In some anime series, the weapon designs are where all the cool stuff happens. You’ll be asking “How does that work?” and “Where did that come from?” and so much more. Some weapons may seem ridiculously large for a given character while other weapons are simply too powerful to handle. Some may look harmless yet prove extremely deadly in action. Here are some of the coolest anime weapons we’ve ever seen and why they’re so awesome!...

Unlike science fiction video games—which I also love, so don’t think I’m judging—fantasy video games don’t just transport you to the future, but to places that are entirely new worlds. Here are the best fantasy RPG soundtracks that effectively capture that magical ingredient that no other genre has. Note: I considered entire soundtracks for this, not just one-off hits or iconic themes. I’ve also limited myself to one game per franchise....

While many gamers prefer to take their time and savor their gaming experiences, some look at their all-time favorite games and wonder how quickly they can fly through them. Sometimes these high-speed playthroughs—called speedruns—involve the exploiting of glitches to allow players to blink past entire sections of the game. But most of the time, speedruns just demand a lot of practice and endurance through hours and hours of replay. And while the skill and patience needed to complete a speedrun are impressive, some gamers take those feats to the next level....

And then there are novels that not only dazzle the mind and stir the senses, but stay buried within your heart for as long as it keeps beating, affecting you to your very core and changing who you are. Such books are even more powerful when read in youth, when you’re more open to new ideas and viewpoints, willing to have your own interests broadened. All before you’re hardened by adulthood....

His extreme attention to detail earned him a reputation as a demanding perfectionist—so much so that he would force actors to repeat dozens of takes just so he could capture the exact performance he needed. Elstree Studios claims that Kubrick shot more than 1.3 million feet of film on The Shining: about 120 takes for every shot used, compared to the usual 5 to 15 takes on a normal filmmaking production....

The front cover of Detective Comics Issue #27 became an iconic moment in history, an indelible mark on pop culture, all because it featured the very first appearance of Batman. In the decades since, Batman has become a cultural icon. His story is familiar worldwide now: the orphaned Bruce Wayne, who watched as his parents were killed before his very eyes, becomes the shadowy phantom who stalks criminals in the darkness of Gotham City....

The wait was excruciating. The years took a toll on the actor as well as the desperate fanbase. But, finally, the world once again had the opportunity to see Ewan McGregor suit up as the Jedi Master. Did McGregor’s incarnation of the character finally grow more into Alec Guinness’ original zen Jedi? Could McGregor still convincingly infuse Obi-Wan with the energy that threaded his younger self with the elderly man we first saw rescuing Luke on Tatooine?...

To be fair, it’s not an unwritten rule that all movie remakes are always inferior to the original. However, the fact that Hollywood studios often use the concept of a remake to simply re-wrap and re-deliver the same old stories as new means most movie remakes are pointless. It’s rare for a remake to deserve its time in theaters. Perhaps it has something different to say, using a similar premise to take audiences in a new direction....

Zoan Devil Fruits allow transformation into giant or mythical beasts, Paramecia Devil Fruits allow conjuration or manipulation of various substances, and Logia Devil Fruits allow one’s body to shift into an element like fire or water. However, One Piece is also full of powerful characters who don’t need Devil Fruits to rule the seas and overpower pirates. Some of them rely solely on “willpower,” which is enough to bring anyone down and can match any Devil Fruit user’s capabilities....

When an actor suffers an injury while doing their own stunts, it halts production and filming can’t continue until they’ve recovered. Furthermore, some injuries could result in permanent damage or disfiguration that ends the actor’s career for good. All actors pay for insurance against this risk, but insurance premiums are much higher for those who perform their own stunts. So, for most actors, it just isn’t worth doing their own stunts....

Isekai is a category of fantasy or sci-fi anime series and movies that involve characters who are transported to another world—one that’s vastly different from the real world. The actual mechanic of transportation can vary. It could be done through reincarnation, cosmic magic, or advanced technology. But despite how it’s done, all isekai animes revolve around the main character(s) surviving and fighting their way back home. Here are some of the best isekai anime series to watch if you want a solid taste of what this awesome anime genre is about....

Three big original series came with the new service: See, starring Jason Momoa in a dystopian epic where the world is blind; The Morning Show, starring Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, and Steve Carell as morning news anchors; and sci-fi series For All Mankind. None of these shows are bad by any stretch. However, none of them are good enough to justify Apple TV+ alongside other services like Netflix. Over the years, Apple has continued to invest significant cash into the streaming service....

That was made even clearer when the South Korean film Parasite won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2019. You don’t have to be a film enthusiast to enjoy foreign-language movies. Despite what some may want you to believe, there’s nothing inherently better about foreign-language films. They can be mediocre, they can be great, and they can be trash. Which raises questions: “Where do I start? Which foreign-language movies are worth watching?...

We’re not talking spiked punch bowls and overblown budgets, but truly inexplicable events that resulted in injuries, fires, and even deaths. The kind of tragic happenings that make you wonder. Here are several movies where cast members, crew members, and even audience members experienced horrific and dreadful events, so much so that people claimed the films were “cursed.” Note: This article isn’t intended to sensationalize the tragic deaths of those involved, nor do we condone using the idea of a “curse” to relieve accountability in face of negligence....

Every year, a few classic video games may get ported to new consoles. And while porting may be uncommon, full-blown remasters and remakes are far rarer. Several years can pass by between high-profile remakes like Final Fantasy VII Remake. And that’s a shame because there are so many great classic video games that remain stuck in the past yet deserve to be updated with modern graphics and technology. Here are our top picks for classic video games that deserve modern remakes or remasters, from JRPG classics to obscure multiplayer gems, to be rediscovered by today’s gaming generation....

This doesn’t only happen in anime, of course. Lots of superheroes in TV shows, movies, and comic books have repeat powers. And it’s not like you can copyright the effects of an ability or spell. It’s not wrong for different anime jutsus to resemble each other. But it can still raise a few eyebrows when it happens, especially for techniques and jutsus that are more complex and involved. Here are some of the most notable examples of anime abilities, powers, techniques, and jutsus that are similar between series....

Today’s fantasy books can pull you in and hook you in ways that older fantasy books simply can’t. The hard part is sifting through the excessive number of fantasy books published every year, which makes it tougher to find the real hidden gems of fantasy. Who are the heavy hitters of today’s fantasy books genre? Here are the best modern fantasy authors who you should check out right away if you haven’t already....

And while you’re there, you’ll be tempted to buy all sorts of souvenirs, trinkets, merchandise, and event-only specialty items. A t-shirt here and a book there and a few signed autographs can add up—and suddenly you’re out hundreds of dollars. If you want to attend an anime or comic convention but don’t have too much money to spare, here are some tips to keep in mind so you can have fun without sacrificing too much....

The scene is a metaphor for Studio Ghibli as a storytelling master—a lovely hamlet that’s a distinct haven for the magical, the romantic, the tragic, and the beautiful. Founded by Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata, and Toshio Suzuki, Studio Ghibli is one of the finest filmmaking groups in the world. Their consistent level of quality is only matched by Pixar, but Studio Ghibli has a leg up with its one-of-a-kind approach to stories....

Without a Big Bad Evil Guy (BBEG), you really just have a bunch of misfits walking from town to town and causing chaos without a purpose. For your D&D adventure to be a compelling story, you must have an adversary who challenges your heroes. You’ll find a lot of advice—both good and bad—on the web about how to craft a compelling D&D villain. But there’s one particular technique that I personally find useful, and I learned it from one of the worst movies of all time: Street Fighter....