News

The history of anime goes back to the early 1990s — with the earliest verified Japanese animated film, a samurai's misadventures in trying to test the edge of his new sword, dating to 1917. The first anime to reach North America were broadcast as early as the 1960s, with the first major global wave of anime happening in the 90s with the international broadcast of runaway hits like Dragon Ball Z, Sailor Moon, and especially Pokémon.

The global popularity of anime and manga has only been helped by the internet, with the proliferation of streaming and digital releases making it easier than ever for fans all around to world to experience the best of Japanese animation and comics. If you're new to the mediums of anime and manga, the Bam Smack Pow team is here to walk you through everything you need to know about getting into anime and manga.

One Piece.

The Dexter prequel series Dexter: Original Sin has a prime opportunity to fix one of the most overlooked plot holes that the original show never addressed. There weren't many plot holes at all in the original show, but one subtle issue persisted through all eight seasons of Dexter. For a show as well written as Dexter was, it's almost unheard of for a plot hole to be completely overlooked like that. It also concerns a central part of Dexter's killing ritual, so as minor as it may seem, it has massive implications on his ability to evade the police.

Even though Dexter ignored this plot hole for years, Original Sin is going to have to address it soon. Because of Original Sin's timeline, the prequel show has done everything from solving Dexter: New Blood's M99 vs. ketamine debate to explaining why he started showing his victims photos of their victims.

There is something incredible about watching small, seemingly mundane moments from everyday life portrayed on the screen. With the recent trend of romanticizing one's life dominating social media discussions, slice-of-life anime's popularity is coming back. The best slice-of-life anime series and movies teach meaningful lessons to the audience, like in A Silent Voice and Kimi Ni Todoke.

Unlike sci-fi or action series, slice-of-life anime feel much more down-to-earth and relatable since the characters deal with the same things as the audience. Slice-of-life anime invites viewers to live in the present, enjoy simple pleasures, and form meaningful connections with other people. Slice-of-life anime is often blended with comedy, romance, and, occasionally, magic.

Updated on January 11, 2025, by Natasha Elder: Slice-of-life anime often offers a nice respite from daily life's stresses while offering engaging plot lines and intriguing drama. Anime like Aria: The Animation and Silver Spoon have viewers encouraging protagonists along their life's journey.

Though it is a Life Simulator, Sims 4, like other games in the Sims franchise, has always been a little zanier than real life. Some Simmers prefer more realistic gameplay, however, and that is often where mods come in. Mods can flesh out aspects of the game that feel underdeveloped to create a more lifelike experience, even if that might just mean more trouble for the player.

The Sims 4 modding community has created many downloadable mods that completely change gameplay and increase realism, particularly when it comes to health and wellness. These mods add everything from realistic illnesses and allergies to more realistic pregnancy and mental health. As of the time of writing, all the mods on this list still receive regular updates from their creators to work with EA's regular Sims 4 updates, but checking the mod's page for the most recent version of a mod and its compatibility with...

As the year 2024 is coming to an end, looking back, we have received and enjoyed several groundbreaking and unique anime regardless of the genre. However, if we talk about their themes and public appeal, it’s not a very wholesome year for Shonen since Shojo and Slice of Life have taken the upper hand. Similarly, this year at IGN’s Best Anime Awards, the anime that has emerged victorious as Anime of the Year is Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End.

Frieren | Credit: Studio Madhouse

Although surprising, it’s a well-deserved achievement for a series that has captivated audiences through its unique storytelling and thematic brilliance. In an era where most Shonen series emphasize adrenaline-pumping battles, over-the-top power-ups, and flashy visuals, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End dares to take a different route; one of quiet introspection, emotional depth, and understated fantasy world-building.

Divided but passionate reactions from fans

In a year dominated by...

Chicago – The American Dream will be on display in the new documentary “Slice of Life: The American Dream. In Former Pizza Huts,” its North American Premiere the 60th Chicago International Film Festival on October 23rd. Director Matthew Saleh and producer Rose Tucker will attend on behalf of their film. Click here for tickets/info. The festival runs through October 27th.

During the remaining days of the Festival, besides screening the best in U.S. and international films, there are various sub categories that spotlight different film presentations, special industry gatherings, the conveniently located/parking friendly AMC New City in Chicago as the hub for the festival, and of course filmmaker appearances, film Q&As and red carpet happenings.

Paz Vega at 60th Ciff

Photo credit: Chicago International Film Festival

In a Podtalk, Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com talked to Director Matthew Saleh and producer Rose Tucker of “Slice of Life” …

In a Video Clip,...