Category Archives: Manga Anime

Manga Anime, News

Dr. Stone Ends After 7 Years — Final Episode Airs 25 June on Crunchyroll

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After seven years and nearly four full seasons, Dr. Stone: Science Future is almost done. The final episode of Senku Ishigami’s science-powered odyssey drops this Thursday, 25 June, on Crunchyroll — and Singapore fans can catch it at 10pm SGT. Two episodes remain as of this week, and the clock is ticking on one of the most unique shonen anime of the past decade.

Dr. STONE SCIENCE FUTURE Part 3 | Official Trailer | Crunchyroll — via Crunchyroll on YouTube

Seven Years of Science and Grit

The Dr. Stone manga launched in Weekly Shonen Jump in March 2017, written by Riichiro Inagaki (of Eyeshield 21 fame) and illustrated by Boichi. Over 27 volumes across five years — the series concluded its manga run in March 2022 — it built a reputation for something genuinely unusual: a shonen built on real science, where protagonist Senku Ishigami solves problems not with power-ups but with chemistry, physics, and engineering. The anime adaptation by TMS Entertainment debuted in 2019 and has since run across four seasons, spanning Stone Wars, the Ryusui arc, and now the final Science Future arc.

For seven years, the show has been a reliable fixture for anime fans who wanted something different — part survival story, part science textbook, and entirely Senku. The series closes with the same spirit: big ambitions, improbable solutions, and 10 billion percent confidence.

The Final Arc — Senku’s One-Way Ticket to the Moon

Science Future Part 3 (Cour 3) launched on 2 April 2026 and spans 13 episodes, bringing the overall series total to 37. The arc tackles the Moon Mission — Senku and the Kingdom of Science, now allied with former antagonist Dr. Xeno, are building a rocket to reach the Moon and confront the mysterious Why-Man, the entity responsible for the global stone petrification that kicked off the entire story.

Why-Man has loomed over Dr. Stone since the beginning, and its voice casting for the finale is itself a statement: the character is voiced by both Koichi Yamadera (best known internationally as Spike Spiegel in Cowboy Bebop) and Kotono Mitsuishi (Usagi Tsukino in Sailor Moon). Bringing in two icons of anime voice acting for the series’ central mystery is the kind of move that tells you the production was not coasting to the finish line.

Dr. Stone Science Future final arc key visual
Image courtesy of TMS Entertainment

How to Watch the Finale in Singapore

Singapore fans have easy access: Dr. Stone: Science Future streams on Crunchyroll in Southeast Asia, and the final episode arrives Thursday, 25 June at 10pm SGT. That’s the same evening as the Japanese broadcast (which airs at 10pm JST), with Crunchyroll making it available to Southeast Asian subscribers shortly after Japan. A standard Crunchyroll subscription covers it — no extras needed. Check out more anime news for what’s coming to the platform next.

Dr. Stone Science Future Cour 3 episode schedule
Image courtesy of TMS Entertainment

STONE FES. 2026 — The Grand Farewell in Yokohama

For those who want a proper send-off, the series’ official finale event — STONE FES. 2026 — takes place on 10 October 2026 at Yokohama BUNTAI in two sessions (daytime and evening). The full voice cast is expected to attend, alongside live musical performances by BURNOUT SYNDROMES (who did the Season 1 opening) and KANA-BOON (who handled the Season 4 themes). It’s a Japan-only event, but there’s a route in for dedicated fans: the Blu-ray and DVD box set for Science Future Cour 3 releases on 15 July 2026, and the first limited edition includes a priority lottery application for STONE FES. event tickets. For the most committed Dr. Stone fans in Singapore, that’s worth noting.

Last words

Seven years is a long time for any anime to run, and Dr. Stone spent that time doing something genuinely different with the shonen formula. The finale is two days out. Whether you’ve been following since Season 1 in 2019 or you caught up during the Science Future run, this is one to watch live — Thursday, 25 June, 10pm SGT on Crunchyroll. Senku would not approve of you waiting until the weekend.

Manga Anime, News

Akane-banashi Season 2 Confirmed — Rakugo Returns in January 2027

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Rakugo fans, the wait is officially short. Akane-banashi — the Weekly Shonen Jump series following a teenage girl’s journey into traditional Japanese storytelling — is getting a second anime season in January 2027, and the production has already dropped a teaser trailer, revealed the arc it will cover, and announced six new cast members.

TV Anime “Akane-banashi” | Season 2 Confirmed! Premieres January 2027 — via Akane-banashi Global on YouTube

The Apprentice Training Arc Takes the Stage

Season 2 will adapt the Apprentice Training Arc, the portion of Yuki Suenaga and Takamasa Moue’s manga where Akane Sakurazaka graduates from high school and commits fully to rakugo as a disciple. Under Shiguma Arakawa’s tutelage, she takes on the professional stage name Akane Arakawa — a formal debut in a world that still leaves little room for women at the top of the craft.

Studio ZEXCS returns to animate, with Ayumu Watanabe directing and Kii Tanaka continuing as character designer and chief animation director. The core returning cast, led by Anna Nagase as Akane, is intact. The announcement, which Anime Corner reported on 20 June 2026, was made on the official Akane-banashi website alongside a commemorative illustration and the Season 2 PV above.

Six New Voices Join the Stage

The production revealed the cast for new characters who appeared in Season 1’s finale:

  • Hōchū Ōtsuka as Miroku Kashiwaya
  • Ryōtarō Ōkiayu as Shomei Tsubakiya
  • Hiroshi Naka as Enso Sanmeitei
  • Mutsumi Tamura as Urara Ransaika
  • Shin’ichirō Miki as Ryu’un Kenputei
  • Tomokazu Seki as Chocho Konjakutei
Akane-banashi Season 2 commemorative illustration by character designer Kii Tanaka
Image courtesy of Akane-banashi production committee

That is a stacked line-up of veteran seiyū. Tomokazu Seki alone has been on a serious run lately — and his casting here, alongside Ryōtarō Ōkiayu and Shin’ichirō Miki, suggests Season 2 is not treating the new characters as background dressing. Expect them to have real dramatic weight in the arc.

A Quick Primer for New Viewers

Akane-banashi is not your typical Shonen Jump action series. There are no power systems or tournament brackets in the conventional sense — all the drama plays out through rakugo performances. Rakugo is a traditional Japanese sit-down storytelling art form where a single performer uses only a fan and a small cloth to voice dozens of characters and narrate entire comedic or dramatic stories. It is one of Japan’s oldest performing arts and has found a passionate new global audience partly through anime adaptations like Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju.

Akane-banashi Season 2 announcement PV screenshot
Image courtesy of Akane-banashi production committee

What makes Akane-banashi stand out is its granular writing about craft — how a performance is built, where a joke lands, why pacing matters — and the fact that its protagonist is a teenage girl fighting for legitimacy in a tradition that historically excludes women. Season 1, which aired from April 2026 on Crunchyroll, covered the groundwork. Season 2 is where that fight really begins.

A Live Rakugo Event in Tokyo This August

Alongside the Season 2 announcement, a live rakugo performance event was confirmed for 9 August 2026 at Suehirotei in Shinjuku, Tokyo — one of Japan’s most historically significant rakugo theatres. Voice actress Anna Nagase (Akane) will perform alongside the show’s rakugo supervisor Kikuhiko Hayashiya. For anyone planning a Japan trip this summer, this is the kind of pop-culture-meets-tradition event worth building a day around.

Last Words

Season 1 of Akane-banashi streamed on Crunchyroll for Singapore viewers and Season 2 will almost certainly follow the same path when it launches in January 2027. If you have not started it yet, you have around seven months to catch up — and the whole thing is worth your time. Rakugo has never looked this good on screen.

More anime news on GameTrader.SG

Manga Anime, News

Sunrise x SHAFT Team Up for the First Time — Anime Reveal Tonight at 11:30pm SGT

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Two of anime’s most storied studios are teaming up for the very first time, and the big reveal lands tonight. Sunrise — the studio behind Mobile Suit Gundam, Code Geass, and Love Live! — and SHAFT — the house that built Puella Magi Madoka Magica and the Monogatari series — have launched a joint account (@sunrise_shaft) on X, and their first-ever joint anime project reveals tonight at 11:30 p.m. SGT (24 June, 12:30 a.m. JST).

Sunrise x SHAFT joint anime teaser art showing neon urban imagery
Image courtesy of Sunrise x SHAFT

Why This Collab Is Unlike Anything Before

Sunrise and SHAFT have each defined a distinct corner of anime for decades. Sunrise sits inside Bandai Namco Filmworks and is the powerhouse behind mecha royalty: Gundam has been running since 1979, and Code Geass remains one of the genre’s most beloved strategy thrillers. SHAFT, founded in 1975, took a very different path — its signature visual fingerprint, long associated with director Shinbo Akiyuki, gave the world Madoka Magica‘s heart-breaking mahou shoujo deconstruction and Monogatari‘s text-art layering and head-tilts.

These studios occupy genuinely different creative worlds. That is exactly what makes the announcement of a first-ever joint project so striking: nobody saw this coming, and the question of what happens when you blend Sunrise’s action-driven storytelling with SHAFT’s avant-garde visual language has no precedent to draw from.

What the Teaser Shows — and What It Doesn’t

The teaser posted on @sunrise_shaft uses color script artwork — the atmospheric painting technique animators use before full production begins — to suggest the story’s mood rather than show its world outright. The clip hints at neon-drenched urban settings. Two images stand out: a figure holding a knife, and another figure scribbled out and walking through a crowd in neon light. The account’s profile picture is a red spider lily, which in Japanese symbolism is associated with death, farewell, and the boundary between worlds.

None of this confirms a title, source material, genre, or cast. All of that is for tonight.

What Fans Are Speculating

The visual language in the teaser has led some fans to point toward Fool Night, a manga by Kasumi Yasuda about a street artist who takes a risky gamble on someone else’s identity. The knife, the crossed-out figure, and the urban neon palette are consistent with that premise. But the production has confirmed nothing about source material. This is fan pattern-matching — worth noting, but not confirmed fact.

How to Watch the Reveal Tonight

The official announcement drops tonight at 11:30 p.m. SGT. The easiest way to follow along is to head to X and watch @sunrise_shaft directly. There is no confirmed streaming platform for the eventual series yet — that information will likely come as part of or after tonight’s reveal.

Last Words

Singapore fans know both studios well. Gundam has had a consistent presence here — from the model kit aisles at Bugis+ to the crowds that turned up to dedicated mecha exhibitions. SHAFT’s catalogue is practically required reading for any serious anime fan, and Madoka Magica in particular has had a lasting grip on the local community. Whatever this joint project turns out to be, tonight’s reveal is one of the more genuinely anticipated anime moments of 2026. Set your alarm for 11:30 p.m.

More anime news on GameTrader.SG

Manga Anime, News

Uma Musume World Tour Heads to LA, London, Seoul, and Yokohama

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Uma Musume: Pretty Derby is leaving Japan for the first time. Cygames confirmed today that the franchise’s 7th EVENT WORLD TOUR “THE STAGE” will go international, with shows lined up in Los Angeles, London, Seoul, and Yokohama after a sold-out Tokyo run this past weekend.

Uma Musume 7th EVENT WORLD TOUR THE STAGE announcement
Image courtesy of Cygames

From Ariake Arena to the World

The Uma Musume live event franchise is arguably the most elaborate in anime history. Each production puts voice actresses onstage in full character costumes, performing original songs and theatrical set pieces drawn from the franchise’s horse-girl universe — it sits somewhere between an idol concert and a stage musical, and the production values are notorious for being enormous.

The 7th EVENT kicked off at Tokyo Ariake Arena on 20–21 June 2026, one of Japan’s largest indoor venues. With the Tokyo run now concluded, Cygames announced today that the tour doesn’t stop there.

Uma Musume 7th EVENT WORLD TOUR 「THE STAGE」開催地決定！ — via パかチューブっ!【ウマ娘公式】 on YouTube

The Four International Stops

Four cities have been confirmed for the world tour leg:

  • Los Angeles — Peacock Theater (dates TBA)
  • London — venue TBA
  • Seoul — venue TBA
  • Yokohama — venue TBA

Specific dates and ticketing for all four have yet to be announced. Cygames has said further details will follow through official channels, so it’s worth following @umamusume_eng on X if you want to be first to know.

Uma Musume 7th EVENT WORLD TOUR world tour cities poster
Image courtesy of Cygames

Missed Tokyo? There’s a Rewatch Stream

A Tokyo Review Livestream is scheduled for 28 June at approximately 7pm on ABEMA Global, giving fans worldwide a chance to catch what the Ariake Arena crowd experienced live. It’s the next best thing to being in the front row at one of Japan’s biggest indoor venues.

What This Means for Singapore Fans

There’s no Singapore or Southeast Asia date on the list — at least not yet. Seoul is the closest confirmed stop and is well within reach for Singapore fans on a direct flight. If you’ve been curious about what an Uma Musume live event actually looks and sounds like, the June 28 ABEMA stream is the easiest way to find out before tickets go on sale for any of the international venues.

The broader picture is harder to ignore: this is the first time the franchise has taken its live show overseas. A world tour that includes Asia (Seoul) and the West (LA, London) is a significant signal of where Cygames sees the franchise going. A Southeast Asian stop in a future edition — Singapore, Bangkok, or Kuala Lumpur — doesn’t feel far-fetched from here. Check our events calendar and we’ll update when dates drop.

Last words

Uma Musume’s world tour crossing into North America, Europe, and the rest of Asia for the first time is a landmark moment for the franchise — and a preview of what the horse-girl live experience can become on a global stage. Dates and tickets are still incoming, but if you’re planning to make the trip to Seoul or anywhere else on the list, now’s the time to start keeping an eye on official announcements.

Manga Anime

The World Is Dancing — Final Trailer Out Now, Streaming on Muse Asia from 29 June

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Historical anime The World Is Dancing dropped its final pre-broadcast trailer today, with the premiere exactly one week away. Singapore and Southeast Asia fans can catch it via Muse Communication — mark 29 June on your calendar.

The World Is Dancing anime key visual — Oniyasha performing on a Noh stage
Image courtesy of Shochiku / Cypic

Dancing Through the Muromachi Period

Based on Kazuto Mihara’s manga serialised in Kodansha’s Morning magazine (2021–2022, six volumes), The World Is Dancing follows Oniyasha — the childhood name of Zeami Motokiyo, the historical figure credited as the father of Noh theatre. Set in 14th-century Japan during the chaotic Northern and Southern Courts conflict, the story revolves around a deceptively simple question: why do people dance? When Oniyasha witnesses a performance he instinctively knows is “good,” something shifts — and a lifelong artistic obsession begins.

The anime is produced by Cypic and directed by Toshimasa Kuroyanagi, with series composition by Sawako Kawamitsu and character design by Keigo Sasaki. What sets it apart from most historical productions: choreography for the Noh sequences was supervised by a Kanze-school Noh performer, supported by choreographers who also worked on the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics Opening Ceremony. The dance scenes are being held to a standard well above typical anime stagecraft.

Watch the Final Trailer

The World Is Dancing — Official Trailer (English Subtitles) via IGN on YouTube

The final trailer, released today by Shochiku, previews the ending theme “Namonai Hana” (Unnamed Flower) performed by three-piece band hockrockb, and introduces the last two newly-announced cast members. The footage shows Oniyasha’s troupe navigating the political intrigues of the Muromachi court alongside the electrifying rivalries between performance schools.

A Cast That Actually Sings

The World Is Dancing assembled one of the more eye-catching voice casts of the summer season. Yumiri Hanamori leads as Oniyasha, with Katsuyuki Konishi as troupe master Kan’ami, Takahiro Sakurai as the shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, Romi Park as rival performer Zojiro, Maaya Uchida as Kogane, Mamiko Noto as Nariko, and Inori Minase as Chiharu.

Today’s announcement rounded out the ensemble with two veterans: Yoji Matsuda joins as Inuo, a mysterious figure who drifts in and out of Oniyasha’s life and shapes his artistic path, and Miyuki Sawashiro takes on Shirabyoshi, a woman struggling to survive the era’s brutal social order. Matsuda noted this is his first time appearing as a series regular in a serialised animation.

Crucially, the performers are not just lending their voices — they are singing in-show. Hanamori and Park have already recorded songs for the series, heard in an earlier music trailer. The opening theme, “Shusho” by Macaroni Empitsu, feels like a perfect match for a story about finding one’s artistic voice in a turbulent age.

The World Is Dancing main cast visual — Oniyasha, Kan'ami, and troupe members
Image courtesy of Shochiku / Cypic

How Singapore and SEA Fans Can Watch

Muse Communication holds streaming rights for South and Southeast Asia. Singapore fans should keep an eye on the Muse Asia YouTube channel and affiliated platforms for the rollout — a precise SEA start date has not been officially announced at time of writing, but Muse titles typically follow the simulcast window closely.

The series lands early on Amazon Prime Video Japan on 29 June at 22:00 JST, ahead of its main television broadcast on 2 July on Tokyo MX and BS Asahi in Japan. HIDIVE is streaming it from 29 June for North America and several English-language markets. The world premiere of Episode 2 will screen live at Anime Expo 2026 on 2 July at 6:45 pm PDT.

For more of the season’s anime offerings, browse our Manga & Anime coverage.

Last words

Summer 2026 is not short on anime, but The World Is Dancing occupies a lane entirely its own — a slow-burn historical drama about the birth of Noh theatre, assembled with real choreographic craft and a singing cast that includes some of Japanese voice acting’s biggest names. If the final trailer is any measure, Cypic is building something quietly worth following. Check Muse Asia when the 29 June window opens, and dive in from the start.

Manga Anime

Mushoku Tensei Season 3 Premieres 5 July — Studio Bind Is Back

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After a two-year gap, Rudeus Greyrat is almost back. Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Season 3 has locked in a 5 July 2026 premiere date, with Studio Bind returning for what is shaping up to be one of the biggest isekai events of the summer season.

Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Season 3 | OFFICIAL TRAILER — via Crunchyroll on YouTube

What Is the Perugius Arc — and Why Does It Matter for Mushoku Tensei Season 3?

Mushoku Tensei Season 3 key visual featuring the main cast
Image courtesy of Studio Bind

Season 3 picks up from Volume 14 of Rifujin na Magonote’s original light novel, heading into the so-called Everyday-life Arc. Rudeus and his companions make for the legendary floating fortress of the Dragon God Perugius — a destination that promises answers about the world’s deeper mysteries. But the journey takes a dark turn when one member of the group is struck down by a deadly illness, forcing Rudeus to navigate a new kind of crisis: not a dungeon boss or a magical disaster, but the threat of losing someone he loves to something he cannot simply fight off.

It is a quieter arc by Mushoku Tensei’s standards, but fans of the source material know it lands some of the series’ most emotionally resonant moments. After Season 2’s harrowing conclusion — which left both Rudeus and his audience reeling — the shift into this more grounded chapter feels earned.

Studio Bind Returns With the Same Team That Built the Benchmark

Consistency is one of Mushoku Tensei’s greatest strengths, and Season 3 is no exception. Director Ryosuke Shibuya is back, as are character designers Sanae Shimada and Ryota Furukawa, and composer Yoshiaki Fujisawa, who has scored every instalment of the anime to date. The returning core voice cast is intact: Yumi Uchiyama as Rudeus, Kokomo Kohara as Roxy, Ai Kayano as Sylphiette, and Ai Kakuma as Eris.

Roxy Migurdia in Mushoku Tensei Season 3
Image courtesy of Studio Bind

Two notable new faces join the cast this season: Haruka Tomatsu steps in as Nina Farion, and Tetsu Inada voices Gal Farion — characters whose significance to the Perugius storyline will become clear once the season is underway. Both are experienced voice actors with extensive credits across major anime titles, which suggests the new roles are being taken seriously.

With an 8.2 rating on IMDb and four consecutive Crunchyroll Anime Awards nominations across its first two seasons, Mushoku Tensei has established itself as one of the genre’s flagship productions. Season 3 inherits that reputation and, from the looks of the official trailer, intends to uphold it.

Yuiko Ohara Opens; Mika Nakashima Brings the Season Home

The theme song lineup for Season 3 is turning heads. Yuiko Ohara — whose warm, introspective style proved a perfect fit for this series in earlier seasons — handles the opening theme. The ending, meanwhile, goes to Mika Nakashima, whose contribution is titled Prayer, If It Ends.

Singapore fans who caught Mika Nakashima’s 2026 Asia tour will recognise the name immediately — she is one of Japan’s most beloved singer-actresses, with a discography that spans J-pop ballads and anime tie-ins alike. Having her sign off each Mushoku Tensei episode this summer is a genuinely exciting pairing, and the ending theme PV released in early June 2026 gives a strong sense of the emotional register she brings to the material.

Where to Watch Mushoku Tensei Season 3 in Singapore

Crunchyroll has confirmed a worldwide simulcast for Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Season 3, with episodes dropping weekly as they air in Japan from 5 July. Singapore viewers should note that streaming rights for anime in Southeast Asia sometimes differ from the global arrangement — previous seasons of Mushoku Tensei were available locally via platforms including Muse Asia, Netflix, and meWATCH in addition to Crunchyroll, depending on the period. We recommend checking your preferred platform close to the premiere date to confirm local availability.

For more anime coming this summer, keep an eye on our coverage as the July season ramps up.

Last Words

Two years is a long time in anime fandom, but Mushoku Tensei has always rewarded patience. The Perugius Arc brings a different energy to the series — slower, more introspective, and emotionally heavier than the action peaks of earlier seasons — and that shift in register is precisely what makes it such a compelling pivot point in the story. With the same creative team, a stacked voice cast, and a genuinely exciting music lineup headlined by Mika Nakashima, Singapore fans have every reason to clear their schedule for 5 July. Rudeus’s journey continues — and if the trailer is any guide, Studio Bind has no intention of letting the standard slip.

Hunter x Hunter Chapter 411 key visual — the manga returns 29 June 2026
Manga Anime

Hunter x Hunter Is Back — Chapter 411 Drops 29 June

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Hunter x Hunter is back. Yoshihiro Togashi’s legendary manga returns to Weekly Shonen Jump on 29 June 2026 with Chapter 411 — ending an 18-month serialisation break that started after Chapter 410 appeared in December 2024.

HUNTER×HUNTER — The Conspiracy Accelerates — Official Jump Channel teaser for Issue #31 (Japanese)

When and Where to Read Chapter 411

Chapter 411 lands in Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #31 on Monday, 29 June in Japan. For Singapore readers and everyone else in Southeast Asia, Shueisha’s free digital platform Manga Plus will carry it a day earlier — catchable for free from 28 June, with no subscription or region lock required.

Alongside the chapter return is a centre colour spread, celebrating both the serialisation resumption and the release of Volume 39 (“Negotiation”), which hits Japan shelves on 3 July 2026.

The Succession War Picks Up

The official preview from Jump’s editorial team sets the stage: “A royal succession battle surrounded by malice! The battle for the throne intensifies! What will Kurapika and his allies do…?!”

Chapter 411 continues the Succession Contest Arc aboard the enormous Black Whale, where several parallel plotlines are converging simultaneously — Kurapika’s dangerous prince-bodyguard assignment, the Phantom Troupe’s own agenda on the ship, and the scheming Heil-Ly Family all pressing toward a flashpoint at once.

Hunter x Hunter key visual — Chapter 411 returns 29 June 2026
Image courtesy of Shueisha

Togashi Has a Deep Bench Ready

The most reassuring detail for fans burned by past hiatuses: Togashi’s backlog is substantial. Manuscripts through Chapter 421 are complete and waiting, with several of those carrying additional colour pages. That is at least ten new chapters already lined up after the comeback issue. For Chapter 420 onward, Togashi has asked fans to watch for timing announcements from the Jump editorial department.

Togashi, who manages a chronic back condition that has repeatedly interrupted the series, offered a brief message with the announcement: “I’m receiving tons of motivation to keep pushing from my wife” — a reference to the support of Naoko Takeuchi (creator of Sailor Moon and Togashi’s partner), as reported in coverage of the return announcement.

Last Words

For Singapore fans, the setup is ideal: Manga Plus is free, fully accessible here, and delivers each chapter the moment it drops — no VPN, no subscription. Mark 28 June in your calendar.

The English-language tankobon of Volume 39 via Viz Media does not yet have a confirmed local release date, but with the manga back on a regular schedule, that announcement should follow. For now, Togashi is delivering — and after 18 months, that is more than enough.

For more manga and anime coverage, check out our Manga & Anime section.

Manga Anime, News

Pokémon Horizons Season 3 Part 3 Lands on Netflix 26 June

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The wait is almost over — Pokémon Horizons: Season 3 — Rising Hope Part 3 lands on Netflix this Friday, 26 June 2026, picking up where one of the most story-driven Pokémon anime seasons in recent memory left off.

Pokémon Horizons Season 3 Part 3 — official clip still featuring Dot's Gimmighoul and Sinistcha
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

What’s Happening in Part 3

Part 3 takes Liko, Roy, and the rest of the Rising Volt Tacklers to Blueberry Academy, where the intensity dial gets turned all the way up. Training is the focus — and not just any training: the young trainers are preparing to challenge Elite Four members and sharpen their edge against the Explorers, the organisation threatening to spread Laquium across the world.

Mysteries around Terapagos deepen as the crew works to understand its connection to Laquium, while the Brave Olivine receives a surprise message that sends everyone scrambling. Dot’s newest partner, Gimmighoul, steps into the spotlight — as does the match-green tea Pokémon Sinistcha, featured in the official Part 3 clip below. New rival Ult, who declared himself Roy’s challenger last season, continues to push the group forward.

An Astonishing Battle! | Pokémon Horizons: Season 3—Rising Hope Part 3 — via The Official Pokémon YouTube channel

Catch Up Before Friday

If you’re joining late, Rising Hope is the 28th season of the Pokémon anime and the third arc following Liko and Roy — the freshest protagonists since Ash hung up his Poké Balls. The season opened with a year time-skip, placing the Rising Volt Tacklers in a new chapter after the events in Laqua left the group without a leader.

Parts 1 and 2 — 22 episodes between them — are already on Netflix. Season 3 runs to 47 episodes in total, so Part 3 adds a substantial new stretch to the story. The official episode count for Part 3 has not been confirmed at time of writing, but previous releases suggest around 10–12 new episodes.

Pokémon Horizons Season 3 Rising Hope — official Netflix trailer key art
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

Where Singapore Fans Can Watch

Netflix Singapore carries Pokémon Horizons, so Part 3 should be available on your account from 26 June — no VPN needed. For fans who want to watch without a Netflix subscription, the Pokémon Asia ENG YouTube channel has been streaming Season 3 episodes for free since March 2026, making this one of the most accessible Pokémon anime releases for fans in the region.

Check the official Pokémon announcement for the latest details, and see all our anime coverage here.

Last words

Singapore Pokémon fans have been eating well lately — between Pokémon GO events, the TCG, and Pokémon Champions Mobile hitting #1 on iOS locally, this is a genuinely great time to be a Trainer here. Part 3 of Rising Hope arrives just as the Summer 2026 anime season heats up, making this Friday’s drop a tidy warm-up for what’s ahead. Save your Netflix queue for 26 June.

Manga Anime, News

Kagurabachi Anime Casts Tomokazu Seki, Coming April 2027

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The wait for the Kagurabachi anime just got a whole lot harder. The production has officially cast the legendary Tomokazu Seki as Kunishige Rokuhira — master swordsmith and father of protagonist Chihiro — dropping a dedicated character trailer to mark the announcement.

KAGURABACHI | Official Teaser Trailer — via CyberAgent ANIME Global on YouTube

Why Tomokazu Seki as Kunishige Is Such a Big Deal

If you have watched anime for any stretch of time, you know Tomokazu Seki’s voice — Gilgamesh in the Fate franchise, Dino in Dr. Stone, Touya Mochizuki in In Another World with My Smartphone, and dozens of commanding roles across three decades of the medium. Landing him as Kunishige — a swordsmith of mythical skill who is also a deeply devoted father — is a casting choice that tells you exactly what register this show is aiming for.

Seki commented on the role in the official press release: “Kunishige Rokuhira is a legendary swordsmith, but at the same time, he is also a warmhearted father.” That duality — the fearsome craftsman and the gentle dad — is central to why Kagurabachi‘s opening chapters hit so hard.

Kunishige Rokuhira character visual from the Kagurabachi anime
Image courtesy of CyberAgent ANIME / Cypic

Chihiro’s Voice and the Full Creative Team

The lead — Chihiro Rokuhira, the son who sets out for revenge — is voiced by Taihi Kimura, who took home the Best New Actor prize at the 2025 Seiyu Awards. It is a strong debut for a role that will carry the entire series.

Direction is by Tetsuya Takeuchi, with character design by Keigo Sasaki, at studio Cypic (a CyberAgent group company). Shochiku and CyberAgent are co-chief production partners.

Chihiro Rokuhira character visual from the Kagurabachi anime
Image courtesy of CyberAgent ANIME / Cypic

The Manga Behind the Anime: 4 Million Copies in Two Years

Kagurabachi, written and illustrated by Takeru Hokazono, launched in Weekly Shonen Jump in September 2023 and immediately became one of the fastest-rising titles the magazine had seen in years. It has now surpassed four million copies sold (as of May 2026), won the Next Manga Award 2024 in the Print Category, and is available in English via VIZ Media. The premise: after witnessing his father’s murder at the hands of criminals seeking the family’s legendary enchanted swords, Chihiro dedicates himself to hunting down those responsible — blade in hand.

The World Tour and What It Means for Singapore Fans

Before the full series drops in April 2027, the first 20 minutes of Episode 1 will screen at four international anime conventions as part of the Kagurabachi Anime World Tour Part 1:

  • Anime Expo 2026 — Los Angeles, 3 July 2026, 4:45 PM PT
  • Japan Expo — Paris, 9 July 2026
  • AnimagiC — Mannheim, 1 August 2026
  • Anime NYC — New York, 22 August 2026

Singapore fans won’t need a plane ticket: the full series is confirmed for MUSE, the Southeast Asian streaming platform that already carries a broad catalogue of Shonen Jump anime, when it premieres in April 2027.

Last Words

Between Tomokazu Seki in a career-defining role, an award-winning VA pairing at the lead, and a production team clearly taking the manga’s legacy seriously, Kagurabachi is building into one of the most anticipated anime of next year for Singapore fans. If the manga is still sitting on your to-read list, consider this your reminder — Volume 1 is on shelves now via VIZ Media. Keep tabs on our manga and anime coverage as more details drop ahead of the April 2027 premiere.