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Kaz
1h ago
Independent developer HAKURO released roguelike action game 'KAZ' on July 14 for PC via Steam. Priced at 905 yen and supporting Japanese text, the game is controlled entirely with movement keys-up, down, left, right-on a tile-based field. Players must eliminate all enemies within a time limit of tens of seconds per round, then proceed to the next. The structure includes 25 themes with unique power-ups, six starting weapons, over 110 obtainable items, and five reflex-testing modes plus weekly and monthly challenges and an endless mode with online leaderboards. As of July 15, 59 user reviews on Steam were 96% positive, earning a 'Very Positive' rating. A Metacritic aggregate of seven reviews gives a score of 81. Reviewers praise the simple controls, high tempo, and dopamine-inducing exhilaration. However, user reviews are also filled with complaints of hand cramps, keyboard breakage, and warnings that people with tendonitis should not play. Some players reported breaking two keyboards while playing. The developer's store page describes the game as 'the ultimate psychedelic dopamine rush.' A release sale offers 15% off until July 28, bringing the price to 769 yen.
20h ago
Otakon announced it will host background art director Kazuki Higashiji at its 2026 event. Higashiji has worked on Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Maquia, Angel Beats!, Hanasaku Iroha, and Charlotte. The convention also announced a policy change banning fan art sales in the dealers room, directing dealers to the artist alley instead.
1d ago
The TV anime World Is Dancing has released advance cuts and the ending video for episode 3, and announced Yuusuke Kobayashi will join the cast as Shin'emon, a bodyguard. The episode, titled 'You Have Your Own Good Points,' sees the Kanze troupe perform at a historic festival. The ED theme 'Namae no Nai Hana' by hockrockb is also out. A collaboration event with the Kanze Noh Theater is scheduled for late July.
5d ago
The main poster visual, main trailer, and story for V Cinema Next 'Kamen Rider Kabuto: 20th - Heir to the Sky' have been unveiled. The theme song 'NEXT LEVEL Pass the tofu Version' is performed by Yuki Sato, Hidenori Tokuyama, and Kazuki Kato, their first vocal collaboration in 20 years. The film will screen in theaters from November 6, 2026, with a Blu-ray/DVD release on February 10, 2027. An experiential event 'Kamen Rider Kabuto World 20th CAST OFF' will be held starting September 19, 2026.
5d ago
Kazuya Kamenashi stars in the period drama 'Zenigata Heiji,' which previously aired on BS8K in March. The drama will have its terrestrial premiere on NHK General TV on August 21. The cast includes Tomoya Oku, Erika Ikuta, Takenori Goto, and Katsumi Takahashi. The script is by Junpei Yamaoka, music by Akio Izutsu, and direction by Keisuke Toyoshima. Kamenashi expressed honor and pressure in taking on the role.
6d ago
The new Ghost in the Shell TV anime, produced by Science SARU, has revealed its main cast. Maaya Sakamoto voices Motoko Kusanagi, succeeding Atsuko Tanaka. Kazuhiro Yamaji, Hiroki Yasumoto, and Yuichi Nakamura also star. The series began airing on July 7 on the Fire Anime!! block on Kantele and Fuji TV.
Jul 8
Kazuo Mafune's Ultraman STORY 0 manga, which depicts the early battles of Ultraman characters from their youth, has been digitized. All 16 volumes are now available as Kindle comics on Amazon.co.jp, priced at 792 yen each. The series, supervised by Tsuburaya Productions, follows Zoffy and other Ultraman brothers in original stories.
Jul 8
The Red River television anime has added Minami Takayama as Yuri's mother and Kazuhiko Inoue as her father. Both actors previously voiced the protagonist Yuri and co-lead Kail in a drama CD for the manga. The anime premiered on NTV and BS NTV on July 7-8 and streams on Crunchyroll.
Jul 6
Frontier Works announced a large-scale exhibition, "Hetalia 20th Anniversary Original Art Exhibition WorldFesta," for Tokyo and Osaka in autumn 2026. A key visual of Italy in a white prince outfit, newly drawn by Hidekazu Himaruya, was released. The event will display original pencil drawings and color illustrations, plus a life-sized Italy figure and photo spots.
Jul 6
The second and third stages of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run will stream worldwide on Netflix starting September 25, 2026. New cast members include Tomokazu Sugita as President Funny Valentine, Yoko Hikasa as Hot Pants, and Tomoaki Maeno as Mountain Tim. A second promotional video was also released.
Jul 5
The TV anime 'Level Robochika', based on a doujinshi by illustrator Mika Pikazo, will air in 2027. The announcement includes a teaser visual, teaser PV, and production staff: chief director Shin Oonuma, series composer Ryo Yoshigami, and composer Yuki Kajiura. The near-future sci-fi story is set in Shibuya in 2050.
Jul 4
Studio Trigger announced at its Anime Expo panel on July 4, 2026, that it is producing a new project directed by Hiroyuki Imaishi and written by Kazuki Nakashima. The duo previously collaborated on Gurren Lagann (2007), Kill la Kill (2013), and Promare (2019). Hiromi Wakabayashi is also attached to the project. No title, story details, release date, or additional staff were provided. The announcement was made via Trigger's official X account and confirmed by the panel. The project marks the fourth original anime from the Imaishi-Nakashima team. Trigger was founded in 2011 by Imaishi and Masahiko Otsuka and has produced series including Kill la Kill, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, and Delicious in Dungeon. The studio also confirmed at the same panel that Delicious in Dungeon Season 2 is set for October 2027.
Jul 4
The staff for the anime adaptation of Dr. Poro and Nabana Naba's manga The Vermilion Mask revealed the first main trailer with English subtitles during Crunchyroll's panel at Anime Expo 2026 on July 3. The announcement also confirmed the main Japanese voice cast. Taihi Kimura voices protagonist Peru d'Arrest, a young mask maker who loses control of a cursed mask and kills his master and comrades. Yuuki Yamamoto plays Sonarue Maywood, Kazuki Ura plays Mok Sharib, Takanori Hoshino plays Gouon, Wataru Komada plays Totoque, Junya Enoki plays Zent, Kazuhiko Inoue plays Gaston, and Akio Otsuka voices the Mask of the Warrior God. The anime is directed by Tetsuaki Watanabe at 100Studio (also called One Double-O or WOW Studio), with Gai Hazako as assistant director. Daisuke Ohigashi handles series composition, Hisashi Higashijima designs the characters, and Arisa Okehazama composes the music. The series will premiere in October 2026 and run for two cours. Crunchyroll will stream the anime as it airs. The manga began serialization in Young King Ours in February 2021 and has eight compiled volumes as of July 2025.
Jul 3
Square Enix has released the digital version of Final Fantasy X-2.5 ~Eien no Daishou~, a novel by Kazushige Nojima that continues the story after Final Fantasy X-2. The book follows Yuna and Tidus on a new adventure in Spira and is available at e-book stores for 1,540 yen.
Jul 3
Former Arashi members Ohno Satoshi, Aiba Masaki, and Sakurai Sho each announced personal fan clubs and salons on July 3. Matsumoto Jun is preparing his own membership, and Ninomiya Kazunari's club has been running since 2024. Ohno also opened official social media accounts for his salon, which launches July 15.
Jul 2
Tokyo-based AI animation company Puri Prince announced the second installment of its anime project, Dennō Isu Tantei Charlotte ~Dead Man's Hand~, a short series based on noriyang's web novel. The cast includes Hina Yomiya, Tomokazu Sugita, and others. The story follows a young detective and her AI partner investigating a cyber casino mystery.
Jul 2
Takehiko Inoue, creator of Slam Dunk, drew a congratulatory illustration for the TV anime World Is Dancing, which premiered July 2. The illustration depicts protagonist Oniyasha in Inoue's style. Inoue was a former assistant to original author Kazuto Mihara. The opening video, set to Macaroni Enpitsu's "Shuyo", transitions from black-and-white to color. The anime is directed by Toshimasa Kuroyanagi and produced by Cypic, with Yumiri Hanamori voicing Oniyasha.
Jul 1
NHK revealed the trailer, five new cast members, and an August 12 premiere date for the live-action special based on Osamu Tezuka's autobiographical manga. The drama stars Kengo Kōra as Tezuka and Konosuke Harada as his wartime alter ego, weaving between 1945 Osaka and 1973 Tokyo.
Jul 1
Honoka Murakami, who played Setsu Uozumi (Yūnagi) in the NHK morning drama 'Kaze, Kaoru,' posted a close-up photo on Instagram on June 30. The photo was taken by video director Tomokazu Saito, leading fans to speculate she may be appearing in a new project by Saito. Murakami has not confirmed wrapping filming for the drama, and viewers hope for Setsu's return.
Jun 30
Award Inc. announced on June 30 that it will hold the fashion show and music live event X VORDER RUNWAY on September 27 at Makuhari Messe International Exhibition Hall 1-4 in Chiba. The event is described as a world-first, large-scale entertainment show where VTubers, game and anime characters, and real artists perform together across communities and dimensions. All performers will wear limited costumes designed by illustrator Mika Pikazo, known for work on Fire Emblem Engage and VTuber designs. The lineup includes VTubers Suisei Hoshimachi, HIMEHINA, Karubi Akami, Hinano Tachibana, Sara Hoshikawa, and virtual singer KAF. From games, Chun-Li from Street Fighter 6, Rise Kujikawa from Persona 4 Revival, and Haruka Amami, Chihaya Kisaragi, and Miki Hoshii from The Idolmaster will appear. Real artists Utaha from Wednesday Campanella and Nanawo Akari are also on the bill. Five collaborative segments have been previewed, including a duet between KAF and Suisei Hoshimachi. The fastest lottery pre-sale for venue tickets opened on June 30 and runs through July 12.
Jun 30
Bandai Namco released a memorial video for the Ace Combat Zero port on June 30, the series' 31st anniversary. The PS2 classic is revived at 2160p/60fps and included as an early purchase and preorder bonus for Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve, which launches October 2, 2026 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. Brand director Kazutoshi Kono also issued a message marking the anniversary.
Jun 29
A collaborative visual featuring Shinotsu Shin from Junket Bank and Shinichi Akiyama from Liar Game has been released. The image shows both characters with defiant smirks, holding coins and playing cards. Junket Bank is set to air in October 2026, while Liar Game is currently airing.
Jun 28
With the Sagrada Familia's main tower recently completed, a Game Spark feature looks back at the 1992 adventure game 'Gaudi: The Wind of Barcelona,' developed by Nippon Telenet / Wolf Team for the PC-88 and MSX2. The game, set against the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, follows former detective Henry Howard in a point-and-click adventure with a branching story and a unique rewind system called the HRS.
Jun 28
An experiential exhibition called "UMEZZ HORROR HOUSE ~Drifting Classroom and Thought Experiment Exhibition~" will run from July 17 to September 6 at Gallery Zenon in Kichijoji, Tokyo. The event commemorates manga artist Kazuo Umezu's 90th birthday and combines an immersive horror experience based on his manga "Drifting Classroom" with the "Thought Experiment Exhibition" that has drawn over 20,000 visitors in Tokyo and Osaka.
Jun 27
A retrospective screening and talk event for Mobile Police Patlabor EZY File 1 will be held on July 26, 2026, at United Cinemas Toyosu. Director Yutaka Izubuchi, screenwriter Kazunori Ito, and storyboard artist Shinji Higuchi will appear. Attendees receive a printed booklet of the 130-page Episode 3 storyboard.
Jun 27
The Pokémon Horizons anime has added two new cast members: Yū Serizawa as Navi, a girl living in Lumiose City, and Kazuki Ura as Shirō, a muscular character with tremendous power. The new "Wonder Voyage" arc premiered on May 22, and a visual teases connections to Pokémon Go, Pokémon Unite, and Pokémon Sleep.
Jun 27
The live-action film adaptation of Ryō Nakama's High School Family: Kokosei Kazoku manga has been delayed from a fall 2026 release to January 8, 2027, as confirmed by a new teaser trailer and visual released on Thursday. The film stars Yuno Nagao, Shingo Katori, Jun Saitō, and Riisa Naka, with Tôichirô Rutô directing.
Jun 26
Genco Inc. announced on June 24 that a pop-up shop commemorating the release of the novel 'Sushi-ya no Goto' will run from June 25 to July 5 at Calendarum on the second floor of Shinjuku Marui Annex in Tokyo. The novel, written by series composition and scriptwriter Kazunori Ito and published by Bungeishunju, depicts former Special Vehicles Section 2nd Division 2nd Platoon Captain Kiichi Goto running a small sushi restaurant in Atami 30 years after the events of the original series, with visits from former squad members. The pop-up shop sells goods featuring the cover illustration by manga author Masami Yuki, including clear files, tenugui hand towels, acrylic stands, and keychains. It also carries the novel itself, a special feature magazine, and some theatrical merchandise from the ongoing 'Mobile Police Patlabor EZY FILE1' project. No advance reservation is required, but numbered tickets may be distributed on weekends due to expected congestion. Weekday hours are 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM, with weekend hours starting earlier. The novel is priced at 1,980 yen for the print edition and 1,900 yen for the digital edition, spanning 272 pages.
Jun 25
Amazon Kindle is running a sale on Champion series manga, with individual volumes priced at 99 yen each as of June 25, 2026. The promotion includes titles such as Chikyuu no Houkago, Ganso! Urayasu Tekkin Kazoku, Seikon no Qwaser, trash, Niboshi-kun no Hentai, Hitomi-chan wa Hitomishiri, and Shijin no Koe o Kiku ga Yoi. For Sensou Meshi and Saint Seiya Next Dimension: The Myth of Hades, only volumes 1 through 8 are discounted at 99 yen. The sale also continues from last week for Jitsu wa Watashi wa, Franken Fran, and BM Nectar, which remain at the same price. Several series offer the first volume free for a limited time, and bundle deals are available for complete sets. The campaign is part of a broader Kindle promotion on Champion-related titles, with prices subject to change after the campaign ends.
Jun 25
The official website for the television anime of Ryon's manga Are You a Landmine, Chihara-san? updated on Thursday to announce additional cast members, a delay to January 2027, and a tie-in music project. Newly announced cast include Maaya Uchida as Chinatsu Iwakura, Tomokazu Sugita as Hibiya, and Daisuke Ono as Kazami. The anime was previously scheduled for 2026 but will now premiere in the Super Animeism Turbo programming block on MBS, TBS, and 26 affiliated channels in January 2027, airing Thursdays at 0:26 a.m. (effectively Friday). Before the anime airs, the franchise is launching a music project for lead character Mai Chihara. Her first digital single, a cover of Nayutalien's Alien Alien, will be released on July 25, 2026. The anime is directed by Yasuaki Fujii at Synergy SP, with series composition by Keiichiro Ochi, character designs by Majiro, and music by Arisa Okehazama at King Records. The manga launched on the GANMA! service in June 2021 and won a Next Impact Comic award at the 2024 Rakuten Kobo E-book Awards. Seven Seas Entertainment has licensed the manga for English release.
Jun 25
The final chapter of the HiGH&LOW film series, "HiGH&LOW THE New World," was announced on June 24 at a 10th anniversary event in Tokyo. HIRO, the series' planner and producer, surprised attendees with a teaser video and confirmed the film will release in 2027. The story takes place several years after the 2017 film "HiGH&LOW THE MOVIE 3 / FINAL MISSION." Returning cast members include AKIRA as Kohaku, NAOTO as Jesse, and Alan Shirahama as Bernie, all reprising roles after nine years. Kazuma Kawamura and Hokuto Yoshino also join the cast. Directors Norihisa Hiranuma and Motoaki Kuba are helming the project. Hiranuma stated that the film will feature overseas artists and cast members. The teaser video, now on YouTube, shows hand-to-hand combat and armed groups, suggesting a harsher world. The series has drawn 6.21 million cumulative viewers and earned 8.9 billion yen at the box office. A live event, "HiGH&LOW 10th ANNIVERSARY FEVER," will be held at K-Arena Yokohama on September 22 and 23, featuring LDH artists including EXILE THE SECOND and THE RAMPAGE.
Jun 24
All 16 volumes of the manga 'Ultraman STORY 0' will be released as e-books on July 9, 2026. The series, by Kazuo Mafune of 'Doctor K' fame, was serialized in Magazine Z starting 2005 under Tsuburaya Productions supervision. It tells original stories of the Ultra Brothers' early battles and the founding of the Land of Light.
Jun 24
The official website for the Iron Wok Jan television anime released a main trailer and key visual on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, confirming a July 5 premiere date. The trailer, presented as an "alternate" version, features food critic Nichido Otani commenting on the cooking battles. The announcement also revealed that Tomokazu Sugita will voice Ryuji Bito, a wandering Chinese cuisine chef known as "XO Sauce Ryu." Sugita, a veteran voice actor, expressed excitement about joining the adaptation of a manga he read in real time. The ending theme song "Naita Akuma" by EMUNIMINI was also previewed. The anime will air on TV Tokyo and its affiliates on Sundays at 5:30 p.m. JST, and will stream on Anime Times, ABEMA, U-NEXT, and Anime Hōdai in Japan. Ei Aoki directs the series at studio TROYCA, with Makoto Uezu handling series composition and Masako Matsumoto designing characters. The main cast includes Kikunosuke Toya as Jan Akiyama, Ikumi Hasegawa as Kiriko Gobancho, and Kohei Amasaki as Takao Okonogi. The original manga by Shinji Saijyo ran in Weekly Shonen Champion from 1995 to 2000 and has over 10 million copies in circulation.
Jun 24
Colopl announced on June 24 that the PC version of KAZUMA KANEKO'S TSUKUYOMI, a deck-building roguelike by game creator Kazuma Kaneko, will launch on Steam on July 24. The standard edition costs 3,960 yen, and a Special Digital Deluxe Edition including the base game and two DLC packs will sell for 5,960 yen. The game was previously released for Nintendo Switch on April 23, 2026. It is set in a modern dark fantasy world where players climb a demon-infested tower called The Hashira in Tokyo Bay, using a three-card hand to battle Shinma (gods and demons). Five playable characters with distinct battle styles are available. The Steam version supports English and Japanese audio and text in English, Japanese, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, and Korean. On the same day, DLC Vol. 2, Painter K's Divine Brush: Truth Manifestation Set - Part 2, will launch for both Switch and Steam, adding five Creation Cards: Arianrod, Raphael, Banshee, Apollo, and Satan. The original free-to-play mobile and PC game, TSUKUYOMI - The Divine Hunters, ended service on April 22, 2026, and used generative AI for card art; the Switch and Steam versions do not use AI for new card creation.
Jun 24
Japan's first taxi-based film festival TAXIATER has announced its lineup of three short films, each sponsored by a different Kao household product. The films star Shiori Kubo, Yuta Hayashi, and Kazuna Osawa, and will screen in 100 taxis across Tokyo from August 3-9, followed by theatrical runs from August 15-29. Directors include Ryutaro Nakagawa, Nako Komiyama, and Sho Nagashima.
Jun 24
Tomokazu Sugita will voice Ryuji Bito, an assassin chef who uses XO sauce, in the TV anime Iron Wok Jan! A new key visual and a PV featuring food critic Otani's commentary were also released. The ending theme is "Nakita Akuma" by emunimini. A special program and a collaboration menu are scheduled for July.
Jun 24
Mika Pikazo's original doujin project Level Robochica is being adapted into a television anime, Amuse Creative Studio announced on June 24. The near-future science fiction story is set in 2050 Shibuya, where human-like machines called Robotica serve humanity. The anime will tell a new original story that inherits the world of Pikazo's 2017 self-published work. A teaser visual drawn by Pikazo shows the mysterious girl Lily reaching out with a smile. Pikazo commented that she created the story about people living in a world where happiness is taken for granted, expressing hope and strangeness through cute characters. The project expanded in 2019 when screenwriter Ryo Yoshigami joined to write Level Robochica Episode #β, and in 2022 Shinchosha published two novels: RE:BEL ROBOTICA 0 by Yoshigami and RE:BEL ROBOTICA by Gakuto Mikumo. The anime will debut its first footage at Anime Expo 2026 in Los Angeles from July 2 to 5. Pikazo is the event's key visual illustrator and will appear in a panel on July 4. A booth will distribute a special booklet and screen a teaser PV using in-production footage.
Jun 22
Eiga Natalie's Heisei Drama Committee column, written by Terebi no Sukima, revisits the 2006 late-night drama Akihabara@Deep. The piece calls it a symbolic work of the era and a turning point for Gen Hoshino, who met his best friend Toma Ikuta and ally Bananaman through the production. The drama featured Shunsuke Kazama, Toma Ikuta, Gen Hoshino, and Yuki Himura before their major breakthroughs.
Jun 19
The YouTube channel "Yonino Channel," led by Kazunari Ninomiya and featuring Yuichi Nakamaru, Ryosuke Yamada, and Fuma Kikuchi, reached 5 million subscribers on June 19. The milestone came about 5 years and 2 months after the channel's launch in April 2021, making it the first STARTO ENTERTAINMENT-related YouTube channel to do so.
Jun 19
The official website for the television anime adaptation of Takeru Hokazono's Kagurabachi manga announced on June 19 that Tomokazu Seki will voice Kunishige Rokuhira, the father of protagonist Chihiro. A character visual and trailer were also released. Seki, a veteran voice actor, described Kunishige as a legendary swordsmith and a warmhearted father, and said he aimed to convey both sides naturally. The anime is directed by Tetsuya Takeuchi at studio Cypic, with character designs by Keigo Sasaki. It is set to premiere in April 2027. A world tour will begin in July 2026 at Anime Expo in Los Angeles, followed by stops in Paris, Germany, and New York, where the first 20 minutes of the first episode will be screened. The full first episode will be shown in Japan in spring 2027. The manga, which debuted in Weekly Shonen Jump in September 2023, has 4 million copies in circulation. Taihi Kimura stars as Chihiro Rokuhira.
Jun 19
Tomokazu Seki will voice Chikamasa Rokuhira in the TV anime adaptation of Takeru Hokazono's manga Kagurabachi. A character visual and PV were released alongside the announcement. The series is directed by Tetsuya Takeuchi with animation by Cypic. The manga has over 4 million copies in circulation. The anime begins broadcasting in April 2027.
Jun 18
The television anime adaptation of Tsutomu's manga Ojisan wa Kawaii Mono ga Osuki. has revealed its cast, staff, and October premiere date in a new promotional video. Kazuyuki Okitsu leads the cast as Mitsutaka Oji, with Tomoe Makino directing at LIDEN FILMS.
Jun 17
The Kagurabachi manga will enter a hiatus starting with Weekly Shonen Jump issue 31, on sale June 29, 2026, and is expected to resume in August 2026. The announcement was made on the series' official X account on June 17. The editorial team stated that author Takeru Hokazono expressed a desire to continue drawing, but after discussions, it was decided he would take a break to ensure the series can be delivered in a stable manner going forward. No specific reason for the hiatus was given, though the manga previously missed an issue in May 2026 due to Hokazono's sudden illness, and it also took an unplanned break in June 2025 for the same reason. Kagurabachi debuted in Weekly Shonen Jump in September 2023 and has become one of Shueisha's most successful recent titles, with over 4 million copies in circulation as of April 2026. An anime adaptation by studio Cypic is scheduled to premiere in April 2027, and a world tour promoting the anime will begin at Anime Expo on July 3, 2026.
Jun 16
The television anime adaptation of Kazuto Mihara's manga The World Is Dancing will begin streaming on Amazon Prime Video in Japan on June 29, ahead of its July 2 television broadcast. HIDIVE will stream the first episode on the same day, and the second episode will have its world premiere at Anime Expo on July 2. The anime is directed by Toshimasa Kuroyanagi at Cygames Pictures.
Jun 16
The Cyborg 009: Nemesis anime cast two new voice actors: Kazuhiro Yamaji as Dr. Isaac Gilmore and Tōru Nara as Dr. Robert Golbert. The series is directed by Hideki Ambo at Arect and will stream this summer.
Jun 16
Mobile accessory brand iFace held a signing event with popular illustrator Mika Pikazo at its Harajuku store on May 16. The event featured original artwork, in-store installations, and sales of collaboration items including phone cases and AirPods cases. A lottery-based signing session drew long lines of fans.
Jun 14
Ufotable has released the store-specific purchase bonuses for the Blu-ray and DVD release of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle Arc Chapter 1, set for July 29, 2026. Animate, Amazon, and Rakuten Books each get exclusive newly drawn illustrations featuring Tanjiro and Giyu, Shinobu, and Zenitsu respectively.
Jun 12
Anime News Network interviews director Kazuaki Terasawa about the visual design of Nippon Sangoku. Terasawa explains the series blends traditional Japanese painting techniques with 3D renderings of modern structures to depict a future Japan that has regressed to the Meiji era. Color and texture are used on a cut-by-cut basis to reflect character emotions, categorized into joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness.
Jun 12
The television anime adaptation of Takeru Hokazono's manga "Kagurabachi" has released the first character visual and character promotional video for protagonist Chihiro Rokuhira, voiced by Taiki Kimura. The anime is scheduled to begin airing in April 2027. The character PV shows Chihiro with a piercing gaze and includes his line, "I cannot overlook scum like you wielding a sword." He is depicted in a black coat accompanied by a black goldfish. The series is a neo-Japanese sword action story set in a world where a mysterious sorcerer organization called Hishaku steals six powerful Enchanted Blades and kills Chihiro's father, a renowned swordsmith. Chihiro takes up the seventh blade, Enten, to seek revenge and reclaim the stolen swords. The original manga has surpassed 4 million copies in cumulative circulation including digital editions. The anime is directed by Tetsuya Takeuchi, with character designs by Keigo Sasaki, and animation production by studio Cypic. The production committee includes Shochiku and CyberAgent.
Jun 10
The staff for the new Hokuto no Ken -Fist of the North Star- anime announced on Wednesday that Kazuya Ichijō is voicing Fang Father, the leader of the Fang clan. The character will appear in the anime's 12th episode this weekend. The anime premiered in April and streams worldwide on Amazon Prime Video.