Wednesday, 9 September 2026
Anime, manga, and games, with a take · A Yukimedia publication

← all stories

Twin Engine

Twin Engine is an anime planning and production company that has recently expanded into direct manga publishing and theatrical distribution, with multiple projects including the sequel to Nippon Sangoku, the Mononoke film trilogy, and the Netflix film The Ribbon Hero.

Synthesized from 9 Yomimono stories · updated 1h ago

Twin Engine has been active across several fronts since May 2026. The company is producing the third film in the Mononoke trilogy, which premiered on May 29, with Kenji Nakamura returning as general director and Tomoaki Koshida directing at Studio Kafka and EOTA. The film features a new trailer and a theme song by Aina The End. Twin Engine also released a promotional video for The Ribbon Hero, an animated film based on Osamu Tezuka's Princess Knight, which premiered on Netflix worldwide on August 8, followed by a limited two-week theatrical run starting September 4.

In a broader move, Twin Engine and Bandai announced a strategic partnership in early August to produce at least one joint project covering original manga, animated adaptation, and licensed merchandise, with a combined investment of up to 4 billion yen. This led to the launch of Bibibi Comic, a web manga platform, on August 7, with 31 works initially, including the first official spin-off manga of Super Kaguya-hime!, titled Super Kaguya Meshi!.

Later in August, Twin Engine announced stage greetings for the revival screenings of Super Kaguya-hime!, reuniting the cast and director for the first time since February. In September, the company green-lit a sequel to the Nippon Sangoku television anime, just two months after the first season's finale, though details remain undisclosed.

Key facts

Nippon Sangoku sequel
Sequel green-lit; announcement came two months after first season finale on June 21. ↗
Nippon Sangoku first season
Aired on April 5 on Amazon Prime Video in over 240 countries, with a Japan pre-release on U-NEXT on April 6. ↗
The Ribbon Hero
Netflix animated film premiered August 8; limited theatrical run starts September 4 for two weeks. ↗
Mononoke the Movie: Chapter 3
Debuted in Japan on May 29; directed by Tomoaki Koshida, with Kenji Nakamura as general director. ↗
Bibibi Comic
Launched August 7 with 31 works, including Super Kaguya Meshi!, a spin-off of Super Kaguya-hime!. ↗
Partnership with Bandai
Strategic partnership announced August 5; plans at least one joint project covering original manga, anime, and licensed merchandise. ↗
Investment amount
Up to 4 billion yen (about US$25.35 million) for the joint initiative. ↗
Super Kaguya-hime! revival
Stage greetings on September 20 with Yuko Natsuyoshi, Anna Nagase, Saori Hayami, and director Seigo Yamashita. ↗

Timeline

Synthesized by Yomimono from the cited Yomimono stories below, each itself sourced, then editorially reviewed. Every fact links the story it came from.

Facts

Announced
production on a sequel to Nippon Sangoku television anime has been green-lit · 2026-09-03
Announced
strategic partnership with Bandai · 2026-08-06
Announced
stage greetings for the revival screenings of Super Kaguya-hime! will take place on September 20 at three theaters · 2026-08-19
Announced
launched web manga label Bibibi Comic · 2026-08-12
Release
manga · 2026-08-07 · 2026-08-12

Connections

Produces
bibibi comic, the ribbon hero, super kaguya hime, mononoke the movie chapter 3 snake god

Structured graph also available as JSON at /public/entities/twin-engine. CC BY 4.0.

Claim activity

When a claim about Twin Engine was confirmed, debunked, or disputed against open-web sources. The record stays even after a claim drops off the facts list.

  • Confirmed twin engine produces mononoke the movie chapter 3 snake god May 28 · source

All coverage

6d ago

Nippon Sangoku Sequel Anime Green-Lit by Twin Engine

Twin Engine announced on Thursday that production on a sequel to the Nippon Sangoku television anime has been green-lit. The announcement came two months after the first season's finale aired on June 21. The studio posted an announcement video featuring footage from the first anime, but did not reveal further details about the sequel. The first anime, based on Ikka Matsuki's manga, aired on April 5 on Amazon Prime Video in over 240 countries and territories, with a pre-release broadcast in Japan on U-NEXT on April 6. The series is set in a near-future Japan where civilization has regressed due to nuclear war, natural disasters, and corrupt governance, fracturing into three nations. The story follows Aoteru Misumi, a former local bureaucrat who rises to become a strategist aiming to reunify Japan. The anime was directed by Kazuaki Terasawa at Studio Kafka, with character designs by Takahiko Abiru and music by Kevin Penkin. The main cast includes Kensho Ono as Aoteru Misumi and Asami Seto as Saki Higashimachi. Matsuki launched the manga on Shogakukan's Manga ONE app and Ura Sunday website in 2021.

Aug 27

The Ribbon Hero Theatrical Run Adds Bromide and Sticker Merch

Twin Engine announced on August 27 that the Netflix animated film The Ribbon Hero, based on Osamu Tezuka's Princess Knight, will screen in select theaters for a limited two-week run starting September 4. The film has been streaming worldwide on Netflix since August 8. The first-week visitor gift is a CD with the theme song Reborn, featuring a jacket illustration by character designer Kei Mochizuki. The second-week gift will be announced later. Separately, IID began selling character bromides and stickers from the film on August 26 through its Entertainment Print service, available at multi-copy machines in FamilyMart, Lawson, and Ministop stores. The full-body bromides come in 8 types in L and 2L sizes, priced at 300 and 400 yen, while the stickers are a single 2L type at 500 yen. Sales run through March 31, 2027. The film is directed by Yuki Igarashi, his first feature-length directorial work, with animation production by studio OUTLINE.

Aug 12

Twin Engine Launches Bibibi Comic Label With Super Kaguya Meshi

Twin Engine launched the web manga label Bibibi Comic on August 7, 2026, releasing 31 works at once. The slate includes Super Kaguya Meshi!, the first official spin-off manga of the film Super Kaguya-hime!. Set 10 years after the film, it follows Kaguya and Aya Sakayori. A launch commemorative issue and a promotional video were also released.

Aug 10

Twin Engine and Bandai Launch New Manga Platform Bibibi Comic

Twin Engine and Bandai launched Bibibi Comic, a new manga platform offering 33 titles at launch. Readers can use free tickets earned through missions and access one free chapter every 23 hours. The platform is part of a joint initiative covering original manga, anime adaptations, and licensed merchandise.

Aug 6

Twin Engine and Bandai Partner for Manga, Anime, and Merchandise

Anime planning and production company Twin Engine and toy and merchandising company Bandai announced a strategic partnership on Wednesday. The two companies plan to produce at least one joint project involving original manga, animated adaptation, and licensed merchandise. Twin Engine will handle animation planning and production, while Bandai will manage product development and licensing. The companies aim to invest up to 4 billion yen (about US$25.35 million).

Jul 27

The Ribbon Hero Film Promo Shows Pine and Sapphire's Bond

Twin Engine released a promotional video for The Ribbon Hero anime film, based on Osamu Tezuka's Princess Knight manga. The video focuses on the relationship between Sapphire and her friend Pine. The film premieres on Netflix worldwide on August 8.

May 31

Anime Producers Build In-House Film Distribution Systems

Anime production companies are moving away from relying on legacy theatrical distributors like Toho, Shochiku, and Toei, instead forming their own domestic film distribution systems to retain a larger share of box office earnings. This week, Sony-owned Aniplex and publishing giant Kadokawa announced a joint venture called Animec for anime film distribution and promotion. The following day, Bandai Namco Filmworks established a new film distribution division, building on early success with the short film "Milky Subway: The Galactic Limited Express," which opened in fourth place at the Japanese box office last month despite screening in only 73 theaters and has earned over ¥400 million (US$2.5 million) domestically. Bandai Namco Filmworks also plans to use its distribution expertise to redistribute older films in its catalog. The shift comes as anime's fourteen highest-grossing films in 2025 earned a cumulative ¥90.1 billion (US$573 million) at the Japanese box office, with at least half of that going to distributors.

May 17

Third Mononoke Film Streams New Trailer Ahead of May 29 Debut

Twin Engine released a new trailer for Mononoke the Movie: Chapter 3: Snake God on Thursday, ahead of its May 29 theatrical debut in Japan. The trailer shows more of the supernatural chaos in the inner palace, with the emperor and priest Hokuto Mizorogi playing larger roles. Aina The End performs the theme song "No Epilogue." New cast members include Miyuki Sawashiro as the Third Empress, Fumi Hirano as Tokiwai, Mariko Honda as Kawa, Yukana as Amanotsubone, and Eiji Takemoto as Saku Mizorogi. Kenji Nakamura returns as general director from the second film, while Tomoaki Koshida directs at Studio Kafka and EOTA. The story follows the Medicine Seller confronting a giant snake-shaped Mononoke called the Snake God. He must discover its three characteristics-form, truth, and reason-before he can slay it. The roots of the conflict lie 150 years in the past, in the true story of the inner palace's birth. The first two films in the trilogy, Phantom in the Rain and The Ashes of Rage, premiered in July 2024 and March 2025 respectively, and are streaming on Netflix.