Yoshitaka Amano's ZAN is a limited anime series in active production, with a trailer debut scheduled for July 3 at Anime Expo, and a larger project that includes a blockchain game and NFT art.
Yoshitaka Amano's ZAN anime project, based on his DEVA ZAN art, has been in development for over a decade. Originally announced as a film in 2010, it was rebooted as a series in 2022. In June 2026, Amano announced he had established Yoshitaka Amano Inc., a Los Angeles-based company, and that production had begun on ZAN as a limited anime series. The project is part of a larger ZAN initiative that includes a blockchain game and NFT art.
On July 2, 2026, the project named its staff, featuring several mecha anime veterans: Ryōsuke Takahashi, Masashi Ikeda, Tōru Yoshida, Moriyasu Taniguchi, and Kunio Ōkawara. The first trailer for the series is set to debut at Anime Expo in Los Angeles on July 3. The staffing announcement and trailer debut mark a concrete step toward production after years of development.
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Game Spark played MBC Game Studio's 1001 Threads of Mizan at gamescom 2026 and spoke with the team. The co-op action adventure adapts One Thousand and One Nights, casting players as three heroes who ride flying carpets and fight Jinn to restore the Knights of Mizan. The demo showed aggressive combat, soulslike boss encounters, and a carpet system that drives both movement and battle.
Automaton played a pre-alpha co-op demo of 1001 Threads of Mizan at gamescom 2026. The writer chose Malik, a tank who fights with a shield that splits into two. The flying carpet is the standout feature: it handles movement, evasion, attack, and teammate rescue, and it sits at the center of combat design. Three-player co-op against large bosses worked naturally without pre-assigned roles. The game is in development for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2. Release timing is undecided.
At gamescom 2026, MBC Game Studio revealed its debut work, an action adventure based on One Thousand and One Nights. It supports solo play up to 3-player co-op and features seamless switching between magic carpet flight and ground combat. A demo was shown to media at the studio's closed booth.
Mami Tsumura will launch a new manga titled Tanosuke no Kawazanyō (Tanosuke's Overly Optimistic Estimation) in Shogakukan's Big Comic Superior magazine's 19th issue on September 11, announced the magazine's 18th issue on Friday. Tsumura is the author of Kotaro Lives Alone, which ended in June 2023 after a decade-long run.
MBC Game Studio announced its debut title, '1001 Threads of Mizan', during the gamescom 2026 Opening Night Live broadcast on August 26, 2026, Japan time. The game is a co-op action-adventure inspired by 'One Thousand and One Nights' (Arabian Nights), set in an Arabian-style fantasy world. Players control one of three heroes, Yusra, Malik, and Sufyan, who are gathered by the storyteller Scheherazade to stop an ancient king of the Jinn from destroying humanity out of revenge. The core gameplay involves movement and aerial combat on flying carpets, with battles against giant Jinn that tower dozens of meters high. The game supports solo play and co-op for up to three players, with free drop-in and drop-out. A pre-alpha playable build is being shown at gamescom 2026, and the release date has not yet been announced. The game is planned for PC via Steam and Epic Games Store, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2, with cross-platform support also planned.
Urozane launched a manga adaptation of Nabeshiki's Heion ni Ikitai [Status All 1] wa Kyō mo Kyō tote Sekai wo Sukū web novel on Kodansha's Comic Days platform on August 14. The story follows a protagonist whose status points drop to 1, leading to battles in the Shinjuku Dungeon. Nabeshiki serialized the web novel from January to March 2022.
Izanagi Games released a free trial version for the PlayStation 5 version of AKIBA LOST today, August 20, 2026. The full-motion live-action suspense game, developed with Nippon TV and AX-ON, will have its Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch demos arrive on August 27. Pre-orders for the download version are now open, with a 10 percent discount on the PS5 version running until September 16. The company also detailed two pieces of downloadable content: an original soundtrack with 31 tracks, including 22 from the TV drama, and a drama movie containing all six episodes broadcast on Nippon TV, playable within the game. Tsukasa Masuko, known for the Shin Megami Tensei series, handles the in-game BGM and sound effects. A Digital Deluxe Edition bundling the main game with the soundtrack, drama movie, and two pixel art costume sets is also planned. The full game releases on September 17, 2026, for Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, and Steam.
Wazang Games opened the Steam store page for Slaymeji: Roguelite Desktop Survivor on August 8, 2026. The game launches September 1 with an undecided price. It combines survivor-style roguelite combat with a desktop-resident character. Players complete real-world tasks to earn currency and unlock new hunters.
BANDAI SPIRITS announced that Kamen Rider Zangetsu, from the 2013 series "Kamen Rider Gaim," will join the S.H.Figuarts (Shinkocchou Seihou) action figure line. The figure, in his basic Melon Arms form, will be available for preorder on Premium Bandai and the Tamashii Web Shop starting Friday, August 7, 2026, at 16:00 JST. The figure stands approximately 145mm tall and is priced at 11,000 yen (tax included), with shipping scheduled for March 2027. The sculpt reproduces the melon rind texture of the armor and the wrinkles of the undersuit Ride Wear, along with the scale-like designs on the forearms and thighs. The shoulder armor has movable parts that open outward, allowing a range of action poses. The figure includes the sword-type weapon Musou Saber, which features a face plate exclusive to Zangetsu and can hold a Melon Lockseed in its guard. The shield-type Arms Weapon Melon Defender is also included. The Sengoku Driver belt has a movable Cutting Blade to recreate finisher activation poses. The Melon Lockseed comes in normal and panel-open states, and the armor can be swapped with other Shinkocchou Seihou Kamen Rider Gaim figures.
Satomi U's manga Heisei Haizan-hei Sumire-chan is going on hiatus from mid-July to mid-October while the author takes maternity leave. The series, which follows a failed idol plotting revenge against the entertainment industry, launched in Weekly Young Magazine in January 2024 and has ten compiled volumes.
Indie developer Sabamizore has released the short adventure game 'Torimazange' for free. Players confess their troubles to a gal sister-a nun with blonde drill hair and flashy attire-in a village church. The game takes about 10 minutes to clear all endings and includes interactions like love advice and headpats. It is available for download or browser play from the developer's homepage.
At Anime Expo 2026, a panel of veteran creators including Ryōsuke Takahashi and Tōru Yoshida discussed the history of mecha anime and the influence of Moriyasu Taniguchi. The panel also touched on the upcoming ZAN project by Yoshitaka Amano. Takahashi shared memories of working with Osamu Tezuka during the 1980s 'Golden Age' and warned against overwork.
Dark Horse announced during Yoshitaka Amano's panel at Anime Expo on Friday that it is releasing a second edition of Amano's Deva Zan artbook novel. Amano is illustrating a new cover for the release. The first edition was released in English in hardcover in January 2013.
Yoshitaka Amano's long-gestating anime project ZAN, based on his 2010 art collection DEVA ZAN, has revealed its staff and will premiere a pilot film at Anime Expo 2026 in Los Angeles on July 3. The project, now listed as a limited anime series, was originally announced as a film in 2010 and rebooted as a series in 2022. The staff includes several mecha anime veterans who previously worked together on Armored Trooper Votoms. Shigeyasu Yamauchi and Toru Yoshida are directing. Ryosuke Takahashi is handling series composition. Moriyasu Taniguchi is chief animation director. Kunio Okawara is mechanical designer. Minoru Nishida is art director. The story follows a young samurai named ZAN from Sengoku-era Japan who is guided by a mysterious girl, Uzume, into a different world governed by the life symbol Trope and its ruler RIKKA. Alongside the announcement, Amano launched a new US-based company, Yoshitaka Amano Inc., headquartered in Los Angeles, which will focus on animation production, art management, and licensing. An immersive exhibition called AMANO is also planned for global expansion starting in 2027.
Artist Yoshitaka Amano announced he has established Yoshitaka Amano Inc., a Los Angeles-based company, and that production has begun on ZAN, a limited anime series based on his DEVA ZAN art. The project, previously announced as a film in 2010 and rebooted as a series in 2022, will debut its first trailer at Anime Expo in Los Angeles on July 3. The anime is part of a larger ZAN project that includes a blockchain game and NFT art.
IzanagiGames and Good Smile Company released the mystery adventure game 'Dark Auction Nintendo Switch 2 Edition' on June 11, 2026. The package version costs 6,040 yen, and the download version costs 5,050 yen. Owners of the original Nintendo Switch version can upgrade for 100 yen via an Upgrade Pass. The game features an original story and scenario by Rika Suzuki, known for 'Another Code' and 'Wish Room', with character design by Kohsuke, the manga artist of 'GANGSTA.'. Music is by Yuko Komiyama, who worked on the 'Monster Hunter' series, and Tsukasa Masuko, known for the 'Megami Tensei' series. The Switch 2 Edition offers improved resolution, higher frame rate, and faster loading times. The game is set in 1981 Europe, where protagonist Noah, voiced by Kengo Kawanishi, searches for his missing father Leonardo, voiced by Rikiya Koyama, who disappeared after attending a mysterious auction. Players explore a castle and participate in an auction where memories are used as currency. The game was previously released on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and Steam in January 2026.
The official Oishinbo X account announced a special compilation for the official YouTube channel titled "A Little Kind Kaibara Yuzan Special." It compiles episodes where the strict gourmet advisor Yuzan Kaibara shows kindness. The special premieres on June 12 at 8:00 PM.
Izanagi Games released a free demo of the live-action suspense game AKIBA LOST on Steam on June 5, 2026. The demo covers the morning of the first in-game day and lets players control all seven main characters, including protagonist Taiki Shinjo played by former Kis-My-Ft2 member Hiromitsu Kitayama. The game is set in Akihabara and revolves around the unsolved disappearance of six girls 13 years ago, an incident called the Akiba Kamikakushi. Players switch between characters using a zapping system, make choices that affect character fates, and explore scenes with a 360-degree camera. Save data from the demo carries over to the full version, scheduled for release on September 17 on PS5, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC via Steam. The demo also includes a preview of the theme song BUGlitch performed by Kitayama. The full game features over 20 hours of video footage and approximately 100,000 still images. A live-action drama adaptation of AKIBA LOST is currently airing, with six episodes designed to complement the game.
Good Smile Company announced a POP UP PARADE figure of Devil Nira-chan (Zanki) from Zutto Mayonaka de Iinoni.'s music video for the song 'Zanki.' The non-scale painted plastic figure stands about 170mm tall and includes a base. It is scheduled for release in November 2026 at 6,500 yen.
The upcoming "New Theatrical Version ☆ Keroro Gunsō: Revival and Immediate Crisis of Earth's Destruction!" has announced seven new guest voice actors, including Keigo Sato (JO1), Yusei Yagi (FANTASTICS), Suzanne, Rina Watanabe (Hinatazaka46), Tomokazu Seki, Natsuki Hanae, and Koichi Yamadera. The film commemorates the anime's 20th anniversary and is the first new movie in 16 years, directed by Yuichi Fukuda. It opens nationwide on June 26.
The official website for the new Sgt. Frog 20th anniversary anime film, Shin Gekijōban ☆ Keroro Gunsō Fukkatsu Shite Sokkō Chikyū Metsubō no Kiki de Arimasu!, announced seven additional guest voice cast members on Tuesday. The film opens in Japan on June 26. The new guest cast includes Tomokazu Seki as Warrior #7, Natsuki Hanae as an alien, Kōichi Yamadera as the Space Police Chief, JO1 member Keigo Satō and FANTASTICS member Yūsei Yagi as men in Shibuya, Suzanne as a Kumamoto announcer, and Hinatazaka46 member Rina Watanabe as a woman in Shibuya. Watanabe's role marks her first voice acting work. Jesse of the idol group SixTONES voices brothers Aruru and Deruru from planet Keron. Singer ano and comedian Soshina, who perform the opening theme song "Mata Kaettekita KERO! to MARCH," also appear as guest cast: ano plays a researcher robot, and Soshina plays a man in Shibuya. Yūichi Fukuda is supervising director and scriptwriter, with Fumitoshi Oizaki directing at Bandai Namco Pictures. A new Sgt. Frog television anime with a brand-new cast will debut in fall 2026.
The six-episode Takopi's Original Sin anime, which premiered in June 2025, is being re-edited into a theatrical compilation film. The project was announced on May 23, 2026, via the anime's official website. The film is titled Takopi's Original Sin -Thank You, See You Tomorrow- and will include newly added scenes alongside the compiled episodes. No release date has been set. The television series was directed by Shinya Iino (Dr. Stone) at studio ENISHIYA, with character designs by Keita Nagahara and music by Yoshiaki Fujisawa. The voice cast includes Kurumi Mamiya as Takopi, Reina Ueda as Shizuka Kuze, Konomi Kohara as Marina, and Anna Nagase as Azuma. The series streamed on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Crunchyroll, and other platforms. The original manga by Taizan 5 ran in Shueisha's Shonen Jump+ from December 2021 to March 2022, spanning two compiled volumes. VIZ Media holds the English license. The anime received seven nominations at the 10th Crunchyroll Anime Awards in 2026, including Anime of the Year.