HIRO is the planner and producer of the HiGH&LOW franchise. He announced the final film chapter, HiGH&LOW THE New World, at a 10th anniversary event in Tokyo on June 24, 2026, with a 2027 release date.
HIRO, the planner and producer of the HiGH&LOW franchise, made a surprise appearance at the series' 10th anniversary event in Tokyo on June 24, 2026. He unveiled a teaser video for the final film chapter, HiGH&LOW THE New World, and confirmed it will release in 2027. The story takes place several years after the 2017 film HiGH&LOW THE MOVIE 3 / FINAL MISSION.
Returning cast members include AKIRA as Kohaku, NAOTO as Jesse, and Alan Shirahama as Bernie, all reprising roles after nine years. Kazuma Kawamura and Hokuto Yoshino also join the cast. Directors Norihisa Hiranuma and Motoaki Kuba are helming the project. Hiranuma stated that the film will feature overseas artists and cast members.
The announcement marks the conclusion of a decade-long media franchise that has drawn 6.21 million cumulative viewers and earned 8.9 billion yen at the box office. A live event, HiGH&LOW 10th ANNIVERSARY FEVER, is scheduled for September 22 and 23 at K-Arena Yokohama, featuring LDH artists including EXILE THE SECOND and THE RAMPAGE.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the cited Yomimono stories below, each itself sourced, then editorially reviewed. Every fact links the story it came from.
Bushiroad released the Palworld Official Card Game on July 30 with a ceremony at its headquarters. Producer Takaaki Kigaya joined Mugendai My Type members Minezuki Ritsu and Sengoku Yuno for a ribbon-cutting. The first set, Palpagos Dawn, includes booster packs and two trial decks. A special SSS rarity card features a gold leaf Tsuppanyan.
MegaHouse adds Toshiro Hitsugaya and Shinji Hirako to its Lucaffe figure series, based on the TV anime BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War. Both figures release in February 2027, individually or as a Premium Bandai set with an exclusive mini zabuton bonus.
Kosuke Yahagi, first editor for both Hunter x Hunter and Naruto, discussed the manga's production in a YouTube interview. He said Yoshihiro Togashi often withheld story details during meetings, replying 'after I draw it.' Yahagi also recalled that Naruto's Chunin Exam arc was conceived after the Wave arc ended, with no next arc planned.
At the Tokyo premiere for 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' on July 30, Mrs. GREEN APPLE appeared as special guests. The band performed the Japanese theme song 'Brand New', which was written after meetings with Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige, producer Amy Pascal, and director Destin Daniel Cretton. Vocalist Motoki Omori said they put 120% of their feelings into the song.
MBS unveiled a new trailer for the live-action series of Amekiri's boys-love manga Chotto Mato yo, Harutora-kun. The trailer previews the ending theme song "Honeyy" by Chihiro. The series stars Masaya Sakuragi as Harutora Kurobe and Tsubasa Nakagawa as Sui Kishida. It premieres on MBS's Dramaphil block on August 13.
HoYoverse released a male-cast version of the song Moe Chaka Fire for Zenless Zone Zero on July 25. Hugo, Komata Masato, Light, and Severian, voiced by Jun Fukuyama, Kazuyuki Okitsu, Hiroki Takahashi, and Toshiyuki Morikawa, perform the track. The song debuted at Dream Electro Fest, part of the second anniversary HoYoFair event. The video includes a dance segment with 3D models in maid outfits.
The television anime adaptation of Nikumura Q's Giant Ojo-sama manga has its main staff, a teaser visual, and a January 2027 premiere date. The official website opened on Friday, August 7, 2026, to announce the project. Hiroshi Ikehata, known for WITCH WATCH, directs at Tatsunoko Production. Katsuya Oshima is the assistant director, Hajime Mitsuda is the character designer and chief animation director, and Yu Sato handles series composition and scripts. The story follows Oriko Fujido, the daughter of an ultra-wealthy family who received an entire town as a birthday present. When a giant invader attacks, her butler Sebastian gives her a drink that makes her grow to giant size to defend the town, though her efforts often cause destruction. The manga has been serialized on Shogakukan's Sunday Webry service since July 2020. Shogakukan will publish the 12th compiled volume on August 10. The manga was nominated for best web manga in the eighth Next Manga Awards in 2022 and ranked fifth in AnimeJapan's sixth Most Wanted Anime Adaptation poll in 2023.
Square Enix will release Dragon Quest Monster Shogi Lets catch monsters! on December 18 for 2,420 yen. The mini shogi set uses a 3x4 board with eight monster pieces, each marked with slime symbols showing legal moves. It includes a carrying bag and targets players aged four and up.
The staff for the From Overshadowed to Overpowered anime revealed three new cast members for characters appearing in the seventh episode. Shinichirō Kamio, Rina Kawaguchi, and Hiroki Takahashi join the cast. The anime premiered in Japan on June 25 and streams on Crunchyroll.
gelato pique released a teaser video on X for its SPECIAL COLLECTION collaboration with Square Enix's Dragon Quest. The video shows two slimes and reads "7.28 tue 12:00 Coming soon..." New products inspired by the RPG are expected. The brands collaborated in 2025 on loungewear and nap cushions.
In an interview at Anime Expo 2026, Clevatess director Kiyotaka Taguchi and Lay-duce producer Seiichiro Kuriyama explained how they built the series' visual style. The episode one destruction scene was stretched from a few manga pages to about 20 minutes. Present-day scenes use a 1990s cel look, while flashbacks aim for a 1970s style like Heidi, A Girl of the Alps. Kadokawa producer Kosuke Arai also brought Ellie Goulding in for the ending song.
Bandai Namco Filmworks revealed the main cast and staff for Koma-Dori Mofmof Parade, the stop-motion anime of the IDOLiSH7 franchise's Mofmof Parade project. The anime stars Kensho Ono, KENN, Soma Saito, Yuya Hirose, and others. Takuma Aomatsu directs at dwarf studios. It debuts in January 2027 on TV Tokyo and five affiliates.
Episode 17 of Daemons of the Shadow Realm reveals that Akio, a member of Jin's squad, wanted Yuru dead, a fact set up back in episode 4. The episode also develops Gabby, who tries to kill Akio after he threatens to destroy the Kagemori compound. The review praises Hiromu Arakawa's long-game plotting.
The television anime adaptation of Jiang Jia Meizi's Chinese manhua Shang Shan, titled Shozen, received its first promotional video on Wednesday, confirming an April 2027 premiere. The series will air in the B8station programming block on Fuji TV and other venues. The story follows the wandering Taoist priest Dozen, who meets a young girl raised by supernatural creatures. He names her Shozen and takes her on as his disciple, teaching her about human emotion and love. The cast includes Rina Kawaguchi as Shozen, Hiroshi Kamiya as Dozen, Daisuke Sakuma as Ryojin, Aoi Yuki as Kensei, and Ayumu Murase as Chiro. Itsuro Kawasaki directs and writes the scripts at Dangan Pictures and Cannon Code, with Eri Osada handling character designs and Takuro Iga composing the music. Alongside the trailer, Micro Magazine's RaiComi website began releasing the manhua's Japanese version, starting with the first twenty chapters on Wednesday. The original series continues to run on bilibili Manga.
Bandai Namco Filmworks announced the 35th anniversary festival "Glory Winners" for the Future GPX Cyber Formula series, scheduled for January 9, 2027, at Misato City Cultural Hall in Saitama. The event will feature daytime and evening sessions with cast members Junichi Kanemaru, Kotono Mitsuishi, Sho Hayami, and Toshihiko Seki, plus session-specific guests. Theme song artists Hironobu Kageyama, Aki Misato, and Dynamite Shige will perform live. Tickets cost 9,800 yen for all reserved seats, with the fastest advance reservation period running from August 5 at 5:00 PM to August 23 at 11:59 PM. MegaHouse will release two new products: the Cyber Formula Collection -Heritage Edition- DX, reproducing the rollout set of the new machine Zenis Asurada AKF-S0/G, and the Super Asurada 01 Circuit Mode NEON Ver. in cyber colors. The new short anime, a direct sequel to the 1998 OVA SIN, is directed by Mutsumi Fukuda and features machine design by Shoji Kawamori. A life-size Zenis Asurada model will be displayed at MegaHobby EXPO2026 on September 26, 2026, with a riding experience featuring Asurada's voice actor Kenichi Ono.
The TV anime Ghost in the Shell: The Ghost in the Shell has released preview stills, a synopsis, and an episode visual for its fifth episode, titled PHANTOM FUND. The episode is scheduled to air on August 4 at 23:00 in the Hi Anime Bar!! slot on Kansai TV and Fuji TV's national network, with a same-day streaming release on Prime Video at 23:30. In PHANTOM FUND, Motoko and her team head north to monitor the combat cyborg Coil Krasnov. To expose Coil's objectives and the corruption hidden behind Sagawa Electronics' underground factory expansion, Motoko goes to Sagawa Electronics headquarters while Batou and the others head to the underground factory. The episode visual is part of a special initiative that produces alternative-design posters for each episode, with the fifth episode's design by Daiya Tanabe of maxilla. The anime, based on Masamune Shirow's original manga, is directed by Moko-chan, with series composition and scripts by SF novelist Tow Ubukata, character design by Shuhei Handa, and animation production by Science SARU.
Hiro Mashima's Fairy Tail is back in Weekly Shonen Magazine with a new short-term series, Fairy Tail: Re:Fantasia, which began serialization in the magazine's 35th issue released on July 29, 2026. The series is part of the franchise's 20th anniversary celebrations and marks Mashima's first appearance in the magazine in two years. To mark the occasion, a lineup of creators from across different publishers and editorial departments contributed illustrations of Fairy Tail characters. The contributors include George Morikawa of Hajime no Ippo, Koji Seo of Kaigo no Umi no Oto, Miki Yoshikawa of A Couple of Cuckoos, Atsuo Ueda of Fairy Tail: 100 Years Quest, Yudetamago of Kinnikuman, and Yoshihiro Togashi of Hunter x Hunter. Togashi's illustration of protagonist Natsu has drawn particular attention on social media, with fans commenting on its style. The compiled volume of Fairy Tail: Re:Fantasia is scheduled for release on October 16, 2026, in regular and special editions. The special edition includes a set of 16 postcards featuring the contributed illustrations. Mashima's nationwide signing events have also been announced, with dates in Sapporo, Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, and Hakata.
Sega and GPTRACK50 announced on July 30 that the action RPG Stupid Never Dies will launch on October 22 for PlayStation 5 and PC via Steam. The standard edition costs 7,689 yen, and the digital deluxe Gorgeous Baka Edition costs 8,789 yen. The game follows Davy, a cowardly zombie who falls in love with a frozen woman named Julia and ventures into a monster-filled dungeon to revive her. Players use abilities like Style Eat, which lets Davy devour enemy cores and steal their powers, granting 11 transformation styles including werewolf, harpy, and golem. Another ability, Body Hack, allows players to modify Davy's body with gear to improve stats and skills. The developer GPTRACK50 is a studio founded by former Capcom producer Hiroyuki Kobayashi, known for the Resident Evil and Devil May Cry series. Stupid Never Dies is the studio's debut title. The opening theme song Stupid Never Dies by DAVY & JULIA and the ending theme Restless, Reckless, Never Die, Fearless by DAVY will begin streaming on August 4.
Bandai Namco Entertainment released the major downloadable content 'NEO' for Dragon Ball Sparking! ZERO on July 30, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. The DLC adds over 30 new playable characters, including Bardock (Super Saiyan), Super 17 (GT), and Piccolo Daimao, along with new stages, costumes, techniques, and a single-player mode called 'Path to Limit-Breaking Breakthrough.' A free patch also went live, updating the game to version 3020.019.003.012.013 with balance adjustments and new features like Linked Blast and Sparking! Boost. To mark the release, an opening movie featuring the theme song 'ZERO' by Hironobu Kageyama was published. Kageyama wrote the music and lyrics himself, marking his first new Dragon Ball game theme in 18 years, since 'Battle of Omega' for Dragon Ball: Raging Blast 2 in 2010. The song is available for purchase starting at 255 yen or $1.29. A limited-time discount offers 25% off the NEO Edition and Legendary Edition for Steam and PS5 PlayStation Plus subscribers until August 13. A gameplay contest with six categories runs until August 31. The Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 versions of the DLC are scheduled for a later release in 2027.
Manga creator Kyō Yoneshiro will launch a new manga titled Netsuzō: Chijin no Ai, based on Junichirō Tanizaki's 1924 novel Chijin no Ai (Naomi), in the next issue of Weekly Big Comic Spirits on August 3. The story follows a salaryman who takes in a teenage waitress, with unexpected consequences.
Udon Entertainment announced at San Diego Comic-Con that it has licensed Hiromi Matsuo's all-color manga and illustration books Department Store Waltz and Rondo: The Ladies' Graphic Magazine, along with the Belles Ruelles anthology series. The company also set release dates for previously announced titles including two Manga Biographies volumes and art books for Spy x Family, Shinkiro's Capcom and SNK works, Hidetaka Tenjin's Gundam book, and The Art of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
Kentucky Fried Chicken and Cygames' Uma Musume Pretty Derby will launch a collaboration campaign titled "Uma Musume no Uma Uma Kentucky" on August 12. The key visual, released on KFC's official X account, shows characters Dantsu Flame, Agnes Tachyon, Manhattan Cafe, Red Desire, Buena Vista, Stay Gold, and Lucky Lilac dressed as KFC store employees. Gold Ship appears as Colonel Sanders. The collaboration's full details will be announced during the "Paka Live TV' #5" broadcast on July 29 at 8:00 PM. This is not the first tie-up between the two brands; previous collaborations have included in-game item packs and limited-time meal sets. The campaign is expected to run at KFC locations in Japan, though specific menu items or merchandise have not yet been revealed.
The anime Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba and the theatrical film Witch on the Holy Night will participate in the 2026 Awa Odori festival in Tokushima Prefecture, running from August 11 to 15. Animation studio ufotable, which produces both works, released newly drawn commemorative posters for the event. During the festival, a stamp rally will feature illustrations from ufotable's past collaborations with TYPE-MOON, including The Garden of Sinners, alongside Demon Slayer art. Collectors who gather all stamps will receive a card with the 2026 illustration. On August 14, the Demon Slayer Corps dance performance returns for a second year. Voice actors Hiro Shimono, who voices Zenitsu Agatsuma, and Yoshitsugu Matsuoka, who voices Inosuke Hashibira, will join mini corps members in the dance at the Kon'ya-cho stage. The festival also includes sales of themed drinks with novelties and goods featuring the new illustrations. Witch on the Holy Night, based on TYPE-MOON's 2012 visual novel, is scheduled for theatrical release on November 20. Demon Slayer is currently rebroadcasting its TV series, and the Blu-ray and DVD for Infinity Castle Arc Chapter 1: Akaza's Return releases on July 29.
Shikiso Utsuzawa's light novel series 'Because I, the True Saint, was Banished, that Country is Done For!' is getting a television anime adaptation in 2027. The announcement opened a website revealing the teaser visual, main cast, and staff. Masumi Tazawa voices Eliane, Taku Yashiro voices Nigel, and Tsukasa Sakurai directs at Tsumugi Akita Anime Lab.
The original television anime Vertex Force, directed by Strike Witches and Vividred Operation creator Kazuhiro Takamura, will premiere on October 3 at 11:30 p.m. on Tokyo MX, BS11, Gunma TV, and Tochigi TV, with streaming on U-NEXT and other services in Japan. The announcement came on July 24 via the anime's official website, which also released a main promotional video, key visual, and the full main cast. Makoto Koichi voices protagonist Akira Todo, a 13-year-old middle school student living in Okinawa who feels inferior for lacking the "Engine" power his older sister Haruka inherited from their father. Kaede Hondo plays Haruka Todo, a cheerful 16-year-old high school girl who hides her power. Ami Koshimizu voices Eleanor Northbrook, an 18-year-old from the United States; Megumi Han plays Lala Zudenstein, a 16-year-old from Switzerland; and Rie Takahashi voices Yoko Nishina, a 16-year-old from Hokkaido. The story follows Akira and his family as strange events begin occurring worldwide, with unidentified enemies approaching. Takamura is directing at SMDE, with Gorō Kuji as assistant director. Kanetake Ebikawa handles engine design, and JNTHED handles ENIA design.
Onion Games has announced a premium physical edition of its RPG "Stray Children" for Nintendo Switch, set for release on December 10, 2026, at 10,978 yen. The "Stray Children TREASURE BOX" is a limited first-print run produced only for pre-orders, with no additional manufacturing planned after the order period ends. The box includes the game cartridge with all updates applied, the "Stray Book" development archive spanning approximately 160 pages of sketches and setting art by character designer Kazuyuki Kurashima, background artist Satoshi Katsuta, and director Yoshiro Kimura. Also included is an experience music CD for the in-game fictional RPG "Mikazuki," described in the game as a title canceled in 1997, featuring chiptune music by the group Thelonious Monkeys. A cloth antique map titled "The Night Before the World's Collapse" and an acrylic keychain featuring the protagonist and his companion complete the set. Pre-orders opened on July 24. A talk show to commemorate the announcement is scheduled for July 25 at 20:30 JST on Kimura's X account, featuring Kimura, Kurashima, and Thelonious Monkeys members Masanori Adachi and Hiroshi Taniguchi, hosted by Yamaguchi Quest.
The Donkey Kong Bananza development team won Best Awards in three of the four categories at the CEDEC Awards 2026, held July 22-24 at Pacifico Yokohama North. The Computer Entertainment Association (CESA) announced the winners on July 23. The team took Engineering, Game Design, and Visual Arts honors. The Sound Best Award went to the Nintendo Music development and operations team, giving Nintendo a sweep of all categories. The Engineering award cited advanced integration of terrain destruction and physics simulation using voxel technology. Game Design recognized an exciting exploration experience through destruction leveraging character appeal. Visual Arts honored voxel technology realizing a fully destructible 3D world. The Sound award noted continuous library building of a vast number of songs and provision of music experiences utilizing the characteristics of game music. Shuhei Yoshida received the Special Award, announced July 1, for his contributions to computer entertainment development, including leadership of the PlayStation brand and support of indie games. The Best Awards were determined by votes from CEDEC2026 attendees and speakers from among the previously announced Excellence Awards.
The So What's Wrong with Getting Reborn as a Goblin? anime announced three new cast members and theme song artists. Natsuki Hanae, Hiro Shimono, and Yukari Tamura join the cast. Sou performs the opening theme, and AHUB performs the ending theme. The anime premieres in October.
The latest TV anime adaptation of Masamune Shirow's manga, Ghost in the Shell: The Ghost in the Shell, has released cast details and an end card for its third episode. Akio Otsuka voices Colonel Mares in Episode 3, titled JUNK JUNGLE ii + MEGATECH MACHINE i + ii, which began airing and streaming on July 21. Otsuka commented that the series was created under the concept of keeping the original flavor intact, and he expressed his love for the Ghost in the Shell franchise. The episode also features an end card illustrated by Kunio Okawara. The series is produced by Science SARU, with direction by Mocochin and series composition and script by Tow Ubukata. Maaya Sakamoto stars as Motoko Kusanagi, with Hiroki Yasumoto as Batou and Yuichi Nakamura as Togusa. The anime airs on Kantele and Fuji TV's Hi Anime!! slot on Tuesdays at 11:00 PM, and streams on Prime Video and other services. The story is set in 2029 and follows Public Security Section 9 as they confront cyber crimes and the mysterious hacker known as the Puppet Master.
Kadokawa announced on Wednesday that Agri Uma's manga Studio Cabana will receive a television anime adaptation premiering in 2027. The announcement included a teaser visual and the main staff and cast. Shin'ichirō Ushijima, known for directing I Want to Eat Your Pancreas and UniteUp!, is directing the series at animation studio JUVENAGE. Sawako Hirabayashi, whose credits include Wolf Girl & Black Prince and Delicious Party♡Precure, is handling series composition. Haruka Sagawa, a character designer for Call of the Night and Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- seasons 3 and 4, is designing the characters. Sayumi Suzushiro, who voices Nijika Ijichi in Bocchi the Rock!, will reprise her role as protagonist Yukari Maki, a part she previously played in a 2022 promotional video for the manga. The staff did not announce the voice actor for the other main character, Yūsuke Kusaka, but released a character visual for him. The manga, which began serialization on Kadokawa's pixiv Sylph online magazine in June 2021, has eight compiled volumes as of November 2025, with a ninth volume scheduled for August 21. Yen Press has licensed the manga for English release, with the first volume arriving in winter 2027.
The official website for the first Chiikawa anime film, Eiga Chiikawa: Ningyo no Shima no Himitsu, announced on Tuesday that Momoka Terasawa and Sayumi Suzushiro have joined the cast as Hitoha and Futaba, two islanders the characters meet. The film adapts the manga's 2023 "Siren Arc" and opens in Japan on July 24.
TOHO Movies has unveiled the first full trailer, teaser, cast, and character visuals for the new live-action Kaiji film, titled Kaiji: Jinsei Revenge Game. Tatsuya Fujiwara returns as Kaiji, with Kazuya Kamenashi, Mahiro Takasugi, Sara Minami, and Susumu Terajima joining the cast. The film opens in Japanese theaters on January 29.
Isao Tsuge, the character design supervisor for the Netflix series "Gas Man," has explained the three concepts embedded in the blue-gray coat worn by the titular character. In an interview with Cinema Today, Tsuge said the coat's color first represents the gas-like nature of the character, second conveys a sense of otherness, and third shows respect for the 1960 original film, which also featured blue and gray tones. Tsuge, who has worked on films including "Departures" and "Shin Godzilla," designed the Gas Man after receiving the role two months before filming began. He praised actor UTA, who plays the Gas Man, for delivering emotionless lines with precise timing while also showing natural warmth in scenes with a young girl. Tsuge noted he has known UTA since childhood through his father, actor Masahiro Motoki, with whom Tsuge worked on "Departures" and "Gemini." The series, a reboot of Toho's 1960 special effects film "The Gas Man First Number," is directed by Shinzo Katayama and stars Shun Oguri and Yu Aoi alongside UTA. All eight episodes are now streaming on Netflix.
The new season of The Prince of Tennis II: U-17 World Cup Final Member Selection premieres in fall 2026. The announcement includes the third key visual, the opening theme Walls And Bridges by the unit Aozu, and the ending theme Kinkan Shoku phenomenal by Keigo Atobe and Yushi Oshitari. Actor Shirota Yuu, who previously played Kunimitsu Tezuka in the stage musicals, voices Spanish team member Romeo Fernandez.
Otomate announced that its new otome game 'MIX DUNK -KING OF BASKETBALL-' will release on November 26, 2026, for Nintendo Switch. The game is a romance adventure set in a mixed-gender pro basketball league, supervised by the Kawasaki Brave Thunders team and AKB48. The cast includes Chiharu Sawashiro, Tomokazu Sugita, Junya Enoki, Takuma Terashima, and Yoshiki Nakajima.
The staff for The Prince of Tennis II: U-17 World Cup Kesshō Member Ketteisen revealed the third teaser visual, a new cast member, and theme songs on Sunday. The four-member unit Aosu performs the opening theme "Walls And Bridges." Keigo Atobe and Yūshi Oshitari perform the ending theme "Kinkanshoku phenomenal." Yū Shirota voices Romeo Fernandez from Spain. The anime premieres this fall.
On July 15, 2026, NVIDIA and Sega held an invitation-only fan event at GiGO Akihabara Building 3 in Tokyo, bringing together NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang, Sega Chairman Harunori Satomi, President Kunifumi Utsumi, former Sega President Shoichiro Irimajiri, and Virtua Fighter creator Yu Suzuki. Huang recounted a little-known history: in the mid-1990s, NVIDIA was developing the NV2 GPU for Sega's next-generation console (later the Dreamcast) but realized after nine months that its technology-quadrilateral polygons and forward texture mapping-was wrong. Facing bankruptcy, Huang asked Irimajiri to cancel the contract and provide financial support. Irimajiri agreed, and Sega invested approximately $5 million (about 500 million yen). That funding allowed NVIDIA to pivot to triangular polygons and inverse texture mapping, leading to the successful RIVA 128 and ultimately the GeForce line. Huang stated, "Without what Sega did for NVIDIA, today's NVIDIA would not exist." The event also featured the world premiere of VIRTUA FIGHTER CROSSROADS running on an RTX Spark laptop. NVIDIA and Sega announced a partnership to bring future Sega titles to the RTX Spark platform, which launches in autumn 2026. VIRTUA FIGHTER CROSSROADS is scheduled for release in 2027.
The Marugame Genichiro-Inokuma Museum of Contemporary Art has released two limited edition 'PENON Touch Me! Art Magnets' as original merchandise for the special exhibition 'Ueno Station and Genichiro Inokuma's Freedom.' The magnets, priced at 880 yen each, are based on the large mural 'Freedom' by Genichiro Inokuma, displayed at Ueno Station since 1951. They are sold exclusively at the museum shop and its official online store. The museum is currently closed for renovations until March 2027, so sales are only online.
Alice Hirose and Yuto Sano, who co-star in Toy Story 5, posted a two-shot on X recreating the poses of their characters Lily Pad and Smarty Pants. Hirose widened her eyes and raised her mouth corners; Sano stuck out his chin and looked upward. Hirose called the post their 'all-out effort.' Fans responded with comments praising the fidelity and humor of the recreation.
The one-shot manga The Last Terran by Hiroshi Takashige and Tatsumi Hitomoji will launch as a series in the September issue of Monthly Young Magazine on August 20. It is one of four additional works chosen for serialization after the success of the Young Magazine US English issue, alongside To Dusk and Twilight, Boys Run the Riot -In Transition-, and Protocol Ryugu.
An op-ed on Anime News Network examines Masamune Shirow's Ghost in the Shell and its technological predictions, particularly the cyberbrain, comparing them to current brain-computer interface developments like Neuralink. The piece argues that Shirow's cyberpunk vision remains prescient in 2026 as society faces AI and digital interconnectivity.
Masanori Morita reported a dinner gathering with Eiichiro Oda and seven other major Jump manga artists on July 13. He posted a delinquent-style illustration of the group, which includes Masashi Kishimoto, Nobuhiro Watsuki, Takehiko Inoue, Masakazu Katsura, Riichiro Inagaki, Gege Akutami, and Kohei Horikoshi. Social media reacted with surprise, calling the lineup the "Avengers of manga."
Hiroyasu Kobayashi, CGI director of the Rebuild of Evangelion films, is directing the Tiny Metal: Zero Line anime at studio SAFEHOUSE. The pilot episode premiered at Japan Expo 2026. The anime is based on AREA35's tactical game series. Character designer Yūsuke Kozaki and composer Gō Shiina are attached. The game sequel Tiny Metal 2 is scheduled for spring 2027 on PC.
The Kickstarter campaign for the U.S.-originated Tenchi Muyo! pilot Tenchi Galaxy reached its $400,000 goal within two days of launching on July 10, 2026, and had raised over $530,000 as of the July 15 announcement. The project is a new work, not a sequel to the timelines of original creator Masaki Kajishima or previous anime series. The pilot is a single episode of approximately 30 minutes, directed by Hiroshi Negishi, who previously worked on multiple Tenchi Muyo! entries. Producer Toru Miura and U.S.-based Armiger Entertainment are handling production, with co-producer Creative Minds LLC. The campaign achieved stretch goals for a Japanese dub ($450,000), a 4K version ($475,000), and a making-of documentary ($500,000) in consecutive days. Hololive English VTuber Nerissa Ravencroft will voice an original character. The pilot is positioned as the first episode aiming for a future full series. Submissions are open until September 8, 2026, and support from Japan is accepted.
Bandai Namco Filmworks announced a month-long promotional campaign for the Mobile Police Patlabor series, starting July 17. Highlights include a YouTube special with voice actors from the original and new series, daily releases of the TV anime, an AR photo contest, a stage greeting, a collaboration with Nadai Fuji Soba, a POPUP shop, and a re-release of the 2016 REBOOT on YouTube and U-NEXT. The campaign culminates with the theatrical release of Mobile Police Patlabor EZY File 2 on August 14.
At Bilibili World 2026 in Shanghai, the open-world action RPG Silver Palace offered a trial version with two boss battles: a new encounter against Vita et Mors and a return of Cinderella from the earlier CBT. The trial also included city exploration and mid-boss fights. Parrying timing appears easier than in the previous test, and the finishing move system was a highlight.
Sega announced on July 13, 2026, that it will hold a one-day real event called SEGA UNIVERSE PLAYGROUND at Shibuya PARCO on August 8, 2026. The event is part of the SEGA UNIVERSE project, which aims to present the company's classic IPs through new experiences beyond video games. The marquee program is a two-part special talk show by Sakura Wars original creator Hiroi Oji, marking the franchise's 30th anniversary. Part one, titled "The Eve of Sakura Wars: The Road to the Project," will cover the series' creation and initial development. Part two, "Sakura Wars: A Storm of Romance in Taisho Cherry Blossoms," will discuss the cultural impact and social phenomenon that followed its release. Freelance announcer Atsuko Uchida will host. The event also includes live performances by DJs and beatmakers such as Knxwledge and DJ Mitsu the Beats, a T-shirt making workshop with designs from Sakura Wars, OutRun, and Dynamite Deka, food and drink collaborations with ON THE CORNER Shibuya, a collage art exhibition by high school student SORA inspired by NiGHTS into dreams..., and a large-screen playable setup of Guardian Heroes. Admission is free, though some activities require payment. A limited-time pop-up store, SEGA UNIVERSE POPUP STORE, will run from August 7 to August 30 on the 6th floor of Shibuya PARCO, selling merchandise tied to the SEGA UNIVERSE titles.
A Kindle sale on Yoshihiro Togashi's works offers 50% off on the first 38 volumes of HUNTER×HUNTER, excluding the recently released volume 39. The full 39-volume set, normally priced at 18,177 yen, drops to 9,374 yen. The digital-only color version of HUNTER×HUNTER (37 volumes, excluding volume 38) is also 50% off, from 21,869 yen to 11,261 yen. Togashi's other series, Yu Yu Hakusho and Level E, are included in the sale: all 19 volumes of Yu Yu Hakusho (standard edition 8,740 yen to 4,370 yen; color version 9,842 yen to 4,921 yen) and Level E (1,357 yen to 678 yen). The 50% off coupon is valid until July 13. The sale coincides with the release of HUNTER×HUNTER volume 39 on July 3 and the resumed serialization of the manga after a hiatus, with chapter 411 published in late June and chapter 413 on July 13. The coupon is applied through Amazon's Prime Day promotion.
Colopl has announced Shironeko Project Infinity, a new game featuring characters from Shironeko Project New World's, for release on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 in 2027. The announcement follows a long development history: a Switch game was first announced in 2018 under the title Shironeko New Project, delayed in 2019 from 2020 to an undetermined date. The smartphone game launched in 2014 and received a TV anime adaptation in 2020.
Bushiroad announced that pre-registrations for the rhythm game BanG Dream! Our Notes have exceeded 700,000 globally. Milestone rewards include stars, song tickets, and an SR or higher guaranteed gacha ticket. Additional rewards are planned up to one million pre-registrations. The game features new bands and a currently airing TV anime.