This week we’re exploring all of the new and returning anime titles we're excited to watch this Spring 2026, we BLIND RANK anime plot twists and we preview Union Arena's latest anime drop with Solo Leveling voice actor Michelle Rojas!

Welcome to The Anime Effect, the weekly podcast hosted by Crunchyroll's own in-house, resident anime experts – Nicholas Friedman, LeAlec Murray, and Leah President. The show is a lively mixture of roundtable news and discussion with Crunchyroll hosts and special guests as they debate hot topics, provide recommendations, and tackle fan questions.

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This week we’re getting our shovels out to dig news this week, like a live-action Samurai Champloo in the works, some of our fave anime artists planning festival appearances and MORE! Plus, we share what anime we're watching RIGHT NOW and we hear from y'all in Fan Service.

Welcome to The Anime Effect, the weekly podcast hosted by Crunchyroll's own in-house, resident anime experts – Nicholas Friedman, LeAlec Murray, and Leah President. The show is a lively mixture of roundtable news and discussion with Crunchyroll hosts and special guests as they debate hot topics, provide recommendations, and tackle fan questions.

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The ICONIC Veronica Taylor (Ash Ketchum's English Voice Actor) joins the podcast to discuss the impact Pokemon has had on her life, her advice for aspiring voice actors and so much more.

Welcome to The Anime Effect, the weekly podcast hosted by Crunchyroll's own in-house, resident anime experts – Nicholas Friedman, LeAlec Murray, and Leah President. The show is a lively mixture of roundtable news and discussion with Crunchyroll hosts and special guests as they debate hot topics, provide recommendations, and tackle fan questions.

Have a question for The Anime Effect? Ask it here.

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Hosts LeAlec Murray, Nicholas Friedman and Alex Lebl are weathering the news tornado this week with headlines like the latest Crunchyroll Manga drop, the release of a special Evangelion anime short, Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- Season 4 updates, a new Sword Art Online game and Dorohedoro coming to Crunchyroll.

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Seattle Storm forward Gabby Williams takes a break from the WNBA court to gab about her gateway anime, what she’s watching now and why she fell in love with anime. PLUS she builds her DREAM TEAM made up of her favorite anime characters.

Welcome to The Anime Effect, the weekly podcast hosted by Crunchyroll's own in-house, resident anime experts – Nicholas Friedman, LeAlec Murray, and Leah President. The show is a lively mixture of roundtable news and discussion with Crunchyroll hosts and special guests as they debate hot topics, provide recommendations, and tackle fan questions.

Have a question for The Anime Effect? Ask it here.

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Hosts LeAlec Murray, Leah President, and Nicholas Friedman are discovering new depths of anime news this week with headlines covering new Pokemon starters, a ONE PIECE manga milestone and just-released Reze Arc merch. PLUS, they gush over the just-announced Gundam x Apex Legends collaboration, a Rilakkuma anime and a My Hero Anime concert tour kicking off across the pond.

Have a question for The Anime Effect? Ask it here.

Pokémon Celebrates 30th Anniversary With Generation 10 Reveal

ONE PIECE Manga Surpasses 600 Million Copies in Print

Chainsaw Man - The Movie: Reze Arc x a statement of Apparel Line Launches

Rilakumma Short Form TV Anime Premieres on April 4

Apex Legends Gundam Event Includes Wildcard Takeover, Limited Edition Gunpla and More

My Hero Academia in Concert European Tour Kicks Off This September

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Hannah Bahng joins The Anime Effect to reveal her favorite anime, ships, and why we should all be more cringe.

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Hosts Nicholas Friedman, LeAlec Murray, and Leah President cannot believe they’re talking about a new Evangelion anime series in production! PLUS, they discuss the next projects coming from Ufotable, the latest Pokémon games coming to the Switch, the newest member of the Sonic film franchise cast, and a new way you can rep your favorite manga.

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New Evangelion Anime Series in Production

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle II, Genshin Impact and More Teased in Ufotable Highlight Reel

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle is coming back to North American and United Kingdom theaters next month

MANGA Plus Introduces New Feature to Make T-shirts from Manga Pages 

Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen Comes to Nintendo Switch on February 27

Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Film Casts Kristen Bell as Amy Rose

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Hosts Nicholas Friedman, LeAlec Murray and Leah President are celebrating 100 episodes of The Anime Effect by revealing their favorite moments with guests, spilling behind-the-scenes tea, and testing their anime knowledge.

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Hosts LeAlec Murray and Alex Lebl discuss Chainsaw Man - The Movie: Reze Arc coming to streaming, the Texas Rangers JUJUTSU KAISEN night with themed jerseys, the latest on BLEACH "THE STORIES" TV Anime Project, the Spiritbox x Sentenced to Be a Hero AMV, and more.

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Chainsaw Man - The Movie: Reze Arc Streams on Crunchyroll Spring 2026

Texas Rangers MLB Team Brings JUJUTSU KAISEN Night Back with New Themed Jerseys

BLEACH "THE STORIES" TV Anime Project Reveals Soul Society Arc Visual and Release Schedule

Metal Band Spiritbox Joins the Battle with Sentenced to Be a Hero AMV

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Khleo Thomas and Lena Lemon join us again but for a very special gamified The Anime Effect episode. Who will be crowned as the ultimate anime fan? Find out now!

Follow along with the emoji game:

🐉 ⚽️ 💤

👻 ➡️ 🥚

🍵 📔 🐱

1️⃣ 🤜 👨🏻‍🦲

⚓ 🌒 🐈‍⬛

⛓️ 🪚 🧍‍♂️

💅 🪡 🎎

🍓🍍🗑️

🦎 👹 🎱

🗡️ 🖼️ 🌐

👽 👻 👵🏻

🃏 👮 🌸

🤖 👼 🪑

🦸‍♂️ 📚 😭

👩🏻 ❤️ 👱🏻‍♂️

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