We investigate the $(\pi^0,\eta, \eta')\to \gamma^*\gamma$ transitions both for the spacelike region and the timelike
region using the light-front quark model (LFQM). In particular, we present the new direct method
to explore the timelike region without resorting to mere analytic continuation from the spacelike
region to the timelike region. Our direct calculation in timelike region shows the complete agreement
not only with the analytic continuation result from the spacelike region but also with the
result from the dispersion relation between the real and imaginary parts of the form factor.