The Simpsons is among the longest running American sitcoms in history. Clocking in at 750 episodes—with no sign of slowing down—the cartoon must remain inventive to keep viewers engaged. One way to do that? Anthology episodes that follow certain themes, characters, or storylines—such as the “Treehouse of Horror” episodes, the “Clip Show” compilations, or the episodes that center on Sideshow Bob (a.k.a. Robert Underdunk Terwilliger). Related: The Saddest Simpsons Moments That’ll Hit You in the Feels...

Gunfights are only as great as the anticipation leading up to them. That sense of palpable tension permeating the air, sweat beading on the forehead, hand at the ready for when it all goes down. The tightly wound nerves are what make adrenaline-fueled firefights so captivating and able to hold audiences in their seats. Boom! The guns start firing, our heroes duke it out with their villains, and everyone surrenders themselves to the truth of fell-or-be-felled....

Outer space will never be fully explored by humanity, which makes it such a ripe subject for fiction—and that’s especially true of anime with all the various series set in space. The best space anime series offer all kinds of interesting concepts and plots, from strange discoveries about the universe to dystopian futures where Earth itself is no longer habitable. Of course, you also have anime series where outer space is just a setting to explore futuristic technologies—like mechas and their pilots—and worlds with topographies that couldn’t occur on Earth....

If you’re a comic book fan like me, you know how frustratingly difficult it can be to find the latest issue of your favorite ongoing series, especially if you don’t live near a local comic book store. Thankfully, the comic book industry has adapted to modern consumer needs. There are now hundreds of online comic book stores where you can buy your comic book issues. We’re talking both digital and physical, ranging from single comic book issues to trade paperbacks to graphic novels and even mangas....

If you’re looking for a challenge, then you should look no further than the Soulslike genre of video games. These video games are purposely built around the mentality that skill prevails—the only barrier to victory is your own ability and tactics. In other words, you really have to “get good” to survive these games. But what exactly is a Soulslike game? Where did this genre come from? And why is this kind of extreme challenge so uniquely appealing?...

When popular gaming franchises run out of steam, fans always start conjuring up their own ideas for where the franchise should go—sometimes even demanding that their ideas be realized. In the case of Call of Duty , the well of creativity ran dry quite some time ago. The gaming series has been limping for several years, relying on its cross-platform Warzone to keep players happy. Rather than retreading the same settings and time periods, it’s time for something new....

Take some time to pore over any list of highest-grossing movies and you’ll notice a trend: most of the movies on that list that came out in the last decade or two are rooted in the sci-fi genre. Comic book movies, space movies, dystopian futures, dinosaurs brought back to life—they’re all related to the sci-fi genre. And is it really a surprise? One of the appeals of cinema is being able to experience stories that just aren’t possible in the real world....

Nerd culture, geek culture, whatever you want to call it… it’s been a “thing” for several decades now. There’s nothing quite like bonding with others over a shared love of “nerdy” things, whether those bits involve movies, TV series, comics, video games, tabletop games, or whatever else. And while geek culture has become pretty mainstream—to the point that it’s now difficult to draw a line between what’s in or out of geek culture—it hasn’t always been this way....

How do you feel about a group of multi-millionaires sitting around, patting each other on the back, handing themselves awards for the films they’ve made every year? For most, it’s a questionable scene. And there’s really no surprise to it. The Oscars (formally The Academy Awards) have become a bloated representation of the most famous and privileged people in modern society receiving statue trophies in the ancestral home of Hollywood avarice....

One of the main themes of Batman Beyond is the struggle of Terry McGinnis (the new Batman) to live up to legend of Bruce Wayne (who will forever be remembered as the original Batman). Terry’s struggle is one of the more enduring aspects of the show, and it’s a shame that the writers never got the chance to answer the question: “Who is the better Batman?” Because the DC Animated Universe ended after Justice League Unlimited ....

Settings play a crucial role in any movie. Whether it’s Middle-Earth in The Lord of the Rings , Hogwarts in Harry Potter , or Jigsaw’s warehouse in the Saw series, sometimes the location is just as important as the characters. And then there are those movies where the setting is so uniquely crafted and remarkably realized that the setting itself starts to feel like a character of its own. (If you’ve ever seen Lost , you know how the Island eventually became a mythical entity....

Comic host Steve Allen thought he was the first person to use “hippie” in reference to hip, young bohemians of the early 1960s. Back then, those anti-Vietnam War, pro-LSD stoners took to nature and advocated for free love and spirituality throughout America. In turn, they sparked a countercultural movement that became a niche but iconic lifestyle identity across the globe. Parts of it eventually merged into the New Age movement of the 1970s, and more recently the Zippie identity that emerged in the 1990s....

Some of our favorite anime series of all time are the ones based in history, that bring the past back to life in animated form. Historical anime is a genre that involves real history, whether that means real people, events, or time periods. By incorporating real-world elements from our past, they feel that much more palpable. When an anime series blends historical accuracy with creative liberty, the end result is often greater than the sum of its parts—as long as the creators know how to strike that balance....

‘Tis the season once again, with cold winter nights vanquished by warm and cozy fires—or central heating—and crisp morning air filled with the promise of cheer. Oh, and the wholesome fun of Christmas movies to bring usually warring families together. Yes, the holidays are back for another year. That means shops brutally over-packed, customers rude and obnoxious, children lining up to see Mall Santa, and parents fighting with neighbors for the last PS5....

Natural disaster movies have a reputation for being… well, terrible. Too many of them are all action and zero character, propped up by cheap thrills and expensive actors without much substance. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t some excellent disaster flicks out there! You know, ones that build a connection between us and the story so that when that world comes crashing down, we actually care! Lots of natural disaster films are fine enough to be enjoyable on a sheer entertainment level, but here are the best natural disaster movies that offer much more depth, character, and significance....

If you’ve got a PlayStation 4 this late in the generation, you’ve probably played most of the big name games like Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End , Horizon: Zero Dawn , God of War , or Marvel’s Spider-Man . Even if you only recently picked up a new PS4, you’re probably aware of most of those games. But there are plenty of lesser-known PS4 hidden gems waiting for you, which is why we put this list together....

What do we get when we combine a cute cat with a cute anime girl? An animated cat girl who overflows with unbounded cuteness! Cat girls are somewhat rare in anime, but they’re one of the unique character types that you’ll only find in anime (at least for now). Cat girl characters are becoming more popular because their mannerisms and personalities often make them adorable and lovable. In that sense, anime cat girls are usually designed for fan service—and for that, they certainly succeed....

Baseball has always been there as a form of escapism during America’s darkest periods, from the Civil War to the Great Depression. It’s no wonder why so many consider it to be America’s Pastime, with some even calling it the national sport of America. So, is it any surprise that there have been so many baseball movies made over the decades? More than any other sport, it’s the magic of baseball that Hollywood keeps going back to....

Father-daughter duos are pretty sparse in the cinema world, and the ones that exist are usually part of a wider family portrait. Which is a shame, because the (oftentimes rocky) relationship between father and daughter is truly unique and starkly different from the more common relationships we see—like mother and daughter. But just because there aren’t a whole lot of them doesn’t mean there aren’t any father-daughter movies out there. There are actually quite a few worth checking out!...

A traumatic experience is defined as an event that causes such an intense shock to the brain that it results in lasting, significant changes to one’s behavior and thought processes. Psychiatrist Bessel van der Kolk theorizes that the body holds onto the memories of a trauma , while psychotherapist Peter A. Levine suggests that traumatic experiences can practically live inside the body and cause all kinds of psychosomatic havoc. The theme of trauma has been beautifully explored in cinema by so many competent filmmakers, showing us that more people around us suffer from trauma or PTSD than we might first expect....