Illustrator AnimA's white-haired elf girl Naophilia is now available for pre-order as a 1/6 scale painted figure from SSR FIGURE at AmiAmi. Two editions are offered: a Standard Edition at 13,850 yen and a Deluxe Edition at 19,430 yen. Both include a lenticular postcard bonus, with the Deluxe adding interchangeable body parts and a second figure body. Release is scheduled for February 2027.
HoYoverse's closed beta test for Honkai: Nexus Anima, a new Honkai series game, features creature collection, exploration in Iatown, and auto-chess style battles. Players bond with Nexus Anima creatures, use their skills for traversal, and deploy them in strategic auto-battles. The branching main quest changes based on choices. Honkai series characters appear as Mirror Heart supports. The Evolution Test runs July 9-27.
The 1987 Dragon Ball theatrical film Sleeping Princess in Devil's Castle will air on TOKYO MX on July 19, 2026 at 20:00. It is the second broadcast in a series following last year's airing of the first Dragon Ball film. The film features Goku and Krillin rescuing a sleeping princess from demons.
Salamander Pictures and Nippon Animation will premiere their nearly eight-minute anime short 20001 An Earth Odyssey in competition at the Fantasia International Film Festival on July 18. The festival runs in Montreal from July 16 to August 2. The short is the first original project from Taiki Sakurai's Tokyo-based studio Salamander Pictures. Sakurai, who previously worked at Production I.G. and spent seven years building Netflix's anime business in Japan, left the streamer to focus on riskier original work. The sci-fi comedy follows three aliens who arrive on Earth 20,000 years after humanity vanishes and misinterpret every artifact they find, treating a playground as a sacred site and an umbrella as advanced technology. Sakurai describes the short as a family-friendly comedy with a meditation on history and archaeology. The production involved art director Jessie Liu from Los Angeles, animators from Korea and France, and Maru Animation. Sakurai plans to expand the concept into a series of five-minute episodes and is seeking partners after the festival premiere.
HoYoverse released character details and a promotional video for Nanafi, a girl from the town of Iatown who dreams of traveling between dimensions, voiced by Saho Shirasuna. The closed beta test, the Evolution Test, began on July 9, 2026.
Toei Animation's Eterna Animation brand short film FOXING: Kitsuné-tsuki will screen at three festivals, including a competition slot at Fantasia IFF for the Satoshi Kon Award for Excellence in Animation. The film follows character designer Shinano as she encounters her discarded creations. Takeru Shinozuka makes his commercial directorial debut, writing and designing the characters. The short also screens at Indy Shorts Film Festival and RIFFA. Eterna Animation launched this year for Toei's 70th anniversary, focusing on original works.
A 20th anniversary exhibition for the TV anime The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya will be held at Sunshine City in Ikebukuro, Tokyo from August 10 to 30, 2026. The event features a retrospective corner with setting materials and a replica of the SOS Brigade clubroom, and a corner on the series' cultural impact. Original goods, admission bonuses, and a limited "Brigade Chief Armband" item will be available.
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.
The official Evangelion side novel Evangelion ANIMA, written by mechanical designer Ikuto Yamashita, is being adapted into an audiobook. Volume 1 is available on Audible, with subsequent volumes releasing from around August 2026. Narrator Sasaki Aitani voices multiple characters.
Toei announced on July 6 that it will stream all 49 episodes of the 1996-1997 TV anime Hell Teacher Nube for free on its Toei Animation Museum Channel on YouTube, starting July 20 with 8 episodes released weekly. The free streaming celebrates the anime's 30th anniversary. A new anime adaptation aired in summer 2025.
The staff of the second season of the Black Clover anime revealed a new promotional video on Sunday, July 5, 2026, which previews the opening theme song by rock band WANIMA. The video debuted at Anime Expo 2026 on Saturday, July 4, where the first episode of the new season also had its world premiere. The opening song is titled "Kienai Riyuu" (The Reason That Won't Disappear). The second season will debut on TV Tokyo in October 2026. Ayataka Tanemura, who directed episodes 153-170 of the original Black Clover anime and the 2023 film Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King, will direct the new season. Studio Pierrot returns to animate the season. Crunchyroll will stream the anime. The Black Clover anime originally aired 170 episodes from October 2017 to March 2021. The manga, created by Yuki Tabata, launched in Weekly Shonen Jump in February 2015 and concluded on May 1, 2024, after transferring to Jump GIGA in 2023.
Kyoto Animation's Sparks of Tomorrow, a project shelved after the 2019 arson attack, premieres on Netflix July 5. The first two episodes screened at Anime Expo 2026, followed by a Q&A with director Minoru Ota and producer Satori Senami. The series, set in an alternate-history Meiji-era Kyoto, follows a clumsy girl and an inventor as they navigate a steampunk world on the cusp of an electric age.
Takara Tomy Arts will release a new line of Animal Crossing plushies on August 8, 2026. The Mocchi-Mocchi- GameStyle lineup includes eight types: Tom Nook, Isabelle, K.K. Slider, Timmy & Tommy, Leaf, Fossil, Bell Bag, and Apple. Large plushies start at 5,489 yen, and ball-chain mascots are 1,650 yen each.
Oh-Ami is producing a 1/6 scale figure of Danimaru's original character J○ Vampire Ruri. The figure features a desk pose with removable clothing and interchangeable parts. A deluxe edition adds water splash effect parts and a bonus expression. Reservations are open on Amazon Japan for a September 2027 release.
Louis Clichy's debut feature 'Iron Boy' won the Jury Prize, Audience Award, and Gan Foundation Distribution Award at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival 2026. The film, which previously won a Special Jury Prize at Cannes, is set for a 2027 Japanese release. It follows a ten-year-old boy forced to wear an iron corset.
The second edition of the Animal Beach Ball pop-up shop for My Hero Academia runs June 27 to July 12 at Tokyo Anime Center in Shibuya. Newly drawn visuals feature Tomura Shigaraki, Dabi, and Himiko Toga holding animal beach balls. Goods include acrylic stands, concept necklaces, and mochocho collaboration items. Online sales begin June 29.
Toei Animation presented its next film project, the 2D-3D hybrid animated film Monkey Quest, at the Annecy Festival. Studio SANZIGEN is handling the 3D animation. The film follows a girl and her brother who free a forgotten protector of Earth. The cast includes Adam Devine, Elsie Fisher, and J.K. Simmons. The film is in post-production and aiming for a 2027 release.
Intelligent Animation, a new Los Angeles-based studio founded by former Syfy and ABC executives, announced its first two productions: animated adaptations of Tapas webtoons The Dragon Prince's Bride and The Prince's Personal Physician. Both series will premiere later this year on the short-form streaming platform aTwist. The studio combines traditional animation with AI-assisted tools but does not use AI for scripts, artwork, or voice performances.
Toei Animation's new Eterna Animation brand released a trailer for its short film Foxing: Kitsuné-tsuki. The film follows character designer Shinano as discarded creations from her past appear to her. Takeru Shinozuka directs and writes in his commercial debut. The short is set to debut this year.
DC Studios and Warner Bros. Animation announced three new animated projects during their first joint presentation at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival on June 25. The slate is led by Joker: Laugh Riot, the studio's first anime series. Yasuhiro Aoki directs the series at Sola Entertainment. The story follows the Joker after Batman is killed, sending him on a violent search for the murderer. The series is set for a worldwide release. Also announced was Absolute Batman, an adult animated adaptation of Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta's bestselling comic. Snyder will serve as showrunner and executive producer, with Dragotta as a producer. The comic has sold over six million copies since its launch. The third project is Krypto, a family-oriented animated series from Chowder and Jellystone! creator C.H. Greenblatt. The series follows Superman's dog as he befriends a group of aspiring neighborhood criminals. The announcements were made during DC Studios and Warner Bros. Animation's Annecy showcase.
At the 2026 Annecy International Animation Film Festival, Nippon Animation held a 50th anniversary panel and unveiled three original series: the sci-fi black comedy 2001: An Earth Odyssey, the gourmet drama Taverna!!!, and the Alice in Wonderland reimagining Alices. Producer Taiki Sakurai and director Yumiko Yoshizawa presented the projects, which mark a shift toward adult-oriented content for the studio. A sizzle reel of classics like Heidi and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer drew applause.
Dunk Hearts released 'Digital Anima Electronic Life Raising Kit' on Steam on June 23. The game combines raising a desktop pet named Dejima with ARG-style investigation of real websites. It costs 700 yen, with a 30% launch discount until July 7.
Vivienne Medrano, creator of 'Hazbin Hotel' and 'Helluva Boss', will direct and write the new theatrical animated film 'Prehistoria' for Warner Bros. Pictures Animation. The project was announced at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival as part of WBPA's strategy to work with online creators. The film is described as a fossil fantasy musical, set in a new world separate from Medrano's previous works.
HoYoverse will run a second closed beta test for its new auto-chess strategy game Honkai: Nexus Anima, called the Evolution Test, from July 9 on PC, iOS, and Android. Participant recruitment runs from June 22 to July 4, with selection by lottery from applicants who complete pre-registration and a survey. The test deletes all data after it ends. Alongside the announcement, HoYoverse released a new trailer titled Evolution PV 'Until the Day We Meet' and gameplay footage. The video shows multiple new characters, including Kiana and Blade, who are returning from earlier Honkai series entries. Honkai: Nexus Anima is the latest game in the Honkai franchise, following Honkai Impact 3rd and Honkai: Star Rail. It is an auto-chess-style title where players collect and battle creatures called Anima. The Evolution Test is meant to expand on the core systems and story, adding new characters, Anima, areas, and game design elements.
Kyoto Animation's upcoming television anime Sparks of Tomorrow will feature opening and ending theme songs by Luna Goami and Ginger Root, respectively, with both tracks set for global digital release in July 2026. The opening theme "Eureka Evrika," performed by Luna Goami, will be released on July 6, one day after the series premiere on July 5. The ending theme "Soarin'," by Ginger Root, will follow on July 13. The series is set in an alternate-history early 20th-century Kyoto where steam power dominates, following a boy fascinated by electricity and a girl carrying her late mother's memory. "Eureka Evrika" was composed by Hitomi Koto, who also handles the series' soundtrack, with lyrics written by Goami. Goami stated she was pregnant during production, which she said added emotional depth to the song's themes of life and rebirth. Ginger Root, the solo project of Cameron Lew, wrote, composed, and arranged "Soarin'" entirely himself. Lew described the project as a dream opportunity as a longtime anime fan. Sparks of Tomorrow will air in Japan and stream globally on Netflix.
Good Smile Fest 2026 Tokyo, held on June 6, 2026, featured a wide array of new figure prototypes and painted samples from Good Smile Company. The event included first-time exhibitions of polyester and polyurethane figures from 'New Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt,' a color sample of Cutie Honey from 'Cutie Honey Nova,' and figures from 'City the Animation' featuring Minami Mitori, Niikura, and Izumi Wako. In the game titles category, new items included a Nendoroid of Hideo Kojima, painted samples of Tidus and Yuna from 'Final Fantasy X,' and figures from 'Fate/Grand Order,' 'Steins;Gate,' and 'Bunny Garden 2.' The social game edition showcased numerous figures from 'Azur Lane,' including Howden Leeuw, New Jersey, Taihou, and Mogador, as well as items from 'Uma Musume: Pretty Derby' and 'Fate/Grand Order.' The event also displayed 'POP UP PARADE BEACH QUEENS' figures of Rei Ayanami and Asuka Langley Shikinami from 'Evangelion: New Theatrical Edition' and a prototype from 'Mononoke the Movie: The Medicine Seller.'
Autodesk is embedding AI tools like Flow Studio into 3ds Max and Maya, software widely used by Japanese CG anime studios. DandeLion Animation Studio president Kazuhiro Nishikawa acknowledged AI is unavoidable but stressed the need for controlled use. Toei Animation reiterated it does not actively use AI in production. DandeLion's upcoming adaptation of Eleceed will test Flow Studio for motion capture.
Lotte Chocolate and Shin-Ei Animation are partnering on a new web anime series for the Pie no Mi snack brand. Titled Pie no Mi: Oshi no Mori he Yōkoso, the series will premiere on the Lotte Chocolate YouTube channel on June 4 at midnight Japan Time. The cast includes Yumiko Kobayashi and Rie Hikisaka.
THQ Nordic announced on June 2 that the first chapter of the 'Reanimal' DLC 'The Expanded World' for Nintendo Switch 2 has been delayed from June 9 to September 30. The second and third chapters are also pushed back. The content itself remains unchanged. Other platforms keep their original release schedule.
At the "Paradox Live Dope Show 2026" event on May 30-31 at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, a film adaptation of "Paradox Live THE ANIMATION" was announced. The film is produced by Studio GRAPH77, which handled video production for "Fujimoto Tatsuki 17-26 'Shikaku'." It will feature 29 characters from nine teams, including the five teams from the television series-BAE, The Cat's Whiskers, cozmez, Akkan Yatsura, and Buraikan-plus four teams appearing in anime for the first time: VISTY, AMPRULE, 1Nm8, and Goku Luck. The film's story and release date have not been disclosed. The event also revealed the franchise's "4th Season" story arc will begin in September 2026. The third stage production run, "Paradox Live on Stage -Road to Legend-," will have two parts: "RAGE" from October 2-11, 2026, and "FATE" from February 19-28, 2027, both at the Shinagawa Prince Hotel Stellar Ball in Tokyo. These stage productions will also feature the four new teams for the first time. The "Paradox Live" multimedia project, a hip-hop-themed franchise from Avex and GCREST, launched in November 2019 and previously aired a television anime in October 2023.
Writer Robinson Haruhara and artist Taishi Tsutsui will launch a new manga titled Animal Signal in Weekly Shonen Jump on June 8. The series is a bishojo animal comedy about an organization called the Anima Countermeasures Center. Haruhara wrote 'Tis Time for Torture Princess and Tsutsui created We Never Learn.
Disney is expanding its anime library, securing exclusive streaming rights to roughly 2-3% of new anime production through a long-term output deal with Kodansha. However, the company's marketing and promotion for these titles remains heavily concentrated in Asia, leaving global audiences largely unaware of the expansion. The upcoming series "Disney Twisted-Wonderland: The Animation," a wholly Japanese-produced original anime featuring multiple Disney intellectual properties, exemplifies this strategy. Despite being announced nearly four years ago and having a major presence at AnimeJapan 2025 in Tokyo, Disney only recently confirmed its global streaming availability to outlets like Variety and Deadline, just two months before its premiere. Other titles, such as "Bullet/Bullet" from "Jujutsu Kaisen" director Sunghoo Park, received English-language promotion only from the Disney+ Singapore YouTube channel. Disney+ monthly release calendars in July detailed numerous documentaries and resort walkthroughs but omitted anime titles. On Hulu, anime remains a tertiary focus within the Animayhem brand. This limited marketing has led fans to describe anime on Disney+ as being in "Disney Jail."
The television anime adaptation of Nyan Nyan Factory's manga "Chainsmoker Cat" (Yanineko) received its main promotional video on Sunday, along with announcements of the theme song performers and additional staff. The opening theme "Nanmonee" will be performed by rock band Wasureranneyo, while Necry Talkie provides the ending theme "Kemuri to Blue" (Smoke and Blue). The anime is set to premiere on July 2 at 24:30 (effectively July 3 at 12:30 a.m.) on Tokyo MX and BS11, with AT-X airings beginning July 25. Taku Kimura directs the series at Bibury Animation Studio, with scripts by Takashi Aoshima, character designs by Riki Matsuura, and music by Keiichi Suzuki. The voice cast includes Yūko Natsuyoshi as Yani Neko, Misato Matsuoka as Yaku Neko, Yurie Funato as Hame Neko, Ayaka Shimizu as Kansai Neko, Shiori Izawa as Al Neko, Riko Akechi as Tatsurō Ochinpo, and Tetsu Inada as Landlord. Seven Seas is releasing the manga in English, with the third volume scheduled for June 16.
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.
CITY: The Animation concluded its 13-episode run with a finale that doubles the usual cut count and ends with a fully original musical number. The series, directed by Taichi Ishidate and based on Keiichi Arawi's manga, was produced by Kyoto Animation over an extended period. The finale was directed by Ishidate and Takuya Yamamura, with three animation supervisors including Tamami Tokuyama, Kayo Hikiyama, and Nobuaki Maruki. The production's philosophy rejected digital effects in favor of hand-drawn animation, background art, and effects, aiming to retrain younger animators in skills that had become less common. Arawi wrote all production credits by hand and was deeply involved in the adaptation, including selecting classical music pieces for episode 12. The Sakuga Blog's analysis describes the series as a milestone for the studio, comparable to Liz and the Blue Bird, but notes that its resource-intensive approach is unlikely to be repeated. Kyoto Animation is expected to announce a new project at an upcoming event, with speculation pointing toward a long-promised adaptation of the novel 20th Century Electricity Catalog.
The National Film Archive of Japan (NFAJ) will host a retrospective of Toei Animation this summer, screening 50 theatrical features on 35mm film prints. The program runs from late July through early September. It offers a rare chance to see the studio's films in their original format at a time when most archival screenings have moved to digital. The NFAJ has not published a full lineup, but a teaser flyer confirms the selection spans more than four decades of Toei's output. Early works include The Tale of the White Serpent (1958), considered Japan's first color animated feature, Magic Boy (1959), and Alakazam the Great (1960). The retrospective also features The Little Norse Prince (1968), Isao Takahata's feature that launched a 50-year creative partnership with Hayao Miyazaki, who worked on scene designs and key animation. Later decades are represented by Galaxy Express 999 (1979) and Adieu Galaxy Express 999 (1981). The program highlights Toei's shift into franchise filmmaking with Dragon Ball Z: Dead Zone (1989) and Sailor Moon R: The Movie (1993). More recent selections include Digimon Adventure (1999) and One Piece: The Movie (2000).
Netflix announced a slate of new One Piece projects on April 7, headlined by The One Piece, a new anime series from Wit Studio that will re-adapt the East Blue saga from Eiichiro Oda's manga. The series is produced in collaboration with Toei Animation and Fuji Television. Unlike the original 1999 anime, this version is described as a reimagining using contemporary production techniques and updated visuals, suggesting a more compact, seasonal approach. Netflix also previewed LEGO One Piece, a two-part animated special premiering September 29. Produced with The LEGO Group, Shueisha, and Atomic Cartoons, it retells the story of the live-action series' first two seasons in LEGO form. The company confirmed that live-action Season 3, titled One Piece: The Battle of Alabasta, is in production for a 2027 release. Additional franchise expansions include a podcast, and merchandise lines from Moose Toys, NERF, Quiksilver, Funko, Netflix Shop, Penguin Random House, Hot Topic, and Primark.
The Los Angeles Dodgers and Toei Animation will host another One Piece Night at Dodger Stadium on July 2, 2026, during the team's home game against the San Diego Padres. The event, which follows a successful 2025 collaboration, will include a stadium-wide hat giveaway for the first 40,000 ticketed fans. Pregame activations are planned at Centerfield Plaza, along with a ceremonial first pitch and a postgame drone show featuring characters from the series. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. Lon Rosen, the Dodgers' Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, said the collaboration has quickly become a can't-miss event. Lisa Yamatoya, Senior Director and Head of Marketing at Toei Animation Inc., called last year's promotion one of the franchise's biggest in 2025 and said the company looks forward to welcoming a record crowd. The announcement follows Toei Animation's recent reveal of the first One Piece Fest 2026 in Los Angeles, further expanding the franchise's North American presence.
MiHoYo has posted multiple research and development job listings that suggest the company is exploring new genres beyond its established action RPGs. The listings, published on May 28, 2026, include positions for a "UE5 realistic shooter" tagged as "military sci-fi" and "hardcore shooter." One role, a Senior IP Narrative Planner (Military Direction), requires understanding of military themes and the military fan base. Another listing seeks expertise in PvP shooters, AI NPCs, and sandbox survival shooters. The technical requirements mention Unreal Engine 5, ultra-realistic rendering at high frame rates, and technologies like procedural generation, MassAI, and AI Workflow. Separately, a "life MMO" project is described as focusing on social elements, large-scale multiplayer, and sandbox content. All listings are for R&D and do not guarantee a commercial release. The company continues to recruit for previously announced titles Honkai: Nexus Anima, Petit Planet, and Varsapura.
Toei Animation is streaming five detective-themed episodes from past Precure series on YouTube, starting with 'Yes! Precure 5 GoGo!' Episode 9, where Cure Mint plays detective over a missing cake. Each episode is available for two weeks.
Idea Factory will stream all 12 episodes of the Hyperdimension Neptunia TV anime for free on YouTube from May 27 to June 3. The promotion leads into the August 27 release of Hyperdimension Neptunia∞. VTubers Akari Ishikari and Chiyomi Chiyoura will host simultaneous viewing streams, and a signed script giveaway will run on social media.
Toei Animation general manager Asama Yosuke told Variety at Cannes that the era of anime being made only by Japanese people is over, saying the studio aims to create works rooted in local cultures with creators worldwide. The remark from a foundational studio executive signals a potential shift in the industry's self-definition.
Tomo Nagawa's manga "Would You Like to Be a Tanuki?" is getting a television anime adaptation, as announced by publisher Ichijinsha on Wednesday. The staff unveiled a teaser video and visual alongside the announcement. Jun Kamiya, known for directing "Kingdom" season 1, "Hikaru no Go," and "Let's Make a Mug Too," is directing the anime at Nippon Animation. Masaki Wachi, who worked on "Kingdom" seasons 1 and 2, is supervising and writing the series scripts. Cocoro Takemoto is designing the characters, and Minako Seki is composing the music. The story follows the mythical tanuki creature Koganemaru, who approaches humans troubled by life and offers them the chance to become a tanuki, helping them rediscover what matters in their own lives. Nagawa launched the manga in Ichijinsha's Comic Pool digital magazine in April 2021. The ninth compiled volume was released in October 2025, and the 10th volume is scheduled for May 25.
JR Tokai will run a collaboration campaign with The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi from June 20 to September 23, 2026, celebrating the series' 20th anniversary. The campaign includes a key visual of Haruhi, Mikuru, and Yuki in train worker uniforms, an original voice drama written by Nagaru Tanigawa, quizzes with smartphone wallpaper rewards, and a stamp rally in Nishinomiya.
Disney Animation's Zootopia 2 Blu-ray and DVD set released in Japan on May 20, 2026. A previously unseen scene from the film was revealed, showing Nick and Judy on an undercover operation at an airport posing as a married couple. A special interview with Tomoyuki Morikawa, who voices Nick Wilde, was also published to mark the home video launch.
Webtoon Entertainment and Warner Bros. Animation announced four new animated projects in development: The Wolf & Red Riding Hood, Vampire Family, Sable Curse, and Snow and Briar. The titles were revealed during a panel at Web Summit Vancouver 2026, expanding a partnership first announced in November that plans to adapt 10 Webtoon titles for global distribution.
Roronoa Zoro has taken first place in every region in the latest weekly results of the One Piece World Top 100 2nd character popularity poll, overtaking Monkey D. Luffy who led the midterm rankings. The data covers votes from April 27 to May 3, 2026. Final results will be announced at One Piece Day '26 in August 2026.
Bandai Namco Entertainment is partnering with short anime maker Plott to develop Tengutosen, a new intellectual property debuting in July. The project tests whether vertical-screen short anime can replicate the commercial energy of traditional action manga adaptations, leveraging Bandai Namco's merchandise strengths.
Kyoto Animation is producing an anime film based on John Tarachine's manga The Credits Roll Into the Sea, with a release set for 2027. Taichi Ishidate, the director of Violet Evergarden and Beyond the Boundary, will helm the project. The announcement arrived with a teaser trailer. The manga ran in Akita Shoten's Mystery Bonita magazine from 2020 through November 2025 and spans eight volumes. Dark Horse Comics publishes the English edition. The story follows Umiko Chino, a 65-year-old widow who returns to a movie theater for the first time since her husband's death. There she meets Kai, a young film student, and the two bond over a shared habit of watching the audience more than the screen. Umiko soon enrolls in the same art school, where she navigates the currents of a much younger generation of filmmakers. The production committee credited is The Credits Roll Into the Sea Production Committee, with copyright held by John Tarachine and Akita Shoten.