Stella& has announced Mithril, an AI production OS for short anime, and is advancing a joint short animation project using an idol IP with a global fandom. The studio has completed proofs of concept with major Japanese companies.
Stella& announced Mithril, an AI-based production OS that converts manga, light novels, and webtoons into short animations. The system handles story adaptation, camera direction, scene composition, and quality verification within one platform. Stella& has completed proofs of concept with major Japanese companies and is advancing a joint short animation project using an idol IP with a global fandom.
The announcement positions Stella& as a studio focused on using original IP as core input data rather than AI prompts, with professional staff managing final quality. The company aims to shorten anime production from years to months. No other stories in the Yomimono coverage address Stella& directly, so the dossier reflects only this single announcement and its details.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the cited Yomimono stories below, each itself sourced, then editorially reviewed. Every fact links the story it came from.
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The final performance of Suisei Hoshimachi's arena tour 'Once Upon a Stellar' will be broadcast live in theaters in Japan and overseas. The Fukuoka show on November 12 will screen at 51 Japanese theaters and venues in Taipei, Hong Kong, Macau, Seoul, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, and Melbourne. Domestic tickets are 5,000 yen.
SHIFT UP CTO Lee Dong-gi commented on the official music video for Stellar Blade: BLOOD RAIN, which drew mixed reactions after its July release over its use of AI generation technology and video quality. In an interview with TheGamer, he said the video was meant to show more of the game's beauty, world, and characters, and that the studio takes the reactions seriously. He said SHIFT UP will clearly separate game-related content from experimental content going forward, and described AI as a tool that should support developers' creativity. Platforms and release timing remain unannounced.
Kemco announced console versions of the visual novel Stellar Code for Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PS5, and PS4. The sci-fi mystery, originally released on PC in August 2025 by doujin circle Fragaria, will be playable at Tokyo Game Show 2026. Console release is scheduled for fall 2026.
The Harbinger DLC for Sins of a Solar Empire II launched on September 3, 2026, adding the fourth faction that was hinted at in the game's background lore. The release prompted a retrospective on the series, tracing its roots to 2008 and examining how Sins 2 modernized the franchise while preserving its competitive, war-focused identity.
Sara Hoshikawa of Nijisanji will release her second mini album 'Stella Note' on November 25, 2026, themed around fragrance and containing six tracks. Reservations opened on September 5. Her second solo live, 'Hoshikuzu Shining Day,' will be held on February 7, 2027, with ticket advance lottery serial codes included in album first pressings.
Shochiku Games will publish Estella, a 3D music rhythm game developed by Taiwan's Imanity. Players steer an octagonal interface with mouse and keyboard while 3D effects unfold in sync with the music, a play experience the studio compares to traveling through space as a comet. Each planet is a chapter told in visual novel format. Steam early access is planned for this winter with about 40 songs. A limited demo will be playable at Tokyo Game Show 2026 from September 17 to 21.
tuki. and Hoshimachi Suisei will hold a joint live titled 'Hoshifuru Bansankai' on December 20 at K-Arena Yokohama. The key visual was drawn by wataboku. Ticket advance reception begins August 30. The two became close after posting karaoke videos in 2025, and tuki. later provided the song 'Suisei' to Hoshimachi Suisei in December 2025. Hoshimachi Suisei established her personal agency Studio STELLAR in March 2026.
Hoshimachi Suisei, affiliated with hololive and Studio STELLAR, will perform at the South Korean music festival WONDERLIVET 2026 across two acts. She plays on November 20, and her project Midnight Grand Orchestra takes the stage on November 21. The festival runs November 20 to 22 at KINTEX HALL 7·8·9·10.
Amazon Prime Video announced on August 28 the full lineup of titles arriving on the service in September 2026, available to Prime members at no additional cost. The month is led by the exclusive streaming debut of the theatrical film 'Chainsaw Man - The Movie: Reze Arc' on September 19, which the press release cites with worldwide box office revenue of 29.7 billion yen. The film adapts a popular arc from Tatsuki Fujimoto's manga, directed by Tatsuya Yoshihara and produced by animation studio MAPPA. Beyond anime, the service will exclusively stream three major world title boxing bouts on September 27 under 'Prime Video Boxing 16,' headlined by the WBC world bantamweight title rematch between Takuma Inoue and Tenshin Nasukawa. The slate also includes Japanese live-action films 'Emergency Interrogation Room THE FINAL,' 'M.I.S.S.I.O.N.: An Operatic Undercover Investigator,' and the comedy 'License Return?!'. International films arriving September 1 include eight Christopher Nolan directorial works, all 11 films in the 'Resident Evil' movie series, and the Sharknado franchise's fifth and sixth entries. The anime section adds seasons one through three of 'Laid-Back Camp' from September 1.
SHIFT UP announced on August 27, 2026, that the Nintendo Switch 2 version of Stellar Blade Complete Edition will be playable for the first time by the general public at Tokyo Game Show 2026. The demo will feature six stations set up in the Sega Partners Corner within the Sega/Atlus Booth (Hall 4/04-N01) at Makuhari Messe. TGS 2026 runs from September 17 to 21, with business days on the 17th and 18th, and public days from the 19th to the 21st. The Switch 2 version is scheduled for release within 2026. A special stage will be held on September 20, featuring Stellar Blade director and SHIFT UP CEO Kim Hyung-tae. The stage will be conducted in Korean with Japanese interpretation and will be livestreamed on Sega's official YouTube channel. Stellar Blade is an action-adventure game where players control Eve, a member of a space colony unit, fighting to reclaim Earth from creatures called Natives. The game was previously released for PS5 in April 2024 and for PC in June 2025.
Toei Animation and Studio51's visual novel Expelled from Paradise -The Stellar Angel- launches November 26 on Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam, with an English release and English and Japanese support. Toei describes it as a sequel depicting the aftermath of the theatrical anime. A feature-length film sequel, Kokoro no Resonance, opens in Japan on November 13.
Toei Animation and Studio51 announced on August 21 that the visual novel game "Rakuen Tsuihou -The Stellar Angel-" will launch for Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam on November 26, 2026. The game is a completely new story set between the 2014 theatrical film "Expelled from Paradise" and the upcoming anime "Rakuen Tsuihou: Kokoro no Resonance," scheduled for release on November 13, 2026. The scenario is written by Shotaro Teshirogi, author of the prequel novel "Rakuen Tsuihou mission.0." The story follows Angela Balzac, voiced by Rie Kugimiya, and her partner Dingo, voiced by Shinichiro Miki, in the year 2400 on a devastated Earth. Angela has defected from the cyber world Deva and now works as a jack-of-all-trades with Dingo. The plot centers on a desert town called Svaroga, where parallel plants are spreading and giant worms are attacking people, while a Deva Security Bureau agent has fled to the surface with a classified file. The game features a choice system called the K2-system, where players choose between "KIZUNA" (leaning toward human emotion) or "KAKUGO" (staying true to one's mission), leading to multiple endings. Prices are 6,380 yen for the standard package, 5,280 yen for the download version, and 11,880 yen for the limited edition.
Game Spark traces Kim Hyung-tae's career from a boy who dreamed of being a manga artist to the founder of SHIFT UP and director of Stellar Blade. The profile covers his early rejection, his work on Magna Carta and Blade & Soul, and his decision to leave NCsoft to found SHIFT UP in 2013.
SHIFT UP reported on August 11 that 'Stellar Blade: Blood Rain' is progressing smoothly toward its quality targets. The sequel, announced at Summer Game Fest 2026, shifts to self-publishing. The company aims to surpass the original by approaching users directly. The Switch 2 version of the original is set for release in late 2026.
Game*Spark's weekly ranking for July 31 to August 6, 2026, lists the top five most-read articles. The list includes backlash over SHIFT UP's AI-generated music video for 'Stellar Blade: BLOOD RAIN', an analysis of Japan's untapped mech game market, and a Q&A revealing new skills and hard mode for 'Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen'.
SHIFT UP released a music video for "Wanna be in LOVE" Feat. Evie on July 31, tied to the in-development sequel Stellar Blade: BLOOD RAIN. The video, which features protagonist Evie singing and walking through the game's city, was created using game resources and regenerated with AI assistance, as stated in the video description. YouTube's disclosure section notes that audio and visuals were partially modified or entirely generated by AI. The video has drawn criticism from the community, with comments ranging from calls to stop using AI altogether to complaints about low quality, such as Evie's face changing unnaturally and the text "Fairness and Peace" on her suit appearing distorted. Some fans who are not opposed to AI use still reacted negatively, saying "What matters is how AI is used" and "Don't use AI for promotions." SHIFT UP CEO Kim Hyung-tae responded that the character Evie was built over more than a year by the studio's artists and modelers, and that AI did not create her from scratch. The A.I Labs logo appears at the end of the video, and the company has an internal organization focused on AI-driven development efficiency. Platforms and release timing for Stellar Blade: BLOOD RAIN have not been announced.
The idol unit Ghostella, formed from the eight Edo swords of 'Pure Cure Touken Danshi' based on 'Touken Ranbu', will release its first album 'Firstella' on October 16, 2026. The album contains 13 tracks and is available for pre-order now. Early reservation bonuses are offered by DMM Online Shopping and Animate.
JTB announced official access tours for Suisei Hoshimachi's 4-city arena tour "Once Upon a Stellar." Two 1-night, 2-day plans with hotel accommodation are available for each venue, offering perks like a replica staff T-shirt, a handwritten message, and an original audio bonus exclusive to the plan with airport transfer. Applications are open by lottery from July 2 to July 15.
Claims that overseas forum users urged credit card companies to regulate the upcoming Stellar Blade sequel have been debunked. The post, made on ResetEra, was a trolling attempt that resulted in the user being banned. The forum is not organizing any such call for regulation.
Grand Cinema Sunshine Ikebukuro and 109 Cinemas Osaka Expo City will host an IMAX Christopher Nolan Special from July 10 to July 16, screening Interstellar and Tenet with select scenes in the 1.43:1 aspect ratio via IMAX Laser/GT technology. A special screening of Project Hail Mary is also planned for July 11.
Stella& announced Mithril, an AI-based production OS that converts manga, light novels, and webtoons into short animations. The system handles story adaptation, camera direction, scene composition, and quality verification within one platform. Stella& has completed proofs of concept with major Japanese companies and is advancing a joint short animation project using an idol IP with a global fandom.
Christopher Nolan's 2014 film Interstellar will be screened in full at Tokyo International Forum on September 26, 2026, with a live performance of Hans Zimmer's score by the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor Matt Dunkley and organist Charlie Andrews travel to Japan for the event. Advance tickets went on sale June 10.
Automaton's 85th weekly roundup highlights seven notable game articles, including the October 2 release of Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve with a pre-order bonus port of Ace Combat Zero, the announcement of Monster Hunter Wilds large DLC Ascendance featuring Kushala Daora and Lao-Shan Lung, and Palworld's official release on July 10 with its biggest update.
SHIFT UP officially announced the sequel to its 2024 action game Stellar Blade during the Summer Game Fest 2026 livestream on June 6. The new title is called Stellar Blade: Bloodrain (also styled Stellar Blade BLOOD RAIN). The trailer showed stylish action scenes and cutscenes with high-fidelity graphics. Multiple sources identify the protagonist as a short-haired woman named Evie, while one source suggests the character may be Lily, the mechanic who supported protagonist Eve in the first game. The footage reportedly uses in-game scenes from the PC version. SHIFT UP has not yet released detailed information about the story, release platforms, or launch window. The announcement was part of the Summer Game Fest 2026 showcase, which streamed at 6:00 AM Japan time.
Virtual idol Hoshimachi Suisei announced the launch of her personal agency, Studio STELLAR, during an acoustic live stream on March 22, marking her 8th anniversary and birthday. The new agency will manage her solo artist activities, including music production, streaming, merchandise sales, and fan club operations, in collaboration with hololive production operator COVER Corporation and the newly established NERD Inc. NERD Inc., which also manages TAKU INOUE and the group Midnight Grand Orchestra, describes itself as an independent artist agency for extraordinary talents. Suisei will continue group and collaborative activities as a hololive production talent. She also revealed a new artist photo and a logo featuring a crown-like symbol. Alongside the agency launch, Suisei announced a 2026 arena tour titled "Once upon a Stellar" across four cities: Yokohama, Kobe, Nagoya, and Fukuoka. Midnight Grand Orchestra will resume activities and hold a second solo live concert, "Project:Allegro," in February 2027.