The Magic Knight Rayearth franchise is in active production on a new TV anime series, with a confirmed October 2026 premiere window, a full main cast, and a world premiere screening scheduled for Anime Expo 2026.
The new Magic Knight Rayearth TV anime, the first anime adaptation of the CLAMP manga in over 30 years, is set to premiere in October 2026 on TV Asahi's IMAnimation W block. The production has been steadily revealing details through 2026. In late May, Anime Expo 2026 announced it would host the world premiere of the first two episodes on July 4, with voice actors Rie Takahashi and Saori Hayami in attendance.
On June 5, the production announced three additional cast members: Saori Hayami as Princess Emeraude, Yuki Ono as the priest Zagato, and Mika Kikuchi as the creature Mokona. Kikuchi's casting is notable as she previously voiced Mokona in the Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle anime, marking a rare return to the same role across different CLAMP adaptations two decades apart. The main cast had already been announced earlier, with Ayane Sakura as Hikaru Shido, Rumi Okubo as Umi Ryuzaki, and Rie Takahashi as Fuu Hoji. The series is directed by Yui Miura in his series directorial debut, with E&H Production handling animation. Shigeru Murakoshi is writing the series scripts, Satomi Watabe is designing the characters, and Yuki Kajiura, Takumi Ozawa, and Shiho Terada are composing the music. UNLIMITED PRODUCE by TMS is producing the project.
Beyond the anime, the franchise has seen renewed merchandising interest. At the 84th Prize Fair in Tokyo on May 20, 2026, System Service exhibited first-time prize figures of Hikaru, Umi, and Fuu from Magic Knight Rayearth, alongside figures for other series. The teaser for the anime's June 5 announcement was posted on the official X account on June 4, showing only a date and time, which led to social media speculation about additional cast or theme song information. The anime is set to premiere in October 2026.
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LOWRYS FARM and Crayon Shin-chan are launching a new collaboration on July 24, 2026, featuring 11 types of merchandise with a transformation theme. The lineup includes soft vinyl figures, plush keychains, and eco bags, all depicting Shin-chan as characters like Action Kamen and Buriburizaemon. The collaboration follows a 2025 line that was well-received.
Crunchyroll announced English dub casts and premiere dates for four anime series on Thursday: Kaiju Girl Caramelise, The Exiled Heavy Knight Knows How to Game the System, Bungo Stray Dogs Wan! 2, and Hana-Kimi season 2. The dubs feature returning and new voice actors, with staff credits provided for each production.
KADOKAWA announced a new pick-up gacha 'Summer Splash' for the Oshi no Ko Puzzle Star game, running from July 16 to August 1. The first wave features new original-costume cards for Ai and Ruby, with illustrations supervised by character designer Hirayama Kanna. A paid 'Like Pass' offers Ai's costume set. A concurrent 'Word Collection' event runs until September 16.
ANYCOLOR, the operator of the virtual liver groups Nijisanji and NIJISANJI EN, announced on July 15 that it has reached a settlement with individuals who posted content encouraging secondary harm against affiliated VTuber Shirayuki Tomoe. The company filed a request for disclosure of sender information for multiple posts made on anonymous internet bulletin boards. The court granted the request, and based on the disclosed information, the posters were identified. ANYCOLOR then filed claims for damages, resulting in a settlement in which the parties agreed to pay a total of 1.4 million yen in compensation. The company stated that it is currently pursuing multiple legal actions in parallel against rights infringement targeting its affiliated livers and the company itself, including defamation, insult, discrediting, business obstruction, invasion of privacy, threats, and copyright infringement. ANYCOLOR also said it will continue to take prompt legal measures, including criminal procedures, and has set up a report form on its official website for aggressive or slanderous acts, unauthorized reproduction of singing videos, short videos, live event footage, and impersonation. The company requested that people refrain from contacting it or its affiliated livers directly via social media or during streams.
A D.Gray-man collaboration cafe opens July 15, 2026, in Tokyo's Ikebukuro district, featuring new illustrations by creator Katsura Hoshino. The art dresses Allen, Kanda, Lavi, Road, and Tiki in Mad Hatter and Alice in Wonderland-inspired outfits. The cafe offers themed food, drinks, and merchandise. An Osaka run begins September 9.
Princeton professor Arvind Narayanan, in a keynote at ICML 2026, argued that AI should be viewed as 'normal technology' like electricity, which takes decades to diffuse. He warned that the idea that productivity gains from AI will lead to mass unemployment contradicts economic data, citing the Jevons paradox. Instead, job roles will slowly transform, requiring organizational adaptation over many years.
Crayon Shin-chan goods themed on past films will be released exclusively at Don Quijote and Apita stores nationwide starting July 11, 2026. The lineup includes T-shirts, cooling pants, towels, and magnets featuring characters from four films: 'Adventure in Henderland,' 'The Dark Tama Tama Chase,' 'The Storm Called Jungle,' and 'Serious Battle! Revenge of Robot Dad.' All items are limited to Donki and Apita.
Veteran Korean voice actor Hee-sun Kang, best known as the voice of Misae Nohara in the Korean dub of Crayon Shin-chan for 26 years, died on July 4 at age 65 after a battle with colon cancer. She stepped down from the role last year due to health reasons. Kang also voiced Julia Roberts in Erin Brockovich and Sharon Stone in Basic Instinct, and received the Prime Minister's Commendation in 2018.
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.
Anime News Network published a five-part roundup of Tanabata greetings from across the anime, manga, and video game industries on July 7, 2026. The collection includes wishes and illustrations from official accounts for series such as Bungo Stray Dogs, Detective Conan, My Hero Academia, Sakamoto Days, Doraemon, Chibi Maruko-chan, Hell's Paradise, and Dragon Quest. Video game franchises like Final Fantasy, Monster Hunter, and Like a Dragon also participated, alongside creators including Hideo Kojima, Yuki Kaji, and Shoko Nakagawa. Several series tied their posts to new releases: the second season of Yoroi Shin Den Samurai Troopers premiered on July 7, My Happy Marriage released a special Tanabata illustration and announced a three-episode special for 2026, and My Stepmother and Stepsisters Aren't Wicked began airing on July 8. The roundup also features greetings from manga titles like Chiikawa, MARRIAGETOXIN, and Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You, as well as from studios Tatsunoko Production and Square Enix.
Bungo Stray Dogs and Tobu Zoo Park are holding their third collaboration event, titled "NIGHT ZOO," starting July 18, 2026. Newly drawn illustrations of six characters in yukata will appear on merchandise, collaboration food and games will be available, and special admission tickets with bonuses go on sale.
The new Magic Knight Rayearth anime, celebrating the franchise's 30th anniversary, revealed its second main trailer and key visual at Anime Expo on Saturday. The trailer announced three additional cast members and confirmed an October 7 premiere date. Joining the previously announced cast are Yuki Kaji as Clef, the mage who guides the Magic Knights; Emiri Kato as Presea, the master smith who forges their weapons; and Yoshitsugu Matsuoka as Ferio, a mysterious swordsman. The previously announced cast includes Ayane Sakura as Hikaru Shido, Rumi Okubo as Umi Ryuuzaki, Rie Takahashi as Fuu Hououji, Saori Hayami as Emeraude, Yuki Ono as Zagato, and Mika Kikuchi as Mokona. Yui Miura is making his series directorial debut with the anime, with series composition by Shigeru Murakoshi, character design by Satomi Watanabe, and music by Yuki Kajiura, Takumi Ozawa, and Shiho Terada. E&H production is handling animation production, and UNLIMITED PRODUCE by TMS is producing the project. The anime will air in the IMAnimation W programming block on TV Asahi and affiliated channels on Wednesdays at 11:45 p.m. JST.
Kotobukiya announced a wide range of new figure prototypes and color samples at Anime Expo 2026 in Los Angeles on July 2. The company revealed supervising prototypes for "Super Kaguya-hime!" figures of Kaguya, Tsukimi Yachiyo, and Sayori Sakayori, as well as a prototype for "Magic Knight Rayearth" Hikaru Shidou. Under the OSHI WORKS line, prototypes were shown for "Attack on Titan The Final Season" characters Mikasa, Armin, Levi, and Sasha. The new OSHI WORKS Mini brand debuted with color samples of "The Apothecary Diaries" Maomao and "TRIGUN STARGAZE" Vash the Stampede and Nicholas D. Wolfwood. For game-related figures, Kotobukiya showed the first color sample of a 1/4 scale "Goddess of Victory: NIKKE" Anis figure. OSHI WORKS Mini color samples were also displayed for "Persona 3 Reload" and "Persona 5 The Royal" protagonists, plus prototypes for "Trails" series characters Estelle Bright and Joshua Bright, and SNK characters Mai Shiranui, Angel, and Kula Diamond. Additional figures included "Cyberpunk: Edgerunners" Rebecca and "Snowball Earth" Tetsuo Yabusame and Ao Nogi.
Developer Stray Fawn Studio released the deck-building roguelike crane game Dungeon Clawler+ on Apple Arcade on July 2. The game, which previously launched on Steam and the App Store, is now available with no additional fees for subscribers. Three other titles also joined the service: Creatures of the Deep+, Pocket City 2+, and Draw it+.
Meta updated its AI glasses help center on July 1, 2026, revealing that some features of its Ray-Ban Meta and Meta Glasses hardware will be restricted unless users subscribe to Meta One Premium at $19.99 per month. The Conversation Focus feature, which amplifies a speaker's voice, is capped at 3 hours per month for free users but extends to 15 hours for subscribers. The Verge criticized the move, noting the feature runs on-device and should not require a subscription.
The 33rd Crayon Shin-chan 2D anime film, Eiga Crayon Shin-chan Kikikaikai! Ora no Yōkai Bake-shon, has cast Japanese game streamer Retort as the yōkai baseball umpire Dashimaki Shinpan. The film centers on the Nohara family's adventure in a yōkai land after an incident releases yōkai in Akita. It opens in Japan on July 31, 2026.
A box set collecting live performances, stage footage, and new songs from male idol groups WITH, DARK NIGHTMARE, and Mario from the PriPara franchise will be released on November 25. The set includes five Blu-ray discs and one CD, featuring previously unreleased footage, a new WITH song, and a voice drama.
Actress Meiku Hata, 24, appeared on her first solo cover of Ray magazine's August 2026 issue. She shared an off-shot on Instagram showing freckle makeup applied under her eyes while wearing a yukata. Fans commented on her cute yet mature appearance, comparing her to a doll.
Japan XR Center has begun selling acrylic stands of monsters from the VR attraction 'Kaiju no Sumika VR' at its Fukuoka store. The lineup includes Baltan, Pigmon, and Gomora, each priced at 1,980 yen. The attraction lets players explore a monster paradise in VR.
System Service exhibited new prize figures at the 84th Prize Fair in Tokyo on May 20, 2026, including first-time figures of Hikaru, Umi, and Fuu from Magic Knight Rayearth, a bunny polarized color version of Roxy from Mushoku Tensei II, and Rias Gremory from High School DxD HERO. Also shown were Maomao and Jinshi figures from The Apothecary Diaries in jiangshi and nine-tailed fox forms for October 2026, and shinigami-inspired versions for December 2026.
ASCII.jp reviews the Switch package version of Doraemon's Dorayaki Shop Story, a management simulation where players run a dorayaki shop in a town populated by characters from Fujiko F. Fujio's works. The game, originally released digitally in 2024 as part of the Fujiko F. Fujio 90th birthday project, now has a physical edition with a permanent bonus guide. The reviewer notes the game's relaxed pace and the appeal of seeing characters from multiple Fujiko series appear.
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.
Solo developer studio nu announced BRAYZ, a super-high-speed racing game set in the near-future solar system. Up to 64 anti-gravity machines race simultaneously on courses with vertical and upside-down sections, reaching speeds of 8000 km/h. The game features Career and Arcade modes, customization of parts and abilities, and 15 courses with 11 Arc Frames. It is scheduled for release on PC via Steam. No multiplayer is included due to solo development.
Ray Kindo's one-shot manga The Knight of Blasphemy, originally published in Kodansha's special Young Magazine US English issue in August 2025, will begin serialization in the August issue of Monthly Young Magazine on July 16. The series will also launch simultaneously on Kodansha's K MANGA app. The one-shot ranked third in a reader poll whose top five winners are guaranteed serialization.
Bandai Spirits will hold THE GUNDAM BASE POP-UP WORLD TOUR in YOKOHAMA from July 10 to August 31, 2026, at Yokohama Sky Building. The event is the last domestic Japan stop of the global tour commemorating Gunpla's 45th anniversary. It will sell limited Gunpla kits, merchandise, and snacks, display a 2-meter Gundam statue, and offer purchase bonuses including a Gundam Card Game promo card and an original shopper bag.
MegaHouse's G.E.M. Series has unveiled first color samples of Attack on Titan palm-sized Eren and Levi figures, plus first prototypes of Bungo Stray Dogs Dazai and Naruto Shippuden Minato. Re-releases of Naruto, Demon Slayer, and Gintama figures were also announced, alongside a Premium Bandai lottery event.
Video distribution service ABEMA has announced a selection of five charming father characters from popular anime to celebrate Father's Day on June 21. The list includes Nohara Hiroshi from 'Crayon Shin-chan', Loid Forger from 'SPY×FAMILY', Endeavor from 'My Hero Academia', Mouri Kogoro from 'Detective Conan', and a character from 'Atashinchi'.
To mark Father's Day, Nijimen surveyed its readers on their favorite father characters in anime and manga. The top 10 list includes Crayon Shin-chan's Nohara Hiroshi, Pokémon's Norman, Kingdom's Ō Sen, Naruto's Namikaze Minato, My Hero Academia's Endeavor, and Sakamoto Days' Sakamoto Taro, among others.
The live-action Blue Lock film announced five new cast members on Friday. Shihō Harumi plays Hirotoshi Buratsuta, Sōma Santoki plays Tomonari Tada, Yūsuke Hirayama plays Isshin Tomobe, Tōru Nomaguchi plays Issei Isagi, and Maho Nonami plays Iyo Isagi. The film opens August 7. Yusuke Taki directs, Tetsuo Kamata writes the screenplay, CREDEUS produces, and TOHO distributes.
The 33rd Crayon Shin-chan 2D anime film, Eiga Crayon Shin-chan Kikikaikai! Ora no Yōkai Bake-shon, has cast FRUITS ZIPPER singers Runa Nakagawa and Noel Hayase in guest roles. The film opens in Japan on July 31, 2026, and follows the Nohara family into a yōkai world after an incident at a fireworks festival in Akita.
ANYCOLOR announced the package design, bonus liver camera footage, and in-store campaigns for the Nijisanji Countdown Live 'Crossing Tones' Blu-ray, releasing September 2, 2026. The Blu-ray captures the December 2025/January 2026 countdown event and includes select song performances from eight livers as bonus video.
The third collaboration event between Bungo Stray Dogs and Tobu Zoo, titled Night Zoo, runs from July 18 to August 30, 2026. Newly drawn yukata illustrations feature characters from the Armed Detective Agency and Port Mafia. The event includes exclusive goods, a collaboration restaurant, games, fireworks on select nights, and in-park voice announcements.
KADOKAWA began the pickup gacha [Rainy Drops] on June 16 in the smartphone puzzle game Oshi no Ko Puzzle Star. Part 1 features ★★★[Rainy Drops] Akane Kurokawa and ★★[Rainy Drops] Ruby in newly drawn special costumes. A Like Pass grants Akane's costume, and a new event Idol Step starts June 17.
Kadokawa released the main promotional video for Bungo Stray Dogs Wan! 2 on Friday, previewing the ending theme song by Ryūnosuke Akutagawa voice actor Kenshō Ono and confirming the anime's July 2 premiere on Tokyo MX and d Anime Store. The second season adapts Kanaineko's spinoff manga featuring chibi versions of the Bungo Stray Dogs cast, with returning director Toshihiro Kikuchi at BONES and Nomad.
The main promotional video for Bungo Stray Dogs Wan! 2 features the full cast of the spin-off series and previews the ending theme song "Bokura ~Ryunosuke Akutagawa Ver.~" performed by Kensho Ono. The anime begins airing on TOKYO MX and other channels on July 2, 2026, with streaming on d Anime Store the same day. The first season will also be rebroadcast starting July 2.
Beneath the Tangles' Reader's Corner for June 9, 2026, covers six manga volumes, including the first extra-long volume of Ai Yazawa's classic shoujo I'm No Angel, along with new releases of Hirayasumi, Tsumiki Ogami's Not-So-Ordinary Life, Cosmos, Honeko Akabane's Bodyguards, and Imaginary. The column expresses disappointment with Imaginary Vol. 2, noting that the series has lost its imaginative spark and relies on out-of-place fanservice, while praising Honeko Akabane's Bodyguards Vol. 9 for its action-packed conclusion to a major arc.
A collaboration between the upcoming film "New Theatrical Version☆Keroro Gunso: Resurrection and Immediate Crisis of Earth's Destruction!" and "Mobile Suit Gundam" has been announced. Original illustrations by both series' creators and two collaboration Gunpla models will be released, with the film opening June 26, 2026.
2K Games announced at Summer Game Fest 2026 that the expansion Man of Honor for Mafia: Origin - The Betrayed Homeland will release on August 14, 2026. The expansion covers Salieri's rise in Sicily before his Lost Heaven days, includes two new story chapters and free ride content, and supports Japanese. Sales up to 85% off on the base game and previous Mafia titles are ongoing across Steam, Epic Games Store, and PS Store.
The new Magic Knight Rayearth anime has added three cast members, the production announced on June 5. Saori Hayami will voice Princess Emeraude, Yuki Ono will play the priest Zagato, and Mika Kikuchi will voice the creature Mokona. The anime is set to premiere in October 2026 on TV Asahi's IMAnimation W block. A world premiere screening of episodes 1 and 2 will take place at Anime Expo 2026 on July 4, with appearances by voice actors Rie Takahashi and Saori Hayami. The series is directed by Yui Miura in his series directorial debut, with E&H Production handling animation. Shigeru Murakoshi is writing the series scripts, Satomi Watabe is designing the characters, and Yuki Kajiura, Takumi Ozawa, and Shiho Terada are composing the music. UNLIMITED PRODUCE by TMS is producing the project. Previously announced main cast members include Ayane Sakura as Hikaru Shido, Rumi Okubo as Umi Ryuzaki, and Rie Takahashi as Fuu Hoji.
The anime Bungo Stray Dogs Wan! 2 will hold a collaboration campaign with tapioca shop Bull Pulu from June 11 to June 28, 2026. The event features newly illustrated mini-characters of Atsushi, Dazai, Akutagawa, and Chuuya on themed drinks, food, and merchandise including badges, keychains, and acrylic stands. Online sales run through July 5.
The official X account for the new Magic Knight Rayearth TV anime posted an image on June 4 showing only a date and time: June 5, 2026 at 17:00 JST. No further details were given. Social media speculation suggests the announcement could reveal additional cast members or theme song information. The anime is set to premiere in October 2026 on TV Asahi.
A new Bungo Stray Dogs spinoff manga by Shikiji Sorakura will launch in Kadokawa's Young Ace magazine on July 3. The manga adapts "Dazai o Hirotta Hi" (The Day I Took In Dazai), a novel bonus for the 2022 live-action film Bungo Stray Dogs the Movie: Beast.
The 33rd film in the Crayon Shin-chan movie series, titled "Crayon Shin-chan: Mysterious! My Yokai Vacation," will feature a theme song by singer-songwriter TOMOO. The song, titled "Otona ni Nattara" ("When I Grow Up"), was written specifically for the film. Alongside the announcement, the main trailer and poster visual were released on June 3 and June 4, 2026. The trailer shows the Nohara family wandering into a forbidden yokai country, where Hiroshi and Misae have their "oshiri-dama" (butt-shaped objects) removed and are transformed into yokai. Shinnosuke and the family, aided by friendly yokai, must retrieve the oshiri-dama before midnight the next day to restore his parents. Guest voice actors include Ito Sairi as the nine-tailed fox yokai Yako, who guides the family, and members of the comedy duo Mayurika as obstructive yokai. The film is directed by Masaki Watanabe, with a screenplay by Yoshiko Nakamura. It is scheduled for release on July 31, 2026, distributed by Toho.
Ubisoft announced a new title in the Rayman series during Sony Interactive Entertainment's State of Play broadcast on June 3, 2026. The game, Rayman Legends Retold, is a rebuilt version of the 2013 platformer Rayman Legends, using modern technology with 3D graphics and full voice acting. It supports local cooperative play for up to four players, with a new story and stages set in a world called Kung Foot. The announcement trailer showed characters Rayman, Globox, Barbara, and Grand Minimus. The release date is October 1, 2026, for PS5, with PC and Xbox Series X|S versions also planned. The game is a reconstruction of the original Rayman Legends, which first launched on Wii U and other platforms.
Anime Expo 2026 will host the world premieres of the Black Torch television anime and a new Magic Knight Rayearth anime, with guest Rie Takahashi. The event also features Master Detective Archives: RAIN CODE producer Shohei Sakakibara and scenario writer Kazutaka Kodaka, a first look at Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 from Studio Trigger, and U.S. premieres for Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia and Sparks of Tomorrow.
A pop-up shop selling collaboration merchandise for Chibi Maruko-chan and Crayon Shin-chan will open at Tokyo Solamachi from June 4 to June 21, 2026. The shop, called Okiraku Shoten, will carry stationery, household goods, and event-exclusive items, with a photo spot and a lottery prize for purchases over 2000 yen.
The 33rd 2D Crayon Shin-chan film, opening July 31, 2026, revealed three guest voice actors: Sairi Itō as a nine-tailed fox yōkai, and the comedy duo Mayurika as squid and flounder yōkai baseball players. The film sends the Nohara family to Akita and then to a yōkai world.