184 Fun Facts About Anime

What is the name of the protagonist in Dragon Ball Z who is known as a Saiyan warrior?

Goku was born Kakarot on Planet Vegeta and sent to Earth as an infant shortly before his homeworld was destroyed. He was raised by Grandpa Gohan.

In Naruto, Naruto Uzumaki's home village is hidden in the what?

Naruto belongs to Konohagakure, the Village Hidden in the Leaves (also known as the Leaf Village), which is one of the five great shinobi nations.

What is the name of the pirate crew led by Monkey D. Luffy in One Piece?

The Straw Hat Pirates are named after Luffy's signature straw hat, which was given to him by the legendary pirate Red-Haired Shanks.

Which Studio Ghibli film follows a young girl named Chihiro who enters a spirit world?

Spirited Away (2001), directed by Hayao Miyazaki, won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2003 and remains one of the highest-grossing anime films ever.

In Death Note, what must you know to kill someone using the Death Note?

To use the Death Note, you must know the person's face and write their real name in the notebook. This rule is central to the cat-and-mouse game between Light and L.

What is the name of the Titan that Eren Yeager transforms into in Attack on Titan?

Eren possesses the Attack Titan (Shingeki no Kyojin), which is also the Japanese title of the series. The Attack Titan has the unique ability to see the memories of its future inheritors.

Who is the creator of the Dragon Ball manga series?

Akira Toriyama created Dragon Ball, which was serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump from 1984 to 1995. He is considered one of the most influential manga artists of all time.

In My Hero Academia, what is the name of the quirk that All Might passes on to Izuku Midoriya?

One For All is a transferable quirk that stockpiles power across generations. All Might chose Midoriya as its ninth holder after seeing his heroic spirit.

Which breathing style does Tanjiro Kamado first learn in Demon Slayer, under his trainer Sakonji Urokodaki?

Water Breathing takes Tanjiro two years of training to master; he later discovers Sun Breathing, passed down through his family.

In Fullmetal Alchemist, what do Edward and Alphonse Elric attempt to bring back using alchemy?

The Elric brothers attempt to resurrect their mother Trisha through human transmutation, a forbidden alchemical practice. The failed attempt costs Edward his arm and leg, and Alphonse his entire body.

Which Pokemon is known as Ash Ketchum's first and most iconic partner?

Pikachu was Ash's starter Pokemon, received from Professor Oak. Unlike the games where players choose from three starters, Ash arrived late and Pikachu was the only one left.

What year did the first episode of the original Dragon Ball anime air in Japan?

The original Dragon Ball anime premiered on February 26, 1986, on Fuji Television. The manga had begun serialization in 1984.

Which anime studio is responsible for producing Neon Genesis Evangelion?

Gainax produced the original Neon Genesis Evangelion series in 1995. The studio was founded by a group of university students including Hideaki Anno, who directed the series.

Which 1989 Miyazaki film follows a 13-year-old witch and her black cat, Jiji?

Kiki's Delivery Service (1989) follows a young witch who uses her flying ability to start a delivery business. It was based on the 1985 novel by Eiko Kadono.

What is the real name of the character known as 'L' in Death Note?

L's full name is given only in the guidebook Death Note 13: How to Read. He guards it because anyone whose true name is known can be killed with the notebook.

Which Survey Corps squad leader is known as 'Humanity's Strongest Soldier' in Attack on Titan?

Levi heads an elite squad within the Survey Corps and is famed for his unmatched skill against Titans. His Ackerman bloodline grants him extraordinary physical abilities.

Which anime studio produced Cowboy Bebop?

Sunrise produced Cowboy Bebop, which aired in 1998. The series was directed by Shinichiro Watanabe and is widely regarded as one of the greatest anime series ever made.

In Naruto, what is the name of the nine-tailed fox sealed inside Naruto?

Kurama, the Nine-Tails, was sealed inside Naruto by his father, the Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze, to protect the village from its destructive power.

What is the name of the power system in the anime Hunter x Hunter?

Nen is the power system in Hunter x Hunter, allowing users to control their life energy (aura). It is divided into six categories: Enhancement, Transmutation, Emission, Conjuration, Manipulation, and Specialization.

In Sailor Moon, what is the name of the heroine's talking black cat?

Luna, the black cat with a crescent-moon mark on her forehead, hands Sailor Moon her transformation brooch and guides her; Artemis is Sailor Venus's white cat.

In Pokemon, what type is super effective against Water-type Pokemon?

Electric-type moves are super effective against Water-type Pokemon. Grass-type moves are also super effective against Water types.

Which movie became the highest-grossing Japanese film ever after its 2025 release?

Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle, released in Japan in July 2025, passed Mugen Train's roughly $500 million worldwide gross to become the highest-grossing Japanese film and the highest-grossing anime film on record.

Who directed the acclaimed anime film 'Your Name' (Kimi no Na wa)?

Makoto Shinkai directed Your Name (2016), a body-swap romance that grossed over $350 million worldwide and was the highest-grossing anime film until Mugen Train overtook it in 2020.

In Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, what is the first law of alchemy known as?

Equivalent Exchange states that to obtain something, something of equal value must be given. This principle drives the entire narrative of Fullmetal Alchemist.

Which sport is played in the anime Haikyu!!?

Haikyuu!! follows high school volleyball teams, primarily Karasuno High. The series is credited with significantly boosting volleyball's popularity in Japan.

Which voice actress is known for voicing Sailor Moon in the original Japanese anime?

Kotono Mitsuishi voiced Usagi Tsukino/Sailor Moon in both the original 1992 series and the Sailor Moon Crystal reboot. She is one of the most recognizable voice actresses in anime.

What manga magazine has serialized Dragon Ball, Naruto, and One Piece?

Weekly Shonen Jump, published by Shueisha, is the most popular manga magazine in Japan and has been home to most major shonen series since 1968.

In My Hero Academia, what is the name of the main villain who leads the League of Villains?

Tomura Shigaraki, whose real name is Tenko Shimura, leads the League of Villains. He was raised by All For One to become his successor and destroy hero society.

Which anime studio is known for producing Attack on Titan's final season?

MAPPA took over production of Attack on Titan from WIT Studio starting with the Final Season (Season 4). MAPPA is also known for Jujutsu Kaisen and Chainsaw Man.

What is the name of Goku's signature energy attack in Dragon Ball Z?

The Kamehameha wave was originally developed by Master Roshi (who took 50 years to perfect it). Goku learned it instantly by watching Roshi perform it once.

In Demon Slayer, what is the name of Tanjiro's sister who was turned into a demon?

Nezuko Kamado was turned into a demon by Muzan Kibutsuji. Unlike other demons, she retains her humanity and protects humans, which is central to the series' plot.

In the Pokémon anime, which villainous team do Jessie and James belong to?

Team Rocket: Jessie, James and the talking Meowth chase Ash's Pikachu across the series, announcing themselves with their 'Prepare for trouble' motto.

In Naruto, what is the criminal organization of rogue ninja that hunts the tailed beasts and their hosts?

Akatsuki is the group of S-rank rogue ninja whose goal is to capture all nine tailed beasts; its members include Itachi Uchiha, Pain and Kisame.

Which Ghibli film adapts a Diana Wynne Jones novel about a girl cursed into old age?

Howl's Moving Castle (2004) was directed by Hayao Miyazaki and based on Diana Wynne Jones' novel. Calcifer, voiced by Billy Crystal in the English dub, is bound to the castle by a contract with Howl.

What type of Devil Fruit did Monkey D. Luffy eat in One Piece?

Luffy ate the Gum-Gum Fruit (Gomu Gomu no Mi), which gives his body the properties of rubber. It was later revealed to actually be the Human-Human Fruit, Model: Nika.

Which anime studio is famous for its fluid animation in Demon Slayer?

Ufotable is renowned for its high-quality animation, particularly its use of CGI blended with traditional 2D animation. Their work on Demon Slayer's fight scenes has been widely praised.

In Pokemon, what is the evolved form of Eevee when exposed to a Water Stone?

Vaporeon is the Water-type evolution of Eevee, obtained by using a Water Stone. Eevee has the most evolutions of any Pokemon, with eight different possible forms.

What is the name of the anime where a high school student gains the power of a shinigami?

Bleach follows Ichigo Kurosaki, who gains the powers of a Soul Reaper (shinigami) from Rukia Kuchiki. Created by Tite Kubo, it was one of the 'Big Three' of shonen anime.

Who composed the iconic soundtrack for Cowboy Bebop?

Yoko Kanno composed Cowboy Bebop's jazz-infused soundtrack with her band The Seatbelts. The soundtrack is considered one of the greatest in anime history.

In the anime Steins;Gate, what household appliance is modified to send messages to the past?

The 'Phone Microwave (name subject to change)' is a microwave oven connected to a cell phone that can send text messages to the past, forming the basis of the time travel plot.

What is the name of the protagonist in Neon Genesis Evangelion?

Shinji Ikari is the reluctant 14-year-old pilot of Evangelion Unit-01. His complex psychological struggles and relationship with his father are central themes of the series.

Which manga creator wrote One Piece?

Eiichiro Oda has been writing and illustrating One Piece since 1997. It is the best-selling manga series in history with over 500 million copies in circulation.

In Dragon Ball Z, what is the name of Vegeta's signature attack?

Final Flash is first unleashed against Cell in his Perfect form; later in the franchise Vegeta develops a stronger Gamma Burst Flash.

Which anime genre centres on giant piloted robots, as in Gundam and Evangelion?

Mecha anime features giant robots (mechs) and is one of the oldest anime genres. Famous mecha series include Gundam, Evangelion, and Code Geass.

In Dragon Ball, how many Dragon Balls must be gathered to summon the dragon Shenron?

Seven: gathering all seven Dragon Balls summons Shenron, who grants a wish, after which the balls scatter and turn to stone for a year.

In My Hero Academia, what is Izuku Midoriya's nickname, used as his hero name?

Midoriya's classmate Bakugo used the name as an insult meaning 'useless', but Izuku reclaimed it as his hero name. He is a Quirkless boy until All Might passes One For All to him.

Who is known as the 'God of Manga' and created Astro Boy?

Tezuka (1928-1989) graduated from medical school in 1951, the same year the Astro Boy character first appeared in Ambassador Atom. His techniques and output shaped the conventions of modern manga and anime.

In Jujutsu Kaisen, what type of energy do sorcerers use to fight cursed spirits?

Cursed Energy is generated from negative emotions like fear and anger. Jujutsu sorcerers learn to control this energy to perform cursed techniques and combat cursed spirits.

Which of these anime films was produced by TMS Entertainment rather than Studio Ghibli?

Akira (1988), directed by Katsuhiro Otomo, came from Tokyo Movie Shinsha; the landmark cyberpunk film helped popularise anime in the West.

In One Piece, which Straw Hat swordsman fights with three swords at once?

Roronoa Zoro, the crew's first recruit, wields three swords at once in his Santoryu style and aims to become the world's greatest swordsman.

Which acclaimed director co-founded Studio Ghibli?

Hayao Miyazaki co-founded Studio Ghibli in 1985 along with Isao Takahata and producer Toshio Suzuki. He has directed numerous critically acclaimed films, including Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro.

In Neon Genesis Evangelion, which organization deploys the Evangelions against the Angels?

NERV, the special agency commanded by Gendo Ikari, operates the Evangelion units from its Geofront headquarters; SEELE is the secret committee that funds and directs it.

The anime genre "isekai" literally translates to what?

Isekai is a Japanese term that literally means "different world," "another world," or "other world." It describes a genre where a character is transported from their ordinary world into a fantastical or virtual one.

Who directed the influential 1988 cyberpunk anime film Akira?

Katsuhiro Otomo directed the landmark 1988 animated film Akira, which he also based on his own manga series. The film is widely recognized for its groundbreaking animation and significant influence on both anime and Western animation.

Who created the long-running manga about a young ninja aiming to become his village's leader?

Masashi Kishimoto's Naruto ran from 1999 to 2014 and sold over 250 million copies; it began as a 1997 one-shot about a boy who could turn into a fox.

In what fictional city does the anime "Neon Genesis Evangelion" primarily take place?

Tokyo-3 is a fortress city built in the Hakone region after Second Impact; its skyscrapers retract underground when the Angels attack.

Which anime is often credited as the first serialized TV anime series to gain widespread popularity?

Astro Boy premiered on New Year's Day 1963 as Japan's first weekly half-hour TV anime and the first anime series to air on American television; it was remade in 1980 and 2003.

Who is the main protagonist of 'Cowboy Bebop'?

Spike Spiegel is a former hitman for the Red Dragon Syndicate turned bounty hunter, known for his fluffy hair, blue suit and martial arts.

In Fullmetal Alchemist, what is the name for the prosthetic mechanical limbs Edward Elric wears?

Edward gets automail limbs after losing an arm and a leg, and the town of Rush Valley specialises in making them. He accepts Roy Mustang's invitation to become a State Alchemist while undergoing the painful procedure.

Who commands the Survey Corps for much of 'Attack on Titan'?

Erwin is the 13th commander of the Survey Corps, taking over from Keith Shadis. Hange succeeds him as the 14th.

Which alien tyrant with multiple transformations destroyed the Saiyan homeworld before Dragon Ball Z?

Frieza destroyed Planet Vegeta partly out of fear of the prophesied Super Saiyan, a fear Goku fulfilled on Namek by transforming during their battle.

What is the civilian name of the main protagonist in the "Sailor Moon" series?

Usagi Tsukino was renamed Serena in the 1990s English dub; she is a clumsy, kind-hearted middle-schooler who becomes the guardian of love and justice.

Which anime traps 10,000 players in a VRMMORPG where dying in-game kills them for real?

Sword Art Online traps 10,000 players who log in on launch day and find they cannot log out, with death in the game meaning death for real.

What is the name of the protagonist in the anime series "Steins;Gate," a self-proclaimed mad scientist?

Okabe Rintaro, also known by his alias Kyouma Hououin, is the founder of the Future Gadget Laboratory.

Which director created the "Mobile Suit Gundam" franchise?

Yoshiyuki Tomino created and directed the original Mobile Suit Gundam (1979); the high body counts in his early works earned him the nickname 'Kill 'Em All Tomino'.

Which of Naruto's mentors is one of the Legendary Sannin and summons giant toads?

Jiraiya, the Toad Sage, trained Naruto's father Minato and later Naruto himself, teaching him the Rasengan; fellow Sannin Orochimaru summons snakes and Tsunade slugs.

Which anime character is known for wielding a massive sword called the Dragon Slayer?

Guts, Berserk's Black Swordsman, wields the Dragon Slayer, introduced in the manga as 'too big to be called a sword' and more like a hunk of raw iron.

In Death Note, which shinigami deliberately drops his notebook into the human world?

Ryuk drops his Death Note out of boredom and follows Light Yagami, the student who picks it up, demanding apples as he watches the chaos unfold.

In My Hero Academia, where do Izuku Midoriya and the other aspiring heroes train?

U.A. High School, in the city of Musutafu, is Japan's most prestigious hero school; Midoriya's Hero Course class 1-A is taught by Shota Aizawa, Eraser Head.

What nickname does Shigeo Kageyama, the psychic schoolboy created by ONE, go by?

Mob earned the nickname because he blends into the background, despite having immense psychic powers he struggles to control.

Which anime features the Sibyl System, a network that assesses citizens' psychological states and threat level?

In "Psycho-Pass," the Sibyl System governs every aspect of society, ensuring order but raising questions about free will and justice.

What is the cat-like creature that grants magical girl powers in "Puella Magi Madoka Magica"?

Kyubey is an Incubator, an alien entity that grants wishes in exchange for turning girls into magical girls, collecting their emotional energy upon their eventual despair.

What is Saitama's rank in the Hero Association at the beginning of "One-Punch Man"?

C-Class: Saitama aces the physical test but barely passes the written exam, so he enters the Hero Association at C-Class rank 388 and goes largely unrecognized.

What is the profession of the protagonist, Violet Evergarden, in the anime of the same name?

Auto Memory Dolls are ghostwriters who turn clients' feelings into letters; Violet is a former child soldier learning what 'I love you' means.

What is Senku Ishigami's ultimate goal in the post-apocalyptic world of "Dr. Stone"?

Rebuild civilization by science, from scratch, after humanity was mysteriously petrified for 3,700 years, and revive everyone along the way.

What is the name of the orphanage where Emma, Norman, and Ray grew up in "The Promised Neverland"?

Grace Field House initially appears as a loving home, but its dark secret is gradually revealed: it's a farm raising children as food for demons.

What avatar name did Ainz Ooal Gown use in Yggdrasil before renaming himself after his guild?

Before being transported to the New World, Ainz Ooal Gown was known as Momonga, the guild master of the Ainz Ooal Gown guild in the DMMORPG Yggdrasil.

In "Mob Psycho 100," what is Reigen Arataka's self-proclaimed profession?

Reigen Arataka, Mob's mentor, is a con artist who claims to be the "Greatest Psychic of the 21st Century," despite having no actual psychic abilities himself.

In Spice and Wolf, Holo the wolf deity is bound to the harvest of which crop?

Wheat: Holo is the wolf goddess of Pasloe's wheat harvest, and she travels in Lawrence's wagon with a sheaf of wheat that keeps her tied to the world.

What power does Asta's rare grimoire grant him in "Black Clover"?

Born without any magic in a world where everyone possesses it, Asta wields anti-magic, which can negate and slice through any magical attack.

The anime "Gintama" is set in an alien-invaded version of which Japanese period?

"Gintama" is set in an alternate late Edo period, where aliens known as Amanto have invaded Japan and banned swords, leading to a unique blend of historical and futuristic comedy.

What is the profession of Ginko, the white-haired wanderer created by Yuki Urushibara?

Ginko is a Mushi Master, a specialist who travels to investigate and find cures for ailments caused by Mushi, primordial life forms that exist beyond the understanding of normal humans.

What is the main goal of the young prince Bojji in "Ranking of Kings"?

Despite being small and deaf, Prince Bojji dreams of becoming a great king, proving his worth through kindness and perseverance.

What is the prestigious high school in Kaguya-sama: Love Is War called?

Shuchiin Academy is an elite private school known for its brilliant student council, whose members engage in a constant battle of wits to make the other confess their love.

What is Thorfinn's primary motivation for fighting in "Vinland Saga"?

Thorfinn's life is consumed by the desire to avenge his father, Thors, by defeating the mercenary leader Askeladd in a fair duel.

Which 2010 Gainax comedy follows the exiled Anarchy sisters fighting Ghosts in Daten City?

Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt (2010), directed by Hiroyuki Imaishi, turns the Anarchy sisters' underwear into a pistol and swords; its chunky Western-cartoon look set it apart from other Gainax shows.

What is the profession of the main character, Space Dandy, in the anime of the same name?

Space Dandy is a dandy guy in space, an alien hunter who travels the galaxy in search of new and rare alien species.

What is the main character Makoto Edamura's initial profession in "Great Pretender"?

Makoto Edamura, a small-time Japanese swindler, finds himself outsmarted by a more skilled French con artist, Laurent Thierry, and is drawn into the world of international high-stakes scams.

What species is the protagonist, Legoshi, in the anime "Beastars"?

Legoshi is a large, gray wolf who struggles with his predatory instincts and desires in a world where carnivores and herbivores coexist.

What is the name of the special district created for beastmen in the anime "BNA: Brand New Animal"?

Anima City is a beastman-run city-state that tanuki girl Michiru Kagemori flees to, away from human discrimination, though it has conflicts of its own.

Which Hashira is known as the 'Flame Hashira' in "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba"?

Kyojuro Rengoku succeeded his father Shinjuro; sent to investigate the Mugen Train, he faces the Upper Rank demon Akaza.

In Jujutsu Kaisen, whose severed fingers does Yuji Itadori swallow, becoming their vessel?

Ryomen Sukuna, the King of Curses, survives as twenty severed fingers; Yuji swallows one to save his friends and becomes Sukuna's vessel.

In "Chainsaw Man," Denji can transform into a hybrid of a human and what?

Denji pulls a cord on his chest to become Chainsaw Man after the dog-like Chainsaw Devil Pochita fused with him and became his heart.

In "Cyberpunk: Edgerunners," what type of augmentations does David Martinez use to become an edgerunner?

David has an unusually high tolerance for cyberware, starting with a military-grade Sandevistan spinal implant. Overloading on implants risks cyberpsychosis, a recurring threat in Night City.

What animal is the protagonist, Hiroshi Odokawa, in "Odd Taxi"?

Hiroshi Odokawa is a misanthropic walrus taxi driver who finds himself entangled in a mystery involving a missing girl and several unusual passengers.

Which JoJo part introduced Stands, sending Jotaro Kujo to Egypt to save his mother?

Stardust Crusaders: Araki designed the trip to Egypt as a 'road movie' inspired by Around the World in Eighty Days rather than the tournament arcs then popular in Shōnen Jump.

Before Stands, Jonathan and Joseph Joestar fought with which sunlight-based breathing technique?

Hamon, 'Ripple' in Japanese, is the sunlight-charged breathing technique Jonathan learns from Will Zeppeli to fight the vampire Dio in Phantom Blood.

Which real-life actor was Jotaro Kujo modeled on?

Clint Eastwood: Araki has said he modeled Jotaro Kujo's stoic manner and tough-guy poses on the actor.

What object turns Dio Brando into a vampire in Phantom Blood?

Part 2 reveals the mask was created by the Pillar Men, immortal beings who awaken in 1938.

Which studio has animated the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure TV series since 2012?

David Production has animated every JoJo season since 2012; by December 2022 it had made five seasons and 190 episodes, reaching Part 6, Stone Ocean.

Where is Part 5, Golden Wind, set as Giorno Giovanna tries to take over the mafia?

Naples, Italy: Golden Wind opens with Giorno Giovanna joining the Neapolitan gang Passione; he is technically Dio's son, conceived while Dio used Jonathan Joestar's body.

Steel Ball Run, Part 7 of JoJo, is built around what kind of competition?

A cross-country horse race: US President Funny Valentine stages the 1890 coast-to-coast race, with a $50 million prize, as cover for gathering the parts of a holy corpse.

Which luxury fashion house collaborated with Araki on a 2011 exhibition starring Rohan Kishibe?

Gucci marked its 90th anniversary in 2011 with 'Rohan Kishibe Goes to Gucci', an Araki one-shot that dressed the JoJo character in the brand's real fall/winter collection.

Which famous museum invited Araki to create a JoJo story for its 2009 comics exhibition?

The result was Rohan at the Louvre, a 123-page full-colour story about a cursed painting.

Who directed the 2017 live-action film of Diamond Is Unbreakable?

Takashi Miike directed Diamond Is Unbreakable Chapter I (2017), a Toho/Warner Bros. co-production starring Kento Yamazaki as Josuke and planned as the first of several films.

Which JoJo part was the first to stream worldwide on Netflix before airing on Japanese TV?

Stone Ocean's first twelve episodes dropped on Netflix worldwide on 1 December 2021, a month before its Japanese TV broadcast began in January 2022.

Araki's iconic 'JoJo poses' were inspired by his studies of which artist's sculptures on a trip to Italy?

Michelangelo: Araki has said the twisting 'JoJo poses' grew out of studying Michelangelo's sculptures on a trip to Italy in the 1980s, before he began the series.

Araki debuted in 1980 with a Wild West one-shot called what?

Poker Under Arms, a Western one-shot, was Araki's 1980 debut in Weekly Shōnen Jump after it placed as a runner-up in Shueisha's Tezuka Award.

The earliest commercial Japanese animation dates to which year?

1917: the first commercial Japanese animated films, including Jun'ichi Kōuchi's Namakura Gatana, were released that year.

As of 2016, roughly what share of the world's animated TV shows came from Japan?

60%: by one 2016 count Japanese studios produced around 60% of the world's animated TV series, across an industry of more than 430 production companies.

On which channel did Astro Boy premiere on New Year's Day 1963?

Fuji TV aired Astro Boy from 1 January 1963 for 193 episodes; NBC Enterprises syndicated it in the United States later that year.

Which anime holds the Guinness record for the longest-running animated TV series?

Sazae-san, adapted from Machiko Hasegawa's four-panel comic strip, has aired on Fuji TV since October 1969 and was certified by Guinness in 2013 as the longest-running animated TV series.

Which character serves as the mascot of Studio Ghibli?

My Neighbor Totoro won the Animage Anime Grand Prix and Mainichi Film Award in 1988.

In which period of Japanese history is Princess Mononoke set?

Muromachi: Miyazaki set Princess Mononoke in the late Muromachi period (roughly the 15th-16th centuries), when Ashitaka, an Emishi prince, is caught between Lady Eboshi's Irontown and the wolf-raised San.

Which US company dubbed and distributed Princess Mononoke in North America?

Miramax Films, then a Disney subsidiary, released Neil Gaiman's English-language adaptation of Princess Mononoke in US theaters in 1999.

Grave of the Fireflies is set in which Japanese city after its 1945 bombing?

Kobe: Seita and Setsuko are orphaned by the June 1945 firebombing of Kobe in Isao Takahata's adaptation of Akiyuki Nosaka's semi-autobiographical 1967 story.

Which 1937 novel does The Boy and the Heron's Japanese title reference?

How Do You Live?, Genzaburō Yoshino's 1937 novel, is read by the hero Mahito but not adapted; the film won the Best Animated Feature Oscar in 2024.

Roughly how long did production of The Boy and the Heron take?

Seven years: Miyazaki started the film in 2016 after reversing the retirement he announced in 2013, and it reached Japanese cinemas in July 2023.

Spirited Away shared which top prize at the 2002 Berlin Film Festival?

The Golden Bear: Spirited Away shared Berlin's top prize with Paul Greengrass's Bloody Sunday in 2002, the first animated film to win it.

Which soot-sprite-commanding boiler-man does Chihiro ask for a job in Spirited Away?

Kamaji, a many-armed spirit commanding soot sprites, gives Chihiro her way into the witch Yubaba's bathhouse, where she works to free her pig-transformed parents.

Which director of Perfect Blue and Paprika died of pancreatic cancer at 46 in 2010?

Kon, from Sapporo, also made Millennium Actress, Tokyo Godfathers and Paranoia Agent.

In Perfect Blue, what does J-pop idol Mima Kirigoe leave her group to become?

An actress: Mima quits the idol trio CHAM! to act in a TV crime drama, then finds 'Mima's Room', a website recording her private life in unsettling detail.

Which Mamoru Hosoda film was nominated for the Best Animated Feature Oscar in 2019?

Mirai (2018), about a boy who meets his baby sister from the future, made Hosoda the first non-Ghibli Japanese director with a Best Animated Feature nomination.

Ghost in the Shell (1995) is set in what year?

2029: Major Motoko Kusanagi hunts the Puppet Master in New Port City in 2029; the Wachowskis cited the film as an inspiration for The Matrix.

Who directed the 1995 Ghost in the Shell film?

Mamoru Oshii directed the 1995 film from Kazunori Itō's screenplay, adapting Masamune Shirow's 1989 manga.

In which shōjo magazine was Sailor Moon serialized from 1991 to 1997?

Nakayoshi, Kodansha's monthly shōjo magazine, ran Naoko Takeuchi's Sailor Moon from 1991 to 1997 while the 1992 anime adaptation aired.

Which manga artist is married to Sailor Moon creator Naoko Takeuchi?

Togashi created YuYu Hakusho and Hunter × Hunter, both among the best-selling manga ever.

A 1997 Pokémon episode sent hundreds of children to hospital because of what?

Flashing lights causing seizures in children across Japan got 'Dennō Senshi Porygon' pulled after its sole broadcast on December 16, 1997.

In which magazine has Detective Conan (Case Closed) been serialized since 1994?

Weekly Shōnen Sunday, Shogakukan's weekly, has run Gosho Aoyama's Detective Conan since January 1994, making it one of the longest-running manga series.

Doraemon travels back from which century to help Nobita?

The 22nd century: Doraemon was manufactured in 2112 and sent back to 20th-century Tokyo; Japan's Foreign Ministry named him its first 'anime ambassador' in 2008.

Who sends Doraemon back in time to look after the hapless schoolboy?

The boy's great-great-grandson: Sewashi Nobi sends Doraemon back from the future so that his hapless ancestor Nobita will give the Nobi family a better future.

Yu-Gi-Oh!'s card game Duel Monsters was originally called what in the manga?

Magic & Wizards is the card game's name in Kazuki Takahashi's manga, which ran in Weekly Shōnen Jump from 1996 to 2004; the anime renamed it Duel Monsters.

Which 15-year-old civilian pilots the RX-78-2 in Mobile Suit Gundam?

Amuro Ray, a 15-year-old civilian, pilots the RX-78-2 in the 1979 series, which was cut short at 43 episodes before Bandai's Gunpla kits made it a phenomenon.

Which Rumiko Takahashi series was her first commercial success, in 1978?

Urusei Yatsura, the alien-girl comedy Takahashi began in Weekly Shōnen Sunday in 1978, launched a career that earned her the Angoulême Grand Prix in 2019.

Which high school does Hanamichi Sakuragi play basketball for in Slam Dunk?

Shohoku High: Sakuragi joins its basketball team to impress Haruko Akagi in Takehiko Inoue's manga, serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump from 1990 to 1996.

Speed Racer was known in Japan by what title?

Mach GoGoGo was Tatsunoko's original title, aired on Fuji TV from April 1967 to March 1968 before its US adaptation as Speed Racer.

Crayon Shin-chan is set in and around which Saitama town?

Kasukabe, in Saitama Prefecture, is the Nohara family's home town; Yoshito Usui's manga began in Futabasha's seinen magazine Weekly Manga Action in 1990.

How many people were killed in the 2019 arson attack on Kyoto Animation?

36 people died when an arsonist set fire to Kyoto Animation's Studio 1 building in Fushimi, Kyoto on 18 July 2019; the attacker was sentenced to death in 2024.

Hideaki Anno first gained recognition working on which 1984 Miyazaki film?

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984): Anno animated its God Warrior sequence, co-founded Gainax that December, and later directed Gunbuster and Nadia.

Which band scored both Your Name and Weathering with You?

Radwimps wrote the songs and score for both films, including 'Zenzenzense' for Your Name; Weathering with You follows Hodaka and Hina, a girl who can control the weather.

Which childhood friend of Kentaro Miura supervises Berserk after Miura's 2021 death?

Kouji Mori, Miura's friend since school, supervises the story from what Miura told him; the series resumed in June 2022 with Miura's assistants at Studio Gaga.

Fist of the North Star's Kenshiro is the successor to which deadly martial art?

Hokuto Shinken, the assassination art that bursts enemies from within, is Kenshiro's inheritance in the post-nuclear saga Buronson wrote and Tetsuo Hara drew for Weekly Shōnen Jump from 1983.

Lupin III is the grandson of a gentleman thief created by which French author?

Maurice Leblanc created the gentleman thief Arsène Lupin in 1905; Monkey Punch made his Lupin III the grandson of Leblanc's character in 1967.

At its 1990s peak, Weekly Shōnen Jump's circulation reached how many copies per week?

6.53 million: Weekly Shōnen Jump's New Year 1995 double issue set the record for a Japanese magazine, on the strength of Dragon Ball, Slam Dunk and Yu Yu Hakusho.

Who illustrated Death Note, written by Tsugumi Ohba?

Takeshi Obata drew Death Note from Tsugumi Ohba's scripts for Weekly Shōnen Jump (2003-2006); the pair later reunited on Bakuman.

Which manga did Tite Kubo publish in Weekly Shōnen Jump before Bleach?

Zombiepowder, Kubo's Western-flavoured debut series, ran in Weekly Shōnen Jump from 1999 to 2000 before Bleach began there in 2001.

Attack on Titan creator Hajime Isayama was born in which prefecture?

Ōita: Isayama was born in 1986 in Hita, Ōita Prefecture, on the island of Kyushu; Attack on Titan ran from 2009 to 2021 and passed 100 million copies in circulation.

Demon Slayer's Koyoharu Gotouge was the first manga artist to make which list?

Time's 100 Most Influential People: Gotouge, who uses a pen name and stays anonymous, made the 2021 list as the first manga artist ever included.

Mugen Train was the first film from outside the US to do what?

Top the annual global box office: Mugen Train grossed over $500 million to finish as the highest-grossing film of 2020 worldwide, the first non-American film ever to do so.

In Spy × Family, what secret does Agent Twilight's adopted daughter Anya hide?

She is a telepath: Anya reads minds, which is how she knows her adoptive father Loid is the spy Twilight and her 'mother' Yor is an assassin; Wit Studio and CloverWorks animate the series.

Which studio animated Frieren: Beyond Journey's End?

Madhouse animated Frieren: Beyond Journey's End (2023), in which the elf mage sets out to reunite with her late comrade Himmel of the Hero Party.

Solo Leveling originated as a web novel from which country?

South Korea: Chugong's web novel about E-Rank hunter Sung Jinwoo began on KakaoPage in 2016, and A-1 Pictures animated it in 2024.

Which manga collective did the original character designs for Code Geass?

Clamp, the all-female manga collective behind Cardcaptor Sakura, drew the original character designs; Sunrise produced the series, in which Lelouch gains Geass, the power of absolute obedience, from C.C.

In which magazine was Fullmetal Alchemist serialized from 2001 to 2010?

Monthly Shōnen Gangan, Square Enix's monthly, ran Hiromu Arakawa's Fullmetal Alchemist from 2001 to 2010, collected in 27 volumes.

Toei Animation's mascot Pero comes from the studio's 1969 adaptation of which tale?

Puss in Boots: Pero is the cat hero of Toei's 1969 film The Wonderful World of Puss 'n Boots; the studio, founded in 1948 as Japan Animated Films, also animates Dragon Ball, One Piece and Precure.

How did Crunchyroll begin in 2006?

It later moved to legal distribution deals and is now owned by Sony.

Toonami launched in March 1997 with which lineup of series?

ThunderCats, Voltron and Jonny Quest, plus Cartoon Roulette, made up Toonami's March 1997 launch lineup, hosted by Space Ghost's Moltar before the robot TOM took over in 1999.

A Silent Voice adapts a manga by which author?

It adapts Yoshitoki Ōima's manga about bullying and a deaf classmate.

Studio Trigger was founded in 2011 by former employees of which studio?

Hiroyuki Imaishi and Masahiko Ōtsuka went on to make Kill la Kill and Cyberpunk: Edgerunners.

In Yasuhiro Nightow's Trigun manga, Vash the Stampede's desert planet is called what?

No Man's Land is the desert planet of Nightow's manga (the 1998 anime called it Gunsmoke); the manga began in Monthly Shōnen Captain in 1995.

Rurouni Kenshin begins in which year of the Meiji era?

1878, the eleventh year of Meiji: the former assassin Hitokiri Battosai, now a wanderer who has vowed never to kill again, arrives in Tokyo.

How does YuYu Hakusho's Yusuke Urameshi die at the start of the series?

Hit by a car saving a child: Yusuke dies pushing a boy out of a car's path, and the unprepared spirit world offers him a way back; Togashi's manga ran in Weekly Shōnen Jump from 1990 to 1994.

In Fruits Basket, how many Sohma family members are possessed by zodiac animals?

13: the twelve zodiac animals plus the cat, who was left out of the banquet in the legend; they transform when weak, stressed or hugged by the opposite sex.

Ai Yazawa's Nana went on an indefinite hiatus in which year?

2009: Yazawa fell seriously ill that year and put Nana, about two Tokyo twenty-somethings who share a name, on hold after 21 volumes.

In Made in Abyss, Riko descends into the Abyss hoping to find whom?

Her mother: Riko hopes to find Lyza the Annihilator, the legendary White Whistle who vanished in the depths; she travels with Reg, a part-robot boy she befriends.

Re:Zero's Subaru Natsuki is transported to another world while returning from where?

A convenience store: Subaru is pulled into another world on his way home from a late-night konbini run; Tappei Nagatsuki's story began on the web novel site Shōsetsuka ni Narō in 2012.

Devilman Crybaby was made to mark which anniversary of creator Go Nagai's career?

50th: Devilman Crybaby, directed by Masaaki Yuasa and animated by Science Saru for Netflix in 2018, marked fifty years since Go Nagai's 1967 debut.

One Piece holds a Guinness record for what?

Most copies of one comic by a single author: Guinness certified One Piece in 2015 at over 320 million copies; Eiichiro Oda's series has run in Weekly Shōnen Jump since July 1997.

Which classic Chinese novel originally inspired Dragon Ball?

Journey to the West: Goku began as a take on the monkey king Sun Wukong, complete with tail and flying cloud, which Toriyama mixed with Hong Kong martial-arts films.

Which Disney film did young Osamu Tezuka reportedly watch more than 80 times?

Bambi: Tezuka said he saw Disney's 1942 film more than 80 times, and its big-eyed fawn shaped the look of his characters; he is often called Japan's Walt Disney.

Which Tezuka series was Japan's first color animated TV series?

Kimba the White Lion, known as Jungle Emperor in Japan, aired on Fuji TV from 1965 to 1967 as Japan's first color TV anime.

Anpanman's head is made of what?

A red-bean-paste pastry: Anpanman's head is an anpan bun, which creator Takashi Yanase dreamed of eating while facing starvation as a soldier in World War II.

Studio Ghibli takes its name from an Italian word for what?

A hot Saharan desert wind: 'ghibli' is the Italian name for the Libyan sirocco, and Miyazaki borrowed it from the Caproni Ca.309 Ghibli scouting plane when the studio was founded in 1985.

Ghibli Park opened in 2022 in which Japanese prefecture?

Aichi: Ghibli Park opened on 1 November 2022 inside the Expo 2005 commemorative park in Nagakute, east of Nagoya.

The Ghibli Museum is located in which Tokyo-area city?

Mitaka: the Ghibli Museum opened on 1 October 2001 at the western edge of Inokashira Park in Mitaka, in a building Miyazaki designed himself.

Which fairytale inspired Mamoru Hosoda's 2021 film about a shy girl who becomes a virtual-world singer?

Beauty and the Beast: Belle draws on both Beaumont's 1756 French tale and the 1991 Disney film, and premiered at Cannes in 2021.

In Your Name, Mitsuha lives in Itomori, a rural town in which prefecture?

Gifu: the fictional Itomori was modeled on the Hida region of Gifu Prefecture; Mitsuha swaps bodies with Taki, a Tokyo student and part-time waiter.

Akira's Neo-Tokyo exists after the original city was destroyed on what date?

July 16, 1988: the film opens with Tokyo vanishing in a blast on that date, the same day Akira reached Japanese cinemas; the story then jumps to Neo-Tokyo in 2019.

What is the name of Kaneda's biker gang in Akira?

Their rivals are the Clown gang; Tetsuo gains telekinetic powers after a crash.

In Oshi no Ko, a doctor and his dead patient are reborn as the twins of what kind of celebrity?

A pop idol: the doctor and his patient are reborn as the twins of Ai Hoshino of the idol group B-Komachi; Aka Akasaka wrote and Mengo Yokoyari drew the manga, animated by Doga Kobo from April 2023.

In Blue Lock, which aspiring football star tries to qualify for Japan's national team?

Yoichi Isagi is the striker thrown into the Blue Lock program to forge Japan's best forward; Muneyuki Kaneshiro writes and Yusuke Nomura draws the manga, serialised in Weekly Shōnen Magazine since 2018.

What is the name of the involuntary time-slip ability possessed by Satoru Fujinuma in Erased?

Revival: Satoru's ability throws him back minutes, then eighteen years, to prevent a tragedy; Kei Sanbe's manga, BokuMachi in Japan, ran in Young Ace from 2012 to 2016.

In Your Lie in April, what instrument does Kaori Miyazono play?

Violin: Kaori, a free-spirited violinist, draws young pianist Kōsei Arima back to music after his mother's death; Naoshi Arakawa's manga ran from 2011 to 2015.

In Inuyasha, how does schoolgirl Kagome Higurashi travel to the Sengoku period?

By falling into a well in her family's shrine; Rumiko Takahashi's manga ran from 1996 to 2008 across 56 volumes.