First announced in February earlier this year, NieR:Automata has finally revealed its official TV anime premiere date to be January 2023.
The Yoko Taro-directed game has had many popular collaborations alongside other well-known games, such as Square Enix’s MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV and its hit rhythm game THEATRHYTHM FINAL BAR LINE. But this is the first-ever solo project coming out of the Nier:Automata franchise since its 2017 sequel.
With assistance from the amazing producers at Aniplex, animation director Ryoji Matsuyama and game creator Yoko Taro have been working tirelessly to provide fans of the original game with a story they are both familiar with, as well as something new to be excited over. This is why the anime has received its designation: Ver. 1.1a.
Despite some confusion over whether the story would directly follow the game premise or not, Yoko Taro did reveal that a direct adaptation of the game wouldn’t quite work in the end. Thus, Ver. 1.1a was born – a version number that would differentiate the anime from the game itself and provide better clarity on the difference between the two entities.
NieR:Automata Ver. 1.1a is set to premiere in January 2023, with new character trailers releasing in sequential order from October.
The Upper Rank Demons Assemble and Tanjiro’s Journey to the Swordsmith Village Begins with a Red Carpet Premiere Event in Los Angeles Featuring Natsuki Hanae, Aimer, and Producer Yuma Takahashi for World Tour Ahead of North American Theatrical Release
On February 18, a star-studded premiere event for Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba will be held at the renowned Orpheum Theatre in downtown Los Angeles.
This event will feature Natsuki Hanae, the Japanese voice actor of protagonist Tanjiro Kamado, Aniplex producer Yuma Takahashi, and a performance by the artist Aimer, as part of the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba -To the Swordsmith Village- World Tour.
The red carpet event will showcase the North American premiere of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba -To the Swordsmith Village-, which is a feature-length cut of Episodes 10 and 11 of the Entertainment District Arc, as well as an extended version of Episode 1 of the highly anticipated Swordsmith Village Arc in 4K with newly remastered audio.
Tickets for the Los Angeles premiere event will be available to purchase on Ticketmaster.com starting January 7.
Aniplex of America and Crunchyroll, one of the most popular global anime websites, are joining forces to bring Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba -To the Swordsmith Village- to United States and Canadian theaters on March 3. People will be able to enjoy it in both Japanese with English subtitles and in English dubbing.
To launch the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba -To the Swordsmith Village- World Tour, a two-day event is planned in Tokyo, after which the tour will make stops in Los Angeles, Paris, Berlin, Mexico City, Seoul, and Taipei.
LINEUP TO INCLUDE “TRIGUN STAMPEDE,” “VINLAND SAGA,” “NIER:AUTOMATA VER1.1A,” “TOMO-CHAN IS A GIRL!,” “BUNGO STRAY DOGS,” AND MORE!
Anime Streaming Platform to Debut LARGEST Simulcast Lineup Ever
With Over 50 New and Returning Series This Winter
Crunchyroll is ecstatic to bring a huge array of simulcast anime to their streaming service for the Winter 2023 season, with more than 50 fresh and returning series from Japan. These include TRIGUN STAMPEDE, VINLAND SAGA Season 2, Bungo Stray Dogs Season 4, BOFURI: I Don’t Want to Get Hurt, so I’ll Max Out My Defense. Season 2, Tomo-chan Is a Girl!, and Don’t Toy With Me, Miss Nagatoro 2nd Attack, among countless others.
It has been confirmed that NieR:Automata Ver1.1a, The Misfit of Demon King Academy Ⅱ: History’s Strongest Demon King Reincarnated and Going to School with His Descendants, Ningen Fushin: Adventurers Who Don’t Believe in Humanity Will Save the World, The Vampire Dies in No Time Season 2, Buddy Daddies, Lee’s Detective Agency, and others (which were not previously mentioned) will be part of the upcoming winter season at Crunchyroll. More updates about the schedule will be released in the following weeks through Crunchyroll News.
Simulcasts continuing from the Fall 2022 anime season are My Hero Academia Season 6, BLUELOCK, To Your Eternity Season 2, One Piece, BORUTO: NARUTO NEXT GENERATIONS, Welcome To Demon School! Iruma-kun Season 3, Case Closed: Detective Conan, Yowamushi Pedal Limit Break, IDOLiSH7 Third BEAT!, Play It Cool, Guys, Digimon Ghost Game, Delicious Party Pretty Cure, and Shadowverse Flame.
Crunchyroll has a massive selection of anime content, with over 44,000 episodes and 18,000 hours of content currently available to stream in over 200 countries and territories. Additionally, viewers have the option to access this content with simultaneous translation in over ten different languages. The Winter 2023 lineup will add to this collection.
Check out Crunchyroll’s Winter 2023 simulcast anime slate below:
December 23
Lee’s Detective Agency (Gravity Well Studio)
A mysterious man by the name of Lee dwells with Aak, Hung, and Waai Fu in the dark alleyways of Lungmen City. Styling themselves as Lee’s Detective Agency, they strove to run errands, investigate mysteries, and mediate disputes for their neighbors. Herein lists a few of their actual yet strange cases to go with your tea.
January 4
Tomo-chan Is a Girl! (Lay-duce)
Tomboy Tomo couldn’t have picked a more awkward high school crush ’cause it’s on her childhood friend, Junichiro, but he only sees her as one of the guys. Despite her pretty looks and signals, nothing gets through to this meathead! Will Junichiro ever realize Tomo’s into him and see her for the cutesy girl she actually is?!
Dub languages will include: English, German, French, and Russian
When a new mysterious group, the Decay of the Angel, seeks to destroy the Armed Detective Agency, they do it from the inside. What seemed like a murder investigation turns out to be a trap set by Fyodor, who was originally thought to be captured! With everyone now a suspect, a special unit of the military police, the Hunting Dogs, are ready to sniff out any corruption.
Dub languages will include: English, Latin American Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, and French
The Ice Guy and His Cool Female Colleague (Zero-G)
Himuro is a descendant of yuki-onnas living in modern times and a newbie office worker. When he gets emotionally overwhelmed, he ends up causing blizzards or starts building snowmen and igloos. Whenever his secret romantic feelings for his unique yet kind coworker Fuyutsuki intensify, he sometimes ends up freezing those around him. Then, there’s Fuyutsuki. Everyone always sees her as the cool type, but Fuyutsuki is actually also pretty curious about her mysterious coworker, Himuro.
Dub languages will include: English
January 5
Revenger (Ajia-do Animation Works)
As master assassin Usui Yuen looks into a series of assassinations made on the grand samurai clan, the Satsuma, he encounters Kurima Raizo, a member and survivor of one of the attacks. Together, they discover the true nature of these murders is bigger than over stolen resources. As they get closer to the truth, will they come out alive to exact revenge?
Dub languages will include: English
The Iceblade Sorcerer Shall Rule the World (Cloud Hearts)
The Iceblade Sorcerer is hailed as the most powerful sorcerer in the world. The one who inherited this title, Ray White, struggles to deal with his own immense power. After fighting in the Far East War, his last accomplishment, he vanished from the battlefield along with a deeply scarred psyche. Three years have passed since then, and Ray has enrolled at the Arnold Academy of Magic, a school attended by elite sorcerers from around the world. Ray is the first “Ordinary” to attend this academy since it was founded, so he’s greeted by looks of scorn and contempt from its noble-born students. And now, he and the priceless friends he has found there are about to become entangled in multiple schemes. So begins the story of the most powerful sorcerer’s school life filled with both friendship and hardship.
Dub languages will include: English and German
ONIMAI: I’m Now Your Sister (Studio Bind)
One mad scientist little sister turns her game-loving older brother into a girl!
January 6
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel – Northern War (Tatsunoko Production)
To protect her hometown from the Erebonian Empire and to distinguish herself from her grandfather’s disloyalty, Lavie enlists in the Northern Jaegers where she’ll do whatever it takes to carry out the mission. Now, this rule breaker must form a platoon to embark on a dangerous recon mission into enemy lines—will her mission be a success?
Dub languages will include: English
Buddy Daddies (P.A. Works)
Targets they go after never get away but somehow this hitman team finds themselves looking after a five-year-old girl. And so begins the family life of a hot-blooded and cool-headed team of hired killers and a naive and innocent little girl. Will they be able to balance career and parenthood? And will this temporary family find happiness?
Dub languages will include: English
Sugar Apple Fairy Tale (J.C.Staff)
In a world where fairies are bought and sold to the highest bidder, humans aren’t exactly on friendly terms with the fae folk. But friendship is exactly what Anne Halford seeks with Challe, her new fairy bodyguard, though he’s not so keen on the idea. As his new master, Anne tasks him with escorting her through a particularly dangerous area, but with a reluctant bodyguard eager to escape a life of servitude, she’ll have to deal with a lot more than she bargained for…
Dub languages will include: English
January 7
TRIGUN STAMPEDE (Orange)
TRIGUN is a popular action manga series by Yasuhiro Nightow that follows the story of Vash the Stampede, a legendary gunman and a pacifist with a bounty on his head.
Dub languages will include: English, Latin American Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, German, French, and Russian
The one that has appeared in front of Anos, who prevented the war between demons and humans, was a new “child of the god” who has come to annihilate the tyrannical demon king. The misfit who overcomes all odds heads on to a new battle. “After being reincarnated into a peaceful era, I’ve learned how to hold back a bit.”
A girl in a lower grade just made me cry!” One day, Senpai visits the library after school and becomes the target of a super sadistic junior! The name of the girl who teases, torments, and tantalizes Senpai is “Nagatoro!” She’s annoying yet adorable. It’s painful, but you still want to be by her side. This is a story about an extremely sadistic and temperamental girl and you’ll feel something awakened inside of you.
Dub languages will include: English, Latin American Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, and German
Saving 80,000 Gold in Another World for My Retirement (Felix Film)
Mitsuha is an 18-year-old girl who’s often mistaken for a middle schooler due to her childlike face and small stature. The story begins when she loses her parents and her older brother at the same time in an accident and ends up all alone in the world. She fails her university entrance exams due to the shock of losing her family. There are people who are after her parents’ insurance money. She doesn’t know whether she should go to college or start working. There are also lots of expenses to worry about, including living expenses and the cost of maintaining the house. One day, as she worries about how she’ll survive, she’s given the “World Jumping” ability by a mysterious being that allows her to go back and forth between “this world” and an “isekai”! Now that she has this ability, she comes up with a plan for the future in which she saves 1 billion yen in each world for a total of 2 billion yen (80,000 gold coins)! That’s right. This is a plan for a girl with no one to rely on to live a peaceful, stable retired life in the future!
Dub languages will include: English and French
The Reincarnation of the Strongest Exorcist in Another World (Studio Blanc)
You can’t be happy if you’re just strong, even if you’re the strongest exorcist in the world. Exorcist Haruyoshi Kuga, called an unrivaled genius, is betrayed by the Imperial Court and about to die. Resolving to be happy in his next life, he uses a secret reincarnation technique he created and reincarnates in another world. And so he receives a new name, Seika, and a new life. “What I lacked in my previous life was cunning. In this life, I’ll be more calculating and find happiness.” With the strongest exorcist techniques and strong demons working with him, what lies ahead for him? The peaceful life he wants, or… This is the start of a story no one’s ever seen before: the story of the strongest exorcist in a fantasy world.
Dub languages will include: English and French
Chillin’ in My 30s after Getting Fired from the Demon King’s Army (Encourage Films)
Dariel, a dark soldier in the demon king’s army who cannot use magic, has risen to the position of assistant to the Four Generals with his talent and energy and has been wielding his skill. However, as soon as the Four Generals are replaced, Dariel is fired from the army. Dariel is devastated, but when he arrives in a human village, he finds that his adventuring skills, which are supposed to be useless to demons, have blossomed! “I was… human?” Dariel decides to spend his second life in this village, and the requests start pouring in!
Only 39 years into a life full of bad luck, Ryoma Takebayashi passes away in his sleep! Taking pity on him, three divine beings show compassion by reincarnating him as a young boy to a magical, new world. Now he spends his time researching and caring for slimes. But after healing an injured traveler, Ryoma decides to set out with his new friends on a journey to use his power to help others.
Iwanaga Kotoko became the god of wisdom to the supernatural beings and spends her days solving problems for them. However, the boy who she fell head over heels for, Sakuragawa Kuro, is someone that is feared by all supernatural creatures. The two of them face various mysterious incidents involving the supernatural in this love x romance x mystery series. Where will these fantastical incidents lead them and what will happen with Kotoko’s crush?
The tale of outcasts(Ashi Productions)
In a corner of the British Empire in the 19th century, a silver-haired girl named Wisteria roams the streets as a beggar. Her parents are dead, and her only other relative, an older brother, has moved away to work as a live-in servant at a certain estate, so she has no contact with him. One day, as Wisteria is begging, a great demon called Marbas with a beastlike form passes by her. Three or four centuries ago, there were more people who could see demons, but they are invisible to most people now, which has left the immortal Marbas quite bored. But Wisteria was born with the ability to see things other people can’t, so she happens to see Marbas and calls out to him. Marbas takes an interest in the little girl, so he heads to her room that evening, and thus their days of secret meetings begin. Around the same time, the Knights of the Sword Cross, the only organization in the British Empire dedicated to slaying demons, begins to show up around town. They’ve been tracking a demon, and the trail has led them to the church where Wisteria lives… A girl and a demon, both searching for their place in the world, have been brought together by fate. What future awaits them now?
Handyman Saitou in Another World (C2C)
One average hired hand is going to bring his everyday skills to the world of warriors and wizards!
Dub languages will include: English
January 9
VINLAND SAGA SEASON 2 (MAPPA)
A new millennium begins in the southern part of the Jutland peninsula in Denmark. After the death of his longtime enemy, Askeladd, Thorfinn lost his purpose in life. He was bought by the landowner Ketil as a “slave” and engaged in land reclamation work on his farm. Thorfinn meets a young man there, Einar, who was also a slave like him. The encounter of Einar led Thorfinn to face the sins he had committed and began to find meaning in life. On the other hand, Canute, who became the King of England, attempted to extend his territory for the establishment of “the promised land”. This is “The Story of a True Warrior (Saga)”. “The story of Atonement and Salvation (Saga)” that lies beyond the prologue.
Dub languages will include: English, Latin American Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, German, and French
Reborn to Master the Blade: From Hero-King to Extraordinary Squire (Studio Comet)
After living a life devoted to serving his country and people, Inglis’ one wish to be free of a king’s burden and to train was actually heard, but as a beautiful girl! Reborn in the far future as a daughter to renowned knights, Inglis can now focus on mastering martial arts. A wish has been granted, and Inglis will be on the front lines fulfilling the dream of becoming the strongest knight.
Filled with rage against spirits known as tsukumogami, Kunato Hyoma is sent to live with Nagatsuki Botan to help him see a different side. Though both are part of a clan that return the spirits back to their world with divine powers, their experiences with the otherworldly vessels are vastly different. Kunato, robbed of a loved one, and Nagatsuki, saved by them. Can she get through to him?
Vampire hunter Ronaldo finds an unlikely ally in Draluc, the world’s weakest vampire who turns to dust at the slightest attack.
Ayakashi Triangle (Connect)
Kazamaki Matsuri is an exorcist ninja who exorcizes evil spirits called ayakashi. His childhood friend, Kanade Suzu, tends to attract ayakashi, so he secretly protects her from them. But now Suzu has caught the eye of Shirogane, an ayakashi who looks like a cat but rules over all ayakashi as their king! The groundbreaking new series by “To Love Ru” author Yabuki Kentaro, an ayakashi romance fantasy, receives its long-awaited anime adaptation!
Dub languages will include: German
January 10
Campfire Cooking in Another World with my Absurd Skill (MAPPA)
Mukoda Tsuyoshi, an ordinary salaryman, is suddenly transported to another world one day. The unique skill he gains upon arrival in this world is the seemingly useless “Online Grocery.” Mukoda is discouraged at first, but the modern foods he’s able to bring to his new world using this skill prove to have some unbelievable effects!
Ningen Fushin: Adventurers Who Don’t Believe in Humanity Will Save the World (Geek Toys)
The city of Terene in the Holy Kingdom of Dinez is a melting pot of races and professions: adventurers looking to get rich quick, quick-witted merchants, singing and dancing bards, nobles, holy men, beastfolk, and more. The town itself is so labyrinthine that it has been nicknamed the Labyrinth Town. Nick, a heartbroken Light Warrior who has been kicked out of the Martial Arts adventuring party and deceived by his lover, is a resident of this city. Fed up with everything, he visits a bar only to find bad food, adventurers living it up, and uninteresting tablemates. As he drowns his sorrows in lukewarm beer, all of his irritation and discontent burst forth in one declaration: “Humans can’t be trusted!’ He thought he was only voicing his own frustration, but in reality, the statement came from four voices… Thus begins the adventure of four people who each carry their own scars!
Dub languages will include: English
January 11
Kaina of the Great Snow Sea (Polygon Pictures)
In another world, an ever-growing sea of snow has engulfed the planet’s surface. The people struggle to survive, living around the roots of the massive orbital trees whose branches spread into the Celestial Membrane high above the ground. Change comes to this dying world after Kaina, a boy from the Celestial Membrane, encounters a girl from the surface called Ririha.
Welcome Barbador Magic Academy’s newest teacher, Seiichi! And the first thing on his syllabus is to be the school’s savior, but that’ll be tested with beautiful teachers and crazy students. Disciplinary action and colleague camaraderie isn’t even the half of it ’cause the demon cult is on the move to revive the devil. Not only is the academy in danger, the world is. Can Seiichi protect them all?
Dub languages will include: English
January 14
The Fire Hunter (Signal.MD)
Outside the magical barriers lies a world overrun by fiery beasts known as Flame Demons, and the only ones who can protect humanity are the Fire Hunters. In the dark woods where the beasts roam is where Toko, a young villager, is rescued from an attack by one of these skilled trackers, Koshi. But their meeting was no accident, and a new destiny begins.
From Studio DEEN (Fate/stay night) comes a remake celebrating the 25th anniversary of the series! Orphen is a powerful sorcerer who is notoriously lazy. Everything changes when he finds a way to save his sis, who was turned into a dragon during their days at the magic academy. Betrayed by friends who refused to help, Orphen will stop at nothing to track her down, even if he has to go it alone.
COMING SOON
NieR:Automata Ver1.1a (A-1 Pictures)
The distant future, 5012. The sudden aerial invasion of Earth by <Aliens> and their creations <Machine Lifeforms> led mankind to the brink of extinction. The surviving number of humans who took refuge on the moon to organize a counterattack using <android> soldiers to recapture Earth. However, the war reaches a stalemate as the <Machine Lifeforms> continue to multiply infinitely. In turn, humanity deploys a new unit of android soldiers as an ultimate weapon: YoRHa. Newly dispatched to Earth 2B joins 9S, the analyst currently stationed there, where amid their mission, they encounter a myriad of mysterious phenomena… This is the story of these lifeless <androids> and their endless fight for the sake of mankind.
Dub languages will include: English, Latin American Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, German, and French
The best offense is a great defense, and for VRMMO gamer Kaede Honjo, her defense is the best. Under her alias Maple, she and her guild journey through NewWorld Online gaining friends and foes through new battle-filled quests. All those skill points, new defensive techniques, and no pain—Maple can’t be stopped!
The young warriors who protect the goddess Athena are known as the Knights of the Zodiac. One young orphan, Seiya, is destined to become the Pegasus Knight. Athena has been born into this world, but this time under a dark prophecy that she will lose the war against Poseidon and Hades, and lead mankind to ruin. Seiya stands up against the prophecy, willing to protect her at all costs. But now a god-killer arrow has struck her heart. To save her life, Seiya must ascend Sanctuary and defeat twelve legendary Gold Knights – and he only has twelve hours to do it. Will he make it? And what will happen to the dark prophecy if he succeeds?
Dub languages will include: English, Latin American Spanish, and Brazilian Portuguese
SIMULCASTS CONTINUING FROM THE FALL 2022 ANIME SEASON
DISNEY+ ANNOUNCES RELEASE DATE, ANIMATION STUDIOS, FILMMAKERS, AND MORE FOR “STAR WARS: VISIONS” VOLUME 2
Volume 2 Premieres Exclusively on Disney+ May 4
Today, Disney+ and Lucasfilm announced that the second volume of the animated anthology series “Star Wars: Visions” will premiere exclusively on Disney+ on May 4, 2023. Following on the Emmy Award-nominated success of “Star Wars: Visions,” the newest volume will continue to push the boundaries of “Star Wars” storytelling, with nine new shorts from 9 studios from around the globe. Employing the most captivating animation styles from a variety of countries and cultures, the second volume offers a dynamic new perspective on the storied mythos of Star Wars.
The shorts included in “Star Wars: Visions” Volume 2 were created by the following international animation studios: El Guiri (Spain), Cartoon Saloon (Ireland), Punkrobot (Chile), Aardman (United Kingdom), Studio Mir (South Korea) Studio La Cachette (France), 88 Pictures (India), D’art Shtajio (Japan), and Triggerfish (South Africa). D’Art Shtajio’s short was created in collaboration with Lucasfilm Ltd. (United States).
“The reaction to the first volume of ‘Star Wars: Visions’ blew us away. We were delighted that this project inspired and resonated with so many people,” says James Waugh, “Star Wars: Visions” executive producer and Senior Vice President of Franchise Content & Strategy at Lucasfilm. “We always saw ‘Star Wars: Visions’ as a framework for celebratory expressions of the franchise from some of the best creators working today. Animation is in a global renaissance, and we’re constantly staggered by the amount of creativity pushing the medium forward. With Volume 1, the imaginative minds of Japan’s anime industry were on full display. With Volume 2, we expanded our canvas to take audiences on a global tour of some of the most talented creators from around the world. We’re so proud to be able to reveal the line-up of studios we’ve assembled. Every short is incredible, full of heart, scope, imagination, and the values that make stories distinctly‘Star Wars’— all while opening up bold new ways of seeing what a ‘Star Wars’ story can be.”
Waugh executive produces “Star Wars: Visions” Volume 2 along with Jacqui Lopez and Josh Rimes.
Details on each short and filmmaker follow:
Title: “Sith”
Studio: El Guiri
Writer-director: Rodrigo Blaas
Rodrigo Blaas is an Emmy Award-winning director who has spent more than 20 years in animation. After co-founding Stromboli Animation in 1997, Blaas joined Blue Sky Studios in 2000, working on the feature film “Ice Age,” before transitioning to Pixar Animation Studios. There, he worked on such projects as “Finding Nemo” (2003), “The Incredibles” (2004), “Ratatouille” (2007), and “Wall-E” (2008) and on the Oscar-nominated short film “La Luna” (2011). More recently, Blaas partnered with Guillermo del Toro to develop the award-winning series “Trollhunters,” served as creative director for Mikros Animation Paris, and, in 2021, created El Guiri Studios in Madrid with his partner, Cecile Hokes. He also wrote and directed 2009’s award-winning short film “Alma.”
Title: “Screecher’s Reach”
Studio: Cartoon Saloon
Director: Paul Young
Paul Young is a co-founder of Cartoon Saloon, an IFTA winner, and Oscar, Emmy, and BAFTA nominee. He produced the animated features “My Father’s Dragon,” “WolfWalkers,” “The Secret of Kells,” “Song of the Sea” and “The Breadwinner” as well as award-winning TV series including “Puffin Rock,” “Dorg Van Dango” and “Viking Skool.”
Title: “In the Stars”
Studio: Punkrobot
Writer-director: Gabriel Osorio
Gabriel Osorio majored in Fine Arts at Universidad de Chile, later specializing in 3D animation. After working in commercials, movies, and television series, he founded Punkrobot Studio. Since 2008, he has directed projects for children’s television including “Flipos,” “Muelin y Perlita,” “Soccer Girls” and television spots. In 2016, his short film “Bear Story” became the first Latin American project to win an Oscar in the animated short category.
Title: “I Am Your Mother”
Studio: Aardman
Director: Magdalena Osinska
Magdalena Osinska is an award-winning director who has been with Aardman for eight years. She has directed stop-motion, CGI, 2D, and live-action commercials including Wallace & Gromit’s “The Great Sofa Caper” and “Share the Orange.” Osinska directed the development of the children’s series “Joyets” and has also directed films including “Spirits of the Piano” and “Zbigniev’s Cupboard.” A graduate of the National Film and Television School in Beaconsfield, UK, as well as the Polish Film School in Lodz and Art College in Warsaw, Osinska is currently developing the feature film “Jasia,” based on her grandmother’s memories of WWII Poland.
Title: “Journey to the Dark Head”
Studio: Studio Mir
Director: Hyeong Geun Park
Rising star Hyeong Geun Park had already made a name for himself when he entered the Korean animation industry in 2017, thanks to his strong drawing and animation sensibilities. He has directed animation for dozens of cinematic game trailers and has since expanded into animated series, working on projects including “Dota: Dragon’s Blood: Book 3” (2022) and “Lookism” (2022). “Journey to the Dark Head” is the first title he has executive produced from start to finish.
Title: “The Spy Dancer”
Studio: Studio La Cachette
Writer-director: Julien Chheng
Julien Chheng is CEO of Studio La Cachette, an Emmy Award-winning French animation studio he co-founded in 2014 with fellow Gobelins school alumni Oussama Bouacheria and Ulysse Malassagne. Chheng was trained in visual development at Disney and has worked as a character animator on acclaimed 2D animated features “The Rabbi’s Cat,” “Mune” and the Academy Award-nominated “Ernest and Celestine.” In 2021, he won an Emmy Award as the animation executive producer of “Genndy Tartakovsky’s Primal,” for which he also served as animation supervisor. In 2022, Chheng directed with Jean-Christophe Roger the Cesar-nominated feature “Ernest and Celestine: A Trip to Gibberitia.”
Title: “The Bandits of Golak”
Studio: 88 Pictures
Director: Ishan Shukla
Ishan Shukla started his career as a CG artist in Singapore. For more than a decade, he spearheaded projects ranging from TV commercials to series and music videos. His 2016 animated short, “Schirkoa,” was long-listed for the Academy Awards after receiving dozens of awards and playing at 120 international festivals, including SIGGRAPH Asia where it was named Best in Show. He then set up his own animation studio to work on adult-oriented animated feature films including a feature-length version of “Schirkoa,” set to hit festivals in the summer of 2023.
Title: “The Pit”
Studios: D’art Shtajio and Lucasfilm Ltd.
Writer-director-executive producer: LeAndre Thomas
Co-director: Justin Ridge
LeAndre Thomas is an award-winning writer and director from Oakland, Calif., whose most recent film won Best Director at the Pasadena International Film Festival. In addition to his independent films, Thomas is a part of the franchise studio team at Lucasfilm Ltd. where he has worked for more than 11 years being credited on recent titles such as “Light & Magic,” “The Mandalorian,” “Obi-Wan Kenobi,” “Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi,” and many more.
Justin Ridge executive produced the Emmy-nominated series “Star Wars Resistance.” His credits also include “Star Wars Rebels,” “Storks,” “The Cleveland Show,” “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” and “Avatar: The Last Airbender.”
Title: “Aau’s Song”
Studio: Triggerfish
Writer-directors: Nadia Darries and Daniel Clarke
Nadia Darries is a director, animator, and co-founder of Goon Valley Animation, with an avocation for songwriting. Born in the Cape Flats in South Africa, Darries has worked on high-end animated film and motion design as an animator, project manager, creative director, and director since 2015. Her experience includes animating at Triggerfish Animation Studios on the award-winning BBC films “Stick Man,” “Revolting Rhymes” and “Highway Rat.”
Daniel Clarke is a Cape Town-based director and artist working in animation, film, and illustration. He started his career in animation in 2008 at Triggerfish Animation Studios, where he has served as production designer, art director, and director on projects such as the feature film “Khumba,” BBC’s “Stick Man” and “The Snail and the Whale.” In 2018, along with James Clarke and Daniel Snaddon, he completed the graphic novel “Kariba.”
“Star Wars: Visions” Volume 2 streams exclusively on Disney+ beginning May 4, 2023.
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is Named Anime of the Year In Star-Studded Global Celebration of Anime
Crunchyroll, the ultimate anime destination for global fans, revealed tonight the winners for the seventh annual Crunchyroll Anime Awards in a star-studded live ceremony that honored the creators, musicians, and performers powering the international love of the medium. The full list of winners is available on the Anime Awards website and can be found below.
For the first time, the Crunchyroll Anime Awards were live-streamed directly from Tokyo, Japan. During the live event, winners were revealed by a global slate of presenters from across entertainment and sports including directors Justin Lin (upcoming One Punch Man live-action adaptation, Fast and the Furious films) and Robert Rodriguez (Desperado, From Dusk Till Dawn); actors Finn Wolfhard (Stranger Things, Pinocchio, Ghostbusters, IT), Hunter Schafer, (Euphoria and the upcoming The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes), and Jacob Bertrand (Cobra Kai); sports superstars Juju Smith-Schuster (Super Bowl winner, Kansas City Chiefs), Aidan Hutchinson (Detroit Lions), and WWE’s Zelina Vega; top streaming talent Valkyrae (13M followers) and Sykkuno (9.8M followers); and Japanese talent Haruka Kaki (singer and actress), Kendo Kobayashi (comedian), Roland (host, entrepreneur, and TV personality), and Sawa Suzuki (actress). The Anime Awards were hosted by voice actress Sally Amaki and popular entertainer Jon Kabira.
During the global live stream event, Crunchyroll also announced a new music initiative in partnership with Sony Music Entertainment to add more than 100 full-length live concerts, and 3,200 music videos and feature more than 250+ artists from Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc. (SMEJ) to its platform starting today. In addition, Crunchyroll revealed a colossal Monster Hunter collaboration coming to Street FighterTM: Duel, the first mobile RPG in the famed-Street Fighter franchise from Crunchyroll Games and Capcom. More details about the in-game event coming soon across Crunchyroll channels.
The Crunchyroll Anime Awards is the leading yearly awards program celebrating the best and brightest in anime. This year, 18 million votes from fans in 200 countries and territories voted to cheer their favorites into the top spot, with some of the most engaged regions including Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Great Britain, India, Mexico, and the United States in alphabetical order.
Sony Music Solutions, part of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc., supported Crunchyroll in the execution of the event.
Anime Awards 2023 Winners (Listed in alphabetical order by category)
Anime of the Year – Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
Best Action – Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Entertainment District Arc
Best Animation – Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Entertainment District Arc
Best Anime Song – “The Rumbling,” SiM, Attack on Titan Final Season Part 2
Best Character Design – Akira Matsushima, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Entertainment District Arc
Best Comedy – SPY x FAMILY
Best Continuing Series – ONE PIECE
Best Director – Haruo Sotozaki, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Entertainment District Arc
Best Drama – Attack on Titan Final Season Part 2
Best Ending Sequence – “Comedy,” Gen Hoshino, SPY x FAMILY
Best Fantasy – Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Entertainment District Arc
Best Film – JUJUTSU KAISEN 0
Best Main Character – Eren Jaeger, Attack on Titan Final Season Part 2
Best New Series – SPY x FAMILY
Best Opening Sequence – “The Rumbling,” SiM, Attack on Titan Final Season Part 2
Best Original Anime – Lycoris Recoil
Best Romance – Kaguya-sama: Love Is War -Ultra Romantic-
Best Score – KOHTA YAMAMOTO and HIROYUKI SAWANO, Attack on Titan Final Season Part 2
Best Supporting Character – Anya Forger, SPY x FAMILY
Best Voice Artist Performance (English) – Zach Aguilar, David Martinez, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
Best Voice Artist Performance (Japanese) – Yuki Kaji, Eren Jaeger, Attack on Titan Final Season Part 2
Best Voice Artist Performance (Arabic) – Amal Hawija, Gon Freecss, Hunter x Hunter
Best Voice Artist Performance (Castilian) – Jaime Pérez de Sevilla, Yuta Okkotsu, JUJUTSU KAISEN 0
Best Voice Artist Performance (French) – Brigitte Lecordier, Bojji, Ranking of Kings
Best Voice Artist Performance (German) – Nicolás Artajo, Yuta Okkotsu, JUJUTSU KAISEN 0
Best Voice Artist Performance (Italian) – Elisa Giorgio, Maki Zen’in, JUJUTSU KAISEN (Cour 1)
Best Voice Artist Performance (Portuguese) – Nina Carvalho, Anya Forger, SPY x FAMILY
Best Voice Artist Performance (Spanish) – Alejandro Orozco, Gyutaro, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Entertainment District Arc
“Must Protect At All Costs” Character – Anya Forger, SPY x FAMILY
TOHO ANNOUNCES GLOBAL THEATRICAL FILM DATES FOR MAKOTO SHINKAI’S NEW MASTERPIECE, “SUZUME”
Crunchyroll, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Wild Bunch International, and Eurozoom to Distribute Makoto Shinkai’s “Suzume” Internationally (excluding Asia) in Theaters beginning on April 12, 2023
Crunchyroll, in partnership with Sony Pictures Entertainment, Wild Bunch International, and Eurozoom, announced today that it will be bringing the highly anticipated new film from auteur Makoto Shinkai, “Suzume”, to theaters internationally (excluding Asia) beginning on April 12, 2023.
Global theatrical release dates for the film include:
April 12 in France and Malta
April 13 in Australia, Brazil, Germany, Mexico, and New Zealand
April 14 in Austria, Belgium, Canada, Gibraltar, Ireland, Luxembourg, the United Kingdom, and the United States
Additional 2023 dates to be announced for additional Latin America and EMEA territories
Last May during Cannes, Crunchyroll acquired the global distribution and marketing rights (excluding Asia) from TOHO for Shinkai’s film, “Suzume”, produced by CoMix Wave Films and STORY inc.
“Suzume” debuted in Japan on November 11 and has now surpassed 5.6M admissions. “Suzume” has also earned 7.5 billion yen (approx. 55M USD) staying #1 at the box office in Japan for 3 consecutive weeks. The film will be distributed in all major territories:
In North America, Crunchyroll is the sole distributor.
In Latin America, Australia/New Zealand, the Middle East, and portions of Europe, the film will be distributed by Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures Entertainment.
In French- and German-speaking Europe, the film will be co-distributed by Crunchyroll, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Wild Bunch International, and Eurozoom.
Award-winning creator, writer, and director Makoto Shinkai has been a visionary in the animation space for decades, with the most recent films being “Your Name.” (2016) and “Weathering With You” (2019),both of which have catapulted him as a leading animation auteur with international viewers. “Weathering With You” was selected as Japan’s entry for the best international feature film category of the 2020 Academy Awards and nominated in four categories in the 47th annual Annie Awards including best animated independent feature.
“Suzume” is a story about a young girl traveling through various ruins across Japan while closing doors and causing disaster.
Film Synopsis
On the other side of the door, was time in its entirety—
“Suzume” is a coming-of-age story for the 17-year-old protagonist, Suzume, set in various disaster-stricken locations across Japan, where she must close the doors causing devastation.
Suzume’s journey begins in a quiet town in Kyushu (located in southwestern Japan) when she encounters a young man who tells her, “I’m looking for a door.” What Suzume finds is a single weathered door standing upright in the midst of ruins as though it was shielded from whatever catastrophe struck. Seemingly drawn by its power, Suzume reaches for the knob… Doors begin to open one after another all across Japan, unleashing destruction upon any who are near. Suzume must close these portals to prevent further disaster.
—The stars, then sunset, and the morning sky.
Within that realm, it was as though all time had melted together in the sky…
Never-before-seen scenery, encounters, and farewells… A myriad of challenges awaits her on her journey. Despite all the obstacles in her way, Suzume’s adventure shines a ray of hope upon our own struggles against the toughest roads of anxiety and constraints that make up everyday life. This story of closing doors that connect our past to the present and future will leave a lasting impression upon all of our hearts.
Drawn in by these mysterious doors, Suzume’s journey is about to begin.
Makoto Shinkai Profile
Born in Nagano Prefecture, Japan in 1973, Makoto Shinkai made his commercial debut with the short film he produced on his own, “Voices of a Distant Star”.
Since then, every project he directed has been very well-received, including the 2004 “The Place Promised in Our Early Days” which won the Animated Feature awards at the 59th Mainichi Film Concours; the 2007 5 Centimeters Per Second which won the Best Animated Feature Film awards at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards; the 2011 “Children Who Chase Lost Voices”, which won the 8th Annual CICAF “Golden Monkey King” award; and 2013 The Garden of Words, which won the Best Feature Animation award at the Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film.
More recently, his 2016 film “Your Name.” became an international sensation and social phenomenon, smashing Japanese box office records, and winning several awards at the 40th Japan Academy Film Prize, including Excellent Prize for Animation Film (“Your Name.”), Excellent Prize for Director (Makoto Shinkai), Excellent Prize for Screenplay (Makoto Shinkai), and Excellent Prize for Music (RADWIMPS), as well as the 42nd Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Animated Feature.
Makoto was quick to follow up that success with his 2019 picture, “Weathering With You”, which represented Japan for the Best International Feature Film at the 92nd Academy Awards. Furthermore, in India, it garnered more than 50,000 signatures petitioning its theatrical release, which made it the first Japanese original animation to achieve a commercial theatrical release in India.
Makoto Shinkai’s Suzume serves as a confirmation of not only his filmmaking credentials but also his status as this generation’s “Miyazaki”. His visual elements, thematic elements, and narrative composition all form a distinct style that is his alone. Though not as powerful as 2016’s Your Name, Suzume still demonstrates Shinkai’s mastery of his craft, and the result is nothing short of captivating.
Not surprisingly, Suzume follows a similar theme in many of Shinkai’s animated films (Your Name, Weathering With You, 5 Centimeters Per Second); emotional stories focused on two young people learning about one another. Shinkai’s films portray the dramatic yet innocent aspects of adolescent life from the emotions of youth, and feeling insignificant to perceiving the greater universe, and the secrets it may withhold. This combination of the personal and universal in his work is what makes his movies so enchanting.
The 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami are brought to mind when reflecting on Suzume. In the interview with Shinkai, he discussed the contrast between the beauty of Japan and the horror of their natural disasters and how that inspired him to narrate this story. He further added that he felt a sense of guilt for attempting to use his art to convey what was experienced during this tragedy.
Suzume looks at the potential danger of earthquakes as if they were the work of the supernatural realm and imagines heroes who dedicate their lives to keeping the forces at bay. Shinkai somehow seamlessly links this idea to the process of growing up. It is possible to perceive the concept of not having control of your life at that age and attempting to find a way to be helpful to society, as akin to not having control of a natural disaster and searching for a way to lend a hand.
Suzume starts off like most Shinkai stories, introducing us to a little Japanese mountain town and a young person on the brink of a life-changing journey. In this case, it is Suzume (Nanoka Hara), who has been living with her aunt since the loss of her mother years ago. One day, while walking to school, Suzume is stopped in her tracks when she sees a boy, Souta (Hokuto Matsumura), who is looking for a door. Instantly, Suzume feels an odd connection to the mysterious stranger with the long hair and is captivated by his looks.
Although she’s not sure why, Suzume follows Souta to an abandoned town where she discovers a door that leads to the world beyond ours: The Ever-After, a place of gods and souls where the boundaries of past, present, and future are blurred. Suzume doesn’t have much time to appreciate the sky since a powerful menace, known as the Worm, resides in the same realm. It is composed of blood-red tendrils and wishes to break through the doors in that realm and wreak havoc in our own. The mission of Souta is to locate these doors and close them before the Worm can escape. Unfortunately, something went awry and the two were forced to travel throughout the country to contain the creature. As a result, Souta was transformed into a chair.
Suzume follows a road trip formula for a great portion of the movie, with the main characters making stops and meeting people along the way. From Souta’s schoolmate Serizawa (Ryunosuke Kamiki) to the bar owner Rumi (Sairi Ito), the movie is enlivened by the addition of new characters. Although the journey is entertaining, Suzume does not quite reach a satisfying conclusion like Shinkai’s other works. The movie is essentially about Suzume finding a way to break away from her past, leaving those painful recollections behind and moving forward. The Ever-After and its multiple door entrances were clearly built for this theme, but it gets overshadowed by the numerous other storylines the narrative picks up along the way.
Between Suzume and her aunt, there is an intense argument that is concluded in a span of five minutes. Souta is burdened with some unclear, yet profound, distress. In the end, an intense battle with gods ensues and, of course, Souta and Suzume contemplate their love for each other. The conclusion of the story with Souta and Suzume appears to be underdeveloped. Such is commonplace in Shinkai’s movies and in anime in general, but since it is sandwiched between the other narrative elements, with Souta vanishing for a period of the film, their passionate declarations of love didn’t feel as impactful.
However, Shinkai took on a formidable task to prove that a faceless, three-legged wooden stool could be a source of connection for the audience. Their efforts were rewarded, with the animation of Souta’s chair form being incredibly endearing. Its clunky wooden movements were brought to life with an impressive range of emotions, from comedic to poignancy.
Shinkai’s knack for building a visually-stunning feature is as strong as ever with his partnership with RADWIMPS, but the conclusion is a bit jumbled. While the climax of the film is awe-inspiring, the accompanying dialogue is broad and not particularly linked to either Suzume or Souta’s own paths. Even if the ending doesn’t quite land, Suzume is still charming, with Shinkai’s signature dazzling animation, and a peculiar, yet sweet story about a young girl accepting her past.
About SUZUME
Synopsis: A modern action-adventure road story where a 17-year-old girl named Suzume helps a mysterious young man close doors from the other side that are releasing disasters all over Japan.
Crunchyroll is set to elevate its platform with the highly anticipated arrival of Dragon Ball Super: SUPER HERO, the latest installment in the immensely popular global anime franchise. This new film will exclusively premiere on Crunchyroll’s streaming service on July 12, 2023, featuring both subbed and dubbed versions.
With Dragon Ball’s original creator, Akira Toriyama, fully committed and deeply involved in the project, this film showcases his expertise as he contributes to the original story, screenplay, and character design.
Dragon Ball Super: SUPER HERO marks Crunchyroll’s first-ever globally-distributed theatrical release. The film debuted in over 100 countries and was made available in 13 dubbed and 29 subtitled languages. It achieved remarkable success, grossing $96 million worldwide and securing its place as the fourth highest-grossing anime film in the United States.
As the second film in the Dragon Ball Super franchise, Dragon Ball Super: SUPER HERO follows the previous global hit, Dragon Ball Super: Broly, which captivated fans across the globe upon its release in 2018.
Dragon Ball Super: SUPER HERO Official Synopsis:
The Red Ribbon Army was once destroyed by Son Goku. Individuals, who carry on its spirit, have created the ultimate Androids, Gamma 1 and Gamma 2. These two Androids call themselves “Super Heroes”. They start attacking Piccolo and Gohan… What is the New Red Ribbon Army’s objective? In the face of approaching danger, it is time to awaken, Super Hero!
The film is directed by Tetsuro Kodama and the Japanese voice actors for the film include Masako Nozawa (Gohan, Goku and Goten), Toshio Furukawa (Piccolo), Yūko Minaguchi (Pan), Ryō Horikawa (Vegeta), Mayumi Tanaka (Krillin), Aya Hisakawa (Bulma), Takeshi Kusao (Trunks), Miki Itō (Android 18), Bin Shimada (Broly), Kōichi Yamadera (Beerus), Masakazu Morita (Whis), Hiroshi Kamiya (Gamma 1), Mamoru Miyano (Gamma 2), Miyu Irino (Dr. Hedo), Volcano Ota (Magenta), and Ryota Takeuchi (Carmine).
The English voice cast includes Kyle Hebert (Gohan), Sean Schemmel (Goku), Robert McCollum (Goten), Jeannie Tirado (Pan), Christopher R. Sabat, (Piccolo and Vegeta), Sonny Strait (Krillin), Monica Rial (Bulma), Eric Vale (Trunks), Meredith Mccoy (Android 18), Johnny Yong Bosch (Broly), Jason Douglas (Beerus), Ian Sinclair (Whis), Aleks Le (Gamma 1), Zeno Robinson (Gamma 2), Zach Aguilar (Dr. Hedo), Charles Martinet (Magenta), and Jason Marnocha (Carmine).
The Dragon Ball phenomenon began in 1984 when Japan’s well-known manga from Akira Toriyama premiered in Shueisha’s “Weekly Shonen Jump” – becoming a top-ranked title throughout its 10 and a half years of publication. Since then, the manga’s popularity has continued to grow with an astonishing record of 260 million copies sold worldwide and counting. And with Dragon Ball’s ever-increasing popularity, it has expanded beyond manga to include TV animation, movies, games, and merchandising. Now 38 years after the launch of the original manga, Dragon Ball continues to evolve and will reach new heights starting with this new large-scale movie.
Tickets On Sale Now For Hayao Miyazaki’s Academy-Award Winning Feature
Tickets are now available for screenings of Hayao Miyazaki’s classic adventure film Spirited Away, the final film in the Studio Ghibli Fest 2023 lineup. GKIDS, which is celebrating its 15th anniversary as a producer and distributor of multiple Academy Award-nominated animated features, and Fathom Events are proud to continue their partnership for Studio Ghibli Fest 2023. This year’s festival will highlight all ten of Hayao Miyazaki’s iconic animated films with Studio Ghibli, as well as the first-ever North American screenings of Spirited Away: Live On Stage.
The film will be shown in both its original Japanese and English dubbed versions. In addition to the full feature, the final event at Studio Ghibli Fest 2023 will include a specially curated program of bonus content in anticipation of the theatrical release of Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli’s latest film, The Boy and the Heron. Audiences will get to see a pre-recorded performance of “Spinning Globe,” the theme song for The Boy and the Heron, written and performed by global J-pop superstar Kenshi Yonezu. There will also be an exclusive subtitled clip of a conversation between Kenshi Yonezu and Masaki Suda, who provides the original Japanese voice of the Gray Heron in The Boy and the Heron, about working on the film with Hayao Miyazaki.
Tickets for Spirited Away can be purchased online by visiting GhibliFest.com, FathomEvents.com, or participating theater box offices (Theaters and participants are subject to change).
Saturday, October 28 at 3:00 PM (Japanese with Subtitles)
Sunday, October 29 at 4:00 PM (English Dubbed) and 7:00 PM (English Dubbed)
Monday, October 30 at 7:00 PM (English Dubbed)
Tuesday, October 31 at 7:00 PM (Japanese with Subtitles)
Square Enix Manga & Books to Release The Apothecary Diaries Light Novel Series in New Print Editions Starting May 2024
The Apothecary Diaries (Light Novel), Print Editions Volume 1 Pre-Orders Begin Today!
Square Enix will publish English-language print editions of the best-selling light novel series The Apothecary Diaries, starting with Volume 1 in May 2024. The Square Enix Books editions will feature full-color art inserts and black-and-white illustrations throughout and will be translated in collaboration with J-Novel Club. The Apothecary Diaries has sold more than 21 million copies worldwide in print and digital and has been adapted into a manga and an upcoming anime. Volumes 1 through 9 of the manga are available in English from Square Enix Manga in print and digital editions. The anime will begin streaming on Crunchyroll on October 22, 2023.
The Apothecary Diaries (Light Novel) A palace servant with training in herbal medicine is promoted up the ranks to food taster…and right into the thick of imperial intrigue in this enthralling period mystery series!
The Apothecary Diaries (Light Novel), Volume 1 is scheduled for release on May 14, 2024, and it will be available for pre-orders from Penguin Random House and other major booksellers starting today. More information can be found here: https://sqex.to/7JFXB
For the latest information from Square Enix Manga & Books, visit square-enix-books.com.
