Weekly Shonen Jump's Kagurabachi will get a TV anime in April 2027, animated by Studio Cypic (the rebranded Cygames Pictures) with award-winning newcomer Taihi Kimura as the lead. Here is what is known about the staff, the worldwide first-episode tour, and the manga's unusual rise from internet meme to genuine global hit.
ufotable — the studio behind the $722M global hit Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle — announced on May 11, 2026 the acquisition of a 98-year-old former Mizuho Bank building in Tokushima. The historic structure that survived WWII firebombing will become a new entertainment hub and could turn into the next must-visit destination for global Demon Slayer fans making the pilgrimage to Japan.
Mamoru Oshii's new Armored Trooper VOTOMS film Die Graue Hexe will be a two-part theatrical release, with Part 1 opening November 20, 2026. Original creator Ryosuke Takahashi serves as supervisor, with music by longtime Oshii collaborator Kenji Kawai, and a powerhouse Sunrise x Production I.G production team behind it.
Katsuhiro Otomo, the legendary creator of AKIRA, launched a new feature animation studio called OVAL GEAR on May 11, 2026. A first title is already in production. Global fans are speculating whether this marks the long-awaited return of his shelved 2019 project ORBITAL ERA.
Inside the Nippon TV interview AKIRA creator Katsuhiro Otomo gave after unveiling Tokyo's Ginza Station mural Procession Spin. The original design got scrapped, the Kaneda bike was a doodle, and he wants to retire to sumi-e — context English-language press hasn't carried.
Netflix's WIT Studio anime remake of the East Blue Saga, separate from the long-running 1999 Toei series, has locked in a February 2027 worldwide release. The seven-episode Season 1 will adapt 50 manga chapters as a single 300-minute binge — and freshly released concept art shows young Luffy laughing with Shanks at Foosha Village's Partys Bar.
Anime!Anime! has released its post-broadcast Spring 2026 anime ranking. Daemons of the Shadow Realm by Hiromu Arakawa takes #1 in Japan, with Ascendance of a Bookworm at #2, and Dr.STONE, Nippon Sangoku, and Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun tying for #3. Meanwhile, international rankings from Anime Corner and others crown Re:Zero Season 4 and Witch Hat Atelier as the top picks. Here is the gap between Japanese and overseas reception, plus where to stream each title on Crunchyroll, Prime Video, and beyond.
On April 29, 2026, Mobile Suit Gundam creator Yoshiyuki Tomino received the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon. A guide for international Gundam fans on Japan's imperial decoration system, Tomino's global influence, the state of Gundam IP, and current games like SD Gundam G Generation Eternal.
The 8.5-million-copy biblio-mystery series Biblia Koshodou no Jiken Techou finally gets a TV anime for 2027, produced by CloverWorks with director Mamoru Kanbe (Elfen Lied). Nearly a decade after an anime film was announced but never materialized, fans' long wait is over. Teaser PV and main cast revealed.
Kunio Okawara, the legendary mechanical designer who created Gundam's Mobile Suits, will design Seibu Railway's new tourist limited express debuting in 2028. Running from Shinjuku to Kawagoe, aka 'Little Edo', the train pairs Japanese anime heritage with access to Edo-period streetscapes and the scenic Chichibu region.
The first-ever live-action Gundam film in the franchise's 47-year history has begun filming in Australia. Netflix handles global distribution with Sydney Sweeney, Noah Centineo, and Shioli Kutsuna leading the cast. We break down how it differs from past attempts, where international fans can watch, and the Legendary x Bandai Namco production.
