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Journey
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1h ago
thatgamecompany, the studio behind Journey and Sky: Children of the Light, announced on August 25, 2026 that it has established a new publishing label called thatgamepublisher. The label targets ambitious, emotionally resonant games and supports developers who use interactivity to expand the emotional range games can convey. According to an interview with GamesIndustry.biz, the success of Sky, particularly in the Chinese region, generated surplus funds that enabled the creation of the division. Co-founder Jenova Chen said indie studios with hit titles naturally want to invest in areas they understand, citing examples like Pocketpair and its Palworld publishing arm. thatgamepublisher will offer more than funding, including production planning, platform and launch strategy, marketing, community building, and long-term IP development. The division also plans to invest in larger AA-scale projects, a departure from typical indie publishers that invest under $1 million. Publishing contracts for several titles were already signed at the time of the interview, though details were not disclosed. The company's official X account invited developers of any team size, development stage, or genre to apply.
5d ago
Digital publisher Omoi announced at Anime NYC that it licensed Momoshiro and Tomoko Mitsuki's Love Is the Sweetest Journey manga, with English chapters starting in 2027. Omoi also revealed Scholastic's Graphix imprint will release A Snow Fox at the Northern Fort in print in fall 2027, and that it will add 45 titles from Titan Manga in the coming weeks, with some available immediately.
6d ago
Tokyo Disney Resort will raise prices for Disney Premier Access starting September 1. At Tokyo Disneyland, Beauty and the Beast's Enchanted Tale goes from 2,000 to 2,500 yen. At Tokyo DisneySea, Anna and Elsa's Frozen Journey and Soaring: Fantastic Flight rise from 2,000 to 2,500 yen, while Journey to the Center of the Earth goes from 1,500 to 2,000 yen.
Aug 11
ABEMA announced a special project called the Anime 200 Works Free Festival Every Week, running four consecutive weeks in August. The first week, starting August 3, focuses on anime broadcast in 2026, including Oshi no Ko, Jujutsu Kaisen, Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, and Classroom of the Elite. About 200 works will stream free, with themed weeks and marathon distributions.
Aug 11
The Farm Inc. is selling 12 collaboration exclusive goods for the anime Frieren: Beyond Journey's End at the farm resort THE FARM in Katori City, Chiba Prefecture. The event, titled A Journey of Memories Woven by Stars and Campfire, runs until October 16. The Frieren towel cap, available only to overnight guests, features an embroidered relaxed expression and costs 3,300 yen.
Aug 8
Myethos announced a 1/8 scale figure of Phainon from Honkai: Star Rail in its Gift+ series. The figure depicts Phainon in his Train Journey outfit, standing with one hand in his pocket. It is priced at 8,910 yen and scheduled for release in July 2027.
Aug 5
Bushiroad Creative has added two anime series to its PalVerse line of palm-sized deformed figures. The Jujutsu Kaisen set, which went on sale July 31, 2026, includes six characters: Yuji Itadori, Megumi Fushiguro, Yuta Okkotsu, Choso, Kenjaku, and Sukuna. Each figure stands about 90mm tall. A single pack costs 1,100 yen, while a box of six costs 6,600 yen and guarantees a complete set when unopened. Buyers who purchase a box at participating stores such as the Bushiroad Online Store, Animate, and Hobby Zone receive a bonus sticker set. The Frieren: Beyond Journey's End lineup, also six characters, features Frieren, Fern, Stark, Himmel, Heiter, and Eisen. Packs are 1,210 yen and boxes are 7,260 yen. Reservations for the Frieren set close August 4, with a release scheduled for November 27. Both lines use random packing, but box purchases ensure collectors get all six types.
Jul 18
From July 17 to October 16, 2026, the glamping resort THE FARM in Chiba Prefecture is hosting a Frieren collaboration. All 32 tents become themed rooms, the resort is styled as a village from the series, and the check-in lounge features interactive exhibits including a mimic, prop weapons, and a monument of Himmel's ring. Staff act as "villagers" and guests as "travelers."
Jul 17
The TV anime Frieren: Beyond Journey's End has partnered with gaming community vaultroom for a line of apparel. The collection includes six items: four T-shirts featuring mascot Bolt-kun dressed as Frieren, the hero party gaming, Frieren's party, and Aura, plus two hoodies with Frieren and a mimic scene. Prices range from 9,900 yen for T-shirts to 24,200 yen for hoodies. Sales begin July 18, 2026 in two batches on vaultroom's shop. Fan reactions have been positive.
Jul 17
The 'Something Genuine' series published a conversation with Anastasia Muñoz, the voice of Serie in Frieren: Beyond Journey's End. The interview moves beyond her anime credits to discuss her work as a theater educator, fine arts department head, and founder of the nonprofit Arts Mission Oak Cliff, as well as her views on creativity and AI.
Jul 16
The official Frieren: Beyond Journey's End X account posted a pun image placing Frieren in Resident Evil's Raccoon City, using the phrase 'Raccoon City-ren'. The Resident Evil official account replied with an image of a treasure chest. Fans speculated on Frieren's ability to survive the zombie apocalypse and noted the surreal composition. Both franchises have upcoming collaborations at Universal Studios Japan.
Jul 15
Publisher Harrison World and developer Embers Studio released a demo for the roguelike turn-based strategy RPG 'Hope of Elements - The Witch and the Dragon's Journey' on July 15. The demo is available on PC via Steam and supports Japanese text. Players take on the role of Iris, a witch who can control five elemental magics - Fire, Water, Earth, Wood, and Lightning - and must combine them with elements present on the map and in the environment to trigger chain reactions that can clear enemies. The game features randomly generated maps, enemies, and treasures, with over 200 treasure types that can be combined with enhancement effects to create unique builds. The demo incorporates feedback from a playtest held from June 10 to July 1, adding a new tutorial, an elemental reaction log, and improved movement controls. Players can experience most of the full game's mechanics, including turn-based battles, elemental combinations, and potion crafting. Feedback is still being collected via in-game surveys, the Steam Community, and the official Discord.
Jul 13
Publisher Imperfect Games announced on July 13 that the action RPG Lunarium Hoshi no Tabi, developed by Lunarium Game Studio, will release on July 29 for PC via Steam. The single-player game features cooperative combat between knight Ava and Star User Rune, with challenging enemy encounters, a skill tree, and Sigils equipment.
Jul 13
U-NEXT released its viewership ranking for the first half of 2026, covering January 1 to June 8. The top 10 is heavy on sequels, with Jujutsu Kaisen: Culling Game Arc (Part 1) taking first place, followed by Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Season 2 and That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 4. Spring premieres Yomi no Tsugai and Nihon Sangoku also made the list.
Jul 9
On July 8, 2026, the official Frieren: Beyond Journey's End X account posted a pun combining the series' title with the card game UNO. The post, featuring Aura and Himmel on UNO cards, drew reactions calling it "clever", "a perfect hit", and "the best ever". The UNO Frieren card game is currently on sale from Ensky.
Jul 6
At an Anime Expo 2026 panel, the creators of Frieren: Beyond Journey's End revealed behind-the-scenes details of Season 2 and stated that Season 3 aims to surpass Season 2's quality. Director Tomoya Kitagawa, Chief Director Keiichiro Saito, Character Designer Keisuke Kojima, and Madhouse Producer Yuichiro Fukushi appeared before a packed audience.
Jul 6
Midjourney is demanding Disney, Universal, and Warner Bros. Discovery reveal details of their own AI development and use, arguing that if the studios are training models internally, it would support Midjourney's fair-use defense. The company has appealed a magistrate judge's ruling that limited discovery to consumer-facing images and videos. A hearing is set for August 17, 2026.
Jul 5
Seven Seas Entertainment announced 16 new licenses at its Anime Expo panel on July 4, 2026. The slate spans multiple imprints and genres, including light novels, manga, manhwa, and audiobooks, with releases scheduled from March through June 2027.
Jun 26
Good Smile Company is now accepting pre-orders for a POP UP PARADE figure of Aura, the demon antagonist from the TV anime Frieren: Beyond Journey's End. The figure, priced at 6,500 yen including tax, is scheduled for release in December 2026. Aura, one of the Seven Sages of Destruction known as "Aura the Guillotine," is depicted holding the Scales of Obedience used for the magic of subordination, with a confident smile. The souls placed on the balance are rendered with clear materials. The figure is non-scale, approximately 170mm tall, and includes a dedicated base. Pre-orders are open until July 22, 2026. The sculptors are Amaguri and Sparrow, with coloring by Hiroto Tanimoto. The figure recreates a pose from one of the series' most popular episodes, where Aura confronts Frieren. POP UP PARADE is an affordable, pre-painted figure line from Good Smile Company, known for its 17-18cm size and quick release schedule.
Jun 25
Anime Feminist's analysis of Frieren: Beyond Journey's End argues the series replaces the typical fantasy pacing of conquest and escalation with a slower rhythm built from care, teaching, and remembering. The piece positions this shift as a feminist critique of how fantasy has coded importance through visible victories, and notes that Frieren's premise-an immortal elf grieving after the hero's death-forces attention onto interpersonal attention rather than heroic advancement.
Jun 19
The Tonari no Mokei Festival 9, a two-day event combining a garage kit sale and model exhibition, was held on June 13 and 14, 2026, at the Tokyo Ryutsu Center. Dengeki Hobby Web published three photo reports covering works exhibited by participating dealers on the first day. The reports highlight garage kits and figures based on popular anime and game franchises, including Stay Gold from Uma Musume, Cath Palug and Chocolate Maid Mash from Fate/Grand Order, winter-clothes Frieren from Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, Dorothy from Goddess of Victory: NIKKE, Hoshino (Huafang Yayun) from Blue Archive, Abigail from FGO, Victoire Pisa from Uma Musume, and Senzaki Maid Ver. from Wuthering Waves. The event is known for showcasing original and licensed garage kits, often featuring characters in alternate outfits or poses not commonly seen in mass-produced figures.
Jun 18
ASMIK Ace unveiled the teaser video, visual, main cast, staff, and 2027 premiere for the TV anime adaptation of Monsho Sakakibara's light novel series The Reincarnated Elf Left on a Journey to Master His Magic and With His Extra Lifespan Became a Living Legend. Daiki Yamashita and Hana Hishikawa star, with Yuki Inaba directing at Studio Palette.
Jun 18
Midjourney announced a new division, Midjourney Medical, and the development of the Midjourney Scanner, a device that can generate a millimeter-precision 3D map of the internal body in 60 seconds. The scanner uses 500,000 acoustic devices to emit ultrasound and process terabyte-level data. Plans include FDA approval submissions and global deployment of 50,000 units by 2031.
Jun 12
Sega announced a new Frieren figure for its Figurizmα prize line, depicting the heroine upside down in a Flower Dance variant. It will appear in Japanese arcades on July 24, 2026, with worldwide release to follow, and Toho is already taking pre-orders for $30.
Jun 10
Re-Ment Co., Ltd. announced on June 10, 2026, a new diorama figure series titled "Pokémon Journey with You! Anniversary" to mark the 30th anniversary of the Pokémon franchise. The series will be released in three sets, each priced at 2,090 yen including tax. The first set, "Beginning Adventure," ships on November 2; the second set, "New Departure," on November 16; and the third set, "Journey to the Future," on November 30. Each set contains three types of figures, with the contents hidden from view. The figures depict the starter Pokémon from each of the nine main series regions-Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, Unova, Kalos, Alola, Galar, and Paldea-arranged on a single base per region. The bases are designed with region-themed scenery, such as Kanto's grass, Sinnoh's snowy road with a Route 217 sign, and Alola's sea. In total, the three sets cover 27 Pokémon across all nine regions.
Jun 7
A limited-time pop-up shop, KyarAON! Mini Branch in Yokohama, opened at the Volks Yokohama Showroom on June 6, offering advance sales of newly drawn goods from 11 popular anime and game series including That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, and My Dress-Up Darling Season 2. The event runs through June 14.
Jun 4
CCMC's holo Indie brand released the 2D action-adventure game 'An Automaton's Journey' on Steam on June 4, 2026. Developed by Xyros Games, the game stars hololive English -Justice- member Cecilia Immergreen as an ancient automaton exploring a pixel art world. A one-week 10% off launch sale brings the price to 729 yen.
Jun 3
Hololive VTuber Nerissa Ravencroft sat down with Anime News Network to discuss her classical singing training, the process of adapting Japanese lyrics to English, her favorite Hololive songs, and her family streams. She also touched on her bond with her Hololive Advent genmates and her history as a singer.
Jun 1
Discotek announced four new Blu-ray releases, including upscaled HD versions of Digimon Tamers and the Hana Yori Dango anime with English dubs and subtitles, plus an HD remaster of Journey to Japan: The Kyoto Connection and the first HD disc release of Kamen Rider: Skyrider.
Jun 1
Sega Fave is releasing four new prize items from the TV anime 'Frieren: Beyond Journey's End' in June 2026. The lineup includes Yumemirize loungewear figures of Frieren and Ubel, a returning Fuwapuchi M plush of Frieren, and a re-release of the Luminasta figure of Frieren in a battle pose.
May 31
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.
May 29
Sega announced two new Luminasta figures of Frieren and Fern dressed as Halloween witches, set for a worldwide release in Fall 2026. The matching costumes include black cloaks, witch hats, and the characters' staves. They will be sold separately through Sega's Amazon storefront after appearing as prizes in Japan.
May 29
The Frieren: Beyond Journey's End franchise has released a special collaboration illustration that reimagines the title character as the subject of Johannes Vermeer's 17th-century painting "Girl with a Pearl Earring." The illustration was created to promote an exhibition of the same name, which will run from August 21 to September 27 at the Nakanoshima Museum of Art in Osaka. The exhibition features Vermeer's masterpiece alongside other Dutch paintings from the same period. Frieren story creator Kanehito Yamada said he was honored to have his work featured alongside the painting, and illustrator Tsukasa Abe described the experience of studying Vermeer's works as remarkable. The exhibition will also include crossover merchandise with the Dutch mascot character Miffy, with two plush dolls announced at prices of 5,500 yen and 2,860 yen. Frieren-specific merchandise has not yet been detailed. The illustration was revealed on the official exhibition and Frieren social media accounts.