Ado is a singer with an opening theme for the November 6, 2026 anime Demons Crest, a song in the July 2, 2026 game Rhythm Heaven Miracle Stars, and a global talent agency deal with WME signed in June 2026.
Ado's recent activity spans three distinct projects, each announced in June and July 2026. On July 5, Prime Video and Warner Bros. Japan confirmed that Ado performs the opening theme song for the anime adaptation of Reki Kawahara's Demons Crest. The song is titled "Shinka" and was written by Vocaloid producer Yuri Kanon. The anime debuts globally on Prime Video on November 6, 2026, with Production I.G handling animation.
On July 2, Ado's song "Love Me Forever!" appeared as an in-game track in the Nintendo Switch title Rhythm Heaven Miracle Stars, released the same day. The song was written and composed by Tsunku♂, who said the collaboration began about five years ago after he saw Ado's YouTube cover of a song he produced. Tsunku♂ spent six months to a year crafting the track to fit both Ado's voice and the Rhythm Heaven style.
On June 23, Ado signed a contract with William Morris Endeavor, one of the world's largest talent agencies. WME will handle her agency business in all regions outside Japan, while Cloud Nine continues managing her overall affairs. Her 2025 world tour drew over 500,000 people across 33 cities.
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Kadokawa, Crunchyroll, Qzil.la, and ARCH released a new trailer for the Sekiro: No Defeat anime adaptation and began ticket presales in Japan. The series premieres in Japanese theaters on September 4 for a three-week run, with a worldwide Crunchyroll stream planned later in 2026.
Phoenix Game and Shadowlight announced that the 2.5D suspense adventure Kill The Shadow will launch on Steam on August 5, 2026. Players investigate murders in a post-war divided city as former detective Aguan, using a deduction system and a partner named Shadow who reads the memories of the dead. A demo is available now.
A pop-up shop commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Toradora! light novel series will be held at Yurakucho Marui in Tokyo from August 1 to 16, 2026. The event will sell goods featuring newly drawn illustrations and in-story art, and will display pre-order items including a music box of the ending theme 'Orange'. Online lotteries are planned for autumn 2026 and 2027.
Kadokawa CEO Takeshi Natsuno retained his positions as CEO and board member after receiving enough votes at the company's 12th annual general meeting on Wednesday. Oasis Management, Kadokawa's largest shareholder with a 15.25% stake, had called for his removal, citing declining profitability since 2021. Kadokawa argued that removing Natsuno without a successor would disrupt reform efforts.
ABEMA announced a special project, 'KADOKAWA・ABEMA Anniversary Anime Selection,' offering free streaming of 10 KADOKAWA anime celebrating anniversaries in 2026. The lineup includes dedicated channels for five series, starting with Steins;Gate on July 11, and free marathon streams for five more. The project runs through the year.
Hotta Studio released version 1.2 of the urban open-world RPG "NTE: Neverness to Everness" on July 8, 2026, expanding the game to Steam, Epic Games Store, and Samsung Galaxy Store. The update, titled "Nine Hundred Ninety-Nine Nights," introduces a permanent fantasy mode called the Warren Continent, where players explore areas such as Chocolate Volcano and Shaved Ice Mountain while fighting monsters and dragons. A new limited S-rank character, Crimson (voiced by Azusa Tadokoro), joins the roster as a light-element attacker from the Anomaly Management Bureau's Containment Section 2. She has a dual-form combat system that switches between normal and awakened states, building up a gauge called Rebellious Fighting Spirit to enter a rampage mode. The update also adds a new bike called Draco that can strafe and jump, plus various events including hide-and-seek and auction modes. A second limited character, Irohi (voiced by Rina Hidaka), will debut on July 29. Players who create an account before version 1.2 ends on August 19 will receive a free S-rank permanent character selection box. The game quickly attracted around 5,000 concurrent players on Steam, with a 93% positive review rating from approximately 300 reviews.
Noboru Segawa, director and editor-in-chief of Kadokawa's Global Comics Department, gave a panel at Anime Expo 2026 on what it takes to create a successful manga. He outlined five key points: don't rush your first hit, develop a unique personality, prioritize compelling character creation, build radical trust with your editor, and attend portfolio review sessions. He cited examples of global creators published by Kadokawa from India and Vietnam.
Anime Feminist's review of the first episode of The Duke's Son Claims He Won't Love Me Yet Showers Me with Adoration highlights the series' focus on tenderness within the arranged marriage subgenre. The premiere introduces noblewoman Elsa, who enters a political marriage with Duke Julius, and depicts her impoverished background and genuine character. The review notes the show's refreshing sincerity compared to crueler entries in the genre.
Norihiro Naganuma, director of The Apothecary Diaries, has announced a new original anime titled Jurassic Shadows. The project blends dinosaurs, ninjas, and makeup in a visually driven battle anime set in 2029 Tokyo. Key staff from The Apothecary Diaries return, including character designer Yukiko Nakatani and color designer Misato Aita. A manga adaptation by Kodansha is also planned.
Jackie Chan's action film 'Shadows Edge', which opened in Japanese theaters last December and topped Filmarks' opening day satisfaction ranking, will be available exclusively on Prime Video starting July 8. The streaming release includes both subtitled and dubbed versions. The film co-stars Leon Lai and SEVENTEEN's Jun in his first villain role.
Re-Ment released two new series of petadoll figures based on Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters on July 6. The Friendship Arc set includes Dark Yugi, Katsuya Jonouchi, Dark Magician Girl, and three others. The Rival Arc set includes Seto Kaiba, Blue-Eyes White Dragon, Dark Malik, and three others. Each figure costs 1,320 yen.
Sega announced new prize figures of Tanjiro Kamado and Nezuko Kamado for its Xross Link series, available as crane game prizes starting July 10, 2026. The figures are designed to be displayed together to show the siblings' bond, with Tanjiro in a combat pose and Nezuko in an aerial action pose.
Prime Video announced on July 5 that the anime adaptation of Reki Kawahara's light novel series Demons Crest will stream exclusively worldwide on the platform starting November 6, 2026. Alongside the date, the service released a key visual and the first promotional video. The opening theme is Ado's new song "Shinka," written by Vocaloid producer Yuri Kanon. The series is based on the novel that began publication under Dengeki Bunko in 2022. It follows Yuma Ashihara, a child who gets trapped in a mixed-reality death game called Actual Magic after a test play goes wrong. The cast includes Haruka Shiraishi as Yuma Ashihara, Konomi Inagaki as his twin sister Sawa, Yuya Hirose as Kenji Kondo, and Satomi Amano as Minagi Chano. Production I.G handles animation production, with Chief Director Shinji Ushiro, Director Kenichiro Komaya, Series Composition by Eiji Umehara, and Character Design by Yukiko Horiguchi. The key visual contrasts the bright game world with a menacing real-world atmosphere, while the PV shows the transition from fun gameplay to a survival situation where monsters cross into reality.
Director Norihiro Naganuma, known for The Apothecary Diaries, announced a new original anime titled Jurassic Shadows during his panel at Anime Expo on July 4, 2026. The series combines dinosaurs, ninjas, and a makeup-based power system called Ryugesho. The story is set in Tokyo in 2029, where dinosaurs have secretly survived by interbreeding with humans and now prey on them. A covert order of ninjas uses the special pigment Ryugesho, infused with ancient memories, to awaken dinosaur powers within themselves and fight back. Naganuma is directing the anime at Cannon Code. SANB is credited with the original work. Kenta Ihara (Saga of Tanya the Evil) is writing the screenplay. Yukiko Nakatani (The Apothecary Diaries) is designing the characters based on original designs by Yoichi Amano (Akaboshi -Ibun Suikoden-). Shuhei Mutsuki (Lycoris Recoil) is composing the music. Slow Curve and Avex Pictures Inc. are developing and producing the anime. Additional staff includes color designer Misato Aita, art director Yusuke Takeda, 3DCG director Makoto Honda, and sound director Shoji Hata. A promotional video, concept visual, and screenshots were unveiled. The anime is also getting a manga by Kodansha. No voice cast has been announced.
Warner Bros. Japan revealed the first English-subtitled promotional video, key visual, opening theme song artist, and November 6 streaming debut on Amazon Prime Video for Devils' Crest, the television anime of Reki Kawahara's Demons' Crest novel series. The trailer previews the opening theme song "Shinka" (Evolution) by Ado. The anime stars Haruka Shiraishi as Yuma Ashihara and Konomi Inagaki as Sawa Ashihara, with Shinji Ushiro as chief director at Production I.G and Kenichirō Komaya directing.
Cygames held Shadowverse Fes 2026 at Makuhari Messe on June 20-21, celebrating the online trading card game's 10th anniversary. The event featured attractions, setting material exhibits, an orchestra concert, a live broadcast, final auditions for the Shadowverse Premier Series, battle areas for three Shadowverse titles, exclusive goods and food sales, and cosplay photo sessions.
Automaton published a two-hour conversation between Grasshopper Manufacture CEO Goichi Suda and game designer Fumito Ueda, held at a Japanese pub on a rainy spring evening. Suda discussed his hands-on QA work on the new IP ROMEO IS A DEAD MAN, including last-minute bug fixes and tuning that frustrated his team. Ueda noted Suda's skill at adjusting sensory details like frame timing and enemy placement.
Singer Ado's new song "Love Me Forever!" has been included as an in-game track in the Nintendo Switch title "Rhythm Heaven Miracle Stars," released on July 2. The song, written and composed by Tsunku♂, began digital distribution on July 3 on platforms including Apple Music and Spotify. Tsunku♂ revealed on note that the collaboration began about five years ago when he saw Ado's YouTube cover of "Mechamote I LOVE YOU," an opening theme he produced for the anime "Gokujo!! Mecha Mote Iinchou." He said he felt a connection to Ado's background through her choice of that song and, as a father of a daughter around Ado's age, felt moved. When producing the new Rhythm Heaven game, the team planned for vocal tracks but prioritized the feel of the game over fame, so Tsunku♂ asked Ado directly if she was interested. She accepted, and Tsunku♂ spent six months to a year crafting a song that fit both Ado's voice and the Rhythm Heaven style, drawing inspiration from attending her live performance in Hawaii. The jacket illustration was done by Nintendo's Rhythm Heaven team.
The theatrical anime SEKIRO: NO DEFEAT, based on FromSoftware's game, will screen in Japan for three weeks from September 4, 2026. A press preview report describes a 107-minute film that condenses the original story, omits some battles, and centers on the relationship between protagonist Wolf and the Divine Heir Kuro. The film includes text explanations for game terms like Resurrection, but the preview notes some lore may be unclear to newcomers.
Immeta Studios and PlayWay announced the prologue version of Life & Shadow: Celestial Call, a game blending cosmic horror with life simulation, will release July 10 on PC via Steam. The prologue offers 1.5 hours of gameplay set in a mountain observatory where players manage daily tasks and uncover dark secrets at night.
Anime Feminist reviews the premiere of From Overshadowed to Overpowered: Second Reincarnation of a Talentless Sage. The episode starts as a passable isekai but devolves into boring pacing and uncomfortable fan service involving a child protagonist, leading to a negative review.
The upcoming TV anime adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga "Temaku no Jaadougal" (The Tent of Jadugar) has released a pre-broadcast promotional video and confirmed Queen Bee's new song "Hoshi" as the ending theme. The series, set in 13th-century Mongolia, follows former slave girl Shitara (Fatima) who becomes a prisoner of the Mongol Empire and meets Doregene, the emperor's sixth wife, using her wits to shake the empire. Science SARU handles animation production. The first episode airs as a two-episode one-hour special on July 4 at 11:00 p.m. on TV Asahi's IMAnimation slot, with regular weekly broadcasts starting July 4 at 11:30 p.m. The main visual was also unveiled, showing the Mongolian plains with gers under an endless sky. Queen Bee's Avu-chan commented that the song reflects the protagonist's feelings of vengeance and resilience. Original author Tomato Soup described the track as sad yet strong, like a story told under a tent on a starry night. The opening theme is SEKAI NO OWARI's "Stella."
Denfaminicogamer published a roundtable interview with Kazuki Tomoda, Myako, Surre, and Apollo, four people who have been with Shadowverse since its 2016 launch. They discussed early meta memories, the Wonderland Dreams era, the rise of competitive play, and personal stories like the 4 million yen prize that parents thought was a scam. The interview was held at Cygames' office.
The main trailer for Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie: Walpurgis no Kaiten has been released, showing new story details and confirming the theme song "Kanata" by FictionJunction, the solo project of composer Yuki Kajiura. The film opens August 28, 2026.
Secret Society Matenrou Plan opened the Steam store page for 'Gate to Die' on June 27. The point-and-click adventure game adds crafting elements to the Shadowgate formula. Players craft light sources, weapons, armor, food, beds, workbenches, and furnaces to survive and escape a mysterious mansion. The game is scheduled for a free release.
The spring 2026 anime season ended in June. Three titles-Magical Sisters Lulu & Lily, Star Wars: Maul / Shadow Road, and Re:Zero - Starting Life in Another World-all have sequels planned. Lulu & Lily returns in October, Re:Zero's 4th season airs August 12, and Maul / Shadow Road has a project in progress with no release date yet.
VTuber and VSinger Shikishima Tetora will release her first essay collection, 'Opening a Can of Beer Alone in a Corner of Dystopia,' through KADOKAWA on August 20, 2026. The book covers alcohol, walks, scenery, and her personal background, and includes a vlog walk map, self liner notes, and drink recipes. A signed set is available for pre-order until July 8.
The staff for the television anime of Hiromu Arakawa's Daemons of the Shadow Realm manga released the main promotional video, key visual, and theme song details for the second cour on Sunday. Kei Sugawara performs the ending theme song "Kujaku" (Peacock), while Masanori Otoda provides the opening theme song "back shot." The second cour debuts on July 4. The anime, directed by Masahiro Ando at Bones Film, premiered on April 4 and is set to run for two consecutive cours. Crunchyroll streams the series with a same-day English dub. The cast includes Kensho Ono as Yuru, Yume Miyamoto as Asa, Yuichi Nakamura as Dera, and Misaki Kuno as Gabu-chan. Noboru Takagi oversees series scripts, Nobuhiro Arai handles character design and chief animation direction, and Kenichiro Suehiro composes the music. Arakawa launched the manga in Square Enix's Monthly Shonen Gangan in December 2021, with the 13th volume releasing July 10.
Director Kohei Kadowaki discusses his debut feature 'We Are Aliens,' which premiered at Cannes' Directors' Fortnight and screens at Annecy. The film follows two boys over 20 years and uses a hybrid rotoscoping approach to capture natural movement, developed over five years with a mostly inexperienced animation team.
TOHO NEXT and NOTHING NEW announced that Kōhei Kadowaki's anime film We Are Aliens will open in Japan on September 25. The film, which follows two estranged childhood friends, stars Ryōta Bandō and Amane Okayama as the adult leads. It previously screened at Cannes and Annecy.
The staff of the theatrical anime SEKIRO: NO DEFEAT released a trailer on June 26, 2026, confirming a limited three-week theatrical run in Japan starting September 4. The film is a fully hand-drawn 2D adaptation of FromSoftware's action-adventure game Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Kenichi Kutsuna directs at studio Qzil.la, with Takuya Sato writing the screenplay and Takahiro Kishida handling character design. The original game's voice cast reprises their roles, including Daisuke Namikawa as Wolf, Miyuki Sato as Kuro, and Kenjiro Tsuda as Genichiro Ashina. Shuta Hasunuma composes the music, and the theme song is Ryuichi Sakamoto's "Blu" from his 2014 album. Crunchyroll will stream the anime worldwide in 2026, excluding Japan, China, Korea, Russia, and Belarus. The film screened out of competition at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival. Advance tickets went on sale June 26 with a bonus clear file. The production committee issued a statement in August 2025 confirming no generative AI was used in the animation.
The OPALIS talent discovery project, a collaboration between Ten Carat and Music Ray'n, has launched its second-phase nationwide audition. Film director Rikiya Imaizumi and animation artist Kohei Kadokawa will judge the final round. Successful candidates receive free training in acting, voice, dance, and more, plus observation opportunities at productions involving the agencies' talents.
Singer Ado signed a contract with William Morris Endeavor, one of the world's largest talent agencies. WME will handle her agency business in all regions outside Japan, while Cloud Nine continues managing her overall affairs. Ado's 2025 world tour drew over 500,000 people across 33 cities.
Gumi reported an approximately 80% decline in operating profit for the fiscal year ending April 2026. Its mobile game 'JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Ora Ora Overdrive' surpassed 1.5 million downloads but did not contribute to profit growth due to heavy advertising costs. The mobile online game business posted a loss. The company is exploring new directions including the point activity market.
Episode 12 of Daemons of the Shadow Realm shifts focus from Yuru and Asa's personal story to broader world-building, showing how different demon-wielding factions react to recent events. The episode introduces Ivan's infiltration of Higashi Village, reveals that villagers were aware of a plot to kill Yuru, and questions the effectiveness of the village's barrier defenses.
Cygames held Shadowverse Fes 2026 at Makuhari Messe on June 20-21, the first large-scale solo festival for the series in about eight years. The event celebrated the 10th anniversary of the card game series and the first anniversary of next-generation title Shadowverse: Worlds Beyond. It featured a main stage, battle area, mini-games, cosplayers, a gallery of series history, and a lottery for original goods.
The theatrical anime adaptation of FromSoftware's Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, titled Sekiro: No Defeat, will open in 56 theaters across Japan on September 4. The film is produced as full hand-drawn 2D animation by Qzil.la Inc., with KADOKAWA and Arch Inc. handling production. It has also been selected for the Midnight Specials section at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival 2026.
The staff for That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime season 4 revealed a new promotional video, visual, and theme song artists for the second part. Daoko performs the new opening theme "TACTIC," and Azusa Tadokoro performs the new ending theme "Hymnal." The season debuted on April 3 and will air five cours total.
Kadokawa announced its full lineup for Anime Expo 2026, including dedicated exhibits for the 10th anniversaries of Re:Zero, KonoSuba, and Bungo Stray Dogs, plus a display for Sentenced to Be a Hero ahead of its second season. The booth will feature a cosplayer photo session, exclusive merchandise, and a producers roundtable panel.
Anime News Network published its weekly roundup of North American anime and manga releases for June 14-20. The list includes home video releases for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, Colorful Stage! The Movie: A Miku Who Can't Sing, and Berserk: The Golden Age Arc - Memorial Edition, alongside dozens of new manga volumes from Viz Media, Seven Seas, and other publishers.
Good Smile Arts Shanghai is releasing magnet-equipped deformed figures of Madoka Kaname and Homura Akemi from Puella Magi Madoka Magica under the Huggy Good Smile line. Pre-orders are open at AmiAmi for 1,620 yen each, with a December 2026 release date.
Tsuguhiko Kadokawa announced he is appealing his guilty verdict in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics bribery case and filed a defamation lawsuit against Kadokawa CEO Takeshi Natsuno and internal investigation lawyer Tadashi Kunihiro, seeking 20 million yen in damages. He claims the company's internal investigation compromised his right to a fair trial.
Indent Co., Ltd. announced that the first volume of the manga adaptation 'The Abused Lady Was Supposed to Become the Second Wife of a Lewd Old Man in the Borderlands, but She Didn't Hear About Being Doted On by the Handsome Border Count!' went on sale June 17, 2026, via KADOKAWA's FLOS COMIC label. The original work was discovered through indent's Nola Agent Function, which connects works from over 700,000 writers to companies for commercialization. A second title handled by indent, 'The Mind-Reading Lady with One Year to Live Is Doted On by the Emperor Rumored to Be Cold and Ruthless,' also released its first volume the same day.
Episode 10 of Ascendance of a Bookworm Part 3: Adopted Daughter of an Archduke moves quickly through the Harvest Festival, then shifts focus to Rosemyne's material-gathering expedition. A Crunchyroll audio glitch mars an early conversation. The back half gives Wit Studio action sequences with feybeast attacks.
Episode 11 of Daemons of the Shadow Realm introduces Ken, Dera's previously unknown half-brother, who claims to have found powerful Daemons by chance. The episode also reveals that Dera's father helped Yuru and Asa's parents escape their village before disappearing. The review questions Ken's trustworthiness and suggests he may be a spy.
Kadokawa reported a 51.3% drop in operating profit for FY2026, with its domestic publishing business posting a ¥1 billion loss. The company blamed over-reliance on narou-style fantasy and isekai, saying a flood of titles produced work lacking originality. Total net sales rose 1.8% to ¥282.9 billion, and Kadokawa forecasts a recovery in FY2027.
Animate revealed the bonus illustration for the Blu-ray and DVD of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle Arc Chapter 1: Akaza's Return. The image shows Tanjiro Kamado and Giyu Tomioka fighting back-to-back. The discs release July 29, 2026.
Light Hunt Games announced that the open-world adult RPG Red Masked Ronin: Desires and Shadows will launch in Early Access on Steam on August 6. The game, set in medieval Japan, follows a disgraced samurai turned ronin. Wishlist registrations have surpassed 10,000. The developer cited a desire to incorporate player feedback as the reason for the Early Access release.
Swedish game developer Paradox Interactive has moved its share listing from the Nasdaq First North Growth Market to the main market of Nasdaq Stockholm. Trading began on June 9, 2026. No new shares were issued, and the ticker symbol remains PDX. The company is known for the Hearts of Iron, Crusader Kings, and Europa Universalis series, and publishes titles such as Cities: Skylines.
Ado's second Utattemita album is set for a winter 2026 release. Worldwide voting is now open until June 21, 2026, letting fans choose which songs she will cover. Voters select a genre-J-pop, non-Jpop Western music, or Vocaloid-then submit a song title and artist, along with personal details.