BANDAI SPIRITS will release a pearl color version of the Lacus Clyne prize figure from Mobile Suit Gundam SEED FREEDOM starting September 3. The figure is part of the GLITTER&GLAMOURS series and reuses the mold of the figure that appeared in February 2025. The pilot suit is recolored in pearl and the hair uses clear parts. It stands about 22cm tall and shows Lacus holding her helmet with a fleeting expression.
Dengeki Hobby Web's editorial ranking of Amazon's hobby new-arrival bestsellers in the plastic model category, current as of September 2, 2026, puts Kotobukiya's Arcadia Vanir at number one. The twin demon-type Diers kit, designed by Nidy-2D-, is the latest in the Arcadia line. Bandai Spirits' 30MF Necrosmephisto takes second, followed by Gundam decals, 30MF class-up armor, Hasegawa's Mospeada armored cycle, and 30MM Spinatia beast spec.
GameDEVA chairman Jeremy Lam, who also runs mobile studio PIXIO, told 4Gamer at ChinaJoy 2026 that Hong Kong's roughly 40 to 50 game studios are mostly small and struggle to reach outside markets. The non-profit, founded in 2017 with over 100 member companies, handles government grant applications, runs a monthly meetup, and brings finished games to international shows. It does not touch development. Its Hong Kong Pavilion, subsidized by CCIDAHK, is the second such setup.
The anime film THE FIRST SLAM DUNK will return to theaters nationwide from March 20 to April 1, 2027, under the title THE FIRST SLAM DUNK 2027 in cinema. The announcement came on August 29 via the official website and was later shared on the official X account, accompanied by a new visual showing Ryota Miyagi dribbling in profile. The film, written and directed by original manga creator Takehiko Inoue, was first released in December 2022 and ran in theaters until August 2023, followed by several revival screenings. Its cumulative box office revenue stands at 166.7 billion yen. The manga serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump from 1990 to 1996 has sold over 185 million copies worldwide and is published in 30 countries and regions. Fan reactions to the new visual and screening announcement include praise for the artwork and requests for merchandise, as well as hopes for a sequel covering other episodes from the original manga. Theater locations and visitor bonuses have not yet been announced.
At gamescom 2026, Wired Productions presented three playable horror demos from Asian indie developers: BrokenLore: DON'T LIE from Japan's Serafini Productions, AGNI: Village of Calamity from Indonesia's Separuh Interactive, and Kumarn: The Wandering Spirit from Thailand's WereBuff Studio. The UK publisher focuses on folklore and psychological horror, with each game drawing on regional beliefs and traditions.
Anime News Network's review of episode 5 of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War - The Calamity reports the episode substantially diverges from the manga, with new material centered on Orihime and Ichigo's newest form. The reviewer, an anime-only viewer, praises the spectacle and notes the possibility that Orihime may be dead, raising questions about the series' canon.
Outdoor screenings of the animated film 'THE FIRST SLAM DUNK' will take place on Saturday, August 29, and Sunday, August 30, 2026, at Tokyo Metropolitan Meiji Park. Both screenings are scheduled to start at 7:00 PM, and participation is free. The event is part of the outdoor movie series 'Nebukuro Cinema,' held at the 'SUMMER LOUNGE MEIJI PARK' beer lounge, which is set in a green space within the park and features tables, chairs, and lighting effects. The 'Nebukuro Cinema' screenings run for a total of 40 days, the largest scale in Japan. The lawn area opens at 6:00 PM, and spot-saving is not allowed before that time. A simultaneous 'Basket Ennichi' event, where attendees can play basketball in the park before the movie, starts at noon. The event will be canceled in case of rain or severe weather. The film, directed and scripted by original creator Takehiko Inoue, is based on the manga 'SLAM DUNK' and was produced by Toei Animation and Dandelion Animation Studio. According to Anime Anime, the film surpassed 15.5 billion yen in box office revenue and was the No. 1 box office performance in Japan in 2023.
Good Smile Company is turning Yachiyo, the hotelier robot protagonist of the TV anime Apocalypse Hotel, into a plastic model in its PLAMATEA series. The kit is non-scale and stands approximately 150mm tall when assembled. It uses molded colors and pre-painted parts so that assembly alone brings the model close to the in-series color scheme, and it comes with a base with a movable support. The figure features movable joints, plus various expression parts and interchangeable hands to recreate scenes from the show. One pre-painted face part is included, and additional expressions can be reproduced with decals. The model also reproduces Yachiyo's 'boiling pot' function, with a dedicated expression part showing hot water coming out of the mouth. The shampoo hat, which Yachiyo cares about as a hotel amenity, comes in two types: one that can be hung on a hook and one that can be placed on the head. Most notably, large vehicle body parts are included, and by swapping some parts, the 'Yachiyo Tank' mode can be reproduced. The kit is priced at 9,800 yen (tax included) and is scheduled for release in April 2027. Reservations begin on August 25 at 12:00.
Good Smile Company's 25th founding anniversary collaboration with CLAMP's 35th art anniversary brings a newly drawn Cardcaptor Sakura illustration to life as a scale figure. The painted prototype, titled Sakura Kinomoto My First Sparkle, is on display at Good Smile Fest 2026 Osaka, held August 22 and 23, 2026. The figure depicts Sakura seated on Cerberus in his true form.
SEGA released a free update on August 21, 2026, adding Cult of the Lamb collaboration content to Two Point Museum. Players explore four new survey sites in the Land of the False Bishop, create four types of special exhibits, and guide museum visitors into becoming followers. Deeper devotion lowers staff salary demands and unlocks rituals with museum benefits.
The staff for Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War - The Calamity, the fourth and final part of the anime, confirmed on Saturday that Yuki Kaji plays Toshihiro Hitsugaya's Complete Bankai version. Viz Media streamed an English-subtitled clip of the character's first appearance in episode 44.
Shueisha's V Jump announced the hololive OFFICIAL CARD GAME 2nd Anniversary Blooming Memories collection book, releasing September 18. The cover and two bonus cards were revealed, including a Yukihana Lamy card drawn by Kentaro Yabuki, known for To LOVE-Ru and Ayakashi Triangle. The book covers all cards released in the past year.
Nijimen published a character and voice actor guide for Slam Dunk, covering the Shohoku starting five and rivals such as Sendoh, Maki, and Sawakita. The guide lists TV anime cast members and, where applicable, the actors who voiced characters in the 2022 film The First Slam Dunk.
Nijimen published a complete character and voice actor guide for Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle, the CLAMP manga serialized from 2003 to 2009. The guide profiles the traveling party, including Shaolan, Sakura, Kurogane, and Fai, and details the anime adaptations, films, and OADs, with cast and staff information.
Anime News Network reviews episode 3 of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War - The Calamity, giving it a community score of 4.0. The review highlights Ichigo's single-minded focus on defeating Yhwach and the series finally addressing his mixed heritage. However, the reviewer considers Orihime the episode's standout, praising her power and role.
The popular Terraria mod Calamity Mod has ended development after more than 10 years. The team announced the decision on Discord following an anonymous Reddit post accusing manager Ozzatron of past misconduct. Several developers and creators left, and asset removal requests followed. The team said it was impossible to continue without staff and replace assets.
Dengeki Hobby Web's latest Amazon hobby new arrivals ranking places Max Factory's PLAMATEA MX-chan model kit at number two, with Good Smile Company's MODEROID Diapolon at nine. Hot Wheels Boulevard die-cast cars dominate the list, taking five of the top ten spots.
Dat Japan announced Arena Remake, a modernized version of the 90s PC strategy RPG that was bundled in GAMEPACK and preinstalled on Fujitsu FMV computers. The game includes a faithful Legacy Mode and a new Arrange Mode with roguelike elements and added story. It launches for PC and Switch in winter 2026.
Takara Tomy will open TOMICA BRAND STORE at I'Park Mall Yongsan in Seoul on August 22, 2026. It is the sixth Asian location and the first in Korea. The store features a diorama of Seoul streets, a TOMICA WALL, and brand- items including a NISSAN GT-R NISMO Special edition.
Bandai's adult-oriented CSG brand is releasing the Flame Saber from Kamen Rider Agito Flame Form. The weapon measures about 90 centimeters, roughly 155 percent larger than the DX toy version. It includes a one-touch expansion gimmick, attack sounds, and a dialogue mode featuring Shouichi Tsugami's voice. Orders close September 27.
Good Smile Company is releasing Arika Yumemiya as an articulated plastic model in its PLAMATEA series, scheduled for April 2027. The approximately 140mm model features articulated joints, interchangeable hands, flared skirt parts, and movable hair via ball joints. It includes decals for the Garderobe Academy uniform, apron, and knee-high socks, plus optional broom and bag parts.
Anime News Network's review of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War - The Calamity episode 2 focuses on Kisuke Urahara's long-awaited Bankai reveal. The reviewer calls the healing ability underwhelming and muted, contrasting it with the series' usual spectacle. The episode also includes Orihime introspection as Ichigo approaches Yhwach, which the review notes slows the pacing.
Konami Digital Entertainment released update Version 1.004 for Gradius Origin Collection on August 3, 2026, fixing a bug in the newly developed Salamander III that occurred after players cleared 128 or more loops. The bug reset the maximum selectable loop count in stage select when returning to the title menu. Because Salamander III increases difficulty with each loop, the 128-loop threshold drew surprise and praise on social media, with comments such as "Is there anyone who can play over 128 loops?!" and "In other words, someone actually did it!" The collection, released August 7, 2025, for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam, includes seven titles and 18 versions, featuring arcade entries like Gradius, Salamander, and Gradius II, plus the new Salamander III developed by M2. The update also includes other fixes detailed on the official site. Whether the bug was discovered through actual play has not been officially announced, but the feat sparked respect for whoever found it.
Anime News Network reviews the first episode of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War - The Calamity, praising its cinematic visuals and Yoruichi's spotlight. The episode opens with a sweeping shot of ruins and a recap, though some small details may be forgotten. The fight with Askin continues, and the episode sets up the final part's 10-episode run.
Netflix announced it will stream Gintama: The Movie 2026: Yoshiwara in Flames starting August 27. The compilation film, which opened in Japan on February 13, ranked #2 in its opening weekend, selling 262,700 tickets and earning 405,617,328 yen (US$2.64 million) in three days. It covers episodes 139-146 with newly animated scenes and an original character voiced by Kappei Yamaguchi. Naoya Ando directed at BN Pictures, with a script by Taku Kishimoto and supervision by Yoichi Fujita.
The crowdfunding campaign for the official board game adaptation of the cult management game Cult of the Lamb launched on Kickstarter on July 21. Within one day, it raised over 100 million yen (about $630,000) from more than 2,445 backers, far exceeding its goal of about 4.1 million yen (about $25,000). The campaign runs until August 15. Titled Cult of the Lamb: The Board Game, it is a competitive board game for one to four players that alternates between dungeon exploration and cult management phases. Players choose a leader from the Lamb, Owl, Snake, or Goat. The game is planned to be available in English, French, Spanish, and German, with additional languages possible during the campaign. Shipping to Japan is supported with applicable fees. Cult of the Lamb is a roguelite action and cult management game developed by Massive Monster and published by Devolver Digital.
Netflix has announced a reality competition show based on the board game Monopoly, with a $2 million prize for the winner. The show, produced by Studio Lambert of 'Squid Game: The Challenge' fame, will feature 12 players in a life-sized city setting. Players who go bankrupt are eliminated, and the last one standing wins. The series is set to stream in fall 2027, and applications are now open for US residents.
The second episode of the Flaming Dodgeball Girl Danko anime revealed Noriko Hidaka as Misato Ichigeki and Misato Fukuen as Haruka Ichigeki. Hidaka also reprises her role as Danpei Ichigeki from the original 1990s series and narrates the sequel. The anime premiered on July 6.
The 'VISIONS 2027 ILLUSTRATORS BOOK,' supervised by pixiv and published by KADOKAWA, will release on September 26. It includes works from 170 illustrators, with a cover by LAM. Of the 170, 169 are first-time participants in the series. The series has cumulative circulation over 410,000 copies worldwide.
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.
The new trailer for Denis Villeneuve's Dune: Part Three, the final chapter of the sci-fi series, was released worldwide on July 9. It shows Paul Atreides as Emperor facing assassination plots, his promise to Chani to end the war, the return of Duncan Idaho, and a full appearance by Alia. Robert Pattinson appears as a mysterious new character. The film opens December 18 simultaneously in Japan and the US.
Viz Media unveiled the final English-subtitled trailer for Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War - The Calamity at Anime Expo on Saturday. The video previews the opening theme "I-BULL" by jo0ji and the ending theme "Rasen" by 9Lana. The fourth and final part premieres July 25 on TV Tokyo.
Four KAMITSUBAKI STUDIO affiliated artists-RIM, KOKO, KAKYOIN, and HINAGESHI-participated in the U.S. charity event VTuber Summer Slam 2026, raising 1 million yen in donations through special streams. The funds go to Gamers Outreach to provide gaming experiences to hospitalized children.
The screening of the first three episodes of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War - The Calamity, the fourth and final part of the anime, grossed US$3,000,000 in the U.S. box office and ranked #8. The episodes screened in 943 theaters from June 25-29, with both subtitled and dubbed versions, plus a behind-the-scenes conversation with creator Tite Kubo and directors Tomohisa Taguchi and Hikaru Murata. The full series premieres on TV Tokyo on July 25.
The fourth and final cour of the BLEACH anime, titled Thousand-Year Blood War Arc - The Calamity, begins airing on TV Tokyo network and others from July 25 at 23:00. Streaming follows from July 26 on Prime Video, Netflix, and DMM TV. The cour opens with episode 41, God of Thunder. The opening theme is I-BULL by jo0ji, and the ending theme is Spiral by 9Lana.
KAMITSUBAKI STUDIO will participate in VTuber Summer Slam 2026, a 10-day charity marathon organized by U.S. nonprofit Gamers Outreach. Four members-RIM, KOKO, KAKYOIN, and HINAGESHI-will stream Overcooked! 2 on the studio's YouTube channel June 25 from 23:00 to 1:00 JST. Donations support GO Kart mobile game kiosks for hospitalized children.
Kotobukiya announced a plastic model kit of the ZOIDS Republic Air Force Salamander F2 Fighting Falcon in its HMM series. The Kotobukiya Shop exclusive kit features gold-plated Falcon Wing parts, two gold-plated pilot figures, clear parts, and a removable Zoid core. It is scheduled for November 2026 release at 32,780 yen.
The Slam Dunk Scholarship program by Takehiko Inoue and Shueisha is collaborating again with the B.League's B.DUNK KIDS PROJECT for a fourth annual basketball clinic series. The free clinics for elementary school students nationwide will feature scholarship recipients with overseas experience and active B.League players. A special clinic on August 9 includes watching a Japan national team match.
The 1993 animated music video "X," a collaboration between the manga group CLAMP and the band X JAPAN, is now available on YouTube for a limited time. The video is part of the visual work "X2" (Double X), which was directed by Rintaro with production assistance from Madhouse. For years, the piece was considered a "phantom work" because it had not been released on home media or streamed. On June 10, 2026, a remastered version appeared on the US streaming service Crunchyroll. Now, the video is viewable on the official Aniplex YouTube channel until July 31, 2026, at 23:59 JST. Fans have reacted with excitement, praising the cel animation and calling for the long-hiatus manga "X" to resume serialization. The manga, which began in 1992, remains unfinished. Alongside this release, X JAPAN's 1991 music video "Say Anything" has also been made available.
Good Smile Company and Max Factory are adding Rei Ayanami and Asuka Langley Shikinami from the "Rebuild of Evangelion" films to their PLAMATEA line of movable plastic model kits. Both figures stand approximately 170mm tall and are scheduled for release in December 2026 at 7,700 yen each. The Rei Ayanami kit includes three expression parts-serious, smiling, and glaring-with decals for eye direction, plus a glasses case accessory. The Asuka Langley Shikinami kit includes smiling, embarrassed, and "Are you stupid?" faces, along with a puppet accessory. Both models feature movable joints, pre-painted parts, and color-separated molding. They come with a base that has a movable support arm and can hold weapons from the separately sold MODEROID Evangelion Unit-01 kit. Prototype production is by SELECT D.
The staff for Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War - The Calamity, the fourth and final part of the anime, announced the July 25 premiere date, a new key visual, and the theme song artists. Singer jo0ji performs the opening theme "I-BULL," and 9Lana performs the ending theme "Rasen." The first three episodes will screen in U.S. theaters June 25-29.
Good Smile Company's Cutie Honey Nova PLAMATEA Black Honey plastic model kit took first place in Amazon Japan's Hobby Bestseller Ranking as of June 18, 2026. The ranking also featured returning favorites like Hot Wheels Ferrari Testarossa and a Pokémon Re-Ment set, plus restocked items such as the 30MM Full Armor Portanova and 30MP Bocchi the Rock! Hitori Gotoh.
Good Smile Company announced a PLAMATEA plastic model of Black Honey, the mysterious warrior from the joint project Cutie Honey Nova. The model stands 170mm tall, includes multiple weapons and expression parts, and is scheduled for release in December 2026 for 8,800 yen.
The 29th issue of Kodansha's Young Magazine teased on Monday that Watanuki, the protagonist of CLAMP's xxxHOLiC: Rei manga, is planning a strategy for the "final battle." The sequel manga launched in 2013, has been serialized irregularly, and resumed in April 2025 after a delay. Kodansha released the fifth compiled volume on November 29, 2025.
Massive Monster's cult management action game Cult of the Lamb is 50% off on Steam until June 26, reducing its price to 1,285 yen. The January 2026 DLC Woolhaven is also 20% off at 1,520 yen during the same period. The game lets players lead a cult, recruit followers, and explore procedurally generated fields.
Viz Media announced a slate of manga and novel print releases for spring 2027, led by the physical English debut of Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo, the sequel to Gege Akutami's Jujutsu Kaisen. The series, set 68 years after the Culling Game, follows siblings Yuka and Tsurugi Okkotsu as an alien race arrives on Earth. It features a story by Akutami and art by Yuji Iwasaki. The three-volume series concluded in Japan in May 2026. Other spring 2027 releases include a Detective Conan 3-in-1 edition with original Japanese names, a Slam Dunk Deluxe Edition with reordered story arcs and new covers, Takemitsu Zamurai by Taiyo Matsumoto and Issei Eifuku, Junji Ito: Dissection, a hardcover career retrospective, and the yuri romantic comedy #Gal x Gal Yuri. Shuzo Oshimi's autobiographical work Sins is scheduled for fall 2027. The Ichinose Family's Deadly Sins will receive a digital release in spring 2027. The announcements were made via Viz Media's X/Twitter account on June 12.
Max Factory has begun accepting orders for the PLAMAX PX-20 VF-1J Super Fighter Valkyrie Max & Milia Galaxy Strongest Set, a 1/72 scale plastic model kit of the VF-1J Fighter Valkyrie piloted by Maximilian Jenius and Milia Fallyna Jenius from Super Dimension Fortress Macross. The set includes the Super Pack, reaction missiles, seated pilot figures in extra-atmospheric suits, and a bonus decal folder for Good Smile Company orders. The kit is priced at 11,000 yen, with orders open until July 22 and shipping scheduled for December 2026.
BANDAI SPIRITS is releasing a Toru Hagakure prize figure from My Hero Academia as part of the GLITTER&GLAMOURS line. The figure, available exclusively at GiGO stores from June 25, stands 23 cm tall and comes in a normal version and a transparent version.
Microids and Ocellus Studio announced Marsupilami 2 - Salsa Palombia, a 2D platformer sequel, during the Future Games Show: Summer Showcase 2026. The game features cooperative multiplayer, tail-based stage traversal, and launches September 3, 2026 on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch. A demo is available now on Steam.
The official X account for the new Magic Knight Rayearth TV anime posted an image on June 4 showing only a date and time: June 5, 2026 at 17:00 JST. No further details were given. Social media speculation suggests the announcement could reveal additional cast members or theme song information. The anime is set to premiere in October 2026 on TV Asahi.