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Ado
Ado is set to perform the theme song "Monstruo" for the live-action Blue Lock film, which releases August 7.
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Yomimono stories · updated
14m ago
Ado's most recent announced project is the theme song for the live-action film adaptation of the manga "Blue Lock." The track, titled "Monstruo," was composed and arranged by Giga and TeddyLoid, with lyrics by ryo (supercell). This team previously worked together on Ado's hits "Dance" and "Sing." The film is directed by Yusuke Taki and produced by CREDEUS, with a cast led by Fumiya Takahashi as protagonist Yoichi Isagi. Advance movie tickets go on sale June 12.
The story of the film follows 300 high school strikers gathered at the "Blue Lock" facility, competing to become the world's top striker for Japan's national team. Ado described the song as matching the work's message of awakening an inner monster to push forward. The film is set for release on August 7.
Key facts
- Theme song for live-action Blue Lock film
- Ado will perform the theme song "Monstruo" for the live-action Blue Lock film. ↗
- Song credits
- "Monstruo" was composed and arranged by Giga and TeddyLoid, with lyrics by ryo (supercell). ↗
- Film release date
- The live-action Blue Lock film is set for release on August 7. ↗
- Film director and producer
- The film is directed by Yusuke Taki and produced by CREDEUS. ↗
Timeline
- Jun 4, 2026 Ado to Perform Theme Song for Live-Action Blue Lock Film
- Jun 4, 2026 Young Ace July Issue Launches Two New Serializations
- Jun 4, 2026 Infinity: HexaDome Tactics Announced for Steam, Fall 2026 Release
- Jun 4, 2026 Limit Zero Breakers Opens Additional Steam CBT Signups, VTuber Streams Announced
- Jun 4, 2026 Squid Girl Creator Masahiro Anbe to Launch Badokon! Badminton Manga
- Jun 3, 2026 Ben Stegmair Discusses Mentorship and Manga Rushmore on Something Genuine
- Jun 1, 2026 Daemons of the Shadow Realm Episode 9 Ties Up Loose Ends
- Jun 1, 2026 Ascendance of a Bookworm Episode 8 Pushes Rosemyne Into Darker Political Waters
- May 31, 2026 Paradox Live The Animation Film Project Announced With 9 Teams
- May 31, 2026 Daemons of the Shadow Realm Anime Adds Five Cast Members
- May 31, 2026 Daemons of the Shadow Realm Episode 1 Is a Gory, Thrilling Premiere
- May 31, 2026 Original Anime Films Struggle at the Box Office
- May 31, 2026 CloverWorks POP UP SHOP 2026 Tour Announced for Three Cities
- May 30, 2026 AniFem Round-Up Covers BL OVAs, Gene Bride, and Anime in the UK
- May 30, 2026 The Villainess Is Adored by the Prince of the Neighbor Kingdom Premiere Plays It Safe
- May 30, 2026 Daemons of the Shadow Realm Anime Previews 9th Episode
- May 30, 2026 Rie Kugimiya Birthday Poll Crowns Taiga Aisaka Again
- May 29, 2026 KADOKAWA World Manga Contest Winners Named
- May 28, 2026 GKIDS Brings Adolescence of Utena to North American Theaters for Two Nights
- May 28, 2026 Yu Shimizu's Howling Blaze Fantasy Light Novels Get Manga Adaptation
- May 28, 2026 Kokō Na Kanojo to, Kanojo no Heya de Shiteru Koto Light Novel Gets Manga Adaptation
- May 27, 2026 Madoka and Homura Get Plastic Models as Walpurgis No Kaiten Ver.
- May 26, 2026 Kadokawa's Da Vinci Magazine to End Publication After 32 Years
- May 25, 2026 Sal Jiang's Wicked Spot Manga Ends in Two Chapters
- May 22, 2026 Three New Manga Series Launch in ASUKA's July Issue
- May 22, 2026 Kadokawa Reports 51.3% Profit Drop, Blames Isekai Oversaturation
- May 20, 2026 Kadokawa Admits Isekai Overreliance Led to Profit Collapse
- May 19, 2026 Ascendance of a Bookworm Part 3 Episode 5 Advances Printing and Concert Prep
- May 19, 2026 Daemons of the Shadow Realm Casts Shinichirō Miki as Ivan Yosano
- May 19, 2026 Daemons of the Shadow Realm Episode 5 Delivers the Long-Awaited Sibling Meeting
Synthesized by Yomimono from the cited Yomimono stories below, each itself
sourced, then editorially reviewed. Every
fact links the story it came from.
All coverage
2h ago
The live-action film adaptation of the manga "Blue Lock" has revealed that Ado will perform its theme song, a new track titled "Monstruo." The announcement came on June 5 alongside a new trailer and main poster. The film, directed by Yusuke Taki and produced by CREDEUS, is set for release on August 7. It follows 300 high school strikers gathered at the "Blue Lock" facility, competing to become the world's top striker for Japan's national team. Fumiya Takahashi stars as protagonist Yoichi Isagi, with a cast including Kaito Sakurai, Kyōhei Takahashi, K (from &TEAM), and Masataka Kubota as project leader Jinpachi Ego. "Monstruo" was composed and arranged by Giga and TeddyLoid, with lyrics by ryo (supercell). Ado described the song as matching the work's message of awakening an inner monster to push forward. Advance movie tickets featuring the film's visuals go on sale June 12.
15h ago
The July issue of Young Ace, released June 4, features the start of two new serializations: a new work by Roku Sakura titled "I Can't Die Until I Make My Childhood Friend Happy!!" and a manga adaptation of the theatrical anime "WASTED CHEF" directed by Takayuki Hirao. The former is a misunderstanding love triangle romantic comedy, while the latter is a sci-fi story about a chef in a world without taste.
18h ago
Blindspot Games announced Infinity: HexaDome Tactics, the first PC game adaptation of the Infinity series, for Steam in fall 2026. The 1v1 turn-based tactics game is set in the HexaDome arena and features hexagonal grid combat, team building, and sponsor objectives. A pre-release tournament event begins June 2026.
19h ago
NC Corporation announced on June 4 that it is recruiting additional participants for the Steam closed beta test of the action RPG Limit Zero Breakers. The Prologue Beta Test will run from June 11 to June 15 on Steam, iOS, and Android. The additional recruitment period for Steam players in Japan closes on June 8 at 23:59. Mobile platform signups have already ended. During the test, three VTubers will stream gameplay: Kogane Toto of Vspo! will stream solo on June 14 at 19:00, while Neo-Porte members Aruyo Inu and Kohaku Teto will collaborate on a joint stream on June 15 at 19:00. The game is being developed by VIC GAME STUDIOS and marketed by KADOKAWA. It is described as a free-to-play animation action RPG set in the land of Seraphia, where characters seek the God's Library, a legendary artifact said to grant wishes. The game is planned for release on PC via Steam and PURPLE, as well as smartphones.
20h ago
Masahiro Anbe, creator of Squid Girl, will launch a new girls' badminton comedy manga titled Badokon! in Akita Shoten's Weekly Shōnen Champion on July 23. The announcement appeared in the magazine's 27th issue and on Anbe's social media.
1d ago
Voice actor and ADR assistant director Ben Stegmair appeared on the podcast Something Genuine Season 2, Episode 2. He discussed his early focus on voice acting, the mentors who shaped his career, and his role as Yuru in Daemons of the Shadow Realm. Stegmair also shared his Mt. Rushmore of manga and his ambition to create original comics.
3d ago
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3d ago
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4d ago
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4d ago
The television anime adaptation of Hiromu Arakawa's manga Daemons of the Shadow Realm (Yomi no Tsugai) announced five new cast members on Sunday, May 31. Yū Shimamura will voice Natsuki Kurotani, and Hayato Fujii will play Fuyuki Kurotani. Ayumu Murase joins as Blacklist. Ako Mayama and Shigeru Chiba will voice the dual role of Tenaga Ashinaga (Long Arms Long Legs), debuting in the anime's 10th episode on June 6. The anime premiered on April 4 on Tokyo MX, BS11, and other channels, and is set for two consecutive cours. Crunchyroll streams the series with a same-day English dub. Bones Film produces the anime, with Masahiro Andō directing, Noboru Takagi handling series scripts, and Nobuhiro Arai designing characters. Kenichiro Suehiro composes the music. Vaundy performs the opening theme "Tobu Toki" (Time to Fly), and singer yama performs the ending theme "Tobō yo" (Let's Fly). Arakawa launched the manga in Monthly Shonen Gangan in December 2021; the 13th volume ships July 10.
4d ago
Anime Feminist reviewed the first episode of Daemons of the Shadow Realm, the new anime based on Hiromu Arakawa's manga. The review praises the premiere for its extreme violence, gore, and thrilling action, calling it a strong start that sets up intriguing world-building questions. The story follows Yuru, a young man in a seemingly peaceful mountain village, and his sister Asa, who is locked up as part of a community ritual tied to a prophecy about controlling Daemon forces. The review highlights the show's feminist themes, particularly the critique of patriarchal control and women's complicity in subjugation, embodied by the Granny character who forces Yuru's mother to delay childbirth. The episode tears apart the village's status quo, forcing Yuru to venture out into the world. The review notes the excellent execution from director Masahiro Ando and Studio Bones, with sublime character animation and action. The character designs follow Arakawa's style of broad-shouldered men and curvy women. The review avoids spoiling the twist but says the community hides a terrible secret revealed by episode's end.
4d ago
A panel at the Tokyo Anime Award Festival argued that the growing gap between franchise and original anime films at the box office risks crowding out original works that serve as incubators for new talent. Original anime films have rarely earned more than ¥3 billion (US$19 million) domestically in recent years, while franchise films like Demon Slayer can reach ten times that amount. The panel included TMS Entertainment president Tadashi Takezaki, who noted that even among television shows and books, hit titles generate massive revenue while others barely register. The original anime film A New Dawn, from animator Yoshitoshi Shinomiya and co-produced by France's Miyu Productions, earned just ¥17 million (US$107,000) in its opening weekend in Japan, overshadowed by wider releases from established titles like Doraemon and That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime. High-quality franchise productions are also raising audience expectations for production quality, increasing costs and risk for original films, which can take four to five years to produce.
4d ago
CloverWorks announced a regional tour of its POP UP SHOP 2026 event, starting January 16 in Ebetsu, Hokkaido, followed by Nagoya in February and Kochi in March. The pop-up shops will sell merchandise for series including My Dress-Up Darling, Wind Breaker, Bocchi the Rock!, Spy × Family, Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, and others. Limited quantities of past release goods and books will also be available. Each venue will display reproduction artwork and production materials, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the studio's animation process. The tour begins at Ebetsu Tsutaya Books (January 16 to February 4), moves to TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE Noritake in Nagoya (February 13 to March 2), and ends at Kochi Tsutaya Books (March 27 to April 13). Stock and exhibits may vary by location. The announcement was made on January 9, 2026.
5d ago
Anime Feminist's weekly round-up for January 14-20, 2026, covers multiple topics: the first episodes of Oedo Fire Slayer -The Legend of Phoenix-, The Villainess Is Adored by the Prince of the Neighbor Kingdom, Kaya-chan Isn't Scary, and You and I Are Polar Opposites; a review of Hitomi Takano's manga Gene Bride; a Japan Fair Trade Commission report on transactional issues in the anime industry; Japan's probe of Elon Musk's Grok AI service over inappropriate image generation; a Mie Prefecture survey on foreign staff hiring that drew accusations of discrimination; and Prime Minister Ishiba's avoidance of challenging sumo's gendered ring ban. The round-up also includes links to videos on vintage BL OVAs, Lovely Complex, a documentary on Black anime fandom, and Jonathan Clements on the history of anime in the UK. The community section features reader picks for favorite anime of 2025, including You and Idol Precure, Medalist, and Zenshu!
5d ago
The first episode of The Villainess Is Adored by the Prince of the Neighbor Kingdom aired, following Tiararose, a woman reincarnated as the villainess of her favorite otome game. She expects to endure public humiliation after her engagement to the crown prince is annulled, but neighboring crown prince Aquasteed proposes to her on the spot. The Anime Feminist review finds the premiere competent but unremarkable, noting it follows standard villainess isekai story beats without introducing a unique twist. The review praises Tiararose as a realistic protagonist who is understandably scared but still tries to defend herself, and it calls Aquasteed's rescue and proposal cute for romance fans. However, it criticizes the episode for being boring overall, following the usual structure of the genre with no indication of innovation. The animation by Studio DEEN is described as fine, neither a hit nor a miss. The review compares the show unfavorably to May I Ask for One Final Thing?, which featured a more proactive and system-destroying protagonist. The piece concludes that the show offers a simple, familiar story for viewers who want comfort without depth.
5d ago
The anime adaptation of Hiromu Arakawa's manga Daemons of the Shadow Realm (Yomi no Tsugai) has released its first preview for the 9th episode, which airs on May 30, 2026. The series debuted on April 4, 2026, and streams on Crunchyroll. The manga, which began in 2021, has over three million copies in circulation. The anime is directed by Masahiro Ando with scripts by Noboru Takagi, character designs by Nobuhiro Arai, and animation production by Bones Film. The Japanese cast includes Kensho Ono as Yuru, Yume Miyamoto as Asa, Yuichi Nakamura as Dera, and others. The opening theme is "Tobu Toki" by Vandy, and the ending theme is "Tobo Yo" by yama. In a separate interview, English dub voice actors Ben Stegmair (Yuru) and Molly Zhang (Asa) discussed their approaches to the roles, with Stegmair noting he plays three distinct versions of Yuru and Zhang describing how she used a different voice for the fake Asa.
5d ago
A Nijimen reader survey for Rie Kugimiya's birthday ranks her most iconic characters. Taiga Aisaka from Toradora! takes first place for the second straight year with 408 votes, while a spring 2026 role, Shaldina Inferiscias, enters the top 10.
6d ago
KADOKAWA has announced the winners of its World Manga Contest, which received 1,959 entries from 118 countries and regions. The competition was split into two categories: Manga With Dialogue and Wordless Manga. The Gold Prize in the Manga With Dialogue category went to "Cry or the witch will come" by Vietnam's Syo.Era. The Comic Alive Editorial Team praised the work for its "constantly shifting, unpredictable developments" and its balance of uniqueness and universal appeal. The Gold Prize in the Wordless Manga category was awarded to "Cells Within the Body." by Taiwan's Eli Lin. The Comic Regulus Editorial Team noted its detailed artwork and a narrative that begins quietly before a sudden, shocking turn. Silver and Bronze Prizes in the Manga With Dialogue category went to "Deus sniper" by France's Shinamori and "START AT NULL" by Switzerland's 2AM Productions, respectively. In the Wordless Manga category, Silver went to "BOW" by Vietnam's Light Comic Studio and Bronze to "Hitokuji" by Taiwan's Murji. Five honorable mentions were also named. Gold Prize winners receive US$10,000, Silver US$5,000, and Bronze US$3,000. All winning works will be published on KADOCOMI, and creators will receive editorial support toward potential serialization, though there is no plan to serialize the winning works themselves.
May 28
GKIDS announced on May 28 that it has acquired the North American theatrical rights for Kunihiko Ikuhara's 1999 anime film Adolescence of Utena. The distributor will screen the movie in Japanese with English subtitles in U.S. theaters on June 21 and 22, 2026. Tickets are now on sale. GKIDS also released a new trailer and poster alongside the announcement. The film is a surreal retelling of the Revolutionary Girl Utena television series, which aired in 1997. It follows Utena Tenjou as she enrolls at Ohtori Academy and becomes entangled in duels over the Rose Bride, Anthy Himemiya. The creative team includes screenwriter Yoji Enokido, art director Shichiro Kobayashi, and composer J.A. Seazer. The film was produced by J.C.Staff and originally premiered in Japan on August 14, 1999. Previous North American home video releases came from Central Park Media on DVD and VHS, and the film has streamed on RetroCrush, Funimation, and Tubi. This marks the first wide North American theatrical release for the film.
May 28
The July issue of Kadokawa's Comic Alive magazine revealed that Yu Shimizu's Howling Blaze light novel series is getting a manga adaptation by artist koko. The manga will launch in the magazine's next issue on June 26. The fantasy story follows Witch Hunter Kaori Tsukimiya on the island of Karyujima, where she meets the White Flower Witch Fiona.
May 28
The July issue of Kadokawa's Comic Alive magazine announced that Yu Hibari's light novel Kokō na Kanojo to, Kanojo no Heya de Shiteru Koto is getting a manga adaptation by Mugiko. The manga will launch in the magazine's next issue on June 27. The story follows opposites Kotori Nabata and Takumi Hashio, who share a secret routine.
May 27
Bandai Spirits announced plastic model kits of Madoka Kaname and Homura Akemi from the upcoming film Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie: Walpurgis no Kaiten. The kits are part of the 30 Minutes Preference line, priced at 4,950 yen each, and release in November. Madoka's kit includes a Kyubey figure.
May 26
Kadokawa announced on May 26 that its Da Vinci magazine will cease publication with its November 2026 issue, shipping on October 6. The magazine, which covered literary subculture, manga, anime, and voice actor topics, has been published since April 1994, when it was launched by Recruit's publishing arm Media Factory. Kadokawa acquired Media Factory in 2011 and continued the magazine under the Media Factory brand after a 2013 merger. The company cited dramatic changes in the publishing market and the diversification of how readers consume information as reasons for the closure. The sister website Da Vinci Web will continue operating, and Kadokawa plans to develop the site further. Over its run, the magazine featured covers including My Hero Academia, One Piece, and Fate/Grand Order: Camelot - Wandering; Agateram with voice actors Mamoru Miyano and Maaya Sakamoto. It also published an annual Book of the Year list each December, which included the editorial staff's top 30 manga picks.
May 25
Sal Jiang announced on X on Sunday that the manga Wicked Spot will conclude with its 16th chapter. Kadokawa published the 14th chapter on May 22, and the 15th chapter is scheduled for June 26. The series debuted in October 2024 on Kadokawa's KadoComi app under the CandleA brand. Kadokawa shipped the first compiled volume in February 2025, and Kodansha USA released the first English volume on May 26. The story follows Sadako, a centuries-old sorceress who becomes an internet sensation after revealing she is a witch, and Hanako, a young woman with superhuman strength who becomes her hater. Jiang's previous works include Black and White: Tough Love at the Office from Seven Seas and Ayaka Is in Love with Hiroko from Tokyopop, the latter of which inspired two live-action series.
May 22
The July issue of ASUKA, released May 22, features three new serializations: Akira Nagano's "Yoru no Tobari Shokudo," a mysterious diner love story; Soyogo Iwaki's "Gaiaku dakedo Totte Kuremasu ka?" about a cosplayer going viral; and Kei Kanjō's "Ai ga Iru nara Kimi de Ii," a youth love suspense tale.
May 22
Kadokawa Corporation reported a 51.3% drop in operating profit for FY2026, citing oversaturation of the isekai genre, a lack of major anime sequels, and rising costs. The publisher's anime division posted a 465 million yen operating loss, down from a 4,729 million yen profit the previous year.
May 20
Kadokawa has acknowledged that an overreliance on isekai and narou-kei formulas contributed to a 51.3% drop in operating profit for the fiscal year ending March 2026. The company plans to reform its genre strategy, including a new steering committee and an early retirement program for employees aged 45 and older.
May 19
Episode 5 of Ascendance of a Bookworm Part 3: Adopted Daughter of an Archduke returns after a one-week delay, focusing on two threads: the introduction of a new craftsman named Zack who spurs competition in wax stencil printing, and the ongoing preparations for Ferdinand's concert, where Rosemyne's influence inadvertently creates religious music and promotional materials.
May 19
The anime adaptation of Hiromu Arakawa's manga has added Shinichirō Miki to the cast as Ivan Yosano, a mysterious daemon user who debuted in episode 6. The series premiered on April 4 and is set for two consecutive cours on Crunchyroll.
May 19
Episode 5 of Daemons of the Shadow Realm brings Yuru and Asa together at last, avoiding a tease and instead advancing the layered mysteries of the series. The meeting adds complexity to the parents' disappearance and reveals more than two factions are after the siblings, leading to an action scene that forces Yuru to fight alongside the Kagemori clan.
May 19
Kadokawa Corporation has launched the KADOKAWA WORLD MANGA ATELIER (KWMA) initiative, starting April 30, 2026, to help overseas manga creators debut in Japan. The program includes an online portfolio review platform and in-person sessions, with the first OnSITE event at Anime Expo 2026 in Los Angeles from July 2 to July 5.
May 19
The official website for the anime film adaptation of Kaori Mado and Akamoku's light novel *Kimi to Hanabi to Yakusoku to* revealed additional cast, staff, the theme song, a key visual, and the first trailer on Tuesday. The film is scheduled to premiere in Japanese theaters on July 17. Rie Takahashi joins the cast as Haru, and Natsuko Yokosawa voices Yukari Natsume, the mother of protagonist Makoto Natsume. The idol group timelesz performs the theme song "Kienai Hanabi," which is previewed in the new trailer. Akira Suzuki directs the film at SynergySP and The Answer Studio, with a script by Kohei Mori and character designs by Yuuji Watanabe. The light novel was published in December 2025 under Shogakukan's Gagaga Bunko imprint. The story follows Makoto, who becomes involved with classmate Aki Hayama, who possesses a mysterious fireworks artwork and was told by her great-grandmother that she would meet someone named Makoto Natsume.
May 19
The anime film adaptation of Kaori Mado's novel You, Fireworks, and Our Promise released a full trailer and key visual on Tuesday. The trailer announced additional cast and staff, and revealed that idol group timelesz performs the theme song "Kienai Hanabi." The film opens in Japanese theaters on July 17.
May 17
The staff for the From Overshadowed to Overpowered anime announced that the group TrySail will perform the ending theme song "Dōkei" (Aspiration). Musician sabio wrote the lyrics, music, and arrangement. The song releases as TrySail's 18th single on August 5. The anime debuts in July.
May 17
Beneath the Tangles reviews eight manga volumes, including the first physical volume of VIZ's Ultimate Exorcist Kiyoshi, volume 14 of The Eminence in Shadow, and volume 6 of The Princess of Convenient Plot Devices, among others.
May 17
The staff for the television anime of Hiromu Arakawa's Daemons of the Shadow Realm confirmed two new cast members on May 16. Kappei Yamaguchi voices Hikaru Kagemori, and Yoshiko Sakakibara voices Kai. Both characters debuted in the seventh episode, which aired in Japan on the same day. The anime premiered on April 4 on Tokyo MX, BS11, Gunma TV, and Tochigi TV, and is set to run for two consecutive cours. Crunchyroll streams the series with a same-day English dub. Masahiro Ando directs at Bones Film, with Noboru Takagi overseeing series scripts and Nobuhiro Arai handling character designs. Kenichiro Suehiro composes the music. Vaundy performs the opening theme "Tobu Toki," and yama performs the ending theme "Tobo yo." The manga, which Arakawa launched in Monthly Shonen Gangan in December 2021, has 12 compiled volumes as of March 2026. Square Enix Manga & Books publishes the English edition. The story follows twins Yuru and Asa, separated at a young age, who must reunite and claim their birthright over powerful entities called Daemons.
May 17
The television anime adaptation of Shinji Saijyo's cooking manga "Iron Wok Jan!" has revealed five new cast members, a July 5 premiere date, and a main promotional video. The seven-member dance vocal group Genin wa Jibun ni Aru. performs the opening theme song "Hien" (Fire Banquet). New cast additions include Masuo Amada as Nichido Otani, M.A.O as Celene Yang, Takahiro Sakurai as Kei Sawada, Taishi Murata as Tomohide Jun, and Yusuke Kobayashi as Yuji Kawahara. Previously announced lead cast members are Kikunosuke Toya as Jan Akiyama, Ikumi Hasegawa as Kiriko Gobancho, Kohei Amasaki as Takao Okonogi, and Kenjiro Tsuda as narrator. Ei Aoki (Fate/Zero, Aldnoah.Zero) directs the series at studio TROYCA, with Makoto Uezu handling series scripts and Masako Matsumoto designing characters. The anime will air Sundays at 5:30 p.m. JST on TV Tokyo and its affiliates. The original manga ran in Weekly Shonen Champion from 1995 to 2000 across 27 volumes, and the franchise has over 10 million copies in circulation.
May 17
In an interview with Anime Herald, director Alberto Vázquez discusses his film Decorado, describing it as a parody of classic Disney cartoons mixed with real-world themes like health crises, financial trouble, and corporate control. He calls animation an adult medium that should deal with all topics.
May 16
The Paradox Live on Stage -THE LIVE 2026- event ran on April 12 at Noda Gas Hall, featuring 13 cast members from four units performing 20 songs. The show emphasized live performance over story, with smartphone photography allowed during the opening number.
May 16
Wit Studio released preview images for the eighth episode of Agents of the Four Seasons on Wednesday, two days before the episode airs on Saturday, May 16. The spring 2026 series adapts Kana Akatsuki and Suoh's light novel, which began publication under ASCII Media Works' Dengeki Bunko imprint in April 2021. Ken Yamamoto directs the adaptation, with Ayumu Hisao writing the scripts and Namiko Torii designing the characters. Kensuke Ushio composes the music. The story follows Hinagiku, the Agent of Spring, who disappeared ten years ago and took the season with her. She returns to restore the cycle and, as the myth demands, sends her love to Winter. The light novel has four volumes released so far and is ongoing. A manga adaptation by Nappa Komatsuda also runs alongside it. Yen Press licenses both the light novel and the manga in English. The anime premiered on March 28, 2026, and the new preview gives the first look at the episode before its weekend broadcast.
May 16
The television anime adaptation of the romance fantasy manga The Duke's Son Claims He Won't Love Me Yet Showers Me with Adoration announced two new cast members on Wednesday. Ryōhei Kimura voices Aleksis Josef Ralt, the crown prince of the kingdom of Ralt and lord of Julius Royus. Ryōta Suzuki voices Jere Ekrous, an aide to Prince Aleksis. The series is scheduled to premiere in July on TV Asahi and BS Asahi. The previously announced cast includes Yui Ishikawa as Elsa Eukrainen, Sōma Saitō as Julius Royus, Kaito Ishikawa as Jarmo Parnilla, Chika Anzai as Serafiina Parnilla, Hibiku Yamamura as Rebeka Rikkonen, and Junya Enoki as Hannes Eukrainen. Hitoyuki Matsui directs at studios Zero-G and Grass, with Kaoru Suzuki credited for planning technical direction. Tomoko Konparu oversees series scripts and Yūko Yahiro designs the characters. MICHIRU composes the music. The manga, written by Kei Misawa and illustrated by Natsu Mizuno, began on the BookLive digital bookstore in February 2021. Flex Comix shipped the fifth compiled volume on March 13 and offers the series in English on digital platforms.
May 16
Kadokawa created a new subsidiary, Kadokawa Retail Ventures, to manage its growing chain of Manga Spot bookstores in the United States. The publisher has opened ten locations since its first store launched in May 2025, placing them in cities from New York and Chicago to smaller hubs like Grove City, Pennsylvania, and Ketchikan, Alaska. Kurt Hassler, who leads Yen Press and Kadokawa World Entertainment, will run the new retail unit. Hassler previously helped Borders and Waldenbooks build their manga sections. He told a podcast last year that the chain aims to go where there is less competition from existing comic shops and that shopping malls remain a viable location, pointing to the survival of specialty retailer Hot Topic. The move comes two and a half years after Kadokawa began its North American marketing push. The company sees direct retail as a way to get more face time with customers, a problem Hassler said most publishers share.
May 16
The anime adaptation Sekiro: No Defeat will open in Japanese cinemas on September 4, 2026, for a limited three-week run. Kadokawa, Crunchyroll, Qzil.la, and ARCH announced the date alongside a new main visual. Crunchyroll confirmed the series will stream exclusively on its platform later in 2026. The production committee also released a statement that no generative AI is used in the adaptation, a response to audience concern after studio Qzil.la was chosen. Qzil.la is known for work involving AI technologies. Kenichi Kutsuna directs, with Takuya Satou writing the screenplay and Takahiro Kishida designing the characters. The voice cast includes Daisuke Namikawa as Wolf, Miyuki Satou as Kuro, and Kenjiro Tsuda as Genichiro Ashina. The story adapts FromSoftware's game, following the shinobi Sekiro and the Divine Heir during the warring Sengoku period as Ashina faces an internal threat.