Animation Archives | Page 2 Of 224

Light Chaser Animation’s Liao Zhai Lan Ruo Si May Well Be Ghosted By Western Distributors, and ….

….it’s easy to see why changes to this narrative is struggling to be visible outside of China. Strange Tales (Liao Zhai Lan Ruo Si) is borrowing from tropes some may say are outdated but not everyone will agree to that accessment.

Liao Zhai Lan Ruo Si Light Chaser Animation

After countless searches and a properly worded query to Claude AI about availability, the elusive Liao Zhai Lan Ruo Si (Curious Tales of a Temple, aka Strange Tales: Lan Ruo Temple) is finally within reach. When it will receive an official release remains uncertain. In a future article, I’ll explore the challenges behind getting Ne Zha 2, White Snake: Afloat, and this work to home video. For now, wht’s offered are my early reactions.

What I’ve managed to see in the wilds of the Internet suggests this is a film worth watching. I won’t dive into a full review just yet, but it’s worth sharing some early impressions. As for how long this fleeting upload remains available is anyone’s guess.

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Just One Star Shy: The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, Strangely Incomplete But Always Joyful

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie delivers colourful cosmic spectacle and plenty of familiar Nintendo charm, but its thin worldbuilding and safe storytelling keep it from reaching the same spark as its predecessor. It’s breezy, playful, and entertaining, even if it leaves its bigger ideas floating unresolved.

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie may be all fun and games for the brothers spending their time in a new world, and as the only plumbers in Princess Peach’s realm, they’re helping keep the peace rather than fixing faucets. But none of them are exactly equipped to deal with their ruler’s current existential woes. When Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy) admits she doesn’t know where she came from, the story quietly opens a larger mystery, one it only partially resolves.

That thread leads into the absence of Rosalina (Brie Larson), whose kidnapping by Bowser Jr. sets the events in motion. He leans fully into the shadow of his father, eager to prove himself through familiar cruelty. When this sequel is straightforward and paint-by-numbers, there’s not much to be excited over.

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Must-Read Comic Book Classic Cartoon Releases This Month

From bold crossovers to deeper character explorations, these comic book classic cartoon releases show how familiar worlds can expand in new directions while still holding onto what made them iconic.

Thundercats X Silverhawks- Road To War #1 - Comic Book Classic Cartoon Releases This Spring, a growing wave of animated classics are finding new life on the page, and they are all now available at your local comic book store to pick up. Most of them will carry it, and for those smaller operations whose shelf space is small, they can order these titles in for you! From fresh comic book adaptations to ambitious crossovers, these stories go beyond nostalgia—they expand worlds that fans already love. Some fill in the gaps, others reimagine familiar arcs, but all of these comic book classic cartoon releases are worth your time.

Across publishers like IDW, Dynamite and Boom! Studios, there’s a steady stream of releases that stand out as true must-reads. There are others on the horizon as well—Mad Cave’s Casshan is slated for Fall, while their Gatchaman continuing adventures continues to build momentum.

For now, here’s a breakdown of this month’s must-read releases:

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Exciting Upcoming Comic Book Adaptations of Classic Cartoons From May Onwards

From what looks like a huge Power Rangers revival as one of the biggest comic book adaptations to emerge this year to Jem, what else can we expect?

There’s something familiar about seeing these titles return, like catching an old cartoon during a weekend rerun and realizing it still holds up. Comic book adaptations have quietly become the place where those worlds continue, filling in gaps and pushing stories a little further than they ever could on screen. And the cinematic world should not be ignored. This medium is the perfect place for prequels or sequels when the budget does not allow for a continuation. Just look at our examination of Evil Dead over the years.

Sleepy Hollow:
The Witches of the Western Wood #1

IDW Publishing, May 6, 2026

This prequel revisits the gothic world of Sleepy Hollow, exploring the origins of its dark magic and the forces tied to the Headless Horseman. What stands out is the shift toward Sarah Archer’s past, giving the story a more grounded emotional core. It also feels like the Western Wood itself will play a bigger role, almost as a character shaping what comes next.

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AiNA THE END Unleashes “Luminous” with Stunning Music Video and 2026 Tour Dates

AiNA THE END’s new song “Luminous” has arrived as the latest opening theme for One Piece, alongside a new music video and fresh Asia tour dates. The release ties into the anime’s Elbaf Arc and adds more momentum to the singer’s growing international reach.

Aina the End Luminous If you haven’t listened to AiNA THE END’s new song “Luminous”, the opening theme for One Piece, it’s now available on streaming platforms and through its music video on YouTube. The track can be heard in the anime’s latest story arc, which debuted on April 5, 2026, on Crunchyroll. This new chapter sends Luffy and the crew into a storyline involving giants.

The music video also reunites AiNA THE END with director G2 YUKI TSUJIMOTO, who previously worked on “革命道中 – On The Way”. That song served as the opening track for DAN DA DAN Season 2 and surpassed 200 million global streams across major platforms. It was also featured on Spotify’s Viral Top 50 Global chart, marking a major breakthrough for the artist both in Japan and abroad.

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Rock and Rule Behind the Scenes Bonus Cut! And Captain Cannabis (Part Two)

Rock and Rule Behind the Scenes continues with Verne Andru tackling long-standing fan debates, from production myths to lost material, while outlining how his documentary aims to preserve a fragile piece of Canadian animation history.

Verne Andru and Captain Cannabis — Part one of our interview can be read here.

Support Rock and Rule Behind the Scenes, and get some wild extras!

In part two of our interview with Verne Andru, we look at questions fans hope the documentary will answer. Long-time fans have burning questions, and given that most of the original material was lost to a fire that Verne confirmed, what remains needs to be more than a nostalgia hit. It is a chance to look back at how technologies merged to create the cult work that Rock and Rule became, right as Hollywood was running its own experiments with transitional optical effects in films like Tron and The Last Starfighter.

What is the biggest myth about Rock & Rule that you want to address?

The studio said that the launch failed because of MGM/UA not backing it. While there may be some truth to that, it misses the point that they delivered an unfinished film years late and millions over budget. It was Nelvana’s fault, nobody else.

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