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The official YouTube account of MBS unveiled a new trailer for the upcoming live-action adaptation of Shinichi Fukuda’s popular manga My Dress-Up Darling on Sep 25, 2024.

Two versions of the same trailer were released. One version of the trailer features the opening theme song “Princess Hero” by Cho Tokimeki Sendenbu, while the other version showcases the ending theme song “Lovely Baby” by PEDRO.

The series is set to premiere on Oct 8, 2024 in the Dramaism programming block on MBS, with additional broadcasts on TBS.

Check out the trailers below:

My Dress-Up Darling live-action series stars Iko Nagase as Marin Kitagawa and Kouta Nomura as Wakana Gojo.

The supporting cast includes Akana Ikeda as Sajuna Inui, Kokoro Toyoshima as Shinju Inui, Daichi Shiozaki as Chitose Amano, and Meikyo Yamada as Kaoru Gojo.

Kouji Shintoku is directing the series, and Satoko Okazaki is handling the scriptwriting, with Kyodo Television handling the production.

My Dress-Up Darling follows the story of Wakana Gojo, a high school student who prefers to keep to himself due to a childhood incident. However, his quiet life takes a turn when Marin Kitagawa, a trendy and confident classmate, discovers his passion for sewing and persuades him to help her with her cosplay hobby.

My Dress-Up Darling began serialization in Square Enix’s Young Gangan in January 2018, and has been compiled into nine volumes as of March 2022.

As of June 2022, the manga had over 7 million copies in circulation.

An anime television series adaptation produced by CloverWorks aired its first season from January to March 2022. A sequel has been announced.

The upcoming stage play adaptation of Grand Bluethe popular manga by Kenji Inoue and Kimitake Yoshioka, has released a new key visual and a character video.

The play, which is part of the manga’s 10th anniversary celebration, is set to run from Nov 13-17, 2024, at Theater Mixa (Mixalive TOKYO 6F).

The newly unveiled key visual showcases the main cast of Grand Blue stage play reaching out for drinks on the beach. This builds on the previous key visual which just showcased Kitahara and Imamura reaching out for the drinks.

Additionally, a character introduction video has been released, giving fans a glimpse of the actors in their roles/outfits and setting the tone for the play.

The main cast of the stage play includes:

• Gaku Takamoto as Iori Kitahara
• Ryo Saeki as Kohei Imamura
• Shion Tachibana as Chisa Kotegawa
• Sumire Yokono as Nanaka Kotegawa
• Yuki Iino as Shinji Tokita
• Yuuki Kimisawa as Ryujiro Kotobuki
• Kei Kawamoto as Aina Yoshiwara
• Arihiro Matsunaga as Hajime Nojima
• Yoshinari Oribe as Yuu Mitarai

The stage play is directed and written by Yuu Murai.

The production has also partnered with Marea, Japan’s largest diving school, to bring the diving scenes to life with realism.

The actors will undergo pool practice to prepare for the diving sequences, with professional diving equipment and suits provided for the performance, enhancing the authenticity of the key scenes.

The character introduction video also acts as a CM, as it is being sponsored by Kleiner Feigling, an alcohol brand from Germany, and also Marea.

Grand Blue follows the story of Iori Kitahara, a college student who moves to a seaside town and becomes involved with a wild diving club. What he expects to be a peaceful college experience quickly turns into a series of comical misadventures filled with alcohol and camaraderie.

First serialized in 2014, Grand Blue has since gained widespread popularity with both an anime adaptation in 2018 and a live-action film in 2020.

While the manga is currently on a hiatus at the time of writing, it is rumored that a second season of the anime is under production.

Source: Oricon

Shonen Jump+, the digital manga platform, has announced a massive manga award with a total prize pool exceeding 10 million yen (approximately $68,000) as a part of its 10th anniversary celebrations.

The award aims to discover and support emerging manga artists who will shape the future of the manga industry.

The manga award, dubbed the Shonen Jump+ 10th Anniversary Manga Awardis the largest ever hosted by Shonen Jump+.

Jump+ has stated that it desires to support future artists who will enliven the platform in the years to come.

Ten popular manga creators representing Shonen Jump+ will serve as special judges. Each judge will select the most outstanding work, and winners will receive an award named after the respective judge.

The special judges are:

• Koucha Agasawa – You and I Are Polar Opposites
• Angyaman – Ramen from Akane
• Sekka Iwata – The Best Of Sekka Iwata Ltd.
• Joumyaku – Marriage Toxin (author)
• Takahiro – Chained Soldier (author)
• You Chiba – Kindergarten Wars
• Yuu Hashimoto – 2.5 Dimensional Seduction
• Robinson Haruhara – It’s Time for “Torture,” Princess
• Naoya Matsumoto – Kaiju No. 8
• Eko Mikawa – Forgetful Battery

The Jump+ Editorial team too will be part of the judging panel.

Prize Details

• Grand Prize: 3 million yen (approx. $20,400) for one winner.
• Honorable Mention: 300,000 yen (approx. $2,000).
• Special Awards: 1 million yen (approx. $6,800) for each of the 10 category winners chosen by the guest judges.
• Teen Award: 200,000 yen (approx. $1,360) exclusively for artists under 20 years old.

Submission Process and Timeline

Submissions for the manga award open on Sep 25, 2024, and will close on Jan 31, 2025. Winners will be announced sometime in May 2025 on the official website.

Both professional and amateur creators are welcome to participate, with no restrictions on genre, format, or reading orientation (vertical or horizontal). All works should be in Japanese only.

Each participant can submit up to five works. However, submissions must be original works that have not been previously published commercially. Collaborative works are allowed; in such cases, one representative must be designated.

Creators can submit their works in three ways: through Jump Rookie!, an online submission form, or by mailing their works directly to the Shonen Jump+ editorial team. However, submitting a single work through multiple platforms won’t be acceptable.

As part of the contest, Jump+ is also allowing entries to remain private for those who wish to submit without their work being publicly displayed.

Detailed submission guidelines and entry forms are available on the official Shonen Jump+ website. You can check them out here.

Shonen Jump+, which was launched on September 22, 2014, is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a series of major events and campaigns.

These include the Shonen Jump+ Exhibition, set to take place in Tokyo in the spring of 2025, and a 10th Anniversary Movie, currently available on the platform’s YouTube channel.

In addition to the manga award, Shonen Jump+ is also releasing a collection of one-shot manga, planning a POP UP event titled #JumpPlus365, and hosting the JumpPlus Radio show.

These celebrations are designed to honor the past decade of success and inspire a new generation of manga artists and readers.

Source: Official website

The official X account of Toei Animation announced on Sep 24, 2024, that the Dragon Ball Daima anime series will make its English dub debut in U.S. theaters this November.

The premiere will feature the first three episodes, with screenings scheduled across the country from Nov 10 to 12, 2024.

Alongside the announcement, Toei Animation also released the first-ever English dub trailer of the anime.

Dragon Ball Daima will begin airing in Japan on Oct 11, 2024 at 11:40 PM.

Crunchyroll will stream the anime in the United States, Canada, Latin America (including Brazil), Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, and Southeast Asia regions.

This marks the return of the Dragon Ball franchise to television for the first time in six years, following the conclusion of Dragon Ball Super in March 2018.

Notably, this is the first time in the history of the series that a Dragon Ball anime will air during a late-night slot.

Dragon Ball Daima is an original anime series with content penned by the late Akira Toriyama.

Toriyama had been deeply involved in the production, overseeing the story, character designs, and various other elements.

The anime is co-directed by Yoshitaka Yashima and Aya Komaki, with the series’ composition handled by Yuko Kakihara, and animation character designs by Katsuyoshi Nakatsuru.

Zedd feat. C&K. performed the anime’s opening theme song ‘Jaka Jaan,’ with Zedd feat. Ai performing the ending theme song ‘NAKAMA’.

The plot revolves around Z characters along with the Supreme Kai who were turned into children by a nemesis.

Dragon Ball is a Japanese media franchise created by Akira Toriyama in 1984. The initial manga, written and illustrated by Toriyama, was serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump from 1984 to 1995, with the 519 individual chapters collected into 42 tankōbon volumes by its publisher Shueisha.

Toriyama’s manga was adapted and divided into two anime series produced by Toei Animation: Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Zwhich together were broadcast in Japan from 1986 to 1996. Additionally, the studio has developed 21 animated feature films and three television specials, as well as two anime sequel series titled Dragon Ball GT and Dragon Ball Super.

Twenty animated theatrical films based on the Dragon Ball series have been released in Japan. The most recent films, Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods (2013), Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection ‘F’ (2015), Dragon Ball Super: Broly (2018), and Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero (2022), were produced as full-length feature films and were given stand-alone theatrical releases. They’ve also been the first movies to have original creator Akira Toriyama deeply involved in their production.

Source: X

Vinland Saga fans are in for a treat as Barnes & Noble’s Fifth Avenue location in New York City will host Makoto Yukimura for a Vinland Saga Deluxe 4 signing event.

The in-person-only event will take place on Thursday, Oct 17, 2024, at 1:00 PM ET.

Vinland Saga Deluxe 4 includes volumes 10-12 of the Japanese edition of Vinland Saga and new bonus content.

Tickets for the event are priced at $59.87 for admission with one copy of Vinland Saga Deluxe 4 and admission to the signing line with Yukimura, and $119.74 for admission with two copies, allowing for one additional guest to join in the signing line.

Non-ticketholders will not be allowed entry to the event.

According to Barnes & Noble, the author will not be personalizing books, and no memorabilia will be signed. Additionally, attendees will be permitted to take photos using their personal devices, and no large bags will be allowed inside the event space.

Event organizers stressed that ticket holders should arrive on time, with check-in beginning at 12:00 PM, to avoid missing their chance to meet the artist.

Makoto Yukimura is a Japanese manga artist best known for his manga planets and Vinland Saga.

Yukimura started serializing Vinland Saga in Weekly Shonen Magazine before moving to Monthly Afternoon.

As of June 2024, its chapters have been collected in 28 tankobon volumes.

Source: eventbrite via Manga Alerts

Japanese rapper Ryoff Karma has stirred controversy with his recent criticism of Japan’s moe culture.

He voiced his concerns on social media about Japan’s promotion of 2D lolicon fetish as a source of national pride.

Ryoff’s criticism was fueled by a visit to Koi-Yamagata Station, known for its vibrant pink aesthetic and illustrations of Chizu Express character Erio Miyamoto.

He expressed his distaste for the station’s design, deeming it disgusting.

His statement quickly garnered negative responses from anime enthusiasts, prompting the rapper to double down on his stance.

“What’s the point of all these cringe anime-avatar people getting all worked up and angrily replying to my opinion? If it were the station in the town I live in, I wouldn’t want to use it, to be honest.”

Ryoff elaborated further, arguing that while there are many excellent anime works, the excessive promotion of lolicon fetish is detrimental to Japan’s cultural image.

He also criticized local communities for relying on anime-themed marketing to attract tourists, suggesting that such efforts alienate ordinary residents.

“Sure, there are plenty of excellent anime, but it’s tough to see even anime that’s just 2D lolicon fetish acting like it’s something Japan should be proud of culturally. It’s also really painful to see struggling local areas, whose other industries have weakened, desperately pandering to otaku with lolicon marketing.

In places that are already losing population, using this for some temporary buzz or calling it a ‘pilgrimage site’ only draws a short-lived crowd of otaku, while pushing ordinary people even further away. It doesn’t matter how much effort is put in. Use your brains more.“

Ryoff’s statements come on the back of Japanese Government announcing that they aim to boost the global popularity of the country’s creative industries, including anime, games, and other cultural content to 20 trillion yen by 2033.

Ryoff’s criticism, however, was not taken well by the masses. Many accused the rapper of hypocrisy, noting his habit of sharing gravure idol photos. This perceived double standard sparked criticism from both anime enthusiasts and gravure idol fans alike.

Despite Ryoff’s stance, his failure to offer concrete solutions or alternatives to the current state of anime tourism has left many unconvinced.

Source: Nikkan Sports, X

Spice and Wolf anime’s reboot, titled Spice and Wolf: Merchant Meets the Wise Wolfis officially getting a second season.

The announcement came after the final episode of the first season aired – on Sep 24, 2024.

A new key visual featuring Holo was also released to commemorate the announcement. The visual notes that the journey (of the characters) is set to continue.

The first season of Spice and Wolf: Merchant Meets the Wise Wolf started airing in April 2024 and had 25 episodes.

Takeo Takahashi (who directed the original anime) is serving as the chief director and Hijiri Sanpei is directing the anime at studio Passione. Kevin Penkin is handling the music for the series.

Ami Koshimizu and Jun Fukuyama have reprised their roles as Holo and Lawrence, respectively, from the original 2008 anime.

The reboot anime also covered an arc which was skipped in the previous anime adaptation.

Spice and Wolf is based on the light novel series of the same name, which celebrated its 15th anniversary in 2021. The story is set in a medieval European-inspired world and revolves around economics and trade rather than magic or swordplay

The series is written by Isuna Hasekura and illustrated by Juu Ayakura. ASCII Media Works has published 24 volumes since February 2006 under their Dengeki Bunko imprint.

The series has also inspired spin-off light novels and also a manga adaptation.

Source: Comic Natalie

The official X account of Warner Bros. India announced that the anime film adaptation of Tatsuki Fujimoto’s Look Back will be released in theatres across the country.

“Attention, Anime Fans! The highly anticipated blockbuster anime film ‘Look Back’, is coming to cinemas in India! Stay tuned for more! Don’t miss this beautiful one-shot Manga adaptation!” their tweet read.

The exact release date is yet to be revealed.

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Look Back anime film released in the Japanese theatres on June 28, 2024, and grossed over 227 million yen in its first three days.

Though it had a limited release, the movie earned over a billion yen in the box office by the third week of its release.

Studio Duran was in charge of the anime film’s production, while Kiyotaka Oshiyama directed, handled the screenplay and also the character designs for Look Back.

The director had previously hinted that he is aiming to create Look Back film differently from the manga.

Look Back is a Japanese one-shot web manga written and illustrated by Tatsuki Fujimoto. It was published on Shueisha’s Shonen Jump+ in July 2021.

Source: X

Warner Bros. unveiled the official poster for the upcoming The Lord of the Rings: The War of Rohirrim anime film on Sep 22, 2024.

The poster features Helm Hammerhand – the King of Rohan, Héra, and Wulf – the Dunlending lord.

The Lord of the Rings: The War of Rohirrim is slated to release in U.S. on Dec 13, 2024, and internationally on Dec 11, 2024.

It was previously revealed that the anime film will have a presence at New York Comic Con (NYCC), which is set to take place from Oct 17-20, 2024.

Kenji Kamiyama, known for his work on Blade Runner: Black Lotus and Eden Of The Eastwill direct the film, with Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh, Sam Register, Carolyn Blackwood and Toby Emmerich serving as executive producers.

It is produced by produced by Oscar winner Philippa Boyens, known for her work on The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, alongside Jason DeMarco and Joseph Chou.

During an interview with Anime Expo, director Kenji Kamiyama spoke about the female representation in the film.

“In Japanese animation, it’s not uncommon for a female protagonist to be the main character, but it’s more rare in the live-action films made from The Lord of the Rings. Our film has a strong female lead in Héra, and our story is narrated by the noble Tolkien figure Éowyn, so women are very well represented. I think there are a lot of fans who really like Tolkien’s original work, so I hope those people will enjoy it. Making this movie has been a fun challenge.”

Voice cast includes:

• Gaia Wise as Hera
• Brian Cox as Helm Hammerhand
• Luke Pasqualino as Wulf
• Miranda Otto as Éowyn & Narrator

The cast also include Lorraine Ashbourne, Yazdan Qafouri, Benjamin Wainwright, Laurence Ubong Williams, Shaun Dooley, Michael Wildman, Jude Akuwudike, Bilal Hasna, and Janine Duvitski.

The plot of The Lord of the Rings: The War of Rohirrim is described as follows:

Set 183 years before the events chronicled in the original trilogy of films, The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim tells the fate of the House of Helm Hammerhand, the legendary King of Rohan. A sudden attack by Wulf, a clever and ruthless Dunlending lord seeking vengeance for the death of his father, forces Helm and his people to make a daring last stand in the ancient stronghold of the Hornburg— a mighty fortress that will later come to be known as Helm’s Deep. Finding herself in an increasingly desperate situation, Héra, the daughter of Helm, must summon the will to lead the resistance against a deadly enemy intent on their total destruction.

Source: Press Release

Makoto Shinkai's 5 Centimeters Per Second anime will be adapted into a live-action film scheduled to release in Fall 2025.

SixTONES’ Hokuto Matsumura has been cast as the protagonist Takaki Tono.

The screenplay is written by Ayako Suzuki, with Yoshiyuki Okuyama serving as the director.

Shinkai expressed his excitement about the upcoming adaptation, stating, “The animated film 5 Centimeters Per Second, which I directed almost 20 years ago, is an incredibly raw and unfinished work. But perhaps because of that very incompleteness, it has remained beloved for so long. I could never make a film like that again today, nor could I replicate it. That’s why I’m so excited that a passionate young team, led by Director Okuyama, is once again embracing 5 Centimeters Per Second. I also feel a sense of life’s strange wonder that Hokuto Matsumura, the actor I trust the most, will be playing the lead role. I hope this will be a film that can only be made in this moment, and I’m eagerly awaiting its completion, cheering everyone on.“

Comments from the cast and staff members can be read below:

Hokuto Matsumura:

I’ve rewatched the original work countless times, and because of that, I feel the weight of responsibility every day. This original story has deeply impacted the lives of many people. Fans have their own interpretations and worlds, and I am one of them. I initially hesitated to take part in the live-action adaptation, feeling that I wasn’t yet ready for such a significant project. But Director Okuyama and the production team’s passion and love for the original, along with Shinkai-san’s words, “I’d like to see you in the role, Hokuto,” gave me the reason I needed to take on this challenge. This film is being made by a team that has been inspired and influenced by 5 Centimeters Per Second, and I will approach it with deep respect for both the original team and the fans.

Yuki Okuyama:

I feel a profound sense of destiny in the fact that I’m directing a story that Makoto Shinkai crafted at the age of 33, and I, too, am now 33. Facing 5 Centimeters Per Second every day, I’m reminded that there are things you can only create at a particular moment in time, and perspectives that, eventually, we may forget. With the warm support of a deeply trusted team, I want to approach each scene and each second with sincerity, creating something with care and urgency. I will leave behind all the sentimentality I have inside me for this film, so please look forward to it.

Fumiko Suzuki:

I first watched Makoto Shinkai’s 5 Centimeters Per Second in my twenties. Many people on the team saw it for the first time during their middle or high school years. Depending on when we first encountered this profound work, our connection to it feels different. Facing such a deeply moving original story has been both thrilling and nerve-wracking. Together with Director Okuyama, a sincere team of trusted staff, and the earnest cast, I’ve woven everything we discussed into the screenplay. I hope it reaches many people’s hearts in this moment.

Hiroaki Tamai (Producer):

We are deeply grateful to Makoto Shinkai and the team at CoMix Wave Films for supporting this project, offering invaluable guidance, and accepting this bold challenge of adapting such a beloved and timeless work into live-action. Alongside the exceptionally talented Director Yuki Okuyama, Hokuto Matsumura, and the rest of the cast, we’ve gathered experts with extraordinary talent, skill, and refined sensibilities across various domains, including screenplay, visuals, sound, and design. We hope you’ll look forward to more updates as we move closer to the film’s release.

5 Centimeters Per Second anime film, written and directed by Makoto Shinkai, released on 3 March 2007.

The film was awarded Best Animated Feature Film at the 2007 Asia Pacific Screen Awards. It received a novelization in November 2007 and a manga adaptation illustrated by Seike Yukiko in 2010.

Source: Comic Natalie