Month: February 2020

The PlayStation 4 exclusive Dreams, which is finally out after an extensive Early Access period, may make the jump to Sony’s next-gen PlayStation 5 at some point, according to developer Media Molecule.

At a recent London event celebrating the game’s launch, Media Molecule co-founder Mark Healey said PS4 is where Dreams resides for now but PS5 isn’t out of the question. It all depends on success and popularity.

“Obviously at the moment we’re focused on PS4 and I would actually hope that it extends the life of the PS4 to be honest with you,” Healey told Video Games Chronicle. “Then maybe when other companies start making games for it, the community will carry on making games for it, but if it’s as successful as we hope it is then it’s an obvious progression.”

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While no one was particularly surprised when it was announced in May 2019 that a new Saw movie was on the way, the fact that comedian Chris Rock was set to co-write and star in it was unexpected. But it turns out that Rock is a long-time fan of the series, and two months later, the next Saw movie was in production.

Saw is one of the most successful horror franchises of the past two decades. The original 2004 movie, which was directed by James Wan and written by Wan and Leigh Whannell, was a huge hit, grossing $103 million from a tiny budget of $1.2 million. The film’s inventive blend of gritty cop thriller and intense horror kickstarted a series that was known for its inventively gruesome set-pieces and increasingly complicated storylines. The insane trap-setting maniac Jigsaw became one of horror’s most iconic villains, and the series inspired a whole sub-genre of gory imitators.

Of course, no movie series remains popular forever, and the commercial disappointment of 2010’s seventh movie, Saw 3D, led the franchise to take a much-needed rest. Seven years went by before 2017’s Jigsaw. While this prequel/reboot didn’t quite hit the box office heights that the series did a decade earlier, it was successful enough to show that interest was still there. The ninth Saw movie is set for release in May–it’s titled Spiral: From the Book of Saw and looks set to take the series in another intriguing direction. So here’s everything we know so far about it…

What’s with that title?

The movie was shot under the working title of The Organ Donor, but the actual name wasn’t revealed until the first poster and trailer arrived in February. And there’s no getting away from the fact it’s a bit long-winded–and what, exactly, is “The Book of Saw”? But the spiral clearly refers to the distinctive icon that appears on the cheeks of the series’s scary doll Billy, and if this movie is trying to form its own identity beyond it simply being Saw 9, then a brand-new title is the way to do it.

When is it released?

Spiral hits theaters on May 15, 2020.

Is there a trailer?

The first trailer for Spiral was released in early February.

Who are the stars?

Spiral stars Chris Rock, who plays a police detective named Ezekiel Banks. Max Minghella (The Social Network) plays his partner, Detective Schenk. There’s also a role for Samuel L. Jackson as Ezekiel’s father Marcus, and Riverdale’s Marisol Nichols plays Captain Angie Garza.

Who wrote it?

The initial story for Spiral was written by Rock. It turns out he’s a long-time Saw fan, and approached Lionsgate, which produces the series, with an idea for a new movie. In a recent interview with Collider, Rock explained that he also wanted to make a horror movie as it was “an adventure I haven’t been on.” The screenplay was then written by Josh Stolberg and Peter Goldfinger, who previously wrote Jigsaw as well as the 2010 killer fish hit Piranha 3D.

Who’s the director?

Spiral sees the return of director Darren Lynn Bousman. While Bousman hasn’t made a Saw movie since 2007, he previously helmed Saw II, III, and IV, making him the director who has been involved with the most films in the series.

What’s the plot?

Spiral isn’t a remake and exists in the same universe as the previous films. However, from trailer and synopsis, it’s clearly that the movie is more than just a retread of what we’ve already seen. Detectives Banks and Schenk are investigating a series of murders that bear strong similarities to the reign of terror carried out by the evil Jigsaw. The distinctive spiral logo is found painted onto walls near the crime, and the synopsis states that “Zeke finds himself at the center of the killer’s morbid game.” Jigsaw himself died back in Saw III, but that didn’t stop his acolytes carrying on his insane mission in the subsequent films. And while the trailer doesn’t focus on the outlandish trap-setting torture scenes that the series is notorious for, there’s enough brief shots to remind us this is definitely still a Saw movie.

More Saw?

There’s no reason to think that this will be the final Saw movie. While it’s true that the commercial disappointment of Saw 3D meant that we had to wait seven years for Jigsaw, that movie was a box office success, paving the way for Spiral. This is the horror genre after all–no popular franchise ever goes away, even if it stays dormant for a while. And of course, if Spiral is a hit, then expect Spiral 2 to be announced soon after.

When Nvidia abruptly pulled support for the entire library of Activision Blizzard games on its GeForce Now streaming service, it offered little explanation other than casting blame towards the publisher. Nvidia has now provided a more detailed and softer explanation, chalking it up to a simple misunderstanding.

Bloomberg reports that since Activision had participated in the beta test, Nvidia mistakenly thought the agreement extended into the free trial period for founders. The issue came up because Activision wanted a new commercial agreement for the general public launch, the company said.

“Activision Blizzard has been a fantastic partner during the GeForce Now beta, which we took to include the free trial period for our founders membership,” Nvidia said in a statement. “Recognizing the misunderstanding, we removed their games from our service, with hope we can work with them to re-enable these, and more, in the future.”

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It’s been an eventful couple of weeks for Pokemon collectibles. The Pokemon Company announced a new series of Eevee figures, and four new Pokemon Funko Pops were revealed. The Pokemon TCG also entered the Galar region with the Sword and Shield expansion, and Best Buy already has discounts on the Sword and Shield Elite Trainer Box and theme decks as part of its Pokemon collectibles sale. The sale also slashes the prices of some Pokemon plushies and figures. Take a look at some of the best Pokemon collectible deals from Best Buy’s sale below.

Pokemon Sword and Shield Elite Trainer Box | $30 ($40)

The Sword and Shield TCG expansion released on February 7, so discounts are naturally hard to find. But Best Buy has the Elite Trainer Box for $10 off right now. Each box comes with the following items:

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He-Man and the Masters of the Universe is one of the most fondly remembered animated shows of the 1980s. It was originally launched to promote a line of toys, but ended up being a huge hit in its own right. The animated reboot Masters of the Universe: Revelations is on the way from Netflix and Mattel Television, and now the cast has been announced.

Clerks director and pop culture personality Kevin Smith is the showrunner, and the series will continue the adventures of He-Man and his friends on the planet of Eternia, decades after we last saw them. In terms of the cast, there are some seriously impressive names involved. The highest profile actor is Star Wars icon Mark Hamill, who will voice the villainous Skeletor. Hamill previously voiced Joker in the classic ’90s Batman animated series and Chucky in last year’s Child’s Play reboot, so this is another classic villain to add to his resumé.

The cast also includes Chris Wood (Supergirl) as He-Man, Lena Headey (Game of Thrones) as Evil-Lyn, Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy The Vampire Slayer) as Tee-La, Stephen Root (Barry) as Cringer, and Liam Cunningham (Game of Thrones) as Man-At-Arms. Other intriguing cast members include punk icon Henry Rollins as Tri-Klops and Candyman star Tony Todd as Scare Glow. Check out the full cast below:

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Love comes in all forms, and so do people’s tastes in romantic TV shows. Some people like true romances, some like romcoms, and others like to cry a whole lot. Luckily, you can find all of these in anime–sometimes all in one show. (We’re looking at you, My Love Story.)

From comedies to tearjerkers, there’s a romantic anime out there for almost everyone. If you’re looking for something to watch on Valentine’s Day–or any other day of the year–we’ve put together our favorites and where each of them is available to stream legally.

Be sure to check out the video version of this gallery to see these anime in action! And for more on anime, be sure to check out our list of the best anime available on Netflix.

My Love Story!!

A lot of couples in romance anime take an entire season to get together, but My Love Story’s Takeo and Yamato are not a normal couple. Takeo, the unusual main protagonist, looks like a yakuza boss–so not a teenage girl’s typical dream guy–but Yamato falls for him immediately. Of course, all of her friends think she’s out of her mind, so the dynamic between the couple and their friends becomes a crucial part of their shared story.

Most importantly, My Love Story explores Takeo and Yamato’s relationship as it grows and develops–this isn’t another will-they, won’t-they romance. It’s consistently delightful and hits all the favorite tropes, too, without overdoing them–that means beach, Christmas, and Valentine’s Day episodes! It also has one of the cutest theme songs in recent years, great for watching with that special someone.

Streaming on Crunchyroll and Hulu

Nisekoi

If you’re in the mood for a lighthearted romantic comedy, Nisekoi is still one of our favorites. It follows two high school students, Raku and Chitoge, whose fathers run rival gangs. Raku and Chitoge kind of hate each other–but to keep peace between the gangs, their fathers decide that their children have to date, and Raku and Chitoge have to pretend to be boyfriend and girlfriend so all hell doesn’t break loose. Of course, Raku has a crush on a different girl, which throws a bit of a wrench in things.

Nisekoi might have some harem DNA, but it’s one of the few shows even close to the genre where the protagonist is extremely likable; it’s not hard to believe that both Chitoge and Onodera might possibly fall for Raku, who’s charming in his own way. And with animation from studio Shaft, Nisekoi has a distinctive style that only makes each heart-fluttering, blush-inducing scene even better.

Streaming on Crunchyroll and Hulu

Toradora!

Ryuuji Takasu has a scary face but a gentle soul, while Taiga Aisaka is a tiny but fiery girl who’s always ready for a fight–so much so that she’s known around school as the Palm-Top Tiger. Due to Taiga’s excessive clumsiness, the two end up talking and discover that they have crushes on each other’s best friends. They, of course, decide to wingman each other.

That might sound like a pretty standard rom-com setup, but Toradora is anything but basic. Its relatable, unique characters have fantastic chemistry, and it actually avoids the pitfalls of a lot of romantic comedies. And, without spoiling anything, it has one of the best romance scenes in all of anime.

Streaming on Crunchyroll and Hulu

Your Lie in April

Your Lie in April is a heartfelt story about Arima Kousei, a prodigal pianist whose career is derailed by a traumatic event. However, a chance encounter with Kaori Miyazono, a free-spirited violinist, reignites a passion he thought had long faded.

What makes Your Lie in April interesting is, for the most part, it doesn’t focus on the romance between Arima and Kaori. Instead it explores their complicated personal issues and uses these to bring them closer in a way that feels natural and authentic.

Arima’s destructive relationship with his mother and its lasting impact on his psyche is a dark cloud surrounding him. When his fingers touch ivory keys, the traumatic memories envelop and overcome him to the point where he’s unable to hear what he’s even playing.

Kaori’s infectious energy and tenacious drive to see him fight through the darkness becomes his guiding light. Together, they both learn what music really means to them and, in time, what they mean to each other. Your Lie in April is as much about finding what you love, as it is falling in love.

– Tamoor Hussain

Streaming on Crunchyroll, Hulu, and Netflix.

Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun

When high-schooler Chiyo Sakura tries to ask out her crush, he…gives her his autograph. Turns out, the tall, handsome, and oblivious Nozaki-kun is secretly an insanely popular shoujo mangaka (an author of romantic manga aimed at teen girls) and Chiyo accidentally becomes his assistant.

Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun explores shoujo tropes with plenty of humor–seriously, this is a comedy first and foremost, and a good one at that. Of course, its cast of lovable dorks is what makes it both funny and heartfelt. You can also definitely rock out to the theme song and learn a little bit about all the work that goes into being a mangaka, all in a short 12-episode run.

Streaming on Crunchyroll and Hulu

His and Her Circumstances

His and Her Circumstances, also known as Kare Kano, tells the love story of two seemingly perfect students that are secretly extremely flawed individuals. Yukino Miyazawa thrives on admiration and privately calls herself a queen of vanity. She meets model student Soichiro Arima, who starts to take attention away from her, and is immediately determined to bring him down. Arima finds out her secret and blackmails her, revealing a different side to himself.

They form a friendship and eventual romance. Together they learn to be more comfortable with their true selves and accept who they really are, at least with each other.

The personalities of the offbeat, two-faced main characters and the unique ways they handle their problems sets His and Her Circumstances apart from other shoujo romances. The romance in this anime also feels realistic and authentic. As a warning, the anime does end abruptly, and you’ll have to switch to the Manga to continue the story. But the 26-episode Anime is worth seeking out for the unique, fluctuating animation styles balancing the humor and drama of this character-driven love story.

– Chastity Vicencio

Clannad: After Story

Clannad: After Story is the sequel to slice-of-life series Clannad, and it begins after Tomoya and Nagisa from the first series have graduated high school. After Story deals with strong family ties and the couple’s individual problems, and if you get through its good but not as good predecessor, you’ll be rewarded with a story that’s sweet, moving, and infamous for making pretty much everyone cry.

Streaming on Hulu

5 Centimeters Per Second

5 Centimeters Per Second is a film broken up into three parts, covering the childhood and young adult life of Takaki Tono. As an elementary schooler, he befriends and falls for a girl named Akari. In addition to being about young love, 5 Centimeters Per Second captures the feeling of distance between two people who either don’t connect or cannot, and its animation and direction beautifully capture the melancholy throughout the chapters of Takaki’s life.

Streaming on Crunchyroll

Yuri on Ice

Yuri on Ice isn’t technically a romance anime, but it definitely deserves a spot on this list. It follows Japanese figure skater Yuri Katsuki, who has all but lost his passion for skating when he meets his long-time idol, Victor Nikiforov. So yeah, this is a sports anime about figure skaters–but it’s mostly about a mutually beneficial and supportive relationship.

There’s a good deal of guy-on-guy fan service if you’re into that, but the show’s development of Yuri and Victor’s relationship is actually incredibly progressive for anime. Beyond that, Yuri on Ice explores friendship and the familiar quarter-life identity crisis that can cause us to question our paths in life. Plus, there’s some really great skating and a colorful cast of supporting characters that provide a great backdrop to a wonderful relationship.

Streaming on Crunchyroll

Orange

A lot of us wish we could go back in time to fix our high school mistakes. Orange tells the story of Naho Takamiya, a high schooler who receives a letter from her future self. The letter talks of regret, telling her day by day the specific things she needs to change–and it tells her to watch her new classmate and crush, Kakeru Naruse, very closely.

The time travel element takes a back seat to a story of loss, friendship, and what it means to truly care about someone. It’s mature and incredibly moving, tackling suicide and the pain of regret. It’s perfect if you’re in the mood for something a little bittersweet, rather than a typical love story.

Streaming on Crunchyroll and Funimation

Lovely Complex

Risa Koizumi is the tallest girl in class. Atsushi Ootani is the shortest boy in class. Between the two of them, there’s a lot of insecurity about their height and how it affects their love lives. Of course, they’re perfect for each other…except for the height thing.

Lovely Complex isn’t currently streaming legally, but it’s worth picking up on DVD for an adorable and funny classic romance anime that takes its time developing its characters and their relationship. Plus, the height problem is incredibly relatable.

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