Kyoto Animation president Hideaki Hatta passed away on February 16, 2026 at age 76. For over 40 years since founding KyoAni in 1985, he championed the philosophy of "Creating Together," producing beloved titles like The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, K-On!, and Violet Evergarden. We look back at his legacy, including leading the studio's recovery after the devastating 2019 arson attack, and share tributes from fans worldwide.
A brand-new Evangelion series was announced at the franchise's 30th anniversary festival. NieR: Automata creator Yoko Taro will handle series composition and screenplay, with NieR composer Keiichi Okabe on music — the "NieR team" joining Eva has stunned fans worldwide. Directed by Kazuya Tsurumaki and Toko Yatabe, produced by Studio Khara × CloverWorks. Following the $700M finale of Shin Evangelion, this unexpected crossover of gaming and anime talent has set Japanese social media ablaze with excitement.
Eve, the voice behind Jujutsu Kaisen's viral hit "Kaikai Kitan," teams up with Yorushika vocalist suis for "Kaze no Anthem," the opening theme of TV anime Witch Hat Atelier (premiering April 2026). This marks their third collaboration—a dream pairing for fans of both artists. Discover why this Eisner Award-winning manga adaptation is the most anticipated anime of the season.
Japan's anime market has reached a record $25 billion globally. While aggressive M&A deals by Sony, KADOKAWA, and others have fueled explosive overseas growth, questions remain about low animator wages, creative risk-taking, and whether the industry's real creators are seeing any of the profits. A deep dive into the boom's winners and losers.
Amazon Prime Video has announced global exclusive streaming for three Japanese anime titles, including a 40th-anniversary reboot of Fist of the North Star and a new Ghost in the Shell TV anime from Science SARU. As the streaming wars intensify, we explore the evolving global strategy for Japan legendary IP content.
Multiple Spring 2026 anime have been delayed, yet Japanese fans are surprisingly optimistic. "Though I Am an Inept Villainess" now premieres in July — perfectly matching the story's timeline, while fans of "The Reincarnated Great Saint Hides Her Status" welcome the chance for higher quality. We explore the industry-wide labor shortage behind the delay trend.
Creator Shun Umezawa reveals the fascinating backstory behind Darwin's Incident characters. Discover how Billie Eilish's "bad guy" MV influenced Lucy's design, the philosophical origins of Charlie the Humanzee, and behind-the-scenes casting stories from the hit anime adaptation.
Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway: Witch of Circe has surpassed $10 million at the Japanese box office in just 11 days with 910,000 admissions. Featuring SZA and Guns N' Roses on its soundtrack and a confirmed US theatrical release, the film represents Gundam's boldest push for global audiences yet.
Toho has acquired UK anime distributor Anime Limited and formed a strategic alliance with Germany's Plaion Pictures, establishing its European headquarters in London. With Europe's anime market projected to reach $9 billion by 2030, discover how Japan's biggest entertainment company plans to bring Godzilla, Jujutsu Kaisen, and more to audiences across the continent — and what this means for anime fans worldwide.
A special music video combining milet's "The Story of Us" with anime footage from Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Season 2 debuted on February 6, 2026. This report covers the MV's emotional portrayal of Frieren, Fern, and Stark's journey, milet's Prague-filmed original MV, and fan reactions from Japan and around the world.
Anime Dorohedoro Season 2 will stream worldwide starting April 1, 2026. After a six-year wait, MAPPA and director Yuichiro Hayashi return to adapt more of Q Hayashida's legendary 23-volume dark fantasy manga. Explore why this chaotic blend of body horror, slapstick comedy, and gyoza became a global cult favorite, with fan reactions from Japan and around the world.
