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There Is Almost Too Much Anime to Watch This Month

There Is Almost Too Much Anime to Watch This Month

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We were just touting 2025 as a huge year for anime, but 2026 is poised to repeat that—and it’s coming out of the gates swinging with some big banner titles jam-packed into January. With that in mind, we’ve assembled a list of shows we think you should add to your watchlist, who made them, and why they’re going to be great.

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Season 2

Studio: Madhouse
Release Date: January 16
Sales Pitch: A tale of an elf woman and her new young companions as they trek out on a lascivious journey filled with innocuously impeccable fight scenes and tons of heart.

Hell’s Paradise Season 2

Studio: Mappa
Release Date: January 11
Sales Pitch: A troupe of prisoners and their executors has their Suicide Squad quest for the elixir of life interrupted by a mysterious island (named Kotaku, funnily enough) whose gender-nonconforming beings intend to cut their lives short.

Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3

Studio: Mappa
Release Date: January 8
Sales Pitch: Yuji Itadori and the rest of the jujutsu sorcerers are forcefully conscripted into a death game tournament arc with a bunch of rules and a lot of action that’s sure to make fans praise it for being “peak!”

Oshi no Ko Season 3

Studio: Doga Kobo
Release Date: January 14
Sales Pitch: A doctor and his former patient are reincarnated as the children of their favorite pop idol and spend the rest of their teenage years chasing stardom as well as their mother’s killer.

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Season 2

Studio: Bones Film
Release Date: January 5
Sales Pitch: My Hero Academia may be (mostly) in the history books, but its prequel spin-off anime (which is actually quite good) is still trucking, giving folks a look at what a more on-the-ground Batman-meets-Punisher approach to vigilanteism looks like in Kōhei Horikoshi’s superhero-rich world.

Trigun Stargaze

Studio: Orange
Release Date: January 10
Sales Pitch: The second and final season of Studio Orange’s reboot of the Trigun anime sees the gang fully back together with the glorious return of Milly Thompson.

Golden Kamuy

Studio: Brain’s Base
Release Date: January 5
Sales Pitch: The final season of a hilarious, hard-hitting, and wholesome series about a group of warriors (read: loveable idiots) as they hunt for a hidden treasure.

Journal with Witch

Studio: Shuka
Release Date: January 4
Sales Pitch: A rare josei drama (adult woman-centric anime) in an otherwise sea of shonen anime. It follows a writer named Makio, who, after the tragic deaths of her estranged sister and her sister’s husband in a car crash, grows closer to her niece, Asa, through their shared love of writing as they go through the motions of coping with the loss in their family.

The Darwin Incident

Studio: Bellnox Films
Release Date: January 7
Sales Pitch: A half-human, half-chimpanzee named Charlie (we listen and we don’t judge) tries to live a normal high school life but is instead thrown into the heart of a conspiratorial terrorist plot.

More to Watch in 2026

The above list doesn’t include all the other anime series we’ve got to look forward to for the rest of the calendar year. Chief among them that we’re keen to keep an eye on and recommend:

  • Steel Ball Run: Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: the seventh part of Hirohiko Araki’s long-running series featuring a lot of horseback racing and rotating balls, coming to Netflix in March.
  • Beastars Final Season Part 2: The final chapter of Studio Orange‘s adaptation of creator Paru Itagaki‘s furry anime with tons of heart, coming to Netflix in March.
  • Witch Hat Atelier: The long-awaited anime adaptation of Kamome Shirahama‘s magical manga series, coming to Crunchyroll in April.
  • Daemons of the Shadow Realm: An anime adaptation of Fullmetal Alchemist creator Hiromi Arakawa‘s series, by Studio Bones, coming to Crunchyroll in April.
  • Marriagetoxin: A new shonen manga series that puts romance at the heart of its supernatural assassination action, coming in April.
  • Akane-banashi: A promising rakugo anime adaptation, originally created by the duo Takamasa Moue and Yuuki Suenaga, that’s arguably the best ongoing Shonen Jump manga out right now. It’s essentially about competitive theatrical storytelling, coming in April.
  • Mao: Yet another anime series adaptation from Inuyasha and Ranma 1/2 creator Rumiko Takahashi (she’s the goat) about a girl named Nanoka who, after getting powers from her isekai-esque jumps between the modern day and the Taisho era, is thrown into the orbit of Mao, a cat-demon cursed boy who performs exorcisms. Coming in April.
  • Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Calamity: The fourth and final part in Pierrot Films’ anime adaptation of Tite Kubo’s Bleach, coming to Hulu in July.
  • Jaadugar: A Witch in Magnolia: Dan Da Dan studio Science Saru‘s newest project, a historical josei anime adaptation of Tomato Soup (yes, that’s their pen name)’s manga about a Persian woman torn from her homeland and navigating the politics of a world dominated by Genghis Khan, coming July 2026.
  • The Elusive Samruai Season 2: The tale of a prince named Tokiyuki and his troupe of friends, under the political tutelage of a prophesying priest claiming he’ll become a great hero, on a journey of revenge against those who killed his noble family by using the time-honored skill of running away. Coming to Crunchyroll in July.
  • The Apothecary Diaries Season 3: The third season following the ever-so-shrewd poison-loving apothecary-turned-detective, Maomao, as she uncovers even more secrets of the royal palace she serves under against her will, coming to Crunchyroll in October.
  • The Ghost in the Shell: Science Saru’s other “new” anime brings the OG Ghost in the Shell manga to life in the way only this studio can; it is slated for 2026.

If there are any shows we missed that are in your 2026 queue for January and beyond, be sure to sound off in the comments and put your fellow weeb on to some heat.

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

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from the upcoming Masters of the Universe movie. Prince Adam (Nicholas Galitzine) has returned to Eternia, and he finds himself facing off with Trap-Jaw (Sam C. Wilson). Adam is trying to use some of the skills he learned back on Earth to mediate the tense situation, but the villain isn’t having any of it. He starts to beat the crap out of him when Teela (Camila Mendes) screams, “Use the sword!”

The He-Man Transformation in ‘Masters of the Universe’ Gave Us Chills Now, I wasn’t expecting that. I was sitting in a theater watching a 20-minute series of clips from the upcoming Masters of the Universe movie. Prince Adam (Nicholas Galitzine) has returned to Eternia, and he finds himself facing off with Trap-Jaw (Sam C. Wilson). Adam is trying to use some of the skills he learned back on Earth to mediate the tense situation, but the villain isn’t having any of it. He starts to beat the crap out of him when Teela (Camila Mendes) screams, “Use the sword!” Yup. It was about to happen. The ultimate Masters of the Universe moment. A moment that, if handled incorrectly, could put a damper on everything around it. Adam touches the sword strapped to his back, and the second he touches it, he has a vision. It’s the Sorceress, played by Morena Baccarin. “Say the phrase,” the vision says to him, floating in the sky. Adam wasn’t expecting to see that and is a little shook by it. The vision returns. “By the power of Grayskull…” she says, trying to help. And so Adam pulls out the sword and points it to the sky. “By the power of Grayskull,” he begins as the clouds above start to swirl. Lightning begins to crackle. It’s about to happen. “I have the power,” he then screams. Adam rises into the air. His clothes disappear, and his muscles start to build. Armor forms around him as the camera circles around in slow motion. Finally, he comes back to the ground, forever changed. He’s He-Man. And, right then, we get a POV shot of Adam looking at his abs. Yup. He’s changed, all right. There’s more to the scene too, including a ton of action, but director Travis Knight handles the moment with absolute sincerity. He pushes it to the very edge of plausibility and fantasy and then acknowledges it for just a second. He knows this is wild. He knows it’s silly. But also, he doesn’t care. This is a freaking He-Man movie, and even though I’ve always been more of a tangential He-Man fan, watching this scene gave me chills. It’s that good. That tone is apparent throughout the rest of the footage screened at the CinemaCon adjacent event, too. We saw Skeletor’s armies storming Eternos as King Randor, Queen Marlena, Prince Adam, and—yes—even Princess Adora try to escape. Ram-Man, Fisto, and Mekaneck are among the heroes fighting for them. Man at Arms (Idris Elba) promises to help the royals escape, kicking all sorts of ass on the way to the exit. That is, until he finds himself opposite Lock-Jaw and loses. In this version of Masters of the Universe, the film begins with Skeletor (Jared Leto) actually winning. That’s why Prince Adam is sent away to Earth, to keep him safe. We even saw Skeletor’s speech to King Randor as the rest of the family escapes. He’s evil and weird, and it ends with a very awkward moment that feels perfectly Skeletor. Basically, the footage was a very encouraging tease that Knight has found the balance to acknowledge the inherent weirdness of He-Man, with all the crazy creatures, rules, magic, muscles, and more, while also taking it seriously enough to make you feel for the characters. We can’t wait to see the rest. Masters of the Universe opens on June 5. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who. #HeMan #Transformation #Masters #Universe #Gave #ChillsCinemaCon,Masters of the Universe,Travis Knight

Yup. It was about to happen. The ultimate Masters of the Universe moment. A moment that, if handled incorrectly, could put a damper on everything around it. Adam touches the sword strapped to his back, and the second he touches it, he has a vision. It’s the Sorceress, played by Morena Baccarin. “Say the phrase,” the vision says to him, floating in the sky. Adam wasn’t expecting to see that and is a little shook by it. The vision returns. “By the power of Grayskull…” she says, trying to help.

And so Adam pulls out the sword and points it to the sky. “By the power of Grayskull,” he begins as the clouds above start to swirl. Lightning begins to crackle. It’s about to happen. “I have the power,” he then screams. Adam rises into the air. His clothes disappear, and his muscles start to build. Armor forms around him as the camera circles around in slow motion. Finally, he comes back to the ground, forever changed. He’s He-Man. And, right then, we get a POV shot of Adam looking at his abs. Yup. He’s changed, all right.

There’s more to the scene too, including a ton of action, but director Travis Knight handles the moment with absolute sincerity. He pushes it to the very edge of plausibility and fantasy and then acknowledges it for just a second. He knows this is wild. He knows it’s silly. But also, he doesn’t care. This is a freaking He-Man movie, and even though I’ve always been more of a tangential He-Man fan, watching this scene gave me chills. It’s that good.

That tone is apparent throughout the rest of the footage screened at the CinemaCon adjacent event, too. We saw Skeletor’s armies storming Eternos as King Randor, Queen Marlena, Prince Adam, and—yes—even Princess Adora try to escape. Ram-Man, Fisto, and Mekaneck are among the heroes fighting for them. Man at Arms (Idris Elba) promises to help the royals escape, kicking all sorts of ass on the way to the exit. That is, until he finds himself opposite Lock-Jaw and loses.

In this version of Masters of the Universe, the film begins with Skeletor (Jared Leto) actually winning. That’s why Prince Adam is sent away to Earth, to keep him safe. We even saw Skeletor’s speech to King Randor as the rest of the family escapes. He’s evil and weird, and it ends with a very awkward moment that feels perfectly Skeletor.

Basically, the footage was a very encouraging tease that Knight has found the balance to acknowledge the inherent weirdness of He-Man, with all the crazy creatures, rules, magic, muscles, and more, while also taking it seriously enough to make you feel for the characters. We can’t wait to see the rest.

Masters of the Universe opens on June 5.

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

#HeMan #Transformation #Masters #Universe #Gave #ChillsCinemaCon,Masters of the Universe,Travis Knight">The He-Man Transformation in ‘Masters of the Universe’ Gave Us Chills Now, I wasn’t expecting that. I was sitting in a theater watching a 20-minute series of clips from the upcoming Masters of the Universe movie. Prince Adam (Nicholas Galitzine) has returned to Eternia, and he finds himself facing off with Trap-Jaw (Sam C. Wilson). Adam is trying to use some of the skills he learned back on Earth to mediate the tense situation, but the villain isn’t having any of it. He starts to beat the crap out of him when Teela (Camila Mendes) screams, “Use the sword!” Yup. It was about to happen. The ultimate Masters of the Universe moment. A moment that, if handled incorrectly, could put a damper on everything around it. Adam touches the sword strapped to his back, and the second he touches it, he has a vision. It’s the Sorceress, played by Morena Baccarin. “Say the phrase,” the vision says to him, floating in the sky. Adam wasn’t expecting to see that and is a little shook by it. The vision returns. “By the power of Grayskull…” she says, trying to help. And so Adam pulls out the sword and points it to the sky. “By the power of Grayskull,” he begins as the clouds above start to swirl. Lightning begins to crackle. It’s about to happen. “I have the power,” he then screams. Adam rises into the air. His clothes disappear, and his muscles start to build. Armor forms around him as the camera circles around in slow motion. Finally, he comes back to the ground, forever changed. He’s He-Man. And, right then, we get a POV shot of Adam looking at his abs. Yup. He’s changed, all right. There’s more to the scene too, including a ton of action, but director Travis Knight handles the moment with absolute sincerity. He pushes it to the very edge of plausibility and fantasy and then acknowledges it for just a second. He knows this is wild. He knows it’s silly. But also, he doesn’t care. This is a freaking He-Man movie, and even though I’ve always been more of a tangential He-Man fan, watching this scene gave me chills. It’s that good. That tone is apparent throughout the rest of the footage screened at the CinemaCon adjacent event, too. We saw Skeletor’s armies storming Eternos as King Randor, Queen Marlena, Prince Adam, and—yes—even Princess Adora try to escape. Ram-Man, Fisto, and Mekaneck are among the heroes fighting for them. Man at Arms (Idris Elba) promises to help the royals escape, kicking all sorts of ass on the way to the exit. That is, until he finds himself opposite Lock-Jaw and loses. In this version of Masters of the Universe, the film begins with Skeletor (Jared Leto) actually winning. That’s why Prince Adam is sent away to Earth, to keep him safe. We even saw Skeletor’s speech to King Randor as the rest of the family escapes. He’s evil and weird, and it ends with a very awkward moment that feels perfectly Skeletor. Basically, the footage was a very encouraging tease that Knight has found the balance to acknowledge the inherent weirdness of He-Man, with all the crazy creatures, rules, magic, muscles, and more, while also taking it seriously enough to make you feel for the characters. We can’t wait to see the rest. Masters of the Universe opens on June 5. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who. #HeMan #Transformation #Masters #Universe #Gave #ChillsCinemaCon,Masters of the Universe,Travis Knight

. Prince Adam (Nicholas Galitzine) has returned to Eternia, and he finds himself facing off with Trap-Jaw (Sam C. Wilson). Adam is trying to use some of the skills he learned back on Earth to mediate the tense situation, but the villain isn’t having any of it. He starts to beat the crap out of him when Teela (Camila Mendes) screams, “Use the sword!”

The He-Man Transformation in ‘Masters of the Universe’ Gave Us Chills Now, I wasn’t expecting that. I was sitting in a theater watching a 20-minute series of clips from the upcoming Masters of the Universe movie. Prince Adam (Nicholas Galitzine) has returned to Eternia, and he finds himself facing off with Trap-Jaw (Sam C. Wilson). Adam is trying to use some of the skills he learned back on Earth to mediate the tense situation, but the villain isn’t having any of it. He starts to beat the crap out of him when Teela (Camila Mendes) screams, “Use the sword!” Yup. It was about to happen. The ultimate Masters of the Universe moment. A moment that, if handled incorrectly, could put a damper on everything around it. Adam touches the sword strapped to his back, and the second he touches it, he has a vision. It’s the Sorceress, played by Morena Baccarin. “Say the phrase,” the vision says to him, floating in the sky. Adam wasn’t expecting to see that and is a little shook by it. The vision returns. “By the power of Grayskull…” she says, trying to help. And so Adam pulls out the sword and points it to the sky. “By the power of Grayskull,” he begins as the clouds above start to swirl. Lightning begins to crackle. It’s about to happen. “I have the power,” he then screams. Adam rises into the air. His clothes disappear, and his muscles start to build. Armor forms around him as the camera circles around in slow motion. Finally, he comes back to the ground, forever changed. He’s He-Man. And, right then, we get a POV shot of Adam looking at his abs. Yup. He’s changed, all right. There’s more to the scene too, including a ton of action, but director Travis Knight handles the moment with absolute sincerity. He pushes it to the very edge of plausibility and fantasy and then acknowledges it for just a second. He knows this is wild. He knows it’s silly. But also, he doesn’t care. This is a freaking He-Man movie, and even though I’ve always been more of a tangential He-Man fan, watching this scene gave me chills. It’s that good. That tone is apparent throughout the rest of the footage screened at the CinemaCon adjacent event, too. We saw Skeletor’s armies storming Eternos as King Randor, Queen Marlena, Prince Adam, and—yes—even Princess Adora try to escape. Ram-Man, Fisto, and Mekaneck are among the heroes fighting for them. Man at Arms (Idris Elba) promises to help the royals escape, kicking all sorts of ass on the way to the exit. That is, until he finds himself opposite Lock-Jaw and loses. In this version of Masters of the Universe, the film begins with Skeletor (Jared Leto) actually winning. That’s why Prince Adam is sent away to Earth, to keep him safe. We even saw Skeletor’s speech to King Randor as the rest of the family escapes. He’s evil and weird, and it ends with a very awkward moment that feels perfectly Skeletor. Basically, the footage was a very encouraging tease that Knight has found the balance to acknowledge the inherent weirdness of He-Man, with all the crazy creatures, rules, magic, muscles, and more, while also taking it seriously enough to make you feel for the characters. We can’t wait to see the rest. Masters of the Universe opens on June 5. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who. #HeMan #Transformation #Masters #Universe #Gave #ChillsCinemaCon,Masters of the Universe,Travis Knight

Yup. It was about to happen. The ultimate Masters of the Universe moment. A moment that, if handled incorrectly, could put a damper on everything around it. Adam touches the sword strapped to his back, and the second he touches it, he has a vision. It’s the Sorceress, played by Morena Baccarin. “Say the phrase,” the vision says to him, floating in the sky. Adam wasn’t expecting to see that and is a little shook by it. The vision returns. “By the power of Grayskull…” she says, trying to help.

And so Adam pulls out the sword and points it to the sky. “By the power of Grayskull,” he begins as the clouds above start to swirl. Lightning begins to crackle. It’s about to happen. “I have the power,” he then screams. Adam rises into the air. His clothes disappear, and his muscles start to build. Armor forms around him as the camera circles around in slow motion. Finally, he comes back to the ground, forever changed. He’s He-Man. And, right then, we get a POV shot of Adam looking at his abs. Yup. He’s changed, all right.

There’s more to the scene too, including a ton of action, but director Travis Knight handles the moment with absolute sincerity. He pushes it to the very edge of plausibility and fantasy and then acknowledges it for just a second. He knows this is wild. He knows it’s silly. But also, he doesn’t care. This is a freaking He-Man movie, and even though I’ve always been more of a tangential He-Man fan, watching this scene gave me chills. It’s that good.

That tone is apparent throughout the rest of the footage screened at the CinemaCon adjacent event, too. We saw Skeletor’s armies storming Eternos as King Randor, Queen Marlena, Prince Adam, and—yes—even Princess Adora try to escape. Ram-Man, Fisto, and Mekaneck are among the heroes fighting for them. Man at Arms (Idris Elba) promises to help the royals escape, kicking all sorts of ass on the way to the exit. That is, until he finds himself opposite Lock-Jaw and loses.

In this version of Masters of the Universe, the film begins with Skeletor (Jared Leto) actually winning. That’s why Prince Adam is sent away to Earth, to keep him safe. We even saw Skeletor’s speech to King Randor as the rest of the family escapes. He’s evil and weird, and it ends with a very awkward moment that feels perfectly Skeletor.

Basically, the footage was a very encouraging tease that Knight has found the balance to acknowledge the inherent weirdness of He-Man, with all the crazy creatures, rules, magic, muscles, and more, while also taking it seriously enough to make you feel for the characters. We can’t wait to see the rest.

Masters of the Universe opens on June 5.

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

#HeMan #Transformation #Masters #Universe #Gave #ChillsCinemaCon,Masters of the Universe,Travis Knight">The He-Man Transformation in ‘Masters of the Universe’ Gave Us Chills

Now, I wasn’t expecting that. I was sitting in a theater watching a 20-minute series of clips from the upcoming Masters of the Universe movie. Prince Adam (Nicholas Galitzine) has returned to Eternia, and he finds himself facing off with Trap-Jaw (Sam C. Wilson). Adam is trying to use some of the skills he learned back on Earth to mediate the tense situation, but the villain isn’t having any of it. He starts to beat the crap out of him when Teela (Camila Mendes) screams, “Use the sword!”

The He-Man Transformation in ‘Masters of the Universe’ Gave Us Chills Now, I wasn’t expecting that. I was sitting in a theater watching a 20-minute series of clips from the upcoming Masters of the Universe movie. Prince Adam (Nicholas Galitzine) has returned to Eternia, and he finds himself facing off with Trap-Jaw (Sam C. Wilson). Adam is trying to use some of the skills he learned back on Earth to mediate the tense situation, but the villain isn’t having any of it. He starts to beat the crap out of him when Teela (Camila Mendes) screams, “Use the sword!” Yup. It was about to happen. The ultimate Masters of the Universe moment. A moment that, if handled incorrectly, could put a damper on everything around it. Adam touches the sword strapped to his back, and the second he touches it, he has a vision. It’s the Sorceress, played by Morena Baccarin. “Say the phrase,” the vision says to him, floating in the sky. Adam wasn’t expecting to see that and is a little shook by it. The vision returns. “By the power of Grayskull…” she says, trying to help. And so Adam pulls out the sword and points it to the sky. “By the power of Grayskull,” he begins as the clouds above start to swirl. Lightning begins to crackle. It’s about to happen. “I have the power,” he then screams. Adam rises into the air. His clothes disappear, and his muscles start to build. Armor forms around him as the camera circles around in slow motion. Finally, he comes back to the ground, forever changed. He’s He-Man. And, right then, we get a POV shot of Adam looking at his abs. Yup. He’s changed, all right. There’s more to the scene too, including a ton of action, but director Travis Knight handles the moment with absolute sincerity. He pushes it to the very edge of plausibility and fantasy and then acknowledges it for just a second. He knows this is wild. He knows it’s silly. But also, he doesn’t care. This is a freaking He-Man movie, and even though I’ve always been more of a tangential He-Man fan, watching this scene gave me chills. It’s that good. That tone is apparent throughout the rest of the footage screened at the CinemaCon adjacent event, too. We saw Skeletor’s armies storming Eternos as King Randor, Queen Marlena, Prince Adam, and—yes—even Princess Adora try to escape. Ram-Man, Fisto, and Mekaneck are among the heroes fighting for them. Man at Arms (Idris Elba) promises to help the royals escape, kicking all sorts of ass on the way to the exit. That is, until he finds himself opposite Lock-Jaw and loses. In this version of Masters of the Universe, the film begins with Skeletor (Jared Leto) actually winning. That’s why Prince Adam is sent away to Earth, to keep him safe. We even saw Skeletor’s speech to King Randor as the rest of the family escapes. He’s evil and weird, and it ends with a very awkward moment that feels perfectly Skeletor. Basically, the footage was a very encouraging tease that Knight has found the balance to acknowledge the inherent weirdness of He-Man, with all the crazy creatures, rules, magic, muscles, and more, while also taking it seriously enough to make you feel for the characters. We can’t wait to see the rest. Masters of the Universe opens on June 5. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who. #HeMan #Transformation #Masters #Universe #Gave #ChillsCinemaCon,Masters of the Universe,Travis Knight

Yup. It was about to happen. The ultimate Masters of the Universe moment. A moment that, if handled incorrectly, could put a damper on everything around it. Adam touches the sword strapped to his back, and the second he touches it, he has a vision. It’s the Sorceress, played by Morena Baccarin. “Say the phrase,” the vision says to him, floating in the sky. Adam wasn’t expecting to see that and is a little shook by it. The vision returns. “By the power of Grayskull…” she says, trying to help.

And so Adam pulls out the sword and points it to the sky. “By the power of Grayskull,” he begins as the clouds above start to swirl. Lightning begins to crackle. It’s about to happen. “I have the power,” he then screams. Adam rises into the air. His clothes disappear, and his muscles start to build. Armor forms around him as the camera circles around in slow motion. Finally, he comes back to the ground, forever changed. He’s He-Man. And, right then, we get a POV shot of Adam looking at his abs. Yup. He’s changed, all right.

There’s more to the scene too, including a ton of action, but director Travis Knight handles the moment with absolute sincerity. He pushes it to the very edge of plausibility and fantasy and then acknowledges it for just a second. He knows this is wild. He knows it’s silly. But also, he doesn’t care. This is a freaking He-Man movie, and even though I’ve always been more of a tangential He-Man fan, watching this scene gave me chills. It’s that good.

That tone is apparent throughout the rest of the footage screened at the CinemaCon adjacent event, too. We saw Skeletor’s armies storming Eternos as King Randor, Queen Marlena, Prince Adam, and—yes—even Princess Adora try to escape. Ram-Man, Fisto, and Mekaneck are among the heroes fighting for them. Man at Arms (Idris Elba) promises to help the royals escape, kicking all sorts of ass on the way to the exit. That is, until he finds himself opposite Lock-Jaw and loses.

In this version of Masters of the Universe, the film begins with Skeletor (Jared Leto) actually winning. That’s why Prince Adam is sent away to Earth, to keep him safe. We even saw Skeletor’s speech to King Randor as the rest of the family escapes. He’s evil and weird, and it ends with a very awkward moment that feels perfectly Skeletor.

Basically, the footage was a very encouraging tease that Knight has found the balance to acknowledge the inherent weirdness of He-Man, with all the crazy creatures, rules, magic, muscles, and more, while also taking it seriously enough to make you feel for the characters. We can’t wait to see the rest.

Masters of the Universe opens on June 5.

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

#HeMan #Transformation #Masters #Universe #Gave #ChillsCinemaCon,Masters of the Universe,Travis Knight
Speech-to-text capability is now baked into all modern computers. But what if you didn’t have to dictate to your computer? What if you could type just by thinking?

Silicon Valley startup Sabi is emerging from stealth with that goal. The company is developing a brain wearable that decodes a person’s internal speech into words on a computer screen. CEO Rahul Chhabra says its first product, a brain-reading beanie, will be available by the end of the year. The company is also designing a baseball cap version.

The technology is known as a brain-computer interface, or BCI, a device that provides a direct communication pathway between the brain and an external device. While many companies such as Elon Musk’s Neuralink are developing surgically implanted BCIs for people with severe motor disabilities, Sabi’s device could allow anyone to become a cyborg.

It’s not exactly Musk’s vision of the future, which involves implanted brain chips to allow humans to merge with AI. But venture capitalist Vinod Khosla, who was an early investor in OpenAI, says a noninvasive, wearable device is the only path to getting lots of people to use BCI technology.

“The biggest and baddest application of BCI is if you can talk to your computer by thinking about it,” says Khosla, founder of Khosla Ventures, one of Sabi’s investors. “If you’re going to have a billion people use BCI for access to their computers every day, it can’t be invasive.”

Sabi’s brain-reading hat relies on EEG, or electroencephalography, which uses metal disks placed on the scalp to record the brain’s electrical activity. Decoding imagined speech from EEG is already possible, but it’s currently limited to small sets of words or commands rather than continuous, natural speech.

A very small chip shown on the pad of a finger to illustrate it's tiny scale

Photograph: Courtesy of Sabi

The drawback of a wearable system is that the sensors have to listen to the brain through a layer of skin and bone, which dampens neural signals. Surgically implanted devices pick up much stronger signals because they sit so close to neurons. Sabi thinks the way to boost accuracy with a wearable is by massively scaling up the number of sensors in its device. Most EEG devices have a dozen to a few hundred sensors. Sabi’s cap will have anywhere from 70,000 to 100,000 miniature sensors.

“Given that high-density sensing, it pinpoints exactly what and where neural activity is happening. We use that information to get much more reliable data to decode what a person is thinking,” Chhabra says.

The company is aiming for an initial typing speed of 30 or so words per minute. That’s slower than most people type, but he says the speed will improve as users spend more time with the cap.

#Beanie #Designed #Read #Thoughtswearables,neuroscience,artificial intelligence,brain-computer interfaces">This Beanie Is Designed to Read Your ThoughtsSpeech-to-text capability is now baked into all modern computers. But what if you didn’t have to dictate to your computer? What if you could type just by thinking?Silicon Valley startup Sabi is emerging from stealth with that goal. The company is developing a brain wearable that decodes a person’s internal speech into words on a computer screen. CEO Rahul Chhabra says its first product, a brain-reading beanie, will be available by the end of the year. The company is also designing a baseball cap version.The technology is known as a brain-computer interface, or BCI, a device that provides a direct communication pathway between the brain and an external device. While many companies such as Elon Musk’s Neuralink are developing surgically implanted BCIs for people with severe motor disabilities, Sabi’s device could allow anyone to become a cyborg.It’s not exactly Musk’s vision of the future, which involves implanted brain chips to allow humans to merge with AI. But venture capitalist Vinod Khosla, who was an early investor in OpenAI, says a noninvasive, wearable device is the only path to getting lots of people to use BCI technology.“The biggest and baddest application of BCI is if you can talk to your computer by thinking about it,” says Khosla, founder of Khosla Ventures, one of Sabi’s investors. “If you’re going to have a billion people use BCI for access to their computers every day, it can’t be invasive.”Sabi’s brain-reading hat relies on EEG, or electroencephalography, which uses metal disks placed on the scalp to record the brain’s electrical activity. Decoding imagined speech from EEG is already possible, but it’s currently limited to small sets of words or commands rather than continuous, natural speech.Photograph: Courtesy of SabiThe drawback of a wearable system is that the sensors have to listen to the brain through a layer of skin and bone, which dampens neural signals. Surgically implanted devices pick up much stronger signals because they sit so close to neurons. Sabi thinks the way to boost accuracy with a wearable is by massively scaling up the number of sensors in its device. Most EEG devices have a dozen to a few hundred sensors. Sabi’s cap will have anywhere from 70,000 to 100,000 miniature sensors.“Given that high-density sensing, it pinpoints exactly what and where neural activity is happening. We use that information to get much more reliable data to decode what a person is thinking,” Chhabra says.The company is aiming for an initial typing speed of 30 or so words per minute. That’s slower than most people type, but he says the speed will improve as users spend more time with the cap.#Beanie #Designed #Read #Thoughtswearables,neuroscience,artificial intelligence,brain-computer interfaces

modern computers. But what if you didn’t have to dictate to your computer? What if you could type just by thinking?

Silicon Valley startup Sabi is emerging from stealth with that goal. The company is developing a brain wearable that decodes a person’s internal speech into words on a computer screen. CEO Rahul Chhabra says its first product, a brain-reading beanie, will be available by the end of the year. The company is also designing a baseball cap version.

The technology is known as a brain-computer interface, or BCI, a device that provides a direct communication pathway between the brain and an external device. While many companies such as Elon Musk’s Neuralink are developing surgically implanted BCIs for people with severe motor disabilities, Sabi’s device could allow anyone to become a cyborg.

It’s not exactly Musk’s vision of the future, which involves implanted brain chips to allow humans to merge with AI. But venture capitalist Vinod Khosla, who was an early investor in OpenAI, says a noninvasive, wearable device is the only path to getting lots of people to use BCI technology.

“The biggest and baddest application of BCI is if you can talk to your computer by thinking about it,” says Khosla, founder of Khosla Ventures, one of Sabi’s investors. “If you’re going to have a billion people use BCI for access to their computers every day, it can’t be invasive.”

Sabi’s brain-reading hat relies on EEG, or electroencephalography, which uses metal disks placed on the scalp to record the brain’s electrical activity. Decoding imagined speech from EEG is already possible, but it’s currently limited to small sets of words or commands rather than continuous, natural speech.

A very small chip shown on the pad of a finger to illustrate it's tiny scale

Photograph: Courtesy of Sabi

The drawback of a wearable system is that the sensors have to listen to the brain through a layer of skin and bone, which dampens neural signals. Surgically implanted devices pick up much stronger signals because they sit so close to neurons. Sabi thinks the way to boost accuracy with a wearable is by massively scaling up the number of sensors in its device. Most EEG devices have a dozen to a few hundred sensors. Sabi’s cap will have anywhere from 70,000 to 100,000 miniature sensors.

“Given that high-density sensing, it pinpoints exactly what and where neural activity is happening. We use that information to get much more reliable data to decode what a person is thinking,” Chhabra says.

The company is aiming for an initial typing speed of 30 or so words per minute. That’s slower than most people type, but he says the speed will improve as users spend more time with the cap.

#Beanie #Designed #Read #Thoughtswearables,neuroscience,artificial intelligence,brain-computer interfaces">This Beanie Is Designed to Read Your Thoughts

Speech-to-text capability is now baked into all modern computers. But what if you didn’t have to dictate to your computer? What if you could type just by thinking?

Silicon Valley startup Sabi is emerging from stealth with that goal. The company is developing a brain wearable that decodes a person’s internal speech into words on a computer screen. CEO Rahul Chhabra says its first product, a brain-reading beanie, will be available by the end of the year. The company is also designing a baseball cap version.

The technology is known as a brain-computer interface, or BCI, a device that provides a direct communication pathway between the brain and an external device. While many companies such as Elon Musk’s Neuralink are developing surgically implanted BCIs for people with severe motor disabilities, Sabi’s device could allow anyone to become a cyborg.

It’s not exactly Musk’s vision of the future, which involves implanted brain chips to allow humans to merge with AI. But venture capitalist Vinod Khosla, who was an early investor in OpenAI, says a noninvasive, wearable device is the only path to getting lots of people to use BCI technology.

“The biggest and baddest application of BCI is if you can talk to your computer by thinking about it,” says Khosla, founder of Khosla Ventures, one of Sabi’s investors. “If you’re going to have a billion people use BCI for access to their computers every day, it can’t be invasive.”

Sabi’s brain-reading hat relies on EEG, or electroencephalography, which uses metal disks placed on the scalp to record the brain’s electrical activity. Decoding imagined speech from EEG is already possible, but it’s currently limited to small sets of words or commands rather than continuous, natural speech.

A very small chip shown on the pad of a finger to illustrate it's tiny scale

Photograph: Courtesy of Sabi

The drawback of a wearable system is that the sensors have to listen to the brain through a layer of skin and bone, which dampens neural signals. Surgically implanted devices pick up much stronger signals because they sit so close to neurons. Sabi thinks the way to boost accuracy with a wearable is by massively scaling up the number of sensors in its device. Most EEG devices have a dozen to a few hundred sensors. Sabi’s cap will have anywhere from 70,000 to 100,000 miniature sensors.

“Given that high-density sensing, it pinpoints exactly what and where neural activity is happening. We use that information to get much more reliable data to decode what a person is thinking,” Chhabra says.

The company is aiming for an initial typing speed of 30 or so words per minute. That’s slower than most people type, but he says the speed will improve as users spend more time with the cap.

#Beanie #Designed #Read #Thoughtswearables,neuroscience,artificial intelligence,brain-computer interfaces

Val Kilmer AI deepfake film As Deep as the Grave has just released its first trailer. The internet has responded with overwhelming disgust.

A widely recognised actor known for his roles in films such as Top Gun, Batman Forever, and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Kilmer died from pneumonia last April at 65 years old. Upcoming film As Deep as the Grave has now used generative AI to create a digital puppet in Kilmer’s likeness, having it portray a character appearing in “a significant part” of the historical film.

As Deep as the Grave follows married archaeologists Ann Axtell Morris (Abigail Lawrie) and Earl H. Morris (Tom Felton), who conducted fieldwork in the U.S. southwest during the 1920s. Kilmer’s AI-generated likeness will be used to depict Father Fintan, a Catholic priest who is also a Native American spiritualist. The film also features Abigail Breslin, Wes Studi, and Finn Jones.

Though Kilmer was cast in As Deep as the Grave prior to his death, delays in production and issues with his health meant he never shot any scenes. Kilmer had previously given a tech-assisted performance in Top Gun: Maverick, which digitally altered his real voice. He also worked with UK company Sonantic to create an AI speaking voice based on his old recordings. However, As Deep as the Grave will be the first time his likeness and voice will be completely AI-generated in a film.

“Very fitting that this trailer includes a scene where a corpse is unceremoniously yanked out of the ground,” read one of the top comments on As Deep as the Grave‘s trailer at time of writing.

CGI likenesses of deceased actors have been used in feature films before. In 2016, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story gained attention for using CGI and motion capture to resurrect Peter Cushing and portray a younger Carrie Fisher for a few minutes of the film. In 2015, Furious 7 used similar techniques to insert Paul Walker into the remainder of the film after he died mid-shoot. Though Furious 7 largely received a pass due to the circumstances, Rogue One received criticism regarding the ethics of its CGI Cushing. Using generative AI to completely create a performance out of nothing appears to go a step even further, completely removing any actors from the process.

Writer and director Coerte Voorhees told Variety that he chose to use AI rather than recast the role due to budget constraints, and that Kilmer’s children gave the project their blessing. Even so, online commenters have labelled it disgusting and disrespectful, not only for digitally reanimating Kilmer but also for the damaging precedent As Deep as the Grave‘s use of AI could set for the film industry as a whole.

#Val #Kilmer #deepfake #Deep #Grave #trailer #sparks #outrage">Val Kilmer AI deepfake in ‘As Deep as the Grave’ trailer sparks outrage Val Kilmer AI deepfake film As Deep as the Grave has just released its first trailer. The internet has responded with overwhelming disgust.A widely recognised actor known for his roles in films such as Top Gun, Batman Forever, and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Kilmer died from pneumonia last April at 65 years old. Upcoming film As Deep as the Grave has now used generative AI to create a digital puppet in Kilmer’s likeness, having it portray a character appearing in “a significant part” of the historical film.As Deep as the Grave follows married archaeologists Ann Axtell Morris (Abigail Lawrie) and Earl H. Morris (Tom Felton), who conducted fieldwork in the U.S. southwest during the 1920s. Kilmer’s AI-generated likeness will be used to depict Father Fintan, a Catholic priest who is also a Native American spiritualist. The film also features Abigail Breslin, Wes Studi, and Finn Jones.Though Kilmer was cast in As Deep as the Grave prior to his death, delays in production and issues with his health meant he never shot any scenes. Kilmer had previously given a tech-assisted performance in Top Gun: Maverick, which digitally altered his real voice. He also worked with UK company Sonantic to create an AI speaking voice based on his old recordings. However, As Deep as the Grave will be the first time his likeness and voice will be completely AI-generated in a film.“Very fitting that this trailer includes a scene where a corpse is unceremoniously yanked out of the ground,” read one of the top comments on As Deep as the Grave‘s trailer at time of writing. CGI likenesses of deceased actors have been used in feature films before. In 2016, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story gained attention for using CGI and motion capture to resurrect Peter Cushing and portray a younger Carrie Fisher for a few minutes of the film. In 2015, Furious 7 used similar techniques to insert Paul Walker into the remainder of the film after he died mid-shoot. Though Furious 7 largely received a pass due to the circumstances, Rogue One received criticism regarding the ethics of its CGI Cushing. Using generative AI to completely create a performance out of nothing appears to go a step even further, completely removing any actors from the process.Writer and director Coerte Voorhees told Variety that he chose to use AI rather than recast the role due to budget constraints, and that Kilmer’s children gave the project their blessing. Even so, online commenters have labelled it disgusting and disrespectful, not only for digitally reanimating Kilmer but also for the damaging precedent As Deep as the Grave‘s use of AI could set for the film industry as a whole. #Val #Kilmer #deepfake #Deep #Grave #trailer #sparks #outrage

Val Kilmer AI deepfake film As Deep as the Grave has just released its first trailer. The internet has responded with overwhelming disgust.

A widely recognised actor known for his roles in films such as Top Gun, Batman Forever, and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Kilmer died from pneumonia last April at 65 years old. Upcoming film As Deep as the Grave has now used generative AI to create a digital puppet in Kilmer’s likeness, having it portray a character appearing in “a significant part” of the historical film.

As Deep as the Grave follows married archaeologists Ann Axtell Morris (Abigail Lawrie) and Earl H. Morris (Tom Felton), who conducted fieldwork in the U.S. southwest during the 1920s. Kilmer’s AI-generated likeness will be used to depict Father Fintan, a Catholic priest who is also a Native American spiritualist. The film also features Abigail Breslin, Wes Studi, and Finn Jones.

Though Kilmer was cast in As Deep as the Grave prior to his death, delays in production and issues with his health meant he never shot any scenes. Kilmer had previously given a tech-assisted performance in Top Gun: Maverick, which digitally altered his real voice. He also worked with UK company Sonantic to create an AI speaking voice based on his old recordings. However, As Deep as the Grave will be the first time his likeness and voice will be completely AI-generated in a film.

“Very fitting that this trailer includes a scene where a corpse is unceremoniously yanked out of the ground,” read one of the top comments on As Deep as the Grave‘s trailer at time of writing.

CGI likenesses of deceased actors have been used in feature films before. In 2016, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story gained attention for using CGI and motion capture to resurrect Peter Cushing and portray a younger Carrie Fisher for a few minutes of the film. In 2015, Furious 7 used similar techniques to insert Paul Walker into the remainder of the film after he died mid-shoot. Though Furious 7 largely received a pass due to the circumstances, Rogue One received criticism regarding the ethics of its CGI Cushing. Using generative AI to completely create a performance out of nothing appears to go a step even further, completely removing any actors from the process.

Writer and director Coerte Voorhees told Variety that he chose to use AI rather than recast the role due to budget constraints, and that Kilmer’s children gave the project their blessing. Even so, online commenters have labelled it disgusting and disrespectful, not only for digitally reanimating Kilmer but also for the damaging precedent As Deep as the Grave‘s use of AI could set for the film industry as a whole.

#Val #Kilmer #deepfake #Deep #Grave #trailer #sparks #outrage">Val Kilmer AI deepfake in ‘As Deep as the Grave’ trailer sparks outrage

Val Kilmer AI deepfake film As Deep as the Grave has just released its first trailer. The internet has responded with overwhelming disgust.

A widely recognised actor known for his roles in films such as Top Gun, Batman Forever, and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Kilmer died from pneumonia last April at 65 years old. Upcoming film As Deep as the Grave has now used generative AI to create a digital puppet in Kilmer’s likeness, having it portray a character appearing in “a significant part” of the historical film.

As Deep as the Grave follows married archaeologists Ann Axtell Morris (Abigail Lawrie) and Earl H. Morris (Tom Felton), who conducted fieldwork in the U.S. southwest during the 1920s. Kilmer’s AI-generated likeness will be used to depict Father Fintan, a Catholic priest who is also a Native American spiritualist. The film also features Abigail Breslin, Wes Studi, and Finn Jones.

Though Kilmer was cast in As Deep as the Grave prior to his death, delays in production and issues with his health meant he never shot any scenes. Kilmer had previously given a tech-assisted performance in Top Gun: Maverick, which digitally altered his real voice. He also worked with UK company Sonantic to create an AI speaking voice based on his old recordings. However, As Deep as the Grave will be the first time his likeness and voice will be completely AI-generated in a film.

“Very fitting that this trailer includes a scene where a corpse is unceremoniously yanked out of the ground,” read one of the top comments on As Deep as the Grave‘s trailer at time of writing.

CGI likenesses of deceased actors have been used in feature films before. In 2016, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story gained attention for using CGI and motion capture to resurrect Peter Cushing and portray a younger Carrie Fisher for a few minutes of the film. In 2015, Furious 7 used similar techniques to insert Paul Walker into the remainder of the film after he died mid-shoot. Though Furious 7 largely received a pass due to the circumstances, Rogue One received criticism regarding the ethics of its CGI Cushing. Using generative AI to completely create a performance out of nothing appears to go a step even further, completely removing any actors from the process.

Writer and director Coerte Voorhees told Variety that he chose to use AI rather than recast the role due to budget constraints, and that Kilmer’s children gave the project their blessing. Even so, online commenters have labelled it disgusting and disrespectful, not only for digitally reanimating Kilmer but also for the damaging precedent As Deep as the Grave‘s use of AI could set for the film industry as a whole.

#Val #Kilmer #deepfake #Deep #Grave #trailer #sparks #outrage

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