Key Takeaways:

– My Hero Academia’s author, Kohei Horikoshi, drew inspiration from One Piece’s Monkey D. Luffy to create his lead character, Deku.
– One Piece has had a profound impact on Horikoshi’s approach to character creation.
– In a recent interview, Eiichiro Oda, One Piece author, called Horikoshi the “next big superhero artist.”
– Oda encourages friendly competition between My Hero Academia and One Piece.

The Universe Behind Izuku Midoriya, aka Deku

If you’re an anime and manga fanatic, you’ve probably heard of, or are a fan of, My Hero Academia. The thrilling story is brought to life by Kohei Horikoshi – a mangaka (comic book artist) who admits he’s a big fan of American comics. Classics like Spiderman and Deadpool aren’t strangers to him, and he’s even drawn elements from these comics into his own creation. But did you know one of the biggest influences on My Hero Academia comes from another anime treasure: One Piece?

You might be surprised to learn that Horikoshi found inspiration for his main character, Izuku Midoriya (known as Deku), from One Piece’s beloved character, Monkey D. Luffy.

The Inspiration that Birthed Deku

Horikoshi shared his influences in his character design during an interview with Eiichiro Oda, author of One Piece, that took place in August 2018. The candid conversation revealed that Horikoshi found specific parts of One Piece particularly influential in his work. His admiration for Oda’s storytelling and character development techniques sparked the birth of Deku.

In that interview, Horikoshi confessed that his characters’ open expression of their thoughts stemmed from reading One Piece. This approach, which Oda once thought was a style of a past era, shocked him. He saw it as refreshing and indicative of a newer wave of mangakas.

Horikoshi’s Favored One Piece Arc

An iconic scene in the Arlong arc of One Piece had a tremendous impact on Horikoshi. This scene involves Nami crying out for Luffy’s help to salvage her from Arlong. Luffy’s response, a thundering “OF COURSE I WILL,” touched Horikoshi deeply. He was so moved that he wanted to create a lead character with similar traits – kind, helpful, and utterly devoted to his friends. Thus, Deku came to life.

Luffy’s and Deku’s Striking Similarities

Looking closely, you’ll see that Deku and Luffy possess several commonalities. They both demonstrate an unyielding resolve, challenging death to achieve their dreams. They place the welfare of their comrades above their own, showcasing the depths of their compassion.

Horikoshi and Oda: The Creators’ Mirror

Interestingly, both evocative characters derive attributes from their authors’ personalities. Oda acknowledges infusing pieces of himself into Luffy to articulate a character devoid of worry. Similarly, Horikoshi incorporated his social anxiety and tendency to over-analyze into Deku, making him more relatable to readers.

One Piece’s Opinion on My Hero Academia

In the same conversation with Horikoshi, Oda shared his views about My Hero Academia. He described Horikoshi as “the next big superhero artist,” expressing high praise for his fellow colleague. This validation left Horikoshi deeply moved.

Oda even disclosed a moment where his daughter pondered over the relevance of One Piece after hearing a track from My Hero Academia playing on her school bus. At this point, Oda invited Horikoshi to a friendly competition: who would take the number one spot in Weekly Shonen Jump?

As things stand, My Hero Academia has already drawn its curtains, while One Piece seems indefinite. Regardless, both remarkable manga are widely appreciated and enjoyed by anime enthusiasts worldwide.

In conclusion, while separate entities, One Piece and My Hero Academia share links beneath the surface—ones that are deep-seated in shared admiration and inspiration. They are both available to stream on platforms like Crunchyroll and Netflix, guaranteeing a delightful experience for anime fans across the globe.

Key Takeaways:

– Bleach has made a thrilling return in 2022 with the Thousand Year Blood War arc.
– Creator Tite Kubo’s unconventional creative process sets him apart from other manga artists.
– He associates his characters with songs, either playing in the background or in his head as he invents them.
– Kubo already visualizes each scene as if it was animated.

The Exciting Return of Bleach

In recent years, one of the big highlights in the world of shonen anime is the triumphant comeback of the hit series Bleach in 2022. Full of fascinating characters and an engaging plotline, the Thousand Year Blood War arc is lauded as a great addition to its legendary roster. Despite intermittent criticism, one can’t deny that Tite Kubo, the creator of Bleach, has masterfully woven a tale with mesmerizing characters, even the secondary ones, each exhibiting distinctive traits and motivations.

Tite Kubo’s Unique Creative Thought Process

In an illuminating interview, the editor of Bleach shared an intriguing insight about Kubo’s out-of-the-box creative style that separates him from his peers. They discussed how the mechanics and ideation of Kubo’s manga development is uniquely distinctive to other creators.

Kubo and Voice Actor Morita Discuss Creation Procedure

During the conception of the Thousand Year Blood War Arc, Tite Kubo and voice actor Masakazu Morita, who voices the protagonist Ichigo Kurosaki, shed insight on the process behind bringing these characters to life. Kubo shared that he does not actively hunt for ideas. Instead, they naturally come to him during unrelated activities.

A random word that he hears during a conversation or while watching something can stir his creative energies. This word often becomes the inspiration for a new idea or character—though it may not always reflect the original conversation where it was picked.

Associating Characters with Music

During the interview, Morita probed Kubo about his habit of linking characters with particular songs. Kubo revealed that these songs either play in the background or loop in his mind when he brings a character to life. He confesses that he doesn’t necessarily need to listen to music, as his favorite tunes play spontaneously in his mind. This subconscious association of melodies and rhythms leads him to associate tunes with his manga characters, proving to be a delightful initiation to his creative craft.

The Visionary Artistry of Tite Kubo

When asked about his visualization techniques, Kubo mentioned already having clear visuals in his mind while drawing. He tries to capture and present those precise moments he sees in his mind to his audiences. He believes in viewing each scene as if it’s already animated. This intuitive understanding of camera movements and angles, despite having no formal training, struck Morita as a distinctive feature of Kubo’s creative process.

Switching gears to understand if other manga creators also worked similarly, the response they received was fascinating. The editor revealed that Kubo’s method of visualizing scenes was uniquely his.

The Anime Magic Behind Bleach

Bleach’s engaging moments are the result of Kubo’s special ideation exercise that eludes other creators. Throughout the interview, Kubo continuously emphasizes how his creative journey intertwines with his enduring love for music. While his stories may lack stringent structure, their unique charm is sure to captivate the readers.

The enchanting world of Bleach and its engaging Thousand Year Blood War Arc are available to stream on both DisneyPlus and Hulu. While some may argue over the position of Bleach within the ‘Big 3’ of anime, it remains undeniable that Tite Kubo’s unique creative approach and detailed envisioning of characters make Bleach an unforgettable part of the anime universe. Whether you’re a long-time fan or a newbie, delve into this fantastic adventure, and brace yourself for a thrilling ride.

Hey buddies! Are you a fan of gripping supernatural thrillers or mind-bending alien invasion movies? Got some wicked news for you then. This August, a special digital dish is getting served up just for you as two of M. Night Shyamalan’s classic films, ‘The Sixth Sense’ and ‘Signs,’ are set to thrill you in 4K for the very first time. And guess what else? Even ‘Unbreakable’ is coming along for the ride in the digital pack!

Key Takeaways:

• ‘The Sixth Sense’ and ‘Signs’ are getting their first-ever 4K UHD digital releases on August 27th
• The 4K UHD Blu-ray disc versions of both films will drop on October 22nd.
• On August 27th, fans can score a special bundle deal that includes 4K digital versions of ‘The Sixth Sense,’ ‘Signs’ and ‘Unbreakable.’
• Original negatives of ‘The Sixth Sense’ and ‘Signs’ were scanned at 4K resolution and restored in High Dynamic Range (HDR).
• ‘The Sixth Sense,’ acclaimed for its epic plot twist, is also hitting a major milestone – it’s turning 25 this month!

The Chiller Turns 25: The Sixth Sense In 4K

‘The Sixth Sense,’ Shyamalan’s breakthrough movie from ’99, gives you chills, twists your brain, and takes you on a rollercoaster ride. It’s not for nothing that it was nominated for six Oscars, including Best Picture. When you see Bruce Willis, as Dr. Malcolm Crowe, interact with a terrified, confused kid, played by Haley Joel Osment, you can’t help but stay glued to your seat. And if you haven’t already, you’ll soon find out why this movie is often dubbed as one of the greatest ghost stories ever filmed.

Soak Up Some Sci-Fi With Signs In 4K

‘Signs,’ the 2002 film that set new standards in spookiness, is also getting the 4K treatment. This enigmatic alien invasion story, starring Mel Gibson and Joaquin Phoenix, involves crop circles and a farm under extraterrestrial threat! As the news of more such mysterious symbols being spotted worldwide grows, so does the fright of the Hess family. It’s real-life close encounters of the third kind stuff!

Unbreakable: Your 4K Bonus In The Bundle

Lastly, the ‘Unbreakable,’ another Shyamalan masterpiece from 2000, tags along in the bundle. The protagonist, played by Bruce Willis, survives a fatal train crash, baffling many and sparking strange theories about his unbreakable nature. Unravel this unique tale of physical resilience and mystery in the stark 4K clarity.

So, are you grabbing your popcorn and getting ready to experience the incredible 4K journey of ‘The Sixth Sense,’ ‘Signs,’ and ‘Unbreakable’? Shoot us a comment below to let us know what you think about this digital bonanza! And remember, these films aren’t just visually amped up; they have been painstakingly restored in high dynamic range (HDR) from their original negatives. Translation? The picture quality will be top-notch and super vivid.

So, don’t miss out on this golden opportunity to witness the magic of M. Night Shyamalan in stunning 4K detail. Mark your calendars and get ready to be mesmerised this fall!