My Hero Academia's 10 strangest characters ranked from quirky to super weird
My Hero Academia is so much more than just a Japanese version of Western comic book stories like X-Men or Umbrella Academy. Across its decade-long run, Kōhei Horikoshi's school-based superhero saga has changed the game for storytelling in both anime and manga, introducing us to countless heroes and villains who are just as inspiring as they are weird. Powers in this world are known as "quirks", yet quirky doesn't even begin to cover the bizarre places some of these characters take us. In Class 1-A alone, there are students who possess frog powers, who gain super strength from eating sugar, and one who can even shoot lasers out of his belly button. These would be the strangest characters in almost any other story, but in My Hero Academia, such quirks are ordinary and even mundane in comparison to the 10 weirdos you're about to meet in this list. But who's the weirdest and freakiest character in a world full of them? Join us here at RadioTimes.com as we flex our listing Quirk and create the ultimate ranking of 10 weirdest characters in My Hero Academia. 10. Taneo Tokuda – Whole Body Lens Imagine being able to take photos without worrying that your phone might run out of charge. That's the perfect reality Taneo Tokuda lives in thanks to his unique Whole Body Lens ability that enables him to form camera lenses anywhere on his skin. Tokuda can even print off the photos he takes from his chest, polaroid style. Obviously, he's a reporter, because what else would you possibly do with that quirk? Being a perv in the shadows won't pay your bills, after all. 9. Teruo Hazukashi – Shame When people usually feel shame or embarrassment, we tend to sweat or our face might turn red. But for Hazukashi, these feelings also endow him with super-strength. That's why when he shows up in episode 87, this nefarious criminal decides to get naked in a busy street, powered up by the shame this brings. Hazukashi is kind of ripped though, so why he's embarrassed to show off those abs is beyond us. 8. Setsuna Tokage – Lizard Tail Splitter Tokage has the unique and icky ability to split her body into smaller pieces which she independently controls. What's even weirder is that each piece can float in the air, so anything from her nose to her pinky can zoom around in the sky at will. Can lizards do this? No. Would we question the name of Tokage's Quirk to her face? No, because she'd probably do something gross like detach her tongue or foot and throw it at us. 7. Minoru Mineta – Pop Off As a founding member of Class 1-A, this little freak is the most well known Quirk user on the list. Maybe that's why he ranks so low, because we've got used to the weird sticky balls that he pulls from his hair. What we will never get used to, however, is his creepy obsession with girls and the fact that he wears a diaper while doing said creeping. It's time to expel Minoru Mineta ASAP. 6. Kojiro Bondo – Cemedine Class 1-B student Kojiro Bondo is aptly named because his quirk allows him to spray a sticky glue that he can "bond" to anything, drying it fast or slow depending on what the situation calls for. As far as quirks in My Hero Academia go, there are weirder ones, sure. But what earns Bondo a spot on this list is the fact that he's essentially a giant human glue dispenser who sprays the glue out of tiny holes where his face should be. No judgement, but that's pure nightmare fuel, and I want no part of it. 5. Comicman – Comic Comicman is a comic book hero whose face is constructed like a blank comic book panel. When he speaks, the words materialise in mid-air, and not just any words either. These words are onomatopoeia (words that describe sounds), which then manifest the effects of the sound. It's a very flexible power with tons of potential if not for the fact that over-using this quirk gives Comicman a sore throat. But let's be real. If you want to be the number one hero in the game, just buy some lozenges and step your s**t up. 4. Ending – Whiteline As you might have gathered, my dude Ending has the power to control white lines. Red lines are a no-go. White circles are also a no-go. And if that wasn't specific enough, Ending can only control white lines painted on the road. Attack him in the countryside and you're good to go. But don't dismiss Ending entirely. Under the effects of a Quirk-boosting drug named Trigger, he used his Whiteline ability to form tentacles that can bind enemies or throw heavy objects, including cars. Dumb yet impressive, nonetheless. 3. Seiji Shishikura – Meatball If Shishikura's Meatball Quirk gave him the ability to create the world's finest spaghetti dish out of mid-air, he'd top our ranking of best heroes ever. But unfortunately, this is not that Quirk. Instead, the Shiketsu High School student has the power to manipulate raw flesh. And not just a lamb chop either. His signature move is kneading other people's bodies into a ball of flesh, a meatball, if you will, and they're still conscious the entire time. The entire time. As if that wasn't enough to fund a year's worth of therapy, Shishikura can manipulate his own flesh too. Our little creep is too powerful so they don't use him in the show much anymore. Either that or he traumatised too many kids watching. 2. Tatami Nakagame – Telescopic You might assume that the Telescopic Quirk refers to someone who can zoom in to see things from far away. But no, that ability belongs to another named Mei Hatsume. What Tatami Nakagame can do is far more freaky. Essentially, she can retract her body in on itself, like a turtle, but naming this Quirk after an aquatic reptile was too weird, apparently. So instead, you have to imagine how a telescope can be pushed into itself with smaller and smaller cylinders stacking into each other. Yep, that's it. That's the whole Quirk. At best, this power might be handy if you're aiming to win a particularly serious game of hide and seek. Or maybe you want to save some money and buy a child ticket for the train. Beyond that, it's hard to see how retracting your limbs into your body can help to protect innocents or fight anyone really. 1. Susugu Mitarai – Clean Bubbler Laundry day can be an absolute ball ache, but not for Susugu Mitarai. Better known as Pro-Hero Wash, he uses the Clean Bubbler Quirk to produce soapy water from his body that can be wielded in a variety of different ways. Enormous bubbles can be used to trap villains or keep them afloat in the air while the soapy fluid he creates can also help treat injuries. That's all pretty weird, but the strangest thing about Mitarai is the fact that this somewhat useful power actually earned him a spot in the top 10 Pro-Heroes. Yep, the guy dressed up like a washing machine is in the top 10 out of literally hundreds of heroes. What does Mitarai know that we don't? What dirt does he have on the people who get to decide this? That's one stain he won't be washing off anytime soon. My Hero Academia is available to watch on Crunchyroll. Check out more of our Fantasy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what’s on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Bleach captains ranked - all Gotei 13 squad captains
You don't want to mess around with The Gotei 13. But who's the strongest out of them all?
If you're looking for an anime that boasts incredible fighters, you can't go wrong with Bleach. And often, theses fighters cross dimensions in order to test their mettle against one another. The result is intense, devastating battlefields that are well-loved by fans of a series known for its action-packed battles. Protagonist Ichigo Kurosaki started off as a normal everyday civilian, but then he inherited Soul Reaper powers and eventually became one of the most powerful warriors alive (or dead). However, there are those who rival Ichigo's power, namely the members of the 13 court guard squads (also known as the Gotei 13), who are some of the most skilled, defensive, and powerful individuals in the world that dedicate their lives to the Soul Society and the protection of the human world. Watch Bleach on Disney Plus in the UK Some of the Soul Society's captains have ruled for years without a worthy opponent; however, there is a hierarchy in place on who is the most powerful, and who is not. Read on below to find out more. Bleach Gotei 13 captains ranked 13. Sajin Komamura – Squad 7 Saijin Komamura primarily hides his appearance behind a bamboo mask and very little is known about him that's not surface level, basic information. Viewers eventually discovered he was an anthropomorphic wolf who was actually quite shy about his physical appearance, hence his penchant for hiding it. Komamura's powers position him as an undisputed captain but they're a long way short of matching his higher-ups. When it comes to physical comparisons, he falls short against the other Squad commanders and even his Zanpakutō has been easily defeated throughout the series. 12. Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi – Squad 3 After the Soul Society was tricked by Aizen Sosuke, Rōjūrō and the other Visored found themselves exiled. Rōjūrō joined Shinji Hirako until the time finally came to face Aizen head on but during their final conflict, he was reinstated and given his former rank of captain of Squad 3. Despite his strength and abilities, Rōjūrō isn't fond of conflict and will usually do everything in his power to avoid it. Instead, he opts for quick manoeuvrability and control to take down his enemies instead of brute force. 11. Suì-Fēng – Squad 2 Suì-Fēng manages the Second Division in the Soul Society while commanding Stealth Force. She's one of the faster captains who's top speed is up for debate which is reflected by quickly jumping to conclusions. Suì-Fēng finds it difficult to manage her emotions, which is often her downfall. She makes hasty, spur-of-the-moment decisions that typically get the better of her, but despite her wobbly demeanour, she's still a tough foe in the battlefield. 10. Jūshirō Ukitake – Squad 13 Captain Ukitake is one of the more kind-hearted captains with a relatively good repertoire among his lesser peers. He's one of the few Captains who trained directly under Captain Commander, which means his swordsmanship is comparable only to the best. While Jūshirō is undoubtedly a formidable opponent, his fragility and poor constitution bring his reputation down a notch. Like the aforementioned Gotei, he prefers to avoid conflict at all costs. 9. Kensei Muguruma – Squad 9 Similar to Rōjūrō, after his battle with the Visored, he was later reinstated to his post as Captain. He's one of the more brutal fighters, opting for close-combat attacks backed with taught techniques that blow through his opponents. Alongside his abilities and his Zanpakutō, Kensei is a prominent threat on any battlefield, which many of his peers recognise. 8. Shinji Hirako – Squad 5 Another addition to the list of exiled Visored, Shinji Hirako was the former Fifth Division Shinji. He led his team in the battle against Aizen by partnering with the Gotei 13 to take him down. Due to his teamwork and overall tactics, he was reinstated in the Soul Society along with a few of his comrades and made a captain once again. Shinji is incredibly skilled at the sword but his main prowess lies with critical thinking and abilities to look beyond immediate dangers. He's one of the more powerful Visored but still can't match the likes of Zaraki Kenpachi. 7. Mayuri Kurotsuchi – Squad 12 Mayuri is a difficult character to wrap your head around due to his unreasonable interests in petty arguments. He's proven himself on the battlefield many times but is somehow taken down with the most minute of squabbling. Mayuri isn't typically seen on the battlefield to flex his Zanpakutō ability, though when he does weigh in, he's feared for his gruesome and horrific takedowns which has many of the other Gotei shaking in their boots – no surprise, considering his favourite method is eating enemies alive... 6. Tōshirō Hitsugaya – Squad 10 Hitsugaya is the youngest Shinigami to ever reach Bankai and considered somewhat of a prodigy among his peers. With his Zanpakutō ability, he can go toe to toe with some of the tougher Gotei while making short work of those beneath him. In his short time as Shinigami, he's proven his swordsmanship countless times to boast the title of strongest in the Soul Society, countering that of Ryūjin Jakka, belonging to Captain-Commander Yamamoto. 5. Byakuya Kuchiki – Squad 6 Byakuya comes from a long lineage of skilled Soul Reapers. He's set a high standard for himself to meet, which he does, setting himself up as the captain of the sixth division and a fearsome member of the Gotei 13. Yoruichi Shihouin personally trained Byakuya in both shunpo and swordsmanship, making him no small feat for enemies to take down. His prowess lies with the sword just like his peers but he's a cut above the rest with his lightning fast reflexes, rivalling that of Ichigo's Bankai for a time. 4. Shunsui Kyōraku – Squad 8 Captain-Commander Yamamoto has quite a soft spot for Shunsui after he managed to obtain the level of expert swordsmanship. He possesses incredible power in every aspect imaginable, from skill and focus, to strength and dexterity, all while slicing down foes with two swords simultaneously. He's on equal playing terms with the Espada and can take down anyone who stands in his way relatively quickly thanks to his Zanpakutō ability. 3. Retsu Unohana – Squad 4 Retsu Unohana is an enigma, never really letting anyone in to her personal life, feelings or backstory. Captain-Commander hand-picked Retsu for her confidence on the battlefield during the Gotei 13's founding and was made the original Captain of Squad 11 and the previous holder of the Kenpachi title. Her strength was comparable to none and quickly overwhelmed anyone who stood in her way. Self-healing abilities only boosted her efficiency with even the strongest of armies struggling to take her down. 2. Kenpachi Zaraki – Squad 11 Zaraki is the current holder of the Kenpachi title and is considered the strongest Soul Reaper in the Soul Society. Zaraki earned the Soul Reaper title after defeating Retsu Unohona in an arguably one-sided battle, but was quickly dispatched after only landing one blow. Zaraki is one of the few Gotei who revels in battle. He seizes the moment to shine and boast, feeding his own ego as he tears through enemies. He even has to reel it back when training with his peers to avoid hurting them. 1. Genryusai Yamamoto – Captain-Commander The Captain-Commander of the Soul Society is the embodiment of strength, tactics, and leadership. Yamamoto has ruled over the 13 court guard squads for more than 1,000 years, doing so with the sheer presence of his power alone. As of yet, no one can match up to Genryusai Yamamoto and his Zanpakutō, capable of defeating foes with his bare hands before he even thinks about picking up a sword. Bleach is available to watch on Disney Plus in the UK – sign up to Disney Plus now for £7.99 per month or £79.90 for a full year. Bleach is streaming on Hulu in the US – start your free trial here. Check out more of our Fantasy coverage or visit our TV Guide or Streaming Guide to find out what else is on. Try Radio Times magazine today and get 12 issues for only £1 with delivery to your home – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
No need to hunt down a viewing order for this anime. We've got it right here.
Hunter x Hunter, based on the series created by Yoshihiro Togashi, is a story so popular, the anime version ended up being adapted twice. If that doesn't tell you how iconic this series is, we don't know what will. The story revolves around a young boy, Gon, who learns that his long-gone dad is actually famous for being a world-renowned hunter. Eager to follow in his father's footsteps, Gon leaves his home island to try his hand at passing the Hunter Examination. Unsurprisingly, Gon's journey isn't exactly easy, which gave both the 1999 and 2011 anime adaptations plenty to work with and expand upon. If you're unsure on where to start, then here’s everything you need to know about watching Hunter x Hunter in full. How to watch Hunter x Hunter 1999 If you're anything like us, your first venture into Hunter x Hunter may have been the 2011 version. However, it wasn't the first iteration of the popular series. That was the 1999 version of Hunter x Hunter, which lasted through to 2003. Including the OVAs, there’s a total of 92 episodes, which have been praised by fans for their distinct animation style. Though this adaptation largely focuses on the Hunter Exam arc, there are filler episodes that can be skipped if needed — which can largely be found in the OVAs. Here’s the chronological and release order for how to watch Hunter x Hunter: Hunter X Hunter (1999) Hunter X Hunter: Spider (OVA, 2002) Hunter X Hunter: Greed Island (OVA, 2003) Hunter X Hunter: Greed Island Final (OVA, 2004) How to watch Hunter x Hunter 2011 The 2011 version of Hunter x Hunter is essentially a reboot of the 1999 one. The beauty of this is that, regardless of whether you want to start from the beginning or a more modern take, you could watch either version in any order and not really lose out on anything. However, there are some distinct pros in Going beyond the Hunter Exam arc, the 2011 version takes much more of the story in that the 1999 original. Racking up 148 episodes by the time it finished in 2014, this version essentially acts as its own standalone story. Watching this Hunter x Hunter adaptation will look something like this: Hunter Exam arc (Episodes 1-26) Heavens Arena arc (Episodes 27-38) Phantom Troupe arc (Episodes 39-58) Greed Island arc (Episodes 58-75) Chimera Ant arc (Episodes 76-136) Election arc (Episodes 136-148) How to watch the Hunter x Hunter films On top of the two original adaptations, viewers also have the option to add the Hunter x Hunter films to their watch list. Released while the 2011 version of Hunter x Hunter was still going, these films aren’t considered to be canon — meaning they won’t have a huge effect on the overall story. At the same time, both of them offer up plenty of new information, fleshing out the plot lines that you might already be familiar with. Here’s the best order to watch the Hunter x Hunter films: Hunter x Hunter: Phantom Rouge (2013) Hunter x Hunter: The Last Mission (2013) View oEmbed on the source website Where to watch Hunter x Hunter in the UK Episodes of Hunter x Hunter can currently be streamed on Crunchyroll by UK fans. Additionally, the Hunter x Hunter films can be found on Prime Video and Tubi. You can catch Hunter x Hunter on Crunchyroll. Sign up to Crunchyroll from £5.99 per month with a 14-day free trial. Check out more of our anime coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. Try Radio Times magazine today and get 12 issues for only £1 with delivery to your home – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Gachiakuta anime release schedule: When are new episodes on Crunchyroll?
Kei Urana's first season of Gachiakuta is off to an explosive start.
Gachiakuta is easily one of the best anime hits introduced this summer, and its thrilling blend of fantasy and dark social commentary is likely to thank. The series followed Rudo Surebrec, a down-on-his-luck guy who lives in a city divided by a harsh class system: criminals and undesirable citizens are thrown into the depths of a huge hole in the ground, known as The Pit. While the wealthy live in the fancy neighbourhoods of a floating city, The Pit is a trash-filled wasteland, home to a group called the Cleaners. This group fight back against the toxic monsters who roam The Pit. With the original Gachiakuta manga being 140 chapters long, there's a ton of material for the anime series to play around with. For now though, we've still got 10 plus episodes to go, leading right up until December. It even has a brand new opening theme too, which you can check out over on the official Gachiakuta account on X. Read below to find out everything you need to know about the Gachiakuta anime release schedule, including when the next episode will arrive. Gachiakuta release schedule: When are new episodes out? New episodes of Gachiakuta are released on Crunchyroll at 4pm on Sundays in the UK. Gachiakuta episode 1 – The Sphere - 6th July 2025 (out now) Gachiakuta episode 2 – Imbued - 13th July 2025 (out now) Gachiakuta episode 3 – The Ground - 27th July 2025 (out now) Gachiakuta episode 4 – Cleaner HQ - 3rd August 2025 (out now) Gachiakuta episode 5 – Raiders – 10th August 2025 (out now) Gachiakuta episode 6 – It's a Hit!! – 17th August 2025 (out now) Gachiakuta episode 7 – A Score to Settle – 24th August 2025 (out now) Gachiakuta episode 8 – Moving Forward – 31st August 2025 (out now) Gachiakuta episode 9 – The City of Graffiti – 7th September 2025 (out now) Gachiakuta episode 10 – Penta: The Desert No Man's Land – 14th September 2025 (out now) Gachiakuta episode 11 – Amo's Hospitality – 21st September 2025 (out now) Gachiakuta episode 12 – Something Like A Curse – 28th September 2025 (out now) Gachiakuta episode 13 – An Empty Gaze – 5th October 2025 (out now) Gachiakuta episode 14 – The Storm Before the Storm – 12th October 2025 (out now) Gachiakuta episode 15 – 19th October 2025 Gachiakuta episode 16 – 26th October 2025 Gachiakuta episode 17 – 2nd November 2025 Gachiakuta episode 18 – 9th November 2025 Gachiakuta episode 19 – 16th November 2025 Gachiakuta episode 20 – 23rd November 2025 Gachiakuta episode 21 – 30th November 2025 Gachiakuta episode 22 – 7th December 2025 Gachiakuta episode 23 – 14th December 2025 Gachiakuta episode 24 – 21st December 2025 What time are new Gachiakuta episodes released? New episodes of Gachiakuta are released at the following times: 8am PT 11am ET 4pm BST 12am JST How many episodes will there be in Gachiakuta? We're expecting 24 episodes in this season of Gachiakuta. View oEmbed on the source website Where can I watch Gachiakuta? Gachiakuta streams exclusively on the anime subscription service Crunchyroll. So, even if you have other popular platforms, such as Netflix, Disney Plus or Amazon Prime, you cannot watch Gachiakuta on any but Crunchyroll. What's the plot of Gachiakuta? After being wrongfully charged with murder, Gachiakuta's young hero Rudo is thrown into The Pit, where he soon joins the Cleaners in their mission to get rid of The Pit’s resident monsters, who threaten not just the people below, but up top too. As he learns to navigate life in The Pit, Rudo also develops his superhuman fighting abilities, with help alongside new tools and new mentors among the Cleaners. But above all, Rudo seeks revenge against the people who sentenced him to a life in Hell. And he'll punch anyone he has to in order to get what he wants. Gachiakuta is available to watch now on Crunchyroll. Add Gachiakuta to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Fantasy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what’s on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Need to know the best way to get your Baki fix and watch the brutal martial arts anime in order? We've got just the thing.
Who doesn't love an anime series where you can watch a guy punch away all his problems? If that sounds like you, then Baki is the series for you. As blasé as that statement may sound, Baki does, in fact, have an epic legacy in Japanese pop culture. The series originally debuted in 1991 and follows a classic fighting genre narrative, placing us in the shoes of a 13-year-old boy whose goal is to defeat his father, Yuujirou Hanma, and become a fighting champion. Baki, also known as Baki the Grappler, has undergone multiple adaptations over the years, with an anime series released in 2001, 2018, and 2022. However, the latest iterations are available on Netflix, with a new instalment, BAKI-DOU having recently been confirmed to release sometime in 2026. But where do you even begin with this beloved franchise? There's an intimidating amount to watch, so if you're looking to watch Baki in order, then search no more: we've got the perfect guide for you. What order should I watch Baki? Fortunately, Baki has a relatively straightforward story arc, with a timeline that aligns with its release date. There's very little jumping around from past to present, making it easier to follow compared to a series with more elaborate plots. We're looking at you, Naruto and Dragon Ball. Baki Hanma, the Netflix series that ran from 2021 to 2023, is a standalone sequel to the original Baki that aired in 2001. However, the two series are connected, with the new Netflix show focusing more on its title character. Meanwhile, the Baki Hanma vs Kengan Ashura crossover with the gladiator-fighting anime Kengan Ashura provides even more material for those who want to see even more intense combat and muscle-bound battle scenes. Here's the perfect order to watch Baki: Baki The Grappler: The Ultimate Fighter Baki The Grappler – Season 1: Kid Saga/Underground Arena Saga Baki The Grappler – Season 2: Maximum Tournament Saga Baki: Most Evil Death Row Convicts Special Anime Baki – Season 1: Most Evil Death Row Convicts Saga Baki – Season 2: Great Chinese Challenge Saga/Godlike Clash of the Kids Saga Baki Hanma: Son of Ogre - Season 1: Combat Shadow Fighting Saga/Great Prison Battle Saga Baki Hanma: Son of Ogre - Season 2: Pickle Wars Saga/The Father VS Son Saga Baki Hanma VS Kengan Ashura Baki-Dou (Release Date TBC) Are Baki 2001 and 2018 the same? Like many long-running anime series, Baki can confuse new viewers because there's more than one season 1 and season 2. The original first season of Baki is the first season of Baki the Grappler, which aired in 2001, followed by a second season later that same year. However, Baki season 1 (2018) is actually the second part of this story, loosely connecting the plot of both shows. Fortunately, you don't need to watch these earlier series to understand Netflix's recent adaptations. Are there Baki filler episodes that I can skip? There's no filler in the traditional sense of a list of skippable episodes. There are, however, two OVAs that serve as an interesting time capsule of the series's history, most of which is recapped later. The must-watch instalments are the main series themselves: Baki the Grappler, Baki and Baki Hanma. The OVAs in question that you can live without are Baki: The Ultimate Fighter and Baki: Most Evil Death Row Convicts Saga. Will there be a Baki Hanma season 3? Technically no, but there will be a continuation of the Baki series under a new title: BAKI-DOU. This was announced at the very end of season 2. What is BAKI-DOU? Taking place after Baki Hanma, BAKI-DOU has Baki facing a brand new threat: the resurrection of Japan’s greatest swordsman, Miyamoto Musashi. Other warriors, such as Doppo Orochi, Jack Hanma, and Kaoru Hanayama, also make a return to the fight. Baki's greatest strength (and weapon) are his fists, but can this legendary underground fighter take on iconic and powerful samurai? We'll find out sometime in 2026. You can watch the teaser trailer for BAKI-DOU below. View oEmbed on the source website Where can I watch Baki in the UK? View oEmbed on the source website The majority of the Baki franchise is available on Netflix, including the second season of Baki Hanma: Son of Ogre. Unlike its previous season, which only had 12 episodes, the second season was split into cours and featured 13/14 episodes respectively. For those without a Netflix subscription, Crunchyroll also offers the anime in its entirety. Read more: How to watch Pokémon in order: All the TV series, movies and specials How to watch Evangelion in order How to watch Code Geass in order Check out more of our Fantasy coverage or visit our TV Guide or Streaming Guide to find out what else is on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
My Hero Academia season 8 dub expected release schedule: When are new episodes out?
MHA's final season is finally getting its English version mid-October.
My Hero Academia season 8 is officially kicking off. And for fans of the anime who have been patiently waiting for the English dub to make an appearance, then you're in luck: you won't have to wait much longer. The last season adapts the manga's Final War and Epilogue Arc, meaning that fans who are into intense action, powerful battles, and high stakes will be in for a real treat. But when can fans expect to watch the final arc of Izuku Midoriya in the My Hero Academia season 8 dub? Read on below for all the details. My Hero Academia season 8 English dub release schedule The original Japanese dub for the final season has been airing since early October, and it's been a stellar watch so far, with fantastic work by the voice actors who have been with the show since the very beginning. Now English dub fans, who might not be fans of reading subtitles, are getting their cake to eat as well. A confusing case with anime is that an English dub can take months to come out. Thankfully, Crunchyroll’s production of My Hero Academia’s is like a well-oiled machine at this point. Here's the expected release schedule for My Hero Academia season 8 dub! My Hero Academia season 8 episode 1 – 18th October 2025 My Hero Academia season 8 episode 2 – 25th October 2025 My Hero Academia season 8 episode 3 – 1st November 2025 My Hero Academia season 8 episode 4 – 8th November 2025 My Hero Academia season 8 episode 5 – 15th November 2025 My Hero Academia season 8 episode 6 – 22nd November 2025 My Hero Academia season 8 episode 7 – 29th November 2025 My Hero Academia season 8 episode 8 – 6th December 2025 My Hero Academia season 8 episode 9 – 13th November 2025 My Hero Academia season 8 episode 10 – 20th December 2025 My Hero Academia season 8 episode 11 – 27th December 2025 My Hero Academia season 8 English dub release date It's confirmed that the English dub of My Hero Academia season 8 will begin on 18th October. This means the dubbed episodes will be released two weeks after the subtitled episodes, as is usual for a show like My Hero Academia. New episodes will air each Saturday on Crunchyroll. Who is in the voice cast for the English dub of My Hero Academia season 8? The cast, confirmed by Crunchyroll, is below: All Might voiced by Christopher Sabat All for One (Young) voiced by Ryan Negrón Izuku voiced by Justin Briner Aoyama voiced by Joel McDonald Hagakure voiced by Felecia Angelle Kunieda voiced by Landon McDonald Fatgum voiced by Kyle Hebert Hercules voiced by Erica Mendez Present Mic voiced by Dave Trosko Stain voiced by Robert McCollum Tsukauchi voiced by Alejandro Saab Nana voiced by Stephanie Young Is there a trailer for the My Hero Academia season 8 English dub? Yes! You can check that out below: View oEmbed on the source website My Hero Academia is available to watch right now on Crunchyroll. Check out more of our Fantasy or Anime coverage or visit our TV Guide or Streaming Guide to find out what else is on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times View From My Sofa podcast.
Spy x Family's 10 most powerful characters ranked from weakest to strongest
Every member of the titular Forger family hides a secret in Spy x Family, not just from the world but from each other as well. Loid Forger, the father, is actually a superspy in disguise, while his wife Yor works as a deadly assassin of international repute. Their adorable daughter Anya has gifts of her own, specifically the ability to read minds, and she's hiding the fact that their dog Bond can see the future. Each is strong in their own way, but who's the strongest? And how do the Forgers compare to the might of others they face within the Spy x Family universe? Read on for our ranking of the strongest Spy x Family characters. Sorry in advance to Bond for not quite making the cut. But he knew that already. 10. Anya Forger If we were ranking the cutest, most adorable Spy x Family characters, Anya would obviously come head and shoulders above the rest, despite her tiny stature. Unfortunately, this is not that list. But even in the strength stakes, Anya is stronger than you might think. Sure, Anya is still a child, and she's often drained easily by using her powers. But if she's this brave and resourceful now at the age of 5, just think how strong Anya could be with some training as an adult. Don't count the smallest Forger out just yet. No matter how tough things might get, she always laughs in the face of danger – and can you say the same? 9. Martha Marriott Appearances can be deceiving, especially in a spy show, and that's absolutely true for Martha Marriott, who works as a personal nanny to Becky Blackbell. This sweet elderly woman once served as a soldier in Ostania’s military and there's a reason why the rich Blackbell family have entrusted her with Becky's safety. As Loid Forger notes when they first meet, Marriott carries herself like a warrior, working as an undercover bodyguard in addition to her nanny duties. She might not be as strong and nimble as she was in her youth, but Martha remains someone you shouldn't mess with, regardless of her age. 8. SSS Lieutenant The SSS Lieutenant works as Yuri Brair’s supervisor within the Ostania State Security Service, instantly positioning him in a role of power. He also looks pretty intimidating too with those scars on the left side of his face, and the fact we know so little about him also adds to that mystique. Come on Anya, read his mind already! We're yet to see the SSS Lieutenant in action, so it's hard to gauge just how strong he really is. Still, his reputation precedes him, and given how ruthlessly dedicated he is to each job at hand, it's safe to say that the SSS Lieutenant is a formidable force in the world of Spy x Family. 7. Yuri Briar Yor's younger, unhinged brother has done so well as a newly appointed SSS Agent because he's so good at his job, demonstrating brutal efficiency in the role already. The only thing about him that's stronger than his physical prowess is his deep, obsessive love for his sister. More than that though, and more even than his rigorous training, what makes Yuri truly strong is his ability to endure Yor's terrible cooking. Dishes that would make a lesser man choke or vomit are no match for Yuri who will eat anything his sister makes just to please her, even at great cost to his physical health. 6. Sylvia Sherwood As Loid’s direct superior, Sylvia oversees every mission he carries out for the WISE organisation, which means she must be incredibly intelligent, well-informed, and capable in her job. Yet the Handler of the Ostanian branch is more than just an information expert. To move up so high in the ranks of this super-spy organisation, Sylvia must be an extremely proficient spy in her own right, as we've seen when she's had to fight in the field. Anyone who trained Loid is obviously a power to be reckoned with too. And who knows what powerful secrets she hides in that huge hat of hers? 5. Matthew McMahon When we first meet Matthew McMahon, he's daylighting as the Director of Policy at Berlint City Hall. But behind that nice, gentle facade, it turns out he works as another Garden assassin at night. And not just any assassin either. As the one who usually relay's Yor's assignments, it's clear Matthew must be higher up in the food chain than her. That means McMahon could be even stronger than Yor in theory. Or maybe he's just well liked in the office. Either way, he's clearly a very proficient fighter in his own right, as seen a bit during the Cruise Arc when he works alongside Yor. The problem is we haven't seen him fight a whole bunch yet, so he doesn't get to be her superior when it comes to this list, even if he technically is in the show. 4. Type F This military weapon only appeared once in the film SPY X FAMILY CODE, but it's hard to forget the guy who almost took down Yor. Equipped with multiple guns throughout his cyborg body, this extremely durable foe easily stands out as one of the strongest characters across this entire franchise. Go big or go home, said the filmmakers. This man of few words was still pretty basic though when it came to his goal of destroying peace between the East and West. As such, Yor was able to outsmart Type F, using his arrogance against him. But even so, this impressive cyborg would still give the vast majority of characters in the show a run for their money. 3. Fiona Frost Agent Nightfall, as she's otherwise known, was once trained by Loid (much to her enjoyment). As one of the best agents at WISE, Fiona has regularly proved herself to be his equal, and perhaps even stronger in some respects. Have you seen how much she can bench, bro? In fact, Fiona's only weakness is Loid himself. Or, should I say her undying, obsessive love for him? If anything is going to be her downfall, it's that. But to be fair, Loid is a dream boat, so who are we to judge? 2. Loid Forger Agent Twilight is the greatest spy in the world. There's no doubt about it. While disguise and infiltration might be where he excels most, Loud has also proven himself to be extremely capable as a fighter out in the field too. With a body honed to perfection, he regularly emerges unscathed from combat situations that could easily kill a lesser man. The only thing greater than Loid's strength, however, is his dedication to protecting the world, be it through random acts of kindness or the warmth he shares with the rest of the Forger family. 1. Yor Forger By day, Yor is a meek, polite clerk who goes home to cook gross meals for her ever-loving family. But by night, the Thorn Princess regularly proves herself to be the best assassin in all of Ostania, killing every one of her targets with deadly precision. Not only is Yor yet to be beaten in battle, she often exhibits what can only be described as superhuman strength on the show. Remember when she defeated an entire group of assassins without breaking a sweat? Or when she threw a dodgeball for Anya and accidentally leveled an entire row of trees? Yor is basically the "One-Punch Man" of Spy x Family at this point. May her reign as the show's strongest character continue into season 3 and beyond. Spy x Family is available to stream on Crunchyroll. Check out more of our Fantasy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
When will the One Punch Man season 3 English dub be released? Latest news and speculation
The long-awaited new season is almost here!
It’s been five long years since the last season of One-Punch Man, so there’s plenty of hype for season 3. But with the first new episode set to come out on 12th October (after the recent recap), fans are no doubt wondering when the English dub will arrive. During the first two seasons, One-Punch Man’s English dub was pretty well-regarded, capturing the wacky humour of the original Japanese dialogue. The show is known for its over-the-top atmosphere, so for fans who prefer to watch it dubbed instead of subtitled, good voice acting is crucial. With new characters from the original manga expected to show up this season, we'll also be hearing some new voices from the actors joining the cast. So, when will we get that English release? Here’s everything we know so far. When will the One-Punch Man season 3 English dub come out? At present, there’s no confirmed release date for One-Punch Man’s English dub. What we do know is that season 3 will premiere on Crunchyroll on 12th October. For seasons 1 and 2, the English dub aired several months later on Toonami. However, we can probably expect an earlier release date this time round. VIZ Media, the company that licenses One-Punch Man in many international territories, announced the season 3 voice cast back in July 2025. This suggests that the English dub may already have been recorded ahead of the season premiere in October, meaning that (if fans are lucky), we could see a simultaneous release for the dubbed and subtitled versions. If not, it’s entirely plausible that the English dub will release about two weeks after the original Japanese release, which would translate to a 26th October release date on Crunchyroll. Right now, VIZ Media’s promotional announcements just list the new season of One-Punch Man as “coming soon.” We’ll make sure to update this page once we learn the specific date for season 3’s English dub! One-Punch Man is available to watch right now on Crunchyroll. Check out more of our Fantasy or Anime coverage or visit our TV Guide or Streaming Guide to find out what else is on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times View From My Sofa podcast.
When will the Spy x Family season 3 English dub be released? Latest news and speculation
After a two-year wait, Spy x Family is back in action with season 3. As one of the most popular new anime series of the past few years, there’s plenty of excitement about the show’s return. But when can we expect the English dub to arrive? Premiering in 2022, Spy x Family charmed audiences with its quirky spy comedy concept. The main characters, the Forgers, are a family who are secretly living double lives. The dad, Loid Forger, is actually a superspy in disguise, while his wife Yor is an undercover assassin, and their young daughter Anya is a telepath. Fans love the show’s balance of light-hearted comedy and spy thriller antics, with Anya becoming the breakout star of the first two seasons. If you’re wondering when new episodes will arrive, we’ve got you covered with the season 3 release schedule. However this doesn’t include release dates for the English dub, just the original Japanese release with subtitles. For news and scheduling updates about the English dub, please read on! When will the Spy x Family season 3 English dub come out? Although Crunchyroll hasn’t confirmed an official release date for the Spy x Family English dub, we’re expecting it to arrive on or around Saturday 18th October 2025, two weeks after the original premiere date of 4th October. This estimate is based on the release schedule for season 2, when the English dub was released two weeks after the original Japanese release with international subtitles. Back in 2023, season 2 premiered on 7th October, with the English dub beginning on 21st October. A two-week wait is pretty typical for this kind of anime release, representing the time it takes to re-record each episode’s dialogue with an English voice cast. It’s actually quite rare for a show to release its Japanese and English versions at the same time. We’ll make sure to update this page once we receive confirmation about the English dub release schedule. Spy X Family is available to watch right now on Crunchyroll. Check out more of our Fantasy or Anime coverage or visit our TV Guide or Streaming Guide to find out what else is on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times View From My Sofa podcast.
10 anime shows you can't miss if you love One Piece
From absurd comedies to classic adventure stories, these are our top recommendations for One Piece fans.
If you're all caught up with One Piece – well, first of all, we're impressed. The anime is more than 1000 episodes long (and has spun its own live-action adaptation on Netflix, also based on the same manga). That's a big commitment. And after spending that much time with Luffy and his crew, can anything else really live up to the magic of One Piece? There's certainly hope. As one of the most iconic anime/manga franchises of all time, One Piece means different things to different people. Some fans enjoy its zany humour. Others love immersing themselves in an epic, long-running story, getting to know the main characters over long-form story arcs. There's also the particular appeal of adventure stories about pirates and sea voyages; an eternally popular sub-genre. With that in mind, we've put together a list of recommendations for what to watch next after you've finished One Piece. Between these 10 anime shows, we've covered all the bases. Adventure stories with goofy heroes like Monkey D Luffy. Long-running series that you can watch for months on end. Anime dramas about literal pirates. And manga adaptations which, like One Piece, are popular enough they're seen as essential viewing. 1. Vinland Saga If you enjoy the historical seafaring element of One Piece's pirate narrative, Vinland Saga is a solid choice. Much more serious in tone, it's a historical drama taking place in 11th-century Europe, and focuses on Viking warriors. Drawing from real Norse sagas and historical sources, Vinland Saga has earned praise as an action/adventure series with mature and thoughtful themes, particularly surrounding its lead character Thorfinn. The warrior is traumatised by his experiences of slavery and war, and while that makes it a more grounded kind of show than One Piece, they both feature seafaring adventure, well-conceived characters and plot. 2. Dragon Ball Like One Piece, Dragon Ball straddles the line between action and comedy, offering a stylised, high-energy take on a classic kind of martial arts story. While it's not as plot-heavy, it also shares One Piece's status as a satisfyingly long manga adaptation, spanning hundreds of episodes across multiple spin-offs including the original Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, and most recently, Dragon Ball Daima. For those who aren't familiar with the classic, Dragon Ball is a fantastical martial arts serial loosely inspired by the influential Chinese novel Journey to the West. Structured around a meandering quest narrative (much like One Piece!), it follows the exploits of a young martial artist named Son Goku as he makes new friends and perfects his combat skills. Relatively light-hearted in tone, it's a childhood fave for many longtime anime fans. At one point there was even a One Piece/Dragon Ball crossover episode featuring a team-up between Luffy and Goku, which illustrates just how much overlap there is between these two fanbases! 3. Dan Da Dan One of the biggest anime hits of the past few years, Dan Da Dan is a supernatural teen series whose main characters investigate paranormal entities in present-day Japan. On the surface, Dan Da Dan may sound like a surprising choice for One Piece fans, but we'd argue it shares a lot of the same appeal. Both shows thrive on larger-than-life characters and moments of exuberant, stylised humour, and both pit their heroes against a sequence of weird and wonderful antagonists. They also star a team of unlikely allies who have to help each other get out of bizarre scrapes. Plus, there's something to be said for checking out a show that's currently a big, mainstream hit. One of the fun things about shows like One Piece (or One-Punch Man or Dan Da Dan) is that they've already built up an enthusiastic fandom, so you'll have plenty of people to talk to when new episodes come out. 4. Black Lagoon View oEmbed on the source website Running for two seasons in the '00s, Black Lagoon is a modern-day take on the pirate genre. Like Vinland Saga, it's more serious in tone than One Piece, offering a grittier view of pirate fiction. Black Lagoon is told from the perspective of a young Japanese office worker who is kidnapped by a pirate crew while traveling for a business trip. Rather than being swashbuckling historical types, this group are hardened criminals, creating a culture clash between the protagonist Rokuro Okajima and his captors. However he gradually finds a way to assimilate into their crew, becoming a negotiator during their encounters with other criminal factions. 5. Dr. Stone One Piece isn't afraid of ambitiously wacky world-building, and neither is Dr. Stone. Set 3000 years in the future, this sci-fi show begins in a truly unique post-apocalyptic scenario, where the entire human race has been petrified into stone. Teen protagonist Senku Ishigami is the first to wake up, and embarks on a scheme to rebuild human civilisation. As a child prodigy, Senku considers himself an ideal person to build a better way of life, gradually awakening more and more petrified people to join his growing team. But his plans often cause more chaos than expected, clashing with rival factions as he travels the world and develops new technologies. Epic in scope, Dr. Stone shares One Piece's love of eccentric team-ups and fantastical world-building, featuring a sprawling ensemble cast of supporting characters. And since the fourth and final season is set to conclude in 2026, you have time to get invested in the show while it's still enjoying its original heyday. 6. Naruto Another icon of the shonen anime genre, Naruto is a genuine epic, clocking in at about 1000 episodes between the original Naruto series and its sequel, Naruto Shippuden. It's a martial arts adventure serial about a young ninja and his friends, embarking on action-packed missions in a historical fantasy setting. If you're a longtime anime fan, recommendations like Naruto and Dragon Ball will probably seem like a no-brainer. But if you're someone who is relatively new to anime, it's worth checking out the classics. In part, because Naruto and Dragon Ball are so influential on later generations of storytellers. Alongside One Piece, all three of these shows are juggernauts, adapting bestselling manga series with young male heroes: Dragon Ball debuting in the '80s, followed by One Piece in 1999, and Naruto in 2002. One Piece, Naruto and the dark fantasy series Bleach are also often described as the "big three" of 2000s-era anime, all originating with manga serials in Shonen Jump magazine, and gaining massive fanbases outside of Japan. 7. One-Punch Man Blessed with one of the most beautifully self-explanatory titles in the business, One-Punch Man is essential viewing for fans of action-comedy. An absurd riff on the superhero genre, One-Punch Man introduces a hero so powerful that he can end any fight with a single punch. In theory this should make for a very short and uneventful story, but the show takes its protagonist Saitama to some genuinely wild places, relying on a style of high-stakes action that doesn't take its superpowered hero too seriously. 8. Captain Harlock View oEmbed on the source website The ultimate space pirate anime! Premiering in 1978, this classic manga adaptation is definitely the oldest (and the least stream-able) recommendation on this list. However, it's also an iconic reference for pirate anime, starring a swashbuckling antihero who leads a rebel crew in a spacefaring, distant-future setting. If you're a fan of Steven Universe – an American show with very obvious anime influences – you may already have seen a Captain Harlock tribute without even realizing it. When the Steven Universe character Lars travels to space and starts wearing a cape, he's essentially donning a Captain Harlock cosplay, directly referencing this vintage pirate classic. 9. Toriko Remember how we mentioned that crossover between Dragon Ball and One Piece? Well, there was a third guy in there alongside Goku and Luffy: Toriko, the main character of another shonen manga series. While not as well known as Dragon Ball, Toriko (which was adapted for TV in 2010) has plenty to offer. This quirky and comedic adventure anime series focuses on a "Gourmet Hunter," an adventurer whose main goal in life is to track down rare food ingredients. Basically, imagine a fantasy martial arts story, but replace the martial arts with cooking and hunting. Toriko isn't exactly a parody, but it has a lot of fun with familiar shonen tropes, establishing an action/adventure narrative in a purposefully ridiculous and over-the-top setting. In that sense it may have more in common with One Piece than the more straightforward Naruto! 10. Cowboy Bebop View oEmbed on the source website If your favourite element of One Piece is its ensemble cast of misfit friends, then Cowboy Bebop should be your next port of call – not least because it's one of the greatest anime series ever made. Set in the future, this sci-fi/Western/noir drama stars a crew of oddball bounty hunters who struggle to make a living by chasing down criminals in space. While they don't technically qualify as pirates, Cowboy Bebop's Spike Spiegel and his ultra-cool crewmates are occasionally outlaws, and their adventures are full of personality, traveling between beautifully-designed locations and meeting lots of memorable side characters along the way. Known for its iconic jazzy soundtrack, sardonic sense of humour, and deceptively deep themes, Cowboy Bebop is a must watch – especially if you're new to the more adult side of the anime medium. Check out more of our Fantasy or Anime coverage or visit our TV Guide or Streaming Guide to find out what else is on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times View From My Sofa podcast.
Kaiju No. 8 season 2 release schedule: When are new episodes out?
Those pesky kaiju are back at it again this new season.
Returning for a second season, Kaiju No. 8 is a fascinating twist on the ever-popular kaiju genre, starring a hero who wants to battle kaiju... while kind of being a kaiju himself. Based on the manga series by Naoya Matsumoto, this action-packed anime is a clever tribute to the Japanese giant monster genre, tapping into ideas that originated with Godzilla in the 1950s. Taking place in a world ravaged by kaiju attacks (much like the American kaiju movie Pacific Rim), Kaiju No. 8 focuses on an unlikely hero protagonist Kafka Hibino. He's always wanted to join the heroic Kaiju Defence Force, but after failing the entrance exams, he now works as a cleaner. But when Kafka gets attacked by a kaiju parasite, his life changes forever. This parasite gives him the ability to transform into a kaiju hybrid - a power he must hide from everyone around him, particularly once he gets a belated chance to live his dream of joining the Defence Force. Season 1 ended with Kafka's secret being revealed, leading into an equally action-packed second season in 2025. If you're just catching up now, here's everything you need to know about Kaiju No. 8's release schedule! What is the Kaiju No. 8 season 2 release schedule? New episodes of Kaiju No. 8 season 2 arrive each Saturday, following the season 2 premiere on 19th July 2025. However season 2 is now complete at 11 episodes, so if you're looking for future episode dates, you're out of luck! Here's the full list of release dates and episode titles for season 2, which is now available to stream on Crunchyroll: Kaiju No. 8 season 2 episode 1 - Kaiju Weapon - 19th July 2025 Kaiju No. 8 season 2 episode 2 - The Next Generation's Challenge - 26th July 2025 Kaiju No. 8 season 2 episode 3 - The Strongest Division - 2nd August 2025 Kaiju No. 8 season 2 episode 4 - The Man Called Isao Shinomiya - 9th August 2025 Kaiju No. 8 season 2 episode 5 - I Want to be Strong - 16th August 2025 Kaiju No. 8 season 2 episode 6 - Compatible User - 23rd August 2025 Kaiju No. 8 season 2 episode 7 - Wall - 30th August 2025 Kaiju No. 8 season 2 episode 8 - Destiny - 6th September 2025 Kaiju No. 8 season 2 episode 9 - Omen - 13th September 2025 Kaiju No. 8 season 2 episode 10 - Cataclysms - 20th September 2025 Kaiju No. 8 season 2 episode 11 - Second Wave - 27th September 2025 What time are the new Kaiju No. 8 season 2 episodes released? New episodes of Kaiju No. 8 arrive on Crunchyroll at 10am ET/7am PT/3pm BST. For UK-based viewers, this means they're available to stream on Saturday afternoons. But with season 2 now complete at 11 episodes, you shouldn't expect a new instalment this weekend! How many episodes will there be in Kaiju No. 8 season 2? Season 2 of Kaiju No. 8 is 11 episodes long, following a 12-episode first season. The season concluded on September 27th. So while many fans expected a 12-episode season like last year, that unfortunately wasn't the case. Where can I watch Kaiju No. 8 season 2? Kaiju No. 8 season 2 is available to stream on Crunchyroll and Netflix. However, Netflix only offers the show to a limited number of Asian territories. View oEmbed on the source website What’s the plot of Kaiju No. 8? This sci-fi/action series takes place in a world where kaiju (ie. giant monsters) regularly attack human civilization. Similar to the movie Pacific Rim, this has led to the development of a specialized anti-kaiju fighting force, where human heroes don powered suits to battle the monsters. Our down-on-his-luck protagonist Kafka Hibino vowed at a young age to join the Japanese Anti-Kaiju Defense Force, but while Kafka's friend Mina Ashiro achieved this dream, Kafka failed the Defense Force entrance exams. Now working for the kaiju clean-up crew, he's kind of a loser. But after a parasitic attack gives him kaiju transformation powers, his life gets a lot more complicated - especially once he actually gets accepted into the Defense Force himself. As of the season 1 finale, Kafka's secret has been revealed, and he's now promised to prove his worth as a fully-fledged member of the Defense Force. Kaiju No. 8 season 2 is available to watch now on Crunchyroll, alongside its initial release in Japan. Check out more of our Fantasy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what’s on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Bleach filler list: The episodes you can skip
Bleach boasts an amazing backlog of episodes - but some stories are more important than others.
Known as one of the "big three" 2000s-era anime series alongside One Piece and Naruto, Bleach is a bona fide classic. An icon of the shonen genre, it influenced a generation of anime fans and creators following its original debut in 2004. However, no long-running anime series is completely free from padding, and at 366 episodes long, this dark fantasy masterpiece does indeed include some filler. Adapting the manga series by Tite Kubo, Bleach includes a lot of subplots that don't directly relate to the central plot, or add new canon to the original source material. As such, many of those episodes are considered nonessential viewing. At the same time, there's debate over what "filler" really means here. The show features some memorable moments (for instance the introduction of the Bount) which you can technically skip in favour of more plot-centric storylines. But these sections can still be exciting and rewarding to watch. Basically, the question here is whether you want to be a completist and marathon your way through 366 episodes, or if you'd prefer a more stripped-down version of the show, trimming away the less important subplots. With more than half of Bleach's current episodes being characterized as filler, the second option is certainly more efficient. So if you want to know which episodes to skip, read on! What are Bleach's filler episodes? Running for 16 seasons between 2004 and 2012, the original Bleach series included 166 filler episodes, covering lighter side-stories and detours from the central plot. For example, there's one episode where the supporting characters Ikkaku and Yumichika, a duo of soul reapers, embark on a mission to the human world, which basically amounts to an entertaining but pointless standalone story. Elsewhere in the show, you'll find stereotypical fan-service episodes, alongside slice-of-life moments that don't offer much in the way of plot or character development. If you're planning to skip those sections, here's our list of filler episodes to avoid: Episode 33 Episode 50 Episodes 64-108 Episodes 128-137 Episodes 147-149 Episodes 168-189 Episodes 204-205 Episodes 213-214 Episodes 227-265 Episode 266 Episode 287 Episode 298 Episode 299 Episodes 303-305 Episodes 311-316 Episodes 317-341 Episodes 355 While a few of these episodes do help to flesh out the broader Bleach canon (for instance by setting up the Bleach: Hell Verse film), if you watch all of them then you'll spend just as much time engaging with filler as following the main plot. What filler episodes are a must-watch? Regarding the question of what actually qualifies as "filler," a couple of these arcs do add something meaningful to the story, even if they're generally classified as filler material by Bleach fans. The first would be the Bount arc, which covers episodes 64-108. This arc introduces a new race of dangerous supernatural villains, but since it doesn't appear in the original manga, it's seen by some as an unnecessary addition. So while it's dramatically rewarding to watch, it's not actually relevant to later arcs. Later on, in episodes 311-316, we get some insight into the Reigai Uprising, establishing a more serious and gritty tone for the show going forward. If you skip that section, you may miss out on some important context. This sequence then leads into an arc where Kageroza Inaba creates Modified Soul copies of the Gotei 13, placing them in Reigai bodies. He then uses these bodies to attack the Soul Society, so if you skip these episodes, you'll miss some important context for the final status of the Soul Society. In terms of sheer entertainment value, the Zanpakuto Unknown Tales episodes (230-265) offer new insight into the show's main characters and fantasy worldbuilding. This arc explores how a Shinigami's Zanpakuto (or sentient weapon) can rebel against its master, disrupting our expectations for how this kind of relationship typically plays out. How to watch Bleach in the UK All 16 seasons of Bleach are available to stream in the UK on Disney Plus. 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Naruto and Naruto Shippuden filler list: The episodes you can miss
Naruto and Naruto Shippuden have legendary episodes – but there's still plenty you can skip if you want to.
Naruto is one of the most iconic anime franchises in existence – a status it enjoys both due to its longevity, and thanks to its continuing popularity with kids. Its nostalgia value is undeniable. For many anime fans, Naruto was the show that made them fall in love with the medium, and for that reason alone it's widely regarded as a must-watch. Adapted from a long-running manga series by writer and artist Masashi Kishimoto, Naruto (and its sequel series Naruto Shippuden) is a ninja adventure story about an orphan boy named Naruto Uzumaki, who wants to grow up to become the Hokage (or leader) of Leaf Village. His journey involves training in martial arts and battling an ever-increasing number of enemies. While this is obviously an action franchise, the violence is kid-friendly, balanced out by comedic moments and storylines about love and friendship. In terms of sheer volume, Naruto is also one of the biggest anime/manga franchises around. Alongside the original comics, fans can enjoy spin-off video games, live-action adaptations, a vast array of merchandise, and even a musical. As for the actual anime, Naruto and Naruto: Shippuden boast an intimidating 700+ episodes combined, running from 2002 to 2017. And after that there's the sequel series Boruto, which ran for almost 300 further episodes. Given the length of those two original Naruto adaptations, it's no surprise that some of those episodes are filler. While seriously dedicated fans may want to watch every single episode, you can definitely skip some sections and still enjoy all the important parts of the story. But which bits qualify as essential viewing? Happily, we're here to help you answer that question. Read on for our guide to all the filler episodes in Naruto and Naruto: Shippuden, advising you on which episodes you can comfortably skip. What are the Naruto filler episodes? For newcomers to the world of Naruto, the following episodes are all generally agreed to be filler: 26 - Special Report: Live from the Forest of Death! 97 - Kidnapped! Naruto's Hot Spring Adventure! 101-106 - The Land of Tea Escort Mission Arc 136-140 - The Land of Rice Fields Investigation Mission Arc 143-219 You may notice that this list includes an eyebrow-raising run of 77 consecutive episodes. That's because this chunk of later episodes don't include anying that really develops the main characters or drives the plot forward. Some fans consider them to be a waste of time, but if you're concerned about skipping such a long section of the show, you can obviously drop in and check out a couple of episodes to get an idea of the tone. For instance episodes 169 to 173 see Naruto, Ino and Shino join forces with Anko for some higher-level missions, giving us a new perspective on how these characters work as a team and forge bonds together. Meanwhile episodes 102 to 106 cover a period after the Konoha Five fail to return with Sasuke. It's basically an extended conclusion to the Sasuke Retrieval arc, leading into the next storyline without really adding anything to the main plot. Read more: How old is Naruto? Explaining his timeline Is Naruto dead in Boruto? Naruto fans crown most popular character – and he's getting a spin-off What are the Naruto Shippuden filler episodes? Acting as a direct sequel to the original series, Naruto Shippuden continues the story two years later, meaning that our titular protagonist is now a little older. Clocking in at 500 episodes, this series represents a major undertaking for completists. However nearly 200 episodes of Naruto Shippuden are considered to be filler. If you want to enjoy a lean, stripped-down version of Naruto Shippuden, here's the list of episodes to skip: 57-71 - Twelve Guardian Ninja Arc 91-112 - Three-Tails' Appearance Arc 144-151 - Six-Tails Unleashed Arc 170-171 176-196 - Past Arc: The Locus of Konoha 223-242 - Paradise Life on a Boat Arc 257-260 271 279-295 - Fourth Shinobi World War: Confrontation Arc 303-320 347-361 - Fourth Shinobi World War: Climax / Kakashi's Anbu Arc 376-377 388-390 394-413 - In Naruto's Footsteps: The Friends' Paths Arc 416-431 - Birth of the Ten-Tails' Jinchuriki Arc 427-450 - Jiraiya Shinobi Handbook: The Tale of Naruto the Hero Arc 464-468 - Kaguya Otsutsuki Strikes Arc 480-483 - Childhood Arc As with our filler list for the original Naruto, a lot of these episodes either don't add anything to the core plot, or introduce new and extraneous material that didn't occur in the original manga. However there's some debate over whether the Kakashi: Shadow of the ANBU Black Ops arc (episodes 347 - 361) qualifies as filler or not. This section fleshes out the role of Kakashi (one of the strongest Naruto characters), and gives the Hyūuga sisters a more prominent role. So while it isn't necessary viewing for plot purposes, a lot of fans love these episodes for their strong character moments and action scenes. Likewise episodes 464 - 468 have plenty to offer, despite their reputation as filler. This brief arc explores a key element of the show's worldbuilding, the history of the Shinobi. So it's important viewing for lore-heads. How to watch Naruto in the UK For fans based in the UK, both Naruto and Naruto Shippuden are available to watch on Crunchyroll. You can also watch Naruto via Netflix, but that platform doesn't currently offer Naruto Shippuden. Over in the US, Naruto is one of several well-known anime shows that are now available for free on YouTube in a subtitled format. Unfortunately for international viewers though, those YouTube streams are geo-locked to the US - and don't include the dubbed versions of the show. View Green Video on the source website Check out more of our Fantasy coverage or visit our TV Guide or Streaming Guide to find out what else is on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
One Punch Man season 3 release schedule: When are new episodes out?
Which days & times to remember to watch Saitama & co as soon as new episodes drop.
After over five years away, One Punch Man has finally returned for season 3, and there’s a good number of other anime episodes on the release schedule you’ll need to know the times for. Following Garou’s brawls with various heroes and Saitama’s effortless win against the Elder Centipede, One Punch Man season 2 ended on a curious cliffhanger that teased Garou getting drawn into the side of the monsters, getting ready to face the Hero Association. So you don’t have to wait any longer than you’ve already had to, along with not getting spoiled if you haven’t read ahead by going into the manga, we’re going into the release date and times of every One Punch Man season 3 episode – starting from all the episodes already out and all the way to the finale. One Punch Man season 3 release schedule: When are new episodes out? Crunchyroll recently confirmed that after the airing of the episode 0 recap special covering season 2 on 5th October, 2025, episode 1 of One Punch Man season 3 will launch on its scheduled release date of Sunday, 12th October, 2025 — followed by every other weekly episode that is scheduled to drop on the following dates – both in Japan and nationally: One Punch Man season 3 episode 1 – 12th October 2025 One Punch Man season 3 episode 2 – 19th October 2025 One Punch Man season 3 episode 3 – 26th October 2025 One Punch Man season 3 episode 4 – 2nd November 2025 One Punch Man season 3 episode 5 – 9th November 2025 One Punch Man season 3 episode 6 – 16th November 2025 One Punch Man season 3 episode 7 – 23rd November 2025 One Punch Man season 3 episode 8 – 30th November 2025 One Punch Man season 3 episode 9 – 7th December 2025 One Punch Man season 3 episode 10 – 14th December 2025 One Punch Man season 3 episode 11 – 21st December 2025 One Punch Man season 3 episode 12 – 28th December 2025 What time are the new One Punch Man season 3 episodes released? As confirmed by Crunchyroll in a news post, new episodes of One Punch Man season 3 will be released at the following times across key regions: 11:45pm JST 7:45am PT 10:45am ET 3:45pm BST As with previous seasons, the Japanese broadcast (via TV Tokyo) will take place before international audiences gain access through simulcast streaming. How many episodes will there be in One Punch Man season 3? One Punch Man season 3 is expected to run for 12 episodes, based on both seasons 1 and 2 running for the same count. Since anime studio JC Staff kept up the episode count as One Punch Man’s anime studio when it replaced Mad House after season 1, it’s safe to assume it will be a similar case for the third. Unless an official announcement extends the count, viewers should anticipate a straightforward 12-episode run covering the next major arc from the manga. Where can I watch One Punch Man season 3? All episodes of One Punch Man season 3 will be available to stream on Crunchyroll, which has confirmed worldwide distribution outside Japan. In Japan, the anime will first air on television bia TV Tokyo shortly before arriving on streaming services. In a statement reported by Anime News Network, One Punch Man season 3 was also originally set to stream on Hulu from 12th October. However, ANN has since added an update from Hulu that the release date has not been fully confirmed yet – but will be done so “at a later date”. While earlier seasons of One Punch Man have eventually been released on other streaming services like Netflix, we don’t expect season 3 to launch there until at least 2026. What is the plot of One Punch Man season 3? As revealed in its promotional trailers, One Punch Man season 3 will adapt the highly anticipated Monster Association Arc from the manga. This storyline sees the Hero Association mobilise its strongest S-Class heroes against an organised army of powerful monsters, resulting in some of the most intense battles in the series to date. Saitama, as always, finds himself caught between the chaos of these escalating conflicts and his own search for meaning in a world where no opponent can match his strength. Meanwhile, Garou continues to rise further as the scariest, compared to Saitama being the strongest – challenging not just the heroes but the very idea of what defines strength. View oEmbed on the source website One Punch Man is available to watch on Crunchyroll. Check out the rest of our Sci-Fi and Fantasy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to see what’s on tonight. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Spy x Family season 3 release schedule: When are new episodes out?
When and where you can watch the next season of the Forgers in action.
Since its debut in 2022, fans have been regularly checking for release schedules for the Spy × Family anime, and season 3 is no different. The 12-episode season 2 wrapped up in December 2023, and the long wait to reunite with the Forgers is almost here. Continuing its balance of action of light-hearted, feel-good comedy that's made Spy x Family one of the most popular anime going. Continuing to follow master spy Loid and his mock wife assassin Yor, raising the telepathic Anya to investigate political leader Donovan Desmond, in order to prevent a war, the adaptation of Tatsuya Endo’s hit manga is looking to get wilder with each episode. With lead times between anime seasons — and sometimes, even individual episodes — so unpredictable these days, it’s important to keep up with their exact release dates and launch times so you don’t miss out, or potentially get spoiled. Starting from its premiere date, here’s when and where you can catch every episode of Spy x Family season 3. Spy x Family season 3 release schedule: When are new episodes out? The release date for Spy x Family season 3’s premiere was Saturday 4th October 2025, on Crunchyroll and Hulu (US only), meaning the rest of its episodes will be out on the following dates of the same weekday: Spy x Family season 3 episode 1 - 4th October 2025 Spy x Family season 3 episode 2 - 11th October 2025 Spy x Family season 3 episode 3 - 18th October 2025 Spy x Family season 3 episode 4 - 25th October 2025 Spy x Family season 3 episode 5 - 4th October 2025 Spy x Family season 3 episode 6 - 1st November 2025 Spy x Family season 3 episode 7 - 8th November 2025 Spy x Family season 3 episode 8 - 15th November 2025 Spy x Family season 3 episode 9 - 22nd November 2025 Spy x Family season 3 episode 10 - 29th November 2025 Spy x Family season 3 episode 11 - 6th December 2025 Spy x Family season 3 episode 12 - 13th December 2025 What time are the new Spy x Family season 3 episodes released? Every new episode of Spy x Family season 3 will be released at the following times, according to various time zones: 11pm JST 7am PT 3pm BST 10am ET As detailed by the Spy x Family’s X (formerly Twitter) account, every episode of Spy x Family in Japan will air on Tokyo TV and other networks before dropping on Crunchyroll soon after. How many episodes will there be in Spy x Family season 3? Our current count of there being 12 episodes in Spy x Family season 3 is based on season 2 and the first half of season 1 having the same number. While season 1 of Spy x Family had two cours (allotments of 10-14 episodes) totalling 25 episodes, we expect Wit Studio and CloverWorks — the collaborating studios behind the anime’s production — to continue the precedent set with the lower episode count in season 2. Usually, when a show’s per-season episode count is lowered from two cours to one, whether due to production limitations or storytelling intent, it’s very rare to see studios reverse direction for the following seasons. That said, if the officially released episode count ends up being different, we’ll be updating this guide immediately. Where can I watch Spy x Family season 3? You will be able to watch every episode of Spy x Family season on Crunchyroll, whether you’re in the UK, US, or any other territory; US fans can also watch new episodes on Hulu. While Spy x Family is available to watch on Netflix, newer seasons appear on this particular service at a later date. At the time of writing, the anime is not available to watch via streaming service subscriptions like Disney+ or Amazon Prime. What’s the plot of Spy x Family season 3? As revealed in its official trailer, Spy x Family season 3 will follow Anya suddenly being more determined to study and earn more Stella Stars at Eden Academy – while trying to improve her relationship with Damian, and hopefully get Loid an in with Donovan Desmond as part of Operation Strix. This falls directly in line with the manga, as season 2 of the anime ended during the WISE Arc and is about to enter the five-chapter Friendship Schemes Arc (chapters 64 to 68). View oEmbed on the source website However, Old Lady Tonitrus Bolt has also appeared at Eden Academy, who thrives in giving students her namesake demerits that can get students expelled, putting Anya’s place at the school and Loid’s whole plan at stake. You can watch Spy x Family right now on Crunchyroll. Check out more of our Fantasy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. Try Radio Times magazine today and get 10 issues for only £10, PLUS a £10 John Lewis and Partners voucher delivered to your home – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Ranma 1/2 season 2 release schedule: When are new episodes out?
Here's when Netflix fans can check out the follow-up to the beloved anime remake.
Following its triumphant return in 2024, season 2 of the Ranma 1/2 remake is finally here with plenty of episodes left to come. While season 1 reintroduced audiences worldwide to Rumiko Takahashi’s iconic martial arts romantic comedy, there’s plenty more fun to be had. So far, the anime remake has been faithful to the manga while updating its visuals and pacing, and season 2 is set to continue Ranma Saotome’s chaotic everyday life alongside Akane, Genma, and the rest of the ever-expanding cast. If you want to be sure you can watch every episode as soon as it drops, this quick and easy guide will tell you actually where and when you can watch all of Ranma 1/2 season 2 – with all release times and more details below. Ranma 1/2 season 2 release schedule: When are new episodes out? Following episode 1 Ranma 1/2 season 2, which has already premiered is Saturday 4th October, the rest of the weekly episodes will launch on the following dates: Ranma 1/2 season 2 episode 1 – 4th October 2025 Ranma 1/2 season 2 episode 2 – 11th October 2025 Ranma 1/2 season 2 episode 3 – 18th October 2025 Ranma 1/2 season 2 episode 4 – 25th October 2025 Ranma 1/2 season 2 episode 5 – 1st November 2025 Ranma 1/2 season 2 episode 6 – 8th November 2025 Ranma 1/2 season 2 episode 7 – 15th November 2025 Ranma 1/2 season 2 episode 8 – 22nd November 2025 Ranma 1/2 season 2 episode 9 – 29th November 2025 Ranma 1/2 season 2 episode 10 – 6th December 2025 Ranma 1/2 season 2 episode 11 – 13th December 2025 Ranma 1/2 season 2 episode 12 – 20th December 2025 What time are the new Ranma 1/2 season 2 episodes released? As confirmed on Ranma 1/2’s official website, every new episode of Ranma 1/2 season 2 will premiere at the following times across key regions: 00:55am JST 8:55am PT 11:55am ET 4:55pm BST Episodes will air first on Nippon TV, followed by other Japanese TV networks, before arriving on Netflix for international audiences shortly afterwards. How many episodes will there be in Ranma 1/2 season 2? We’re expecting Ranma 1/2 season 2 to consist of 12 episodes, since season 1 ran for the same number, though older anime adaptations of Ranma 1/2 often ran for longer cour (allotments of 10-14 episodes length, modern production schedules typically favour shorter seasons). Be that as it may, we will keep an eye out for the official episode count from MAPPA (the studio producing the anime) or Netflix, and we will update this guide if it’s any different from what we currently predict. Where can I watch Ranma 1/2 season 2? All episodes of Ranma 1/2 season 2 will be available to stream worldwide on Netflix. In Japan, fans can watch the series as it airs weekly on networks like Nippon TV, Aomori Broadcasting and Iwate Television, before the episodes are uploaded to streaming platforms. Currently, there are no plans for the new season to appear on services like Crunchyroll, Hulu, Disney+ or Amazon Prime at launch. Netflix remains the only confirmed international home for the series. What’s the plot of Ranma 1/2 season 2? View oEmbed on the source website Following the fun of season 1, the plot of the Ranma 1/2 remake for season 2 will see the debut of Mouse – Shampoo’s childhood friend. That’s alongside the appearance of Ranma’s new fiancée, Ukyo. Meanwhile, Ranma and Akane will be dealing with a variety of hilariously awkward situations whilst working out their own feelings toward each other. If you loved season 1, the season 2 trailer above is a good sign you’ll love the Ranma 1/2 remake more than ever. Ranma 1/2 is available to watch on Netflix. Check out the rest of our Sci-Fi and Fantasy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to see what’s on tonight. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
My Hero Academia season 8 release schedule: When are new episodes out?
Where and when you can watch the final chapter of Izuku Midoriya's story.
Since its anime debut back in 2016, My Hero Academia has remained a mainstay of the shonen anime world, and season 8 marks the climax of the journey. Season 7 wrapped up in June 2024, and the wait for the start of the final chapter is finally over with the recent drop of the MHA’s season 8 premiere. With its trademark mix of high-stakes action and heartfelt character drama, My Hero Academia has built towards its biggest showdown yet, pitting heroes and villains against one another in the Final War Arc. As Izuku Midoriya, Tomura Shigaraki, All Might, and All For One reach the end of their stories, fans can expect the rest of the season to be filled with more spectacle, sacrifice, and resolution. If you don’t want to miss out on major events as they happen, or not risk them getting spoiled for you on social media by not keeping up, you’ll need this go-guide to tell exactly where and when to watch this final season of My Hero Academia. My Hero Academia season 8 release schedule: When are new episodes out? The first episode of My Hero Academia season 8 dropped on its planned release date of Saturday 4th October 2025, meaning each new episode will then follow weekly on the same weekday: My Hero Academia season 8 episode 1 – 4th October 2025 My Hero Academia season 8 episode 2 – 11th October 2025 My Hero Academia season 8 episode 3 – 18th October 2025 My Hero Academia season 8 episode 4 – 25th October 2025 My Hero Academia season 8 episode 5 – 1st November 2025 My Hero Academia season 8 episode 6 – 8th November 2025 My Hero Academia season 8 episode 7 – 15th November 2025 My Hero Academia season 8 episode 8 – 22nd November 2025 My Hero Academia season 8 episode 9 – 29th November 2025 My Hero Academia season 8 episode 10 – 6th December 2025 My Hero Academia season 8 episode 11 – 13th December 2025 What time are the new My Hero Academia season 8 episodes released? As confirmed by Anime News Network, every new episode of My Hero Academia season 8 will be released at the following times, according to major time zones: 5:30pm JST 1:30am PT 4:30am ET 9:30am BST In Japan, the series will broadcast first on Yomiuri TV and Nippon TV before landing on Crunchyroll for international viewers shortly afterwards. How many episodes will there be in My Hero Academia season 8? Although not officially confirmed yet, it's likely that the final season of My Hero Academia will run for 11 episodes, based on season 2 of another anime, The Blue Wolves of Mibu (also known as Blue Miburo), will my taking MHA’s time slot from the 20th of September onwards. This doesn’t come as too much of a surprise, however, as My Hero Academia season 7 only left 33 chapters of the manga to cover. While only having 11 episodes to cover that many MHA chapters may still be a bit tight, the ending will still be as satisfactory as it was in the manga. Where can I watch My Hero Academia season 8? Fans outside Japan will be able to stream every episode of My Hero Academia season 8 on Crunchyroll. At the time of writing, newer seasons of My Hero Academia are not immediately available on services such as Netflix, Hulu, Disney+ or Amazon Prime. Earlier seasons have dropped on alternatives like Netflix longer after being first made available, but Crunchyroll remains the primary platform for simulcast releases. What’s the plot of My Hero Academia season 8? View oEmbed on the source website The final season of the anime, My Hero Academia season 8 will adapt the remainder of the manga’s Final War Arc and Epilogue Arc. Deku will be continuing his destined battle with Shiagraki, where one wrong move will put an end to hero society. Meanwhile, All Might faces off with All For One for a final battle, bringing their decades of painful rivalry to an end. With the war reaching its climax, other heroes and villains who’ve fought throughout will be watching in suspense as the fate of the world hangs in the balance. Altogether, season 8 promises to deliver a definitive ending to the saga that began nearly a decade ago, closing the curtain on one of modern anime’s most beloved stories. My Hero Academia is available to watch on Crunchyroll. Check out more of our Fantasy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what’s on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
All My Hero Academia Class 1-A students ranked from weakest to strongest
Ahead of season 8's release, who is the strongest hero in Class 1-A?
During its more than 10-year run across both the anime and the manga, My Hero Academia has treated us to many adventures with Class 1-A, taking us all the way to season 8 on the screen. But the series has also made it clear that some students are definitely stronger than others. The 20 students of U.A. High School have gone from wide-eyed teenagers to near-professional heroes, honing their quirks and proving themselves against some of the series’ most dangerous villains. Following the Final War Arc across season 7, which saw them showcase their growth in both skill and maturity, it feels like the perfect time to evaluate where each of them stands in the power ranking. As we go further into the My Hero Academia anime’s final chapters in season 8, here’s our definitive ranking of the My Hero Academia Class 1-A students, from weakest to strongest, as of the end of Season 7. My Hero Academia’s Class 1-A students ranked from weakest to strongest 20. Minoru Mineta (Pop Off) Surprising almost no one, poor Mineta is still My Hero Academia’s weakest character in Class 1-A's ranked order. Sure, his sticky-ball quirk is surprisingly versatile; it can immobilise enemies, create barricades, and even save allies in dire moments. But compared to the increasingly destructive and flexible powers of his classmates, Mineta remains at the bottom of the pack. While he has had moments of bravery, his lack of combat potential leaves him firmly last. 19. Yuga Aoyama (Navel Laser) Aoyama’s dazzling naval laser certainly packs a punch, but it’s hampered by his chronic lack of control. His body simply can’t handle extended use, leaving him doubled over in pain. Season 7 revealed more of his inner strength during the U.A. traitor storyline, but in raw power terms, he still lags behind most of Class 1-A. 18. Toru Hagakure (Invisibility) Hagakure’s invisibility is useful for stealth and misdirection, and recent developments have shown her potential in light refraction attacks. However, her offensive capabilities remain underwhelming. Without significant combat techniques, she’s more of a support hero than a frontline fighter. 17. Rikido Sato (Sugar Rush) Sato can supercharge his strength by consuming sugar, making him a powerhouse for short bursts. Unfortunately, what stops Rikido from being ranked higher in Class 1-A is My Hero Academia showing that the drawback is severe; the more he eats, the more his intelligence drops. His quirk has a ceiling that leaves him outmatched against faster, more versatile classmates. 16. Koji Koda (Anivoice) Koda’s ability to command animals can be incredibly useful in the right setting, but its effectiveness depends entirely on the environment. He has grown braver and more vocal over time, but his quirk still struggles in situations where animal allies aren’t available. 15. Mashirao Ojiro (Tail) Our ranking of the Class 1-A students in My Hero Academia is getting kicked up a notch, as we start looking at the students with a higher level of skill, and Ojiro is a great starting point. Ojiro is a disciplined martial artist with a powerful tail that complements his fighting style. His hand-to-hand combat skills are formidable, but his quirk is relatively simple compared to others. Against more versatile opponents, he can quickly find himself at a disadvantage. 14. Mezo Shoji (Dupli-Arms) Gentle giant Shoji uses his extra limbs for reconnaissance, rescue, and combat support. His ability to replicate sensory organs makes him an invaluable scout. While durable and dependable, he’s rarely the one to turn the tide of battle, placing him in the lower middle of the class. While he may still not be the strongest in Class 1-A, Shoji jas done enough to earn respect among MHA fans. 13. Kyoka Jiro (Earphone Jack) Jiro has evolved from a shy background character into a confident fighter and strategist. Her earphone jacks allow her to unleash powerful sonic attacks and gather intelligence across wide areas. With the right equipment, she’s a serious threat, though her quirk isn’t as devastating as those ranked higher. 12. Mina Ashido (Acid) Mina’s acid quirk grants her strong offensive and defensive capabilities. She can melt through solid objects, create slippery surfaces, and coat herself for protection. Her mobility in combat is excellent, though she has yet to fully unleash the terrifying potential her quirk suggests. 11. Hanta Sero (Tape) Often described as a poorer version of Spider-Man, Sero uses his tape for both offence and movement. His mobility and binding techniques make him a valuable team fighter, and he has shown flashes of ingenuity under pressure. Still, his quirk lacks the sheer destructive capability of those higher on this list, with his tape attacks being easily undone when taking on an opponent with enough pure strength. 10. Denki Kaminari (Electrification) If our ranking of My Hero Academia students in Class 1-A was based on earlier seasons, Kaminari would be among the weakest, since he has always been held back by the side effect of his electrification quirk — frying his own brain if he overexerts himself. However, season 7 shows how far he’s come in learning precision control. Now able to deliver pinpoint electrical attacks with his gear, Kaminari is no longer just comic relief. 9. Tsuyu Asui (Frog) Asui’s quirk is one of the most versatile in Class 1-A. With her frog-like abilities, including enhanced jumping, camouflage, and a prehensile tongue — she can adapt to almost any situation. What’s more, her composure in battle and sharp tactical mind make her far more dangerous than she first appears. 8. Eijiro Kirishima (Hardening) Kirishima has steadily climbed the ranks thanks to his unbreakable spirit and upgraded “Red Riot Unbreakable” form. His hardening quirk has developed into an almost impenetrable armour, allowing him to endure devastating attacks while dishing out plenty of force himself. 7. Fumikage Tokoyami (Dark Shadow) Across the events of My Hero Academia, Tokoyami’s Dark Shadow is one of the most intimidating quirks in Class 1-A. While generally powerful during the day, it becomes near-unstoppable in darkness. By season 7, he has gained better control over his rampaging tendencies, making him a formidable all-rounder with both offensive and defensive might. 6. Ochaco Uraraka (Zero Gravity) Uraraka has grown immensely, evolving from a timid student to a confident hero-in-training. Her quirk allows her to nullify gravity, a deceptively simple ability with endless applications. Combined with her improved martial arts training and specialised gear, she’s now a capable combatant against top-level threats. 5. Tenya Iida (Engine) Class 1-A’s ever-dutiful president has honed his speed-based quirk to a razor edge, placing Tenya in the top five amongst our MHA student rankings. With his Reciprio Turbo upgrade, Iida can now move at incredible velocities for extended periods. His discipline, tactical sense, and improved stamina make him one of the class’s most dependable heroes. 4. Momo Yaoyorozu (Creation) Momo’s Creation quirk is arguably one of the most versatile in the entire series, since she can materialise virtually any object so long as she understands its composition. Her biggest obstacle has always been her own confidence, but by season 7, she has matured into a true leader and strategist. In the right circumstances, her quirk is nearly unrivalled. 3. Katsuki Bakugo (Explosion) Bakugo’s explosive quirk has always been destructive, but by season 7, his control and creativity are on another level. His combination of speed, aerial manoeuvrability, and sheer firepower makes him one of the deadliest fighters in the series. Despite his temper, Bakugo has proven himself both a rival and an ally of immense strength. 2. Shoto Todoroki (Half-Cold Half-Hot) Todoroki remains one of the most formidable members of Class 1-A. His mastery of both ice and fire gives him unmatched battlefield control, allowing him to freeze, burn, and reshape his surroundings at will. Season 7 shows how far he has come in balancing both sides of his quirk while also overcoming his emotional burdens, especially his relationship with his father, Endeavour. Todoroki is a devastating opponent at range and close quarters alike, and his growth has been remarkable. However, while he stands as one of the most complete fighters in the class, there is one student who edges him out. 1. Izuku Midoriya (Deku) At the very top of our ranked hero students in My Hero Academia is, of course, Midoriya, who has been on a formidable journey from quirkless underdog to inheritor of One For All, and all the other powers that have come with it. By the end of Season 7, Deku has mastered multiple quirks within One For All — including Blackwhip, Float, Danger Sense, and Fa Jin — alongside the raw power of super strength he first acquired, and has steadily been able to better handle it as time’s gone on. Even if it were just a couple of seasons ago, Todoroki would be #1 easily, but now, Midoriya’s versatility, adding to his raw power, is unparalleled: he can fight on the ground or in the air, up close or at range, with a tactical awareness that makes him incredibly difficult to pin down. Unlike many of his peers, Midoriya’s quirk arsenal grows more complex with every battle, and his creativity in combining them has pushed him into a league of his own. With both power and adaptability on his side, Midoriya rightfully claims the top spot as Class 1-A’s strongest student at the end of season 7, and that will be no different as we go further into season 8. Check out more of our Fantasy or Anime coverage or visit our TV Guide or Streaming Guide to find out what else is on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times View From My Sofa podcast.
One Piece filler guide: All canon and skippable episodes
With now over 1100 episodes to its name, the One Piece anime is ever than ever, but that means there might be more filler episodes to distinguish from the canon ones, too — making you need a watch guide like this one to follow the adaptation of Eiichiro Oda's manga properly. If you're coming back in the series after some time away, the anime's general premise is the same as it was back when One Piece first aired in 1999: a mischievous rubber man, Monkey D Luffy, has set off on a pirate journey to assemble a crew, reach the Grand Line, and find the franchise's titular treasure that will earn him the name of King of the Pirates. You'd think such a story wouldn't take over 26 years and 1140-something episodes to finish, but both the manga and anime cover a multitude of different stories as part of that overarching plot. In order to help widen the gaps between the manga and anime, though, the latter sometimes introduces filler episodes that are completely disconnected from the source material. These give the manga creators time to catch up, but we know there are plenty of fans who want nothing more than to skip them and just get to the core story. To help give you the best watching experience of all of One Piece's arcs to fit your preferences, we'll take you through which anime episodes are filler and canon, what's a mixture of the two, and where you can watch the whole series right now. Which One Piece episodes are purely skippable filler? After confirming reports by Crunchyroll and Anime Filler List, the complete list of One Piece episodes that are entirely skippable filler is as follows: Episodes 54-60: Warship Island arc Episodes 98-99: Arabasta arc Episode 102: Arabasta arc Episodes 131-135: Post-Arabasta arc Episodes 136-138: Goat Island arc Episodes 139-143: Ruluka Island arc Episodes 196-206: G-8 arc Episodes 220-225: Ocean’s Dream arc Episodes 279-283: Enies Lobby Arc Episodes 291-292: Enies Lobby Arc Episode 303: Enies Lobby Arc Episodes 317-319: Post-Enies Lobby Arc Episodes 326-336: Ice Hunter arc Episodes 382-384: Spa Island arc Episodes 406-407: Boss Luffy arc Episodes 426-429: Little East Blue arc Episodes 457-458: Marineford arc Episode 492: Post-War arc Episode 542: Fish-Man Island arc Episodes 575-578: Z’s Ambition arc Episode 590: Punk Hazard arc Episodes 626-627: Caesar’s Retrieval arc Episodes 747-750: Silver Mine arc Episodes 780-782: Marine Rookie arc Episodes 895-896: Cidre Guild arc Episode 907: Romance Dawn arc Episodes 1029-1030: Uta arc To clarify, we're referring to 'pure filler' as in content that is entirely original to the anime and was not adapted from the manga whatsoever. These can either be add-ons to currently existing arcs, or arcs that are exclusive to the anime altogether. For instance, episodes 131-143; the Post-Arabasta arc, Goat Island arc, and Ruluka Island arc; were stories that were not featured in manga at all — essentially adding more between the Alabasta and Jaya arcs. Meanwhile, episodes 98-99 were extra inclusions to the Alabasta arc. Of course, you're free to try out watching some of the filler arcs if you wish, but the rule of thumb is that these are somewhat lower quality than the manga-faithful episodes. These One Piece episodes are 100 per cent skippable if you're going for a viewing experience that follows the manga. Which One Piece episodes are mixed canon and filler? In anime like One Piece, mixed canon/filler episodes refer to those with a mix of both content that is still featured in the manga, but shares screen time with filler material as well. As laid out by the hardworking team at Anime Filler List and double-confirmed by Radio Times, the complete list of One Piece episodes that are mixed canon and filler is as follows: Episodes 45-47: Arlong Park & Buggy Side Story arcs Episode 61: Warship Island arc Episodes 68-69: Koby and Helmeppo arc Episode 101: Alabasta arc Episode 226: Foxy’s Return Arc Episode 354: Thriller Bark arc Episode 421: Amazon Lily arc Episode 489: Marineford arc Episode 520: Return to Sabaody arc Episode 574: Fish-Man Island arc Episode 625: Punk Hazard arc Episode 628: Caesar Retrieval arc Episode 633: Dressrosa arc Episode 653: Dressrosa arc Episode 657: Dressrosa arc Episode 679: Dressrosa arc Episode 690: Dressrosa arc Episode 731: Dressrosa arc Episode 738: Dressrosa arc Episode 751: Zou Arc Episodes 777-778: Zou Arc Episode 789: Whole Cake Island arc Episode 803: Whole Cake Island arc Episodes 878-879: Reverie arc Episodes 881-885: Reverie arc Episodes 887-890: Reverie & Land of Wano Arc Act 1 arcs Episode 924: Land of Wano Arc Act 3 arc Episodes 988-989: Land of Wano Arc Act 3 arc Episode 991: Land of Wano Arc Act 3 The general rule around these episodes is that they're technically optional as well, but fit in nicely with the fully canon One Piece episodes, since they flesh out a bit more of the story in their respective arcs. The exceptions might be those like episode 61, which is the conclusion of the entirely filler Warship Island arc – which might be confusing to those jumping straight in. Nevertheless, episodes like these are still a good bit of fun and are worth the additional tidbits of manga-faithful material. View Green Video on the source website Which One Piece episodes are completely canon? After reconfirming the findings by Crunchyroll and Anime Filler List, we've found that the complete list of One Piece episodes that are entirely faithful to the manga is as follows: Episodes 1-44: East Blue arc Episodes 48-49: Loguetown arc Episodes 52-53: East Blue arc Episodes 62-67: Arabasta arc Episodes 70-92: Drum Island & Arabasta arcs Episodes 94-97: Arabasta arc Episode 100: Arabasta arc Episodes 103-130: Arabasta arc Episodes 144-195: Jaya & Skypiea arcs Episodes 207-212: Long Ring Long Land arc Episodes 217-219: Long Ring Long Land arc Episodes 227-278: Enies Lobby arc Episodes 284-290: Enies Lobby arc Episodes 293-302: Enies Lobby arc Episodes 304-316: Enies Lobby arc & Post-Enies Lobby arcs Episodes 320-325: Post-Enies Lobby arc Episodes 337-353: Thriller Bark arc Episodes 355-381: Thriller Bark arc Episodes 385-405: Sabaody Archipelago arc Episodes 408-417: Amazon Lily arc Episodes 422-425: Impel Down arc Episodes 430-452: Impel Down arc Episodes 459-488: Marineford arc Episodes 490-491: Post-War arc Episodes 493-496: Post-War arc Episodes 500-505: Post-War arc Episodes 507-519: Post-War & Return to Sabaody arcs Episodes 521-541: Return to Sabaody and Fish-Man Island arcs Episodes 543-573: Fish-Man Island arc Episodes 579-589: Punk Hazard arc Episodes 591-624: Punk Hazard arc Episodes 629-632: Dressrosa arc Episodes 634-652: Dressrosa arc Episodes 654-656: Dressrosa arc Episodes 658-678: Dressrosa arc Episodes 680-689: Dressrosa arc Episodes 691-730: Dressrosa arc Episodes 732-736: Dressrosa arc Episodes 739-746: Dressrosa arc Episodes 752-774: Zou arc Episode 776: Zou arc Episode 779: Zou arc Episodes 783-788: Whole Cake Island arc Episodes 790-802: Whole Cake Island arc Episodes 804-806: Whole Cake Island arc Episodes 808-877: Whole Cake Island arc Episode 880: Whole Cake Island arc Episode 886: Whole Cake Island arc Episodes 891-894: Wano Country arc Episodes 897-906: Wano Country arc Episodes 908-923: Wano Country arc Episodes 925-987: Wano Country arc Episode 990: Wano Country arc Episodes 992-1028: Wano Country arc Episodes 1031-1083: Wano Country arc Episodes 1085-1145: Egghead arc Where to watch One Piece in the UK and US All episodes of the One Piece anime are available to watch right now on Crunchyroll, both in the UK and US. UK viewers can also find the One Piece anime on Netflix. If you're in the UK and don't feel like paying for a subscription, One Piece is also available to watch on BBC iPlayer. Keep in mind, however, that iPlayer only has access to the English dub, which has only covered up to episode 1088. You also need to have a paid TV license in order to access the BBC iPlayer service. In the US, the One Piece anime is also available to watch via streaming services like Netflix & Hulu, but they are regularly behind Crunchyroll in terms of current episodes as well. Read more: One Piece anime confirms return date after 6-month hiatus You can catch One Piece on Crunchyroll. Check out more of our Fantasy coverage or visit our TV Guide or Streaming Guide to find out what else is on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
How to watch all Demon Slayer arcs in chronological order: All anime seasons & movies
The way to view the whole anime series correctly, now that the Infinity Castle films are in the mix.
With the first Infinity Castle movie out, the ongoing watch order for the Demon Slayer anime has just gotten bigger, but there are some key tidbits to keep in mind if you want to see the whole series correctly in chronological order. Whether you're checking the anime out for the first time or are simply revisiting the show whilst waiting for Infinity Castle Part 2, there's no better time to get into the anime that's been taking the medium's world by storm over the years. After all, the tale of Tanjiro Kamado's journey to climb up the ranks of the Demon Slayers, and avenge his family against Muzan Kibutsuji, who transformed his sister into a demon, is essentially a modern classic at this point. However, Demon Slayer's own success has ended up making certain parts a bit confusing for some fans – with anime TV seasons and movies covering the same events making what and what not to watch slightly confusing. For any anime lover who wants to watch Demon Slayer the right way, including which anime chapters to check out and where you can find them, this quick and easy watch guide will take you through all you need to know. How to watch Demon Slayer in order – your recommended watch order Starting with the 26-episode first season from 2019, all the way up to the Infinity Castle trilogy, the correct chronological watch order for the Demon Slayer anime TV seasons and movies is as follows: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba season 1 Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train OR Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba season 2 - Mugen Train Arc Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba season 2 - Entertainment District Arc Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba - To the Swordsmith Village OR Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba season 3 - Swordsmith Village Arc Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba - To the Hashira Training OR Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba season 4 - Hashira Training Arc Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba Infinity Castle movie Part 1 Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba Infinity Castle movie Part 2 Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba Infinity Castle movie Part 3 Why are there movies and anime seasons for almost every Demon Slayer arc? The reason that most seasons of Demon Slayer also have movie options is that each film covers the anime series' equivalent events for a cinematic release. There will be some very slight differences, but the story being told in each is the same overall. For example, Demon Slayer's Mugen Train movie has a higher production quality, but the arc's coverage in the first half of the anime's season 2, will provide some extra detail (since it came out after the cinematic version) while also being slightly longer. The next film, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – To the Swordsmith Village, covers the final two episodes of season 2, and the premiere episode of season 3. So there's also some overlap there. After that, season 3 adapts the Swordsmith Village arc from the manga, followed by the Hashira Training arc in season 4 – and its equivalent movie, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba – To the Hashira Training. Do I need to watch both the movies and TV seasons? It might be good to see both the film and TV seasons across different chronological viewings of Demon Slayer altogether, but watching all of them back-to-back is definitely not necessary. Will there be a Demon Slayer season 5? View oEmbed on the source website Despite the confusing precedent set by the other films, the Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle movies will not be adapted into a season 5 of the TV anime. Starting with 2025's Infinity Castle part 1, that and the remaining two films of the trilogy will conclude the entire Demon Slayer anime franchise. We haven't been given exact clarification as to why, but we're assuming it's along the lines of wanting to go out with a bang in the biggest way possible, rather stretch things out with a TV anime adaptation of slightly lower quality. With how quickly Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle went on to achieve various broken box office records, it's definitely worked in studio Ufotable and distributor Crunchyroll's favour. The manga's epic Infinity Castle arc then follows in the Infinity Castle trilogy of new movies, the first of which is out now and has broken box office records. Where to watch Demon Slayer in the UK and US The best place to watch Demon Slayer in the UK, US, and other territories is Crunchyroll — as this is home to all of the anime's TV seasons and movies, both in the English dub and Japanese version with subtitles. However, if you've already got a Netflix or Hulu (US-only) subscription, Demon Slayer is available there as well; we'd only recommend Netflix or Hulu if you're set on not seeing any of the movie versions of the anime's covered story arcs, though, since this particular streaming service does not have any of those films currently available. How many episodes of Demon Slayer are there? At the time of writing, there are 63 episodes of Demon Slayer. If you are short on time, you can watch the equivalent but shorter Demon Slayer movies above, so you can be generally caught up before watching Infinity Castle. All four seasons of Demon Slayer are currently available to watch on Crunchyroll. Visit our Fantasy hub for the latest news and features, or find something to watch with our TV Guide and Streaming Guide. Check out more of our Fantasy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
One Piece anime release date schedule: When are new episodes out?
Despite a hiatus earlier in the year, One Piece has been back in full swing with a flurry of new episodes, with upcoming release dates you'll need to keep an eye on. As the Egghead arc continues, season 21 of the One Piece anime is now past its 50th episode, and is now heading toward its 1150th episode in total. Of course, going on for as long as it has, there's a variety of options to watch One Piece, but only one to see the newest episodes of the anime adaptation of Eiichiro Oda's beloved manga. For instance, BBC iplayer is a great way UK fans can watch One Piece for free, but only covers up to the Land of Wano Arc, and is limited to the English-dubbed version — not the Japanese subtitled version. Then there's the live-action Netflix adaptation of One Piece with a season 2 on the way, but that's a re-tread of the Straw Hat Pirates' earlier adventures than the first. One Piece release schedule: When do new episodes come out on Crunchyroll? Following the release of episode 1145, new episodes of One Piece are mostly planned to be released on Crunchyroll every Sunday, but a small delay has been announced. After episode 1145 dropped, the Japanese One Piece X (formerly Twitter) account announced a two-week break for the anime; this will be followed with an episode 145.5 recap special airing on 12th October. This means One Piece episode 1146 has a delayed release date of 19th October, 2025, instead of the 5th. Outside of that, the remaining episodes ahead should still be release every following week as planned. That said, based on the current schedule going as planned, the release date for every upcoming One Piece episode — starting with episodes 1146, 1147, and 1148 — is as follows: Episode 1,145.5 - "Dr. Chopper's Adventure Checkup -Traitors' Masquerade-”- 12th October Episode 1,146 - 19th October Episode 1,147 - 26th October Episode 1,148 - 2nd November Episode 1,149 - 9th November Episode 1,150 - 16th November Episode 1,151 - 23rd November Episode 1,152 - 30th November Episode 1,153 - 7th December Episode 1,154 - 14th December Episode 1,155 - 21st December Episode 1.156 - 28th December One Piece release schedule: When do new episodes come out on Netflix? Netflix releases new episodes of One Piece one week after their original premiere on Crunchyroll, meaning the projected release schedule looks like this: Episode 1,145 - "Friends Fight Together! Luffy and the Warriors of Elbaph" - 5th October Episode 1,145.5 - "Dr. Chopper's Adventure Checkup -Traitors' Masquerade-" – 19th October Episode 1,146 - 26th October Episode 1,147 - 2nd November Episode 1,148 - 9th November Episode 1,149 - 16th November Episode 1,150 - 23rd November Episode 1,151 - 30th November Episode 1,152 - 7th December Episode 1,153 - 14th December Episode 1,154 - 21st December Episode 1,155 - 28th December Episode 1,156 - 4th January What time do One Piece episodes come out? According to Crunchyroll's release calendar, new One Piece episodes drop on the streaming service at the following times across different regions: Pacific Time – 5pm on Saturday Eastern Time – 12pm on Saturday UK Time – 5pm on Sunday Central European Summer Time – 6pm on Sunday India Standard Time – 9:30am pm Sunday Philippine Time – 12am on Monday (Midnight on Sunday evening) Australia Eastern Daylight Time – 2am Monday How to watch One Piece in the UK Like in the US and other territories, the best place to watch the latest episodes of One Piece in the UK is Crunchyroll, but older episodes are available on Netflix, whilst BBC iPlayer is home to episodes with the English dub. Crunchyroll is, of course, ideal to watch One Piece as soon as it drops to avoid spoilers, but BBC iPlayer has exclusive streaming of the English dub, while Crunchyroll and Netflix only provide the Japanese version with subtitles. On the other hand, despite BBC iPlayer being technically free, you do have to have a TV licence in effect in order to access the streaming service legally, which costs £174.50 a year. Netflix is a nice middle-ground if you're already a subscriber to watch other shows, since you only have to wait an extra week for the newest episodes of the anime, and you get access to the live-action version of One Piece, too. You can catch One Piece on Crunchyroll and Netflix. Sign up for Netflix from £5.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream. Check out more of our Fantasy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Will there be a Sakamoto Days season 2? Potential release date & where to start the manga
Episode 23 of the hit might be further away than you think.
After delightfully surprising anime fans on Netflix this year, it’s to be expected that you’re checking whether Sakamoto Days already has a season 2 announced with a release date in mind. The streaming service’s adaptation of Yuto Suzuki’s manga, about a hitman-turned-convenience store owner with a family, hit hard with its mix of anime-John Wick fantasy and over-the-top comedy, and wild action. Despite that, the airing of season 1’s finale – episode #22, Each One's Mission – hasn’t been followed with tons of information about a possible Sakamoto Days season 2, or the show’s 23rd episode that would start it off. That said, we’ve put together all of the information available right now to tell you how likely a second season of the hit anime is and when it could happen. Will there be a Sakamoto Days season 2? At the time of writing, a Sakamoto Days season 2 hasn’t been confirmed just yet, but a follow-up season is practically inevitable with the anime’s massive success so far; season 1 was not only enjoyed by critics, but also achieved 24 million views during the first half of the year – as revealed by Netflix in July. Whilst not the highest-performing show on the streaming platform altogether (Naruto scored 45 million views), that’s still a massive number for a brand new anime franchise. With season 1 finishing after its final episode on 22nd September 2025, we likely won’t see a season 2 announcement for Sakamoto Days for some time; this is usually the case with anime – especially with studios like Sakamoto Days’ TMS Entertainment. Nevertheless, with the success of the anime and the massive amount of chapters in the anime still to cover, we’re hopeful that plans for Sakamoto Days’ second season are being spoken about behind the scenes. When could a potential Sakamoto Days season 2 release date be? With the workload of its anime studio in mind, we estimate that Sakamoto Days could come back for season 2 (starting with episode 23) with a possible release date window of early 2027 for its first cour, followed by summer 2027 for its second cour. Normally, we’d expect a launch of early to mid-2026. However, the studio behind Sakamoto Days, TMS Entertainment, is made up of an ambitious team that takes on multiple anime at the same time – Rent-a-Girlfriend, Dr. Stone, Honey Lemon Soda, etc – jumping between seasons for each season as it comes. As a result, we believe Sakamoto Days’ second season could get pushed back as a result, as follow-up seasons of TMS's other shows have taken at least a year to produce. On the other hand, we’re aware of Netflix’s tendency to prioritise shows that are a definite success, marking the potential for TMS Entertainment to fast-track the next part of Sakamoto Days. As soon as we hear any update saying we might see episode 23 of Sakamoto Days sooner, we’ll update this guide accordingly. Didn’t Sakamoto Days season 2 already air? Rather than season 2 of Sakamo Days, the batch of episodes we just saw finish in September 2025 was the second half of season 1 — known as a second cour. In anime, cours are blocks of 10-14 episodes, either making up a series’ whole season, or two parts equalling 20 to 26 episodes. Whilst sometimes having a break in-between, or back-to-back with new openings and endings (like Jujutsu Kaisen season 1), both cours still count as a single anime season. Sakamoto Days season 1 was a prime example of this: season 1’s episodes 1 to 11, airing between January and March 2025, made up Part 1; episodes 12 to 22, dropping between July and September 2025, made up the second cour to become Part 2. With the many chapters of manga still to cover, we’d expect Sakamoto Days season 2 to follow the same pattern if it is renewed. Where to pick up the Sakamoto Days manga after season 1 With the wrapping up of season 1 with episode 22, the Sakamoto Days anime covers up to chapter 73 of the manga – meaning you should start reading chapter 74 of the manga and onwards if you want to start reading ahead. There may be some slight crossover with what was covered in episode 22 and after chapter 73, but because Sakamoto Days season 1 essentially ended with kicking off with the Japan Clear Creation arc, it’s better to start from this point for consistency and to make sure you don’t miss anything. Sakamoto Days streams exclusively on Netflix in the UK, US, and other territories worldwide. At the time of writing, Sakamoto Days is not on Crunchyroll or any other alternative anime streaming services. Check out the rest of our Sci-Fi and Fantasy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to see what’s on tonight. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
How to watch Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle – is it streaming?
As Demon Slayer continues to take over the world, it's no surprise that plenty of fans are eager to see the new Infinity Castle movie streaming. The beloved anime franchise is coming to an end with three feature films, the first of which has broken box office records both in Japan and globally. Tanjiro's come a long way since his first adventures in season 1, taking on the Muzan Kibutsuji, the Demon King, in the movie. But, as his journey continues, fans are wondering when the movie might be available to watch at home. How to watch Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle – is it streaming? Currently, Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle is only available to watch in cinemas. It was released internationally on 12th September and has had a large-scale release across various cinema chains. Plus, while Demon Slayer seasons 1-4 are streaming on Crunchyroll, it doesn't look like the Infinity Castle movie will be on there any time soon. Crunchyroll's Executive Vice President, Global Commerce, Mitchel Berger, has confirmed that the only way to see the movie in 2025 will be in a cinema. View oEmbed on the source website He told Popverse: "Go see [Demon Slayer Infinity Castle] in the theatre, because the theatre is the only place you're going to be able to see this film in 2025. If you want to see it, go see it in the theatre because that's the only place it's going to be available." It sounds like that means the movie will eventually be on Crunchyroll – but from 2026 onwards. We don't have a confirmed date on that and likely won't for some time. How to watch Demon Slayer seasons 1-4 Demon Slayer seasons 1-4 are available to stream on Crunchyroll, which you need a subscription for. Tiers in the UK start at £4.99 per month. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle is out in cinemas now. Check out more of our Fantasy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle movie breaks a global box office record
The beloved anime franchise continues to dominate.
Demon Slayer has continued to take over the world, with its first Infinity Castle movie now becoming the biggest Japanese film of all time worldwide. Less than two weeks after its international release, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle has racked up more than $555 million (£411 million) globally, with that figure likely to increase in the coming days. It's worth noting that the shift in exchange rates has contributed to this. According to Deadline, the last Demon Slayer feature film, Mugen Train (released in 2021) brought in 41 billion yen, with Infinity Castle currently around 34 billion yen – but that now converts to a higher figure in dollars. Nevertheless, it's a clear sign of anime's growing success across the world, as franchises like Demon Slayer continue to bring in new fans and become ever more mainstream. The beloved anime franchise is ending with a trilogy of feature films, with the first being released across the world on 12th September, after its Japanese release on 18th July. The story follows Tanjiro, who seeks vengeance by becoming a demon slayer after his family is brutally killed by demons and his younger sister is turned into one. Zach Aguilar, who voices Tanjiro for the English dub, recently spoke exclusively to RadioTimes.com about his dedication to the character and to Demon Slayer. “I knew how big of a deal this is," he explained. View oEmbed on the source website "I knew the audience that it was gonna reach, I mean, I know this is the final battle of Demon Slayer, so I'm here to bring my all in every capacity. Every scream, every bit of emotion that comes out of Tanjiro, I truly poured my heart and soul into it… "So much so that I was doing some of the scenes, and I actually lost my voice, because I kept saying to the director, I'm like ‘wait, I have another one, I have a different idea, let me do it again, one more time’ so any scream that I have done, you are… I can assure you, you are getting 120 per cent of my ability watching it in the theatre.” Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle is out in cinemas now. Check out more of our Fantasy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Will there be a Dan Da Dan season 3? Latest news and speculation
Are more plans afoot for the wildly popular anime?
Dan Da Dan season 2 is almost at an end, with fans hooked on the anime – but will there be more to come in a potential season 3? The wildly popular anime follows group of high schoolers who banish ghosts and investigate other paranormal threats in their hometown. Season 2 has delved into the Cursed House and Evil Eye arcs from the manga, introducing a new conflict between Dan Da Dan’s heroes and a new group of antagonists in season 2. So, if you're keen for more from Dan Da Dan, here's everything we know so far. Will there be a Dan Da Dan season 3? There's not been an announcement on Dan Da Dan's future just yet, but we wouldn't be surprised if a season 3 confirmation comes right after the finale episode. The series has clearly been popular and there are plenty more arcs from the manga to potentially delve into. Meanwhile, the series' director, Fûga Yamashiro, teased that he has ideas for season 3 already. He told ScreenRant: “There’s an arc coming up in Dan Da Dan that’s full of aliens and new characters. Luckily, it’s not in season 2! “If I kept adding new colours for every new character, I’d run out of options really fast. But with this season, I’ve avoided that problem.” When could a potential Dan Da Dan season 3 be released? If gets renewed, we'd expect Dan Da Dan season 3 to be released in spring or summer 2026 (although we don't have a confirmed release date yet, so that's subject to change). Season 1 began in October 2024, with season 2 beginning in July 2025, so we'd expect season 3 to have a similarly quick turnaround, perhaps airing around April. View oEmbed on the source website What could the plot of a potential Dan Da Dan season 3 be? We'd expect a potential Dan Da Dan season 3 to continue with the Kaiju arc – and potentially introduce another arc in its later episodes. Dan Da Dan seasons 1-2 are available to stream on Crunchyroll, Netflix and Hulu. Check out more of our Fantasy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what’s on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Ranma ½ season 2: Release date, trailer, latest news for Netflix anime
Will this beloved martial arts anime return for a second season?
We finally have a release date for Ranma 1/2 season 2! Ranma 1/2 boasts a decades-long legacy in Japanese pop culture, starting out as a serialised manga in 1987 before receiving its first anime adaptation in 1989. A new animated remake premiered in 2024, and unsurprisingly it's earned a lot of buzz. Titled simply Ranma ½, the 2024 anime series adapts the original concept from scratch: a martial arts comedy whose protagonist can magically change sex at will. It's a beloved story that combines high-energy action/adventure storytelling with jokes and social commentary about gender roles. Streaming internationally on Netflix, the new Ranma 1/2 has earned praise for its animation style and pacing. But when will it return for season 2? Read on to find out everything we know. Ranma ½ season 2 release date It's been confirmed that Ranma 1/2 season 2 will begin on 4th October 2025, meaning fans don't have long to wait at all. A new trailer and visual have also been released to celebrate the news. The Ranma ½ remake premiered its first season on October 6, 2024, airing its 12th and final episode on 21st December. How many episodes will there be in Ranma 1/2 season 2? We're expecting another 12 episodes in Ranma 1/2 season 2. Is there a trailer for Ranma 1/2 season 2? Yes! Check out the below trailer, which was released to celebrate the season's release date announcement: View oEmbed on the source website Where can I watch the Ranma 1/2 season 2? Ranma 1/2 will be available to stream on Netflix. Ranma ½ premiered on Netflix in October 2024. Sign up for Netflix from £4.99 a month (with adverts) or £10.99 a month (ad-free). Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream. Looking for something else to watch? Check out the best Netflix series and best Netflix movies to keep you entertained, or visit our TV Guide or Streaming Guide for more to watch. Check out more of our Fantasy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what’s on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Why won't there be a Demon Slayer season 5?
The Demon Slayer Infinity Castle movie will soon arrive in UK cinemas.
The first Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle movie is officially in cinemas, with the franchise almost at its end. Continuing the Demon Slayer story after adapting the Hashira Training arc, a storyline that's generally agreed to represent the calm before the storm, Infinity Castle ramps up the action as the heroes prepare to battle their demonic enemy, Muzan Kibutsuji. The wildly popular anime, based on the manga by Koyoharu Gotouge, follows young Tanjiro in his mission to exact revenge after his family is massacred by demons and his younger sister is turned into a demon. Here's everything we know about why there won't be a Demon Slayer season 5. Why won't there be a Demon Slayer season 5? There won't be a Demon Slayer season 5 simply because the anime is being wrapped up with three feature films instead of another season. The first film arrived in UK cinemas on 12th September 2025, two months after its July release date in Japan, where Demon Slayer fans turned out in droves, causing the movie to spend six consecutive weeks in the number one spot at the Japanese box office. The wait for the second film in the trilogy now begins! What is the Demon Slayer Infinity Castle plot? Crunchyroll's official synopsis describes the film as follows: "Tanjiro Kamado – a boy who joined an organisation dedicated to hunting down demons called the Demon Slayer Corps after his younger sister Nezuko was turned into a demon. "While growing stronger and deepening his friendships and bonds with fellow corps members, Tanjiro has battled many demons with his comrades – Zenitsu Agatsuma and Inosuke Hashibira. "Along the way, his journey has led him to fight alongside the Demon Slayer Corps’ highest-ranking swordsmen, the Hashira, including Flame Hashira Kyojuro Rengoku aboard the Mugen Train, Sound Hashira Tengen Uzui within the Entertainment District, as well as Mist Hashira Muichiro Tokito and Love Hashira Mitsuri Kanroji at the Swordsmith Village. View oEmbed on the source website "The Demon Slayer Corps members and Hashira engaged in a group strength training programme, the Hashira Training, in preparation for the forthcoming battle against the demons, Muzan Kibutsuji appears at the Ubuyashiki Mansion. "With the head of the Demon Corps in danger, Tanjiro and the Hashira rush to the headquarters but are plunged into a deep descent to a mysterious space by the hands of Muzan Kibutsuji. "The destination of where Tanjiro and Demon Slayer Corps have fallen is the demons’ stronghold – the Infinity Castle. And so, the battleground is set as the final battle between the Demon Slayer Corps and the demons ignites." How to watch Demon Slayer in the UK Demon Slayer seasons 1-4 are available to watch on Crunchyroll. The first Infinity Castle movie is in UK cinemas now. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle is in UK cinemas now. Stream episodes on Crunchyroll. Sign up to Crunchyroll today for as little as £4.99 or start your 7-day free trial. Check out more of our Anime coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle movie ending explained — Who dies and who survives Part 1?
Battles, betrayals, and cliffhangers shake Infinity Castle. **CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR DEMON SLAYER: INFINITY CASTLE MOVIE AND MANGA**
The Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle movie is officially here! When we watched the film for our Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle movie review, we found there was definitely a lot to process over its two-hour and 35-minute runtime. Ultimately, the first part of the trilogy adapting the manga’s final arc, certainly lived up to its higher stakes. With Tanjiro, Zenitsu, Inosuke, and the Hashiras being spread out across the titular Infinity Castle, there were a lot of players and various fights against the Upper Rank demons to keep track of. That includes one with a major cliffhanger, which was surprising since the rest of the film segued into the remaining brawls to come quite nicely. For those confused about any or all of the first Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle movie’s ending, here’s all you need to know about what happened — including who died and who survived. Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle movie ending explained: What happened to Tanjiro, Giyu, and Akaza? The main battle in Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle saw Tanjiro reunite with Akaza (along with Giyu by our hero’s side) and was by far the most intense. Both Demon Slayers sliced off the Upper Rank Three demon’s limbs numerous times, but Akaza’s endless regenerative ability, stamina, and power eventually overwhelmed them both — to the point where the brawler-style demon even broke Giyu’s sword with just his first. Tanjiro, however, managed a major breakthrough via a couple of flashbacks, one of our favourite anime tropes. Combined with comments he remembered from Inosuke and a childhood lesson he learned from his father days before his death, Tanjiro unlocked two abilities: Transparent World and Selfless State. Transparent World is an ocular ability only accessible to those who’ve unlocked their Demon Slayer Mark. With it, users can see the inner workings of other living beings; analysing breathing, blood flow, and even the flexing of muscles; to get an edge on predicting enemy movements for dodging, and even finding an opening to strike at a much quicker pace. Selfless State is a type of Zen state, an even rarer ability and even more crucial to defeating Akaza. That’s because part of the reason Akaza’s attacks were so relentlessly fast and accurate was because he could detect what’s known as Fighting Spirit, a power-based presence that everyone gives off on some level — even babies. If you try to think of Fighting Spirit as the Demon Slayer version of Ki Sense in the Dragon Ball franchise, which lets others sense power levels, life force, and such, you wouldn’t be far off. It is also filled with emotive elements like bloodlust, anger, hatred, and the general will to fight. Self State essentially allows users like Tanjiro to remove all emotion and enter a tranquil sense of being, one that is only pure focus. Because Self State is so rare, with general knowledge of it surrounded in mystery, Akaza never encountered a human devoid of Fighting Spirit once in his hundreds of years alive. With that, Akaza couldn’t see Tanjiro coming, something he'd never dealth with before this point. Even when Tanjiro gave himself away, his lack of Fighting Spirit made Akaza unable to predict where his attack was coming from, and his head was sliced clean off as a result. The scene was referenced in by Tanjiro voice actor, Zach Aguilar, during a chat with RadioTimes.com alongside Johnny Bosch. “I can see the moments in the theatre, like, where people will freak out, like, ‘oh, no way!'”, Aguilar said. Surprisingly, though, Akaza’s indomitable will made him able to fight on without his head, and even nearly regenerate as easily as he had done with his arms earlier in the battle. However, before he could, he finally remembered his former life as a human named Hakuji and how he came to be a demon in the first place. Akaza finally recollected how the unjust murders of his fiancée Koyuki, and her father Keizo — who also originally taught Hakuji his Soryu fighting style — caused him to go on a blood-soaked rampage in revenge. After killing the dozens of members of the rival dojo who murdered Koyuki and Keizo, Muzan Kibutsuji soon happened upon Hakuji/Akaza and transformed him into the demon we know. After regaining his human memories, Akaza’s guilt and desire to be with his loved ones were too much to bear. So, he fatally wounded himself with a flurry of punches before he could regenerate the rest of his head, and died peacefully whilst smiling at Tanjiro — seemingly in gratitude for reuniting him with his family. As for Tanjiro and Giyu, both ended the battle alive, though they did find themselves collapsing from exhaustion as Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle came to a close. What happened to Shinobu, Doma, and Kanao? Poison Hashira Shinobu Kocho’s fight against Doma, Upper Rank Demon Two, ended on a slightly more tragic note. Although it first seemed like the petite swordswoman could overcome her disadvantage in height and strength by utilising her incredible speed and variety of poisons, Doma — the versatile head of the Eternal Paradise Faith cult – was able to quickly break down and become resistant to every concoction she might inject him with. In a final attempt to avenge her sister Kanae’s death at Doma’s hands, Shinobu lunged with another variety of poison directly into Doma’s neck, from which he unfortunately recovered. He then killed Shinobu and broke her back. In a cruel twist of fate, Kanao, Shinobu’s adopted little sister and apprentice, walked in on the two just as Doma was absorbing her mentor’s body — which is a more efficient method of eating humans used by Doma in the midst of battle. There was some shifting back and forth between different fights, but Kanao’s and Doma’s was the only one to end on a cliffhanger. As the credits on Infinity Castle roll, we see the younger Demon Slayer tired and cut up with Doma still bragging, and their fate left up in the air. What happened to Kanao, Doma & Inosuke in the manga after the Infinity Castle movie? **Contains spoilers for the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba manga** In the manga (which will also inspire the upcoming Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle part 2), Kanao actually impresses Doma with speed and strength that might actually make her more powerful than her dead master. Inosuke, who we saw towards the end of the Infinity Castle movie running around killing lesser demons, crashes in and joins the fight against Doma. The Beast Breathing style Demon Slayer is not only enraged at Doma for the death of Shinobu, but that of his mother Kotoha, too. It turns out that both her and an infant Inosuke were taken in by the Eternal Paradise Faith cult, before Kotoha realised Doma was devouring followers and tried to escape with her son. Unfortunately, she was caught, killed, and eaten shortly after she dropped Inosuke off a cliff in hopes he would survive. Which he did indeed, and went on to be raised by boars. Inosuke, while grateful he can now remember his mother and his true origins, still vows to kill Doma for what he’s done. View oEmbed on the source website Doma executes some crafty tricks and tries to escape, but is soon stopped in his tracks thanks to a final secret weapon from Shinobu: the special poison she had coursing through her own body, which Doma absorbed without realising. This was secretly Shinobu’s plan the entire time. Over the course of a year, with the help of Lady Tamayao, Shinobu had been steadily filling her body with wisteria flower poison. Her sword also contained the deadly poison, but only 50ml, which Doma could easily resist. By allowing herself to be absorbed, however, Doma gets hit with an amount of Wisteria poison worth Shinobu’s entire body weight of 37kg — over 70 times the lethal dosage. Already causing his body to melt and take away his energy, Shinobu’s secret Hail Mary gave Kanao and Inosuke the advantage they both needed to behead Upper Rank Two at last. They not only avenge Shinobu, but her sister Kanae, Inosuke’s mother, and all the other innocents Doma killed over the years, too. What happened to Zenitsu & Kaigaku? Out of all the big fights that took place during the Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle movie, Zenitsu vs Kaigaku was the most straightforward and the most epic the blonde-haired swordsman has ever been. Throughout the entire film, Zenitsu had shed his usually cowardly persona for one that’s more straight-talking, focused, and angry. That’s because of the letter Zenitsu received toward the end of the Hashira Training Arc in Demon Slayer season 4. It told him that not only did his former fellow Thunder Breathing student Kaiguku defect to become a demon, but their master — former Thunder Hashira, Jigoro Kuwajima — recently committed suicide by seppuku out of pure shame. Enraged, Zenitsu fought Kaigaku in a battle of Thunder Breathing for revenge. Known for only being able to perform the first of Thunder Breathing’s six forms, Kaiguku underestimated Zenitsu throughout the entire clash. This was also partly due to the new Upper Rank Six demon’s long-standing inferiority complex, stemming from the fact that Kaigaku could ironically only use all Thunder Breathing forms other than the first — originally causing Jigoro to name both him and Zenitsu as shared successors to the fighting style, instead of being the sole heir. Much like Akaza against Tanjiro, Kaiguku's underestimation of his opponent was his undoing. At a moment he least expected, Zenitsu revealed a secret seventh form of Thunder Breathing he invented himself: Flaming Thunder God. Zenitsu beheaded Kaigaku with ease and avenged their master before quickly collapsing from exhaustion and the wounds Kaigaku had delivered. Zenitsu also unknowingly delivered justice for the deaths of Gyomei's adopted children, as it was revealed in Demon Slayer season 4 that a human Kaigaku gave up their locations to a demon in order to save himself. Some would say that Zenitsu being able to defeat an Upper Rank demon so effortlessly compared to other fights shown in the anime looks far-fetched, since Gyutaro and Daki from season 2 were the previous Upper Rank 6 — and left Sound Hashira Tengen, Tanjiro, Inosuke, and Zenitsu himself with far worse injuries. On the other hand, Yushiro, who arrives to give aid to Zenitsu, notes that Kaiguku was far weaker due to him being a relatively new demon who was still getting used to his abilities. If facing Kaigaku alone as he did even a year later, it’s far more likely that Zenitsu would’ve been quickly defeated instead. What happened to Muzan Kibutsuji & Lady Tamayao? After being caught off-guard by Kubayashiki’s explosion and Lady Tamayao’s poisonous attack, Muzan escaped deep within the Infinity Castle and sealed himself off in a fleshy cocoon while he recuperates. With Lady Tamayao also attached and getting slowly absorbed, Muzan is preparing for the battle ahead and eager to kill the remaining Demon Slayers once and for all. Based on what we know about the manga, though, we predict this won’t happen until Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle part 3, since there’s another big battle to come in part 2 first. Who will the other Hashira fight in Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle part 2? **Contains Spoilers for the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba manga** Anything we saw of the other Demon Slayers and Hashira — like Gyomei, Muichiro, Mitsuri, and Obanai — was just them making their way through the Infinity Castle, killing lower-level demons. With Tanjiro, Giyu, Kanao, Inosuke, and Zenitsu exhausted after the fight with Doma is concluded, this movie's ending hints that Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle part 2 will follow the manga once again by pitting some of the other warriors against the biggest remaining demon: Upper Rank One, Kokushibo. Despite going against Gyomei, Sanemi, Shinazugawa, and Muichiro all at once, we know the upcoming battle against Kokushibi will be even more of a nail-biter than it was in the manga — and will likely take up most of part 2. This is quite a lengthy fight in the manga as well. So, after what we believe will be the early portions of the Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle sequel showing Doma’s demise at the hands of Inosuke and Kanao, it looks like almost all of part 2 will be Kokushibo’s battle against the Demon Slayer Corps, followed by Muzan’s resurgence in part 3. We still have no release date or window for Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle part 2, so now, the long countdown begins. Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle part 1 is in UK cinemas from 12th September. Check out more of our Fantasy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Demon Slayer Infinity Castle Part 2 release date speculation, latest news
There's a second Demon Slayer Infinity Castle movie on the way!
After the arrival of the first Demon Slayer Infinity Castle movie, you may be wondering when Part 2 will arrive. Released in the UK in September 2025, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle is the first instalment in a planned trilogy. These three movies will adapt the Infinity Castle arc from the original Demon Slayer manga, acting as a sequel to season 4 of the anime series. The first film was a smash hit, spending weeks at the top of the box office in Japan. But when will Demon Slayer Infinity Castle Part 2 come out? Here's everything we know about the future of this anime trilogy. Demon Slayer Infinity Castle Part 2 release date speculation Unfortunately there is no official release date for Demon Slayer Infinity Castle Part 2. However, reports suggest fans will have to wait until 2027 for this film to arrive. Meanwhile Part 3 is currently predicted to come out in 2029, allowing two years to complete each sequel. This kind of wait can obviously be frustrating, but fans a two-year production process will likely result in higher quality animation. With the first Infinity Castle movie now available across the world, we expect to hear an announcement soon about the future of the franchise. When that happens, we'll update this page with any news about the release date for Part 2. Demon Slayer Infinity Castle Part 2 voice cast We can safely assume the original Japanese and English voice actors will reprise their roles for the next movie. If that changes, we'll be sure to update this cast list! Tanjiro Kamado – Natsuki Hanae / Zach Aguilar Nezuko Kamado – Akari Kito / Abby Trott Zenitsu Agatsuma – Hiro Shimono / Aleks Le Inosuke Hashibira – Yoshitsugu Matsuoka / Bryce Papenbrook Giyu Tomioka – Takahiro Sakurai / Johnny Yong Bosch Tengen Uzui – Katsuyuki Konishi / Ray Chase Shinobu Kocho – Saori Hayami / Erika Harlacher Mitsuri Kanroji – Kana Hanazawa / Kira Buckland Is there a trailer for Demon Slayer Infinity Castle Part 2? No, there isn't a trailer for Demon Slayer Infinity Castle Part 2 yet. Unless the film's creative team has been keeping the production process under wraps for a while, we can't expect to see a full-length trailer for a while. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle is screening in UK cinemas from 12th September. Stream episodes on Crunchyroll. Sign up to Crunchyroll today for as little as £4.99 or start your 7-day free trial. Check out more of our Anime coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity release schedule: When are new episodes on Netflix?
This new romance anime premiered on Netflix in September.
Airing on Netflix this year, The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity is a new twist on a classic romance formula: a love story about two strangers from very different walks of life, whose shared values help them overcome a class divide. Adapted from a manga series by Saka Mikami, this new anime explores a slow-burn relationship between two teenagers: Rintaro, a student at a school for delinquent boys, and Kaoraku, a girl who attends a highly respected private school for girls. After Kaoraku saves Rintaro from being harassed on the street, a friendship blooms between the two teens. Following the show's premiere on Netflix, you may be wondering when new episodes will arrive. Here's everything we know about the release schedule for The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity! The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity release schedule: When are new episodes out? The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity premiered on Sunday 7th September 2025 on Netflix, with episodes 1 and 2 dropping on the same day. After that, we can expect new episodes to arrive weekly. The show has already started airing in Japan, but if you're watching on Netflix in the US or UK, you can expect the release schedule to look like this: Episodes 1 and 2 - "Rintaro and Kaoruko" and "Chidori and Kikyo" - Sunday 7th September Episode 3 - "A Kind Person" - Sunday 14th September Episode 4 - "Warmth of the Heart" - Sunday 21st September Episode 5 - "Premonition of a New Beginning" - Sunday 28th September Episode 6 - "Self-Loathing" / "I love you!" - Sunday 5th October Episode 7 - "Coolest Guy Ever" - Sunday 12th October Episode 8 - "The Meaning of These Feelings" - Sunday 19th October Episode 9 - "Blond Hair and Pierced Ears" - Sunday 26th October Episode 10 - Sunday 2nd November Episode 11 - Sunday 9th November Episode 12 - Sunday 16th November Episode 13 - Sunday 23rd November The gap between the original Japanese release and the overseas Netflix release is likely because Netflix's version is available in both subtitled and dubbed formats. How many episodes will there be in The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity? The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity is expected to run for a total of 13 episodes in season 1. The show hasn't yet been renewed for season 2, but since the original manga series ran for 18 volumes, we can definitely expect the adaptation to continue if it gets good ratings. What is the plot of The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity? Netflix's plot summary for the show reads as follows: "This story unfolds in a particular town where two infamous schools are in constant dispute: Chidori High, a boys' school primarily attended by students with challenging academic records, and its neighbor, Kikyo Girls' High, known for its students hailing from wealthy and prestigious families. "One day, Rintaro Tsumugi, a second-year student at Chidori with a fierce appearance but a gentle heart, is assisting at his family's patisserie when he meets a customer named Kaoruko Waguri. Rintaro cherishes his interactions with Kaoruko, as she doesn't judge him based on his looks. However, this serene connection is abruptly shaken when Rintaro discovers that Kaoruko is actually a student at Kikyo. "This revelation sets the stage for their challenging journey, as they strive to overcome the societal barriers imposed by their schools and environment, seeking to carve out their own path." The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity is available to watch now on Netflix. Add The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Fantasy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what’s on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.