Polygon.com - Anime

10 anime that delivered better endings than Attack on Titan (#1 is pitch-perfect)

Debopriyaa Dutta — Sat, 01 Aug 2026 10:00:12 GMT

Even so, the ending of Attack on Titanremains controversial. Isayama’s original manga ending drew backlash at the time, which the manga author dutifully addressed by adding eight extra pages to provide a more satisfying conclusion. Although this extended ending and its anime adaptation (which adds further context) are better received than the source material, aspects of this epic saga still feel flawed. Although Isayama always intended to end the saga on a bittersweet note, some last-minute character actions feel abrupt, which unfavorably recontextualize aspects of the story.

Neon Genesis Evangelion is getting a new streaming home this summer

Willa Rowe — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 16:21:53 GMT

The Criterion Channel will continue to expand its anime offerings later this year with the addition of one of the most iconic shows of all time. Hideaki Anno's Neon Genesis Evangelion will debut on the streaming service on Sept. 1, courtesy of North American distributor GKIDS.

The creative team behind 2021's most overlooked neo-noir thriller is back with a stunning yakuza movie

Ryan Epps — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 16:00:12 GMT

The creative team behind one of anime’s most acclaimed mystery shows is finally making the leap to original feature films. Ahead of its limited U.S. theatrical release next month, Polygon is exclusively debuting a new trailer and two key visuals for The Last Blossom, the first original feature film from Odd Taxi director Baku Kinoshita and writer Kazuya Konomoto.

Studio Ghibli's worst movie returns to theaters for its 20th anniversary next month

Ryan Epps — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 01:00:12 GMT

Studio Ghibli has weathered surprisingly few genuine critical disappointments across its four-decade history. It’s a studio best known for anime masterpieces, which is why calling a Studio Ghibli movie "bad" almost feels like a contradiction. While it does have a few “lesser” films in its catalog, from Earwig and the Witch to Ocean Waves (a sleeper hit if you ask me), no Ghibli film has been more persistently labeled the studio's weakest than Tales from Earthsea, which celebrates its 20th anniversary next month with a North American theatrical release.

Crunchyroll gets its first-ever streaming bundle and it's a weird pairing

Elijah Gonzalez — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 19:43:42 GMT

Crunchyroll just announced its first-ever streaming bundle, and frankly, it’s a weird combo. The anime streamer is partnering with Starz for a new subscription bundle that's only available through Prime Video. Needless to say, it’s a bit unclear how much overlap there is between those interested in watching Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle and Outlander, but who knows?

Say goodbye to the most influential coming-of-age anime of the century leaving Netflix

Debopriyaa Dutta — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 11:00:12 GMT

Hunter x Hunter perfectly fits that bill. The beloved anime series portrays the experience of growing up as a complex, multifaceted phenomenon. Instead of being a straightforward hero’s journey about embracing maturity or overcoming obstacles, Yoshihiro Togashi’s manga explores the dark, messy aspects of working through childhood trauma.

Demon Slayer Infinity Castle Part 2 news, plot, trailer, and possible release date window

Elijah Gonzalez — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 10:30:12 GMT

It’s been a little over a year since Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba InfinityCastlefirst debuted in Japanese theaters on July 18, 2025. After its global debut in August, it earned $793.5 million at the box office, making it the highest-grossing Japanese movie of all time and the highest-grossing international film in the United States.

12 months later, the biggest anime movie of all time is finally available on streaming

Debopriyaa Dutta — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 10:00:12 GMT

Some also offer lasting cultural impact: Think of Hideaki Anno’s Rebuild of Evangelion film tetralogy, which reinterprets the core thesis of Neon Genesis Evangelionand maps a markedly different ending for its characters. Long-standing anime franchises like Naruto, One Piece, and Dragon Ball have also used the theatrical model to varying effect — while not all of these movies are deeply moving or impactful, they’ve done pretty well at the box office.

Twisted Wonderland, which envisions Disney villains as hot anime boys, returning later this year

Elijah Gonzalez — Mon, 27 Jul 2026 17:05:31 GMT

While Kingdom Hearts probably still takes the cake for the strangest Disney tie-in, Twisted Wonderland, a gacha game that reimagines Disney characters as hot anime boys, certainly comes pretty close. The series’ anime adaptation is getting a second season, and Disney Japan just revealed that it’s streaming exclusively on Disney Plus this December.

How The Ninth Jedi brings Star Wars back to basics by reinventing everything

Ryan Epps — Mon, 27 Jul 2026 16:00:12 GMT

“I remember thinking, ‘The Ninth Jedi' is kind of plain,” Kamiyama tells Polygon.