Japan's legendary swordsman, Miyamoto Musashi , with breathtaking artwork, deep philosophy, and brutal honesty. Even though it hasn't yet received an anime adaptation , fans across the globe continue to hold out hope. With a story that balances intense swordfights and emotional introspection, Vagabond could redefine anime storytelling if ever brought to screen. A samurai's journey like no other Vagabond begins with a young and hot-blooded Takezō Shinmen, who later takes the name Miyamoto Musashi. After surviving the Battle of Sekigahara, he sets out on a path to become 'invincible under the sun.' But Vagabond isn't just a tale of swordplay and conquest. It's a human story. As Musashi challenges powerful opponents and walks the bloodied path of the sword, he also faces himself — his fears, regrets, and search for meaning. Credits: VIZ The manga masterfully contrasts Musashi's journey with that of Kojirō Sasaki, a deaf-mute swordsman with a natural grace and silent strength. Their parallel development builds toward one of the most anticipated duels in manga history, all while questioning what true strength really means. Takehiko Inoue's art elevates the storytelling to another level. His brushwork, reminiscent of classical Japanese ink paintings, captures stillness and motion with haunting beauty. From detailed battle sequences to quiet moments of reflection, each panel is a work of art — raw, expressive, and timeless. Why an anime adaptation could be historic Credits: VIZ Despite its global success, Vagabond has never been adapted into an anime. Many believe it's because of the manga's complexity, mature tone, and irregular publishing schedule — Inoue has taken multiple hiatuses, and the story remains unfinished as of 2025. But that hasn't stopped the fanbase from growing. The emotional depth, philosophical themes, and rich historical setting make it ideal for a prestige anime series. A faithful anime adaptation could change the way people view action-oriented historical anime. In a time when stories like Vinland Saga and Kingdom have found success, Vagabond could be the next big leap — not just as a samurai epic, but as a profound visual meditation on life, war, and peace. Studios like MAPPA , Ufotable, or even Studio Ghibli (for its mature themes and grounded visuals) would be ideal candidates to bring this tale to life. The legacy of Vagabond Even without an anime, Vagabond has already influenced a generation of artists and storytellers. It isn't just about duels and swords — it's about evolving as a human being. Musashi's journey from an angry youth to a mindful warrior is something readers across cultures connect with. Credits: VIZ The manga's ability to blend action, art, and introspection makes it one of the few titles that feels both epic and deeply personal. It's the kind of story that lingers in your thoughts long after you've put it down. And if it ever comes to screens, it could become one of the most important anime of its time. Until then, Vagabond remains a quiet giant — a reminder that some of the most powerful stories are the ones still waiting to be told.
