WAKA and BEAMS jointly developed and released the original Roblox game "Mannequin kara Fuku wo Atsume ro!" (STEAL THE CLOTHES) on August 7, 2026. The game, BEAMS's first original game, is a collection-style experience where players explore a city, gather fashion items, and compete to steal items from other players.
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.
Marvelous announced the late ending theme for Meitantei Precure!, titled Itsuka Wakaru Kitto Aeru, performed by Akane Kumada and Yuka Masui, with lyrics by Kumiko Aoki and composition by Kouki Hamada. The single releases September 30, with the TV-size version now streaming. The late ED replaces the popular first ED.
The fourth season of the Fate/Grand Order: Ritsuka Fujimaru Doesn't Get It anime shorts was announced at the FGO Fes. 2026 event. It launches August 7 within the Club Chaldea FGO Radio Station program at 9:00 p.m. JST, with new episodes every two weeks. The shorts adapt Tsuchida's slapstick comedy manga about humanity's last master Ritsuka Fujimaru.
Masayasu Wakabayashi's first novel 'Seiten', a Naoki Prize candidate about American football, is on a 50% Kindle points back sale until July 20. The book has sold over 180,000 copies and was originally serialized on note. The sale gives 950 points back on the 1900 yen price.
POPOPO Inc. announced on July 15, 2026, that its smartphone communication app POPOPO will end service on September 17 at 15:00 JST. The app, which launched on March 18, 2026, operated as a "videophone that doesn't need a camera," allowing users to converse via 3D avatars that animate automatically based on voice input. The company cited a review of the future business environment and service optimization as the reason for termination. The shutdown timeline includes a halt to new premium member registrations and coin sales on July 22, followed by the end of new downloads on August 31. Unused paid coins will be refunded between September 17 and November 17. During the remaining service period, updates will add external VRM avatar loading and LIVE point exchange features. After service ends, all account data and HoloSuit avatars will be deleted, with no migration to other services. POPOPO was launched by entrepreneur Masuo Kawakami, with a board that included GACKT, Hiroyuki Nishimura, and Hideaki Anno.
A special talk video for 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' features Tom Holland, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, and Japanese band Mrs. GREEN APPLE, who wrote the theme song 'Brand New.' Holland nearly spoils a scene inspired by the song before Zendaya and Batalon stop him. The band is invited to the Los Angeles world premiere.
DMM TV announced a second season of the live-action series based on Toshiya Wakabayashi's manga Happy Kanako's Killer Life. The new season debuts in September 2026 on DMM TV. Non and Taisuke Fujigaya return as Kanako and Sakurai. Tsutomu Hanabusa returns to direct and co-write the scripts.
Bandai Namco Filmworks announced a television anime adaptation of Jun Wakatsuki's manga Promise Me the Spotlight, with a teaser visual and a celebratory illustration from Wakatsuki. The story follows a devoted fan who vows to make his favorite idol the center of her group, Melty Strawberry.
The official website for the anime of akuji Katō's The Demons Are Planning Something Good comedy manga revealed the cast, additional staff, a visual, and a 2027 television debut. The cast includes Junichi Suwabe, Wakana Kuramochi, and Haruka Shiraishi. Takuya Asaoka directs at TNK, with Kazuyuki Fudeyasu on series composition and Hiraku Kaneko on character design. Yen Press licenses the manga.
The official website for the television anime adaptation of Haka Tokura's Magical Buffs: The Support Caster is Stronger Than He Realized! light novel series released a new promotional video on July 4. The video and accompanying announcement revealed three additional cast members: Akeno Watanabe as Camilla, Masaaki Mizunaka as Chronos, and Wakana Kuramochi as Rita Heinkes. They join previously announced leads Reiji Kawashima as Wim Strauss and Hana Hishikawa as Heidemarie. Crunchyroll confirmed at its Anime Expo 2026 panel on July 3 that it will stream the series and also showed an English-subtitled version of the trailer. The anime is set to premiere in January 2027. It will air on Tokyo MX, MBS, BS11, and 17 other channels, and will also be available on Netflix. Hideki Okamoto is directing the series at J.C. Staff. Takao Yoshioka is handling series scripts, Yu Murakami is designing the characters, and Yuki Hayashi, Luke Standridge, and Asa Taylor are composing the music. Seven Seas Entertainment has licensed the light novel and its manga adaptation for English release.
The television anime adaptation of Syuu and Nanna Fujimi's light novel series Victoria of Many Faces will premiere on July 7 on TV Tokyo and its affiliates. A short promotional video was released alongside the announcement. The series stars Chika Anzai as Victoria and is directed by Nobukage Kimura at Studio DEEN.
Kiminori Wakasugi's That Time I Got Reincarnated in PES manga, based on Konami's eFootball/Pro Evolution Soccer series, ended on April 30 after launching on April 9. Kodansha's Magazine Pocket published the series, and K MANGA released the complete English version.
Voice actress Wakana Yamazaki, best known as the voice of Ran Mori in the long-running anime series Detective Conan, died on April 18 at age 61 following an illness. Her talent agency Aoni Production announced in February that she would pause activities for medical treatment. Yamazaki voiced the character since the series premiered in 1996, a role she held for nearly three decades. The Detective Conan production staff confirmed that Akemi Okamura, who had filled in since March 14, will permanently succeed her as the voice of Ran Mori. Creator Gosho Aoyama released a statement saying, "To think I'll never hear that gentle, comforting voice that was always there again... it's so sad." Yamazaki also voiced Meiko Akizuki in Marmalade Boy, Koan in Sailor Moon R, Nene in the Samurai Warriors game series, and Nojiko in One Piece. She received the Kei Tomiyama and Kazue Takahashi Award at the 19th Seiyuu Awards for her contributions to the profession. A funeral was held by close relatives. The cast and staff of Detective Conan, along with figures across the anime and game industries, posted public condolences on social media.