Animation Time

China has sent two giant pandas to the United States, renewing a long-standing tradition of panda diplomacy between the two countries. The animals are destined for the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, which housed pandas for more than five decades before the last ones returned to China in late 2023. Observers see the move as a soft-power overture aimed at easing tensions and warming relations between Beijing and Washington.

Giant pandas have arrived at Zoo Atlanta as part of a new 10-year agreement between the United States and China. The loan marks a continuation of long-standing panda diplomacy between the two countries, at a time when their relations remain strained over trade and geopolitical issues. The animals' arrival is being welcomed by panda fans and seen as a small sign of cooperation.

Giant pandas are back in Atlanta for the first time in nearly two years, following a summit between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping. The animals' absence came after the previous panda loan agreement expired and China reclaimed them, making the return a visible sign of warmer US–China relations after renewed talks between the two leaders.

The full catalogue of the manga 'Keroro Gunso' will be available to read for free during a two-day fair titled 'Anime is Almost Here! Read All of Keroro Gunso', running Thursday 1 and Friday 2 October 2026. The event, announced via PR Times, is timed directly before a new anime adaptation of the frog-alien comedy, prompting fans in Japan to revisit the entire series in advance.

All 26 episodes of Neon Genesis Evangelion are being streamed free on ABEMA over two consecutive days starting October 4, the anniversary of the show's first broadcast. The free marathon is drawing attention alongside a busy Japanese news cycle that also includes financial trouble at Jangria Okinawa and commentary from comedian Akira Kawashima.

The animated channel SolarBalls has released 'Triton And Callisto Go On A Date - Part 1', a new episode portraying the moons of Neptune and Jupiter in a romantic storyline. The installment has drawn hundreds of thousands of likes within a short time, with viewers reacting to the pairing of the two characters and anticipating the next part of the story.

Lego has announced a partnership with Dragon Ball, revealing its first set based on the franchise. The set features Shenron, the iconic eternal dragon, alongside Goku, and early reactions praise the design. Fans of the anime series are sharing the news widely, welcoming the franchise's arrival in Lego form for the first time.

Global girl group KATSEYE performed on NBC's Saturday Night Live for the first time, playing their songs "Animal" and "Hootie Frutti" and also appearing in a comedy sketch. The performance was covered by Billboard Japan and widely shared, with fans celebrating the group's arrival on one of American television's biggest stages.

Black Clover is trending as fans look up when new episodes of season 2 arrive. The Radio Times has published a release schedule confirming that new episodes air weekly on Crunchyroll, with the article detailing exact dates and times for viewers in the UK and beyond. Interest is high across regions, including searches in Brazil, as audiences track each new instalment of the anime's return.

The classic Japanese comedy manga 'Obocchama-kun' is returning to television with a completely new anime series on TV Asahi in 2027, marking its first full revival in 35 years. Sankei Sports reports the 'comeback' brings the rich boy character into the Reiwa era, and fans are reacting to the unexpected revival of the long-dormant franchise.

Jagex is working with Lyrical Animation to produce an animated series inspired by RuneScape, the long-running fantasy MMORPG. The project brings the game's world to animation for the first time, and fans of the two-decade-old franchise are discussing what an adaptation could look like and how faithfully it will follow the game's lore.

Australian biologists have set up a livestream camera at a remote desert waterhole, letting viewers around the world watch the wild animals that come to drink in real time. The project is being shared as a feel-good story, with people praising it as a charming way to connect the public with outback wildlife and ecosystems.

Japanese gaming site Denfaminicogamer reports that Dragon Ball Super episodes, including the Broly arc, will be available as free catch-up streaming on Niconico, with the service's signature comments overlaid on the TV anime series for the first time. Fans are discussing the chance to rewatch or catch up on the long-running series at no cost.

Jagex has announced RuneScape 4, a full sequel MMO built in Unreal Engine, at its RuneFest 2026 keynote. The fourth RuneScape began as an expansion to the survival game Dragonwilds. Also revealed: RuneScape Reignited, described as a 'Classic moment' for the franchise, an animated series with content creator MoistCr1TiKaL attached, and new Old School RuneScape content including the long-awaited city of Menaphos.

A Bengali-language animated comedy sketch featuring an 'eggplant doctor' treating vegetables is drawing huge audiences, with millions of likes. The cartoon-style entertainment plays on slapstick humor around vegetables getting medical treatment, and it is being widely shared as viral content among Bengali-speaking viewers.

A newly shared sequence of telescope images condenses 12 years of observations into a short time-lapse showing a distant star with four planets orbiting it. The animation makes the exoplanets' slow orbital motion visible, something rarely captured directly, and is drawing wide attention as a striking example of direct imaging of alien worlds.

A Minecraft animation following an elemental villager from birth to death has drawn over two million likes, making it one of the most-viewed gaming clips of the moment. The piece, created by Junkeyy, taps into the ongoing popularity of life-story and villager-themed Minecraft content, which regularly racks up big numbers among younger gaming audiences.

An artist has completed a 100-day project called Detox Doodles, replacing time spent scrolling on her phone with daily sketching, focusing on animals such as orangutans. She has published the resulting ink drawings on her website. The project is being shared as an example of swapping screen time for a creative habit.

Odacova Health is stepping out of stealth with an initial readout from a nine-year canine study, and will present at Vyom Goel's Animal Longevity Summit. The summit will serve as the company's public debut, highlighting its research into extending animal health and lifespan. The announcement is drawing attention within the growing animal longevity and pet health space.

Photographers and wildlife watchers in Melbourne are sharing images of animals taking naps at Melbourne Zoo. The photos capture animals sleeping peacefully in their enclosures, drawing warm reactions from people who enjoy gentle, charming wildlife content. The images have become a light-hearted talking point among Australian social media users.

Minneapolis Animal Care & Control is holding a one-day event in October where residents can get their pets vaccinated and microchipped for free. The initiative aims to make basic pet care more accessible and boost vaccination rates among animals in the city. Local coverage has drawn attention as pet owners look for affordable options.

Games studio Jagex is teaming up with streamer MoistCr1TiKaL (Charlie White) to turn RuneScape's 25-year history into an animated series. The project will draw on the long-running MMORPG's world and two decades of lore and community moments. Details on format, studio partners or release timing have not been announced, but fans of the franchise are already reacting to the unusual collaboration.