Category Archives: Manga Anime

Manga Anime

The Apothecary Diaries Movie Opens in Japan 11 December

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Maomao is heading to the big screen. Gekijōban Kusuriya no Hitorigoto: Bōhi no Hihō — The Apothecary Diaries: The Deceased Empress’ Treasure — opens in Japanese cinemas on 11 December 2026, marking the first theatrical film for one of Crunchyroll’s most-watched anime franchises of recent years.

劇場版 薬屋のひとりごと 亡妃の秘宝 予告｜2026年12月11日（金）公開 — via TOHO animation チャンネル on YouTube

Maomao’s Next Case: Treasure, Pirates, and an Imperial Secret

The film sends Maomao and Jinshi far outside the palace on a grim errand: escort the remains of a concubine — dead five years — back to her homeland. The mission turns dangerous fast. They encounter pirates, hidden treasure, and a mysterious boy named Mu Qing who holds the key to the dead woman’s secrets. It is a self-contained story set between the events of Seasons 2 and 3, corresponding roughly to volume 4.5 of the original light novel series.

The Apothecary Diaries Movie character visuals — Maomao and Jinshi
Image courtesy of Toho Animation

New Character, Familiar Voices

The main cast returns: Aoi Yūki reprises Maomao and Takeo Ōtsuka is back as Jinshi. The film’s new face is Mu Qing, voiced by Mariya Ise — whose extensive CV includes Killua in Hunter x Hunter, Ray in The Promised Neverland, and Himeno in Chainsaw Man. Mu Qing is the mysterious boy at the centre of the film’s mystery, and his connection to the deceased consort is the thread Maomao has to unravel.

Mu Qing character visual and voice actress Mariya Ise for The Apothecary Diaries Movie
Image courtesy of Toho Animation

An Original Story, Written by the Author Herself

The screenplay is a fully original work by Hyūganatsu, the author of the Apothecary Diaries light novels — not an adaptation of an existing arc, but a story she describes as “more like the first draft of the novel.” Production is by the same team at Toho Animation STUDIO and OLM who built the television series. With Season 3 Part 1 confirmed for October 2026 and Part 2 in April 2027 — both expected on Crunchyroll — the film slots into the gap and gives fans an extra chapter while they wait for the next arc.

Japan Premiere on 11 December — International Window TBA

The premiere is Japan-only for now, with no international theatrical or streaming date announced. Both previous seasons of The Apothecary Diaries were available on Crunchyroll in Singapore, so a streaming release overseas is plausible — though Toho Animation has not set a timeline. For now, Season 3 Part 1 on Crunchyroll this October is the next guaranteed fix for Singapore fans. Stay tuned for updates as they come, and browse our anime and manga coverage for more on what is streaming this season.

Manga Anime, Travel

Ghibli Park’s First Original Short Film Opens Tomorrow

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Studio Ghibli opens a new chapter — literally. From tomorrow, July 8, 2026, visitors to Ghibli Park in Aichi Prefecture, Japan can watch Night in the Valley of Witches (魔女の谷の夜), the first original animated short film that Studio Ghibli has ever created specifically for the park. It is a park exclusive: there is no streaming release, no theatrical run outside the park, and no plans for a wider rollout. If you want to see it, you need to be there.

What We Know About Night in the Valley of Witches

The film is co-directed by Goro Miyazaki and Akihiko Yamashita — two names that carry serious Ghibli pedigree. Goro Miyazaki (son of Hayao Miyazaki) previously directed Tales from Earthsea and From Up on Poppy Hill, and co-directed Earwig and the Witch. Akihiko Yamashita served as animation director on Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, and Ponyo, making this a reunion of deep Ghibli craft at both the directorial and animation level. The copyright credit reads: © 2026 Goro Miyazaki, Akihiko Yamashita/Studio Ghibli.

The story is set within the Valley of Witches (魔女の谷) area of Ghibli Park itself — a European storybook town inspired by the magical settings of Ghibli’s witch-themed films — bringing the physical park and the new animation into a single, intertwined experience. Further plot details have not been released, which is very much in the Ghibli tradition of minimal pre-release disclosure.

The Valley of Witches area at Ghibli Park, Nagakute City, Aichi
Image courtesy of Studio Ghibli / Ghibli Park

Where to Watch It and What Tickets You Need

The film screens at Cinema Orion, inside Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse (ジブリの大倉庫) — one of the five areas that make up Ghibli Park. To watch it, you need Ghibli Park admission that includes Grand Warehouse access. All Ghibli Park tickets require advance reservation; there are no same-day walk-in passes. Tickets for July 2026 screenings opened on May 10, 2026 via the official Ghibli Park website.

The premiere event on July 8 was a special, limited affair — just 150 tickets were made available, with a director stage greeting from Goro Miyazaki and Akihiko Yamashita. Regular screenings from July 8 onward continue as part of normal Grand Warehouse admission, no special ticket required beyond the Grand Warehouse entry.

The witch broom carousel in the Valley of Witches area at Ghibli Park
Image courtesy of Studio Ghibli / Ghibli Park

The Singapore Angle: Worth Planning a Japan Trip Around

Ghibli Park has already become one of the most-searched Japan travel destinations for Singapore visitors since it opened in 2022. A park-exclusive short that cannot be seen anywhere else in the world — and that comes from the same studio as Spirited Away, My Neighbour Totoro, and Princess Mononoke — is exactly the kind of thing that makes a Japan trip feel unmissable rather than optional.

Practically: Ghibli Park is in Nagakute City, Aichi Prefecture, about 20 minutes by subway from Nagoya station. From Singapore, Nagoya is not directly served with regular Singapore Airlines routes, but it is easily reached by connecting through Tokyo or Osaka — and if you are already planning a trip to central Japan, Nagoya is an easy addition. From Tokyo, the Shinkansen Nozomi takes about 1 hour 40 minutes. From Kyoto or Osaka, it is under an hour.

The key caveat for Singapore visitors planning ahead: all Ghibli Park tickets require advance online reservation and can sell out weeks in advance. Check the official Ghibli Park English-language site for booking windows, which open monthly. For more Japan culture and travel content, browse our Japan travel picks.

Manga Anime

Tanya the Evil Season 2 Premieres Tomorrow on Crunchyroll

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Nine years is a long time to wait for an anime sequel — but the long stretch is finally over. Saga of Tanya the Evil Season 2 (Youjo Senki II) premieres on July 8, 2026, and Singapore fans can catch it from tomorrow via Crunchyroll and Ani-One Asia. Studio NUT is back, the original voice cast returns, and the war for Tanya’s soul rages on.

Saga of Tanya the Evil Season 2 — Official Main Trailer via AnimeSelect on YouTube

Nine Years in the Making — A New Director Steps In

When Season 1 wrapped up in March 2017, followed by the theatrical film in February 2019, the story was clearly unfinished — the light novel series by Carlo Zen had volumes left to adapt. The announcement of Season 2 came in June 2021, but production took another five years to reach screens. The result is a 12-episode continuation produced again at Studio NUT, with Kenta Ihara returning for series composition and Yuji Hosogoe keeping the character designs consistent.

The most notable change is in the director’s chair: Takayuki Yukimoto takes over from Season 1’s Yutaka Uemura. Yukimoto’s appointment was announced at AnimeJapan 2026 alongside a new full trailer and cast reveals — the long development window apparently gave the new director room to push production values. The opening theme, “Why? RED induction” by MYTH & ROID (who also did Season 1’s “JINGO JUNGLE”), and the ending theme “Weiter! Weiter!” performed in-character by Tanya (Aoi Yuki) suggest the tone stays resolutely on-brand.

Saga of Tanya the Evil Season 2 key visual — Tanya and the 203rd Mage Battalion
Image courtesy of Studio NUT / Kadokawa

Where the Story Picks Up

Season 2 begins in autumn of 1926, with Episode 1 titled “Salamander Combat Unit” — dropping viewers straight into the Empire’s deteriorating strategic position as total, global warfare spreads. The 203rd Aerial Mage Battalion under Tanya’s command remains the Empire’s sharpest tool, but the odds are multiplying. The mysterious entity Being X continues to manoeuvre events to force the spiritually defiant Tanya toward submission, making every battlefield victory feel like a step toward a larger trap.

Returning cast members include Aoi Yuki as Tanya von Degurechaff, Saori Hayami as Viktoriya Ivanovna Serebryakov, Shinichiro Miki as Erich von Rerugen, Tessho Genda as Kurt von Rudersdorf, and Hochu Otsuka as Hans von Zettour. Season 2 also introduces two new characters — Mikehl and Liliâ — as the conflict expands beyond the Empire’s borders.

Saga of Tanya the Evil Season 2 key visual #2 — Tanya with General Zettour and Rudersdorf
Image courtesy of Studio NUT / Kadokawa

How to Watch in Singapore

Singapore fans have two good options from tomorrow. Crunchyroll carries the series with a simulcast for most international regions including Southeast Asia, while Ani-One Asia provides the dedicated regional stream for SEA audiences. New episodes drop on Wednesdays following the Japanese broadcast. Both Disney+ and Prime Video are also expected to carry the series on a delayed basis later in the season.

If you need a refresher before Season 2, Season 1’s 12 episodes and the 2019 film are currently available on Crunchyroll. The film in particular bridges the gap between the series and where Season 2 picks up, so it’s worth a watch before Episode 1 drops. Check our full anime coverage for more summer 2026 premiere guides.

Manga Anime, Shop and Merchandise

GARRACK Demon Slayer Watches Add Upper Moon Villains at Narita

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Japanese watchmaker GARRACK arrived at Narita International Airport last week carrying three anime franchises on their dials — and the Demon Slayer collection just grew with three new Upper Moon villain watches that fans have been waiting for.

Kanazawa Gold Leaf and the Full Demon Slayer Lineup

GARRACK’s Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba collection is the most expansive of the three. Each watch features an automatic mechanical movement with a dial hand-finished in Kanazawa gold leaf (金沢箔) — a traditional craft from Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, where artisans beat gold into sheets thinner than a micron before applying them by hand. No two dials come out identically, which is part of the appeal.

The full lineup spans 16 characters including every Hashira: Tanjiro, Nezuko, Zenitsu, Inosuke, Rengoku, Giyu, Shinobu, Uzui, Muichiro, Kanroji, Sanemi, Iguro and Himejima. Three new models — Douma, Akaza and Kaigaku — have just been added to the collection, bringing the Upper Moon villain trio into the fold for the first time. Two advance-sale models — Kanao Tsuyuri and Genya Shinazugawa — round out the lineup.

Prices run ¥74,800–¥77,000 (tax included) per piece, placing these firmly in collector and gifting territory.

GARRACK Demon Slayer Douma watch — Kanazawa gold leaf mechanical watch
Image courtesy of GARRACK / Ueni Trading
GARRACK Demon Slayer Akaza watch — Kanazawa gold leaf mechanical watch
Image courtesy of GARRACK / Ueni Trading
GARRACK Demon Slayer Kaigaku watch — Kanazawa gold leaf mechanical watch
Image courtesy of GARRACK / Ueni Trading
Demon Slayer × Kanazawa Gold Leaf Mechanical Watches — Douma, Akaza & Kaigaku New Models — via TIMEPIECE CO.,LTD UENI on YouTube

Ultraman Heroes in Raden Mother-of-Pearl

GARRACK’s Ultraman series takes a different craft route: raden (螺鈿), the art of cutting and inlaying mother-of-pearl from shells to create iridescent patterns on watch dials. Artisans in Takaoka, Toyama — a region with over 400 years of metalwork tradition — hand-finish each piece. The effect is a shifting, luminescent surface that reads very differently from the gold leaf Demon Slayer variants.

Three Ultraman heroes are represented: Ultraman Tiga, Ultraman Zero and Ultraman Z (Zett). Prices are ¥77,000–¥79,200 (tax included).

GARRACK Ultraman raden mother-of-pearl mechanical watches lineup
Image courtesy of GARRACK / Ueni Trading
Ultraman × Japanese Traditional Craft — GARRACK Raden Dial Mechanical Watches — via TIMEPIECE CO.,LTD UENI on YouTube

Evangelion Raden Watches: Three Eva Units

The Evangelion collection, which GameTrader.SG covered when pre-orders opened in June, is also part of the Narita debut. Unit-01 (Shinji) is priced at ¥77,000; Unit-00 (Rei) and Unit-02 (Asuka) at ¥79,200 each. Like Ultraman, these use raden mother-of-pearl craftsmanship.

GARRACK Evangelion raden mother-of-pearl watches — Unit-01, Unit-00, Unit-02
Image courtesy of GARRACK / Ueni Trading

Narita Airport Terminal 3 — and Online for Singapore Fans

From 30 June 2026, all three collections are on display at Fa-So-La SOUVENIR AKIHABARA ANNEX inside Terminal 3 at Narita International Airport, where they join the store’s existing lineup of Japanese pop-culture goods. Ueni Trading describes the Narita placement as a limited-time offering, so availability may change — if you’re heading to Japan and transiting through Narita, it is worth a detour into the Terminal 3 shops to see them in person.

Narita is a primary hub for Singapore Airlines and Scoot flights to Tokyo, making this a realistic pick-up point for Singapore fans on Japan trips. For those not travelling any time soon, the watches are also stocked online at world-wide-watch.jp and select Japanese retailers including TiCTAC, Joshin, Sofmap and Yodobashi Camera’s online store — check each platform’s international shipping terms before ordering.

More information on all three collections is at world-wide-watch.jp (Japanese). Check more anime and Japan culture coverage on GameTrader.SG.

Manga Anime, News

Young Ladies Don’t Play Fighting Games Is Now on Crunchyroll — With Street Fighter 6

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Episode 1 of Young Ladies Don’t Play Fighting Games is live on Crunchyroll today — and it is already the most fun gaming-anime crossover of the Summer 2026 season. The series follows Aya Mitsuki and Mio Yorue, two students at the ultra-refined Kuromi Girls’ Academy where video games are strictly off-limits, as they discover a shared, very unladylike obsession: locking in at the highest levels of a fighting game tournament. The twist that has everyone talking? The anime swapped out its source manga’s fictional game entirely and integrated real footage from Street Fighter 6.

Young Ladies Don’t Play Fighting Games | Official Trailer — via Crunchyroll on YouTube

From Tea Ceremonies to Ranked Matches

Kuromi Girls’ Academy is the kind of school where grace is a subject and composure is non-negotiable — which makes it the perfect setting for a comedy about girls who unwind by rage-quitting fighting games behind closed doors. The manga by Eri Ejima, serialised in Monthly Comic Flapper under Media Factory, has been running since January 2020 and now spans 10 volumes, with volume 11 arriving on July 22. Seven Seas Entertainment publishes the English version for readers here in Singapore who want to follow along in print.

The anime is produced by Studio Diomedéa and directed by Shōta Ihata, with series scripts handled by Wataru Watari — the writer behind My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU — lending the show a sharp, character-driven comic edge. Early reviewer Ken Pueyo at Anime Corner called it a show where “you don’t need to be a fan of fighting games to like this one,” praising the premiere for finding something genuinely funny in the gap between the girls’ outward elegance and their secret intensity at the controller.

Young Ladies Don't Play Fighting Games main visual showing all five characters in character-select screen style
Image courtesy of Diomedéa / Kadokawa

Street Fighter 6 Takes the Stage

In the source manga, the characters play a fictional game called Iron Senpai 4. For the anime, Capcom and the production team reached an agreement to replace it entirely with in-game footage from Street Fighter 6 — meaning every match the characters play on-screen is actual SF6 gameplay. The character assignments are: Aya mains Cammy, Mio mains Ryu, Yū specialises with Ken, and Tamaki runs Juri. For anyone who has spent serious time in SF6’s ranked mode, watching school-uniformed ojou-samas execute those framedata-perfect inputs is a very specific kind of joy.

The collaboration — officially branded Street Fighter × 対ありでした。 — gives the show a production value boost while keeping it immediately readable for viewers who have never touched a fighting game. The SF6 sections are rendered cleanly enough that non-players can follow the action, while fans will catch the small mechanical choices that tell you exactly how serious these girls really are.

Street Fighter × Young Ladies Don't Play Fighting Games official collaboration key visual
Image courtesy of Capcom / Diomedéa

Cast, Music, and Where to Watch in Singapore

The voice cast is stacked: Ikumi Hasegawa leads as Aya, Kana Ichinose — who impressed many in Sword Art Online: Alicization as Alice — voices Mio, with Sayaka Senbongi, Shino Shimoji, and Maria Naganawa filling out the rest of the main group. The opening theme “Inochi Mijikashi Tai Suru Otome yo!” is performed by Hanabie. (fresh off a strong year of anime tie-ups), and Halca handles the ending with “New Game.”

Aya from Young Ladies Don't Play Fighting Games alongside Street Fighter 6 key art
Image courtesy of Diomedéa / Capcom

Young Ladies Don’t Play Fighting Games is streaming on Crunchyroll with new episodes dropping every Tuesday. Episode 1 is available right now for Singapore viewers — no geo-block issues to worry about, since Crunchyroll covers SEA. If the SF6 integration or the premise sounds remotely interesting, the first episode is a confident hook. Check out more anime coverage on GameTrader for everything streaming in Singapore this season.

Manga Anime

Sekiro: No Defeat Anime Gets September 4 Japan Theatrical Date — Then Crunchyroll

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FromSoftware’s landmark Sengoku action game finally makes the leap to anime — and the people behind it clearly understood the assignment. Sekiro: No Defeat opens in Japanese cinemas on 4 September 2026 for a three-week limited run, before heading to Crunchyroll worldwide (Singapore included) later in 2026. The full theatrical trailer landed on 26 June and the production is making waves for being entirely hand-drawn 2D — in an era when shortcuts are common, that commitment matters.

Sekiro: No Defeat key visual showing Wolf with katana
Image courtesy of FromSoftware / KADOKAWA / Sekiro:No Defeat PARTNERS

The Story: Wolf, Kuro, and the Dragon’s Curse

The film follows the core arc of the game: Wolf, a shinobi sworn to protect Kuro — the Divine Heir whose bloodline carries the Dragon’s Heritage of immortality. Every resurrection Wolf uses to survive spreads Dragonrot, a sickness that slowly claims innocent lives around him. Kuro, in desperation, chooses to sever the immortal curse even at the cost of his own life. Wolf fights fate itself to find another way.

It is a tight, concentrated story, and the production committee has deliberately leaned into the game’s psychological weight: the bond between Kuro and Wolf is front and centre, with boss battles against Genichiro Ashina, Gyoubu Oniwa, and the terrors of Senpou Temple woven through. The film holds a PG12 rating in Japan.

Sekiro: No Defeat | Official Trailer 2 — via Crunchyroll on YouTube

The Production: Qzil.la, Hand-Drawn, Zero Generative AI

The film is produced by studio Qzil.la, directed by Kenichi Kutsuna (who cut his teeth as a key animator on Bleach, One Punch Man, and Naruto: Shippuden), with Takuya Satou as screenwriter and Takahiro Kishida — the character designer behind Durarara!! and JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind — handling character design. The composer is Shuta Hasunuma, while the theme song is “Blu” by the late Ryuichi Sakamoto, lending the film an extraordinary level of emotional gravitas before a single frame plays.

Qzil.la is known for its work in AI-adjacent technologies, which raised questions the moment the project was announced. The official production committee got ahead of it: they confirmed there will be no generative AI used anywhere in the animation. Every frame is hand-drawn. The film also screened in the Midnight Specials section at Annecy International Animation Film Festival 2026 and was selected for the Fantasia International Film Festival.

Genichiro Ashina in combat from Sekiro: No Defeat anime
Image courtesy of FromSoftware / KADOKAWA / Sekiro:No Defeat PARTNERS

Voice Cast and the Original Game Cast

The original Japanese voice actors from Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice reprise their roles:
— Daisuke Namikawa as Wolf
— Miyuki Satou as Kuro, the Divine Heir
— Kenjiro Tsuda as Genichiro Ashina
— Takaya Hashi as Owl

For fans who played the game with Japanese audio, hearing these actors inhabit those roles in full animated form is going to hit differently.

Action combat scene from Sekiro: No Defeat anime
Image courtesy of FromSoftware / KADOKAWA / Sekiro:No Defeat PARTNERS

When Singapore Fans Can Watch

The three-week Japanese theatrical window opens 4 September 2026 — that run is Japan only. For Singapore and the rest of Southeast Asia, the path to the film is through Crunchyroll, which holds the exclusive worldwide streaming rights (excluding Japan, China, Korea, Russia, and Belarus). A specific streaming premiere date has not been announced yet; the most likely window is late September to October 2026, after the theatrical run closes. Crunchyroll is available in Singapore with both the free (ad-supported) and Premium tiers.

There is no confirmed Singapore theatrical run at this stage — if one is announced, we will update this post. For more anime and game adaptation news, head to our Manga & Anime section.

Manga Anime

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 Is Coming to Netflix This Fall — New Crew, Same Night City

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Four years after the original Cyberpunk: Edgerunners shattered hearts and set the bar for game-to-anime adaptations, the follow-up is finally real. Studio Trigger has confirmed Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 for a Fall 2026 release on Netflix — and Singapore fans who caught the first series on Netflix here will be right at home picking this one up.

Cyberpunk Edgerunners 2 key visual featuring Weak in Night City
Image courtesy of Netflix / CD PROJEKT RED

New Edgerunners, Familiar Night City

This is a fully standalone story — no need to have seen the first series, though it absolutely helps with the emotional weight. The new season introduces an entirely fresh cast navigating Night City’s darkest corners. At the centre are two characters: Weak, a washed-up cyberpunk legend forced to exist without his chrome, and D, a deadly nomad locked onto a path of revenge. Also in the crew: young cinephile Roman Carax, who came to Night City searching for real stories, and Talia Yang, a corpo woman whose heart belongs to chrome and violence. The series is described as “a raw chronicle of redemption and revenge” running across ten episodes.

Returning to the creative chair is Kai Ikarashi as director, with Ichigo Kanno handling character designs and a screenplay by Bartosz Sztybor (CD PROJEKT RED) and Masahiko Otsuka.

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 | Official Teaser #2 — via Netflix on YouTube

The Cure Opening and Rico Nasty — Two Very Different Vibes

Studio Trigger’s Anime Expo 2026 panel turned heads when it was revealed that the opening theme for Edgerunners 2 will be The Cure’s 1979 post-punk track “10:15 Saturday Night” — a choice that sounds odd on paper but landed well with the crowd. Meanwhile, rapper Rico Nasty wrote an original track, “You Can’t Run From Me”, exclusively for the show; it opens the second teaser trailer and is already streaming. Two very different sonic palettes for a show that looks set to be equally unpredictable.

D, a new character in Cyberpunk Edgerunners 2, in a close-up action shot
Image courtesy of Netflix / CD PROJEKT RED

Anime Expo Screening and What Singapore Fans Need to Know

Attendees at Anime Expo 2026 on 3 July got the first look at the premiere episode in an exclusive screening — by all accounts the reaction was intense. CD PROJEKT RED and Netflix have not announced an exact premiere date beyond “Fall 2026”; with Netflix Korea having reportedly listed a potential 20 October window, that timeframe feels plausible, though nothing is confirmed.

Netflix Singapore carries the full Netflix catalogue, so Edgerunners 2 will land here on the same day as everywhere else. If the first series’ run on Netflix Singapore is any guide, expect both English and Japanese audio options at launch.

Cyberpunk Edgerunners 2 official Netflix Fall 2026 poster — CD Projekt RED x Trigger
Image courtesy of Netflix / CD PROJEKT RED

For more anime news and local event coverage, check out our Manga & Anime section.

Manga Anime, News

SAO: Integral Domain — New Original Film Announced for 2028

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Kirito and Asuna are heading back to the big screen — and this time, it is not a retelling. Aniplex has revealed Sword Art Online the Movie – Integral Domain –, a completely original theatrical story set beyond the Alicization arc, with a 2028 cinema release confirmed. Full staff, the teaser visual, and a first teaser trailer all dropped on 7 July 2026 via the Aniplex official channels, making this the most concrete look yet at where the SAO franchise goes after the TV series concluded its main storyline.

SAO Integral Domain 2028 announcement — staff, cast and key visual
Image courtesy of Aniplex

The First Fully Original SAO Film Since Ordinal Scale

This is a significant distinction worth flagging for fans: Integral Domain is not an adaptation of existing light novel chapters. That puts it in the same category as Ordinal Scale (2017) — a story written specifically for the cinema, with original screenwriting direction from creator Reki Kawahara. The two Progressive films (2021 and 2022) adapted the Progressive reboot light novels, so this is genuinely new territory.

The Aniplex official page describes the premise simply: “the story moves to a new stage” — set directly after the events of the Alicization / War of Underworld arc. No plot details beyond that have been released yet, but Kawahara is providing the story concept, so this is the author’s own vision for what happens next to Kirito and Asuna rather than a spin-off scripted by a different writer.

Sword Art Online the Movie – Integral Domain – | COMING 2028 — via Aniplex USA on YouTube

Director, Studio, and Full Staff Confirmed

The creative team is a familiar combination of SAO franchise veterans and fresh production muscle:

  • Director: Shingo Adachi — an animation director across multiple seasons of the TV series, making his theatrical directorial feature debut here
  • Character design: Yumiko Yamamoto — returning from both Progressive films
  • Original character design concept: abec (the original light novel illustrator)
  • Story concept: Reki Kawahara
  • Animation production: A-1 Pictures / Psyde Kick Studio — Psyde Kick Studio is A-1 Pictures’ newer internal animation label, co-producing alongside the parent studio
  • Distribution (Japan): ANIMEC

Voice cast confirmed so far: Yoshitsugu Matsuoka as Kirito and Haruka Tomatsu as Asuna. Both are originals from the first season. No additional cast has been announced yet.

SAO: Integral Domain — official background art showing Aincrad-like spire silhouettes
Image courtesy of Aniplex

What Singapore SAO Fans Need to Know

No international theatrical dates have been announced beyond the 2028 Japan release window, and no Southeast Asia distribution partners have been named yet. That said, every major SAO theatrical release has made it to Singapore: Ordinal Scale screened here in 2017, and both Progressive films received local cinema runs as well — so a Singapore theatrical release is realistic, just unconfirmed.

If you are behind on the series, the 2028 release gives you time to work through Alicization and War of Underworld before the film’s story picks up. Crunchyroll carries both arcs for streaming in Singapore.

The official film page is live at swordart-online.net/integral, and the Japanese announcement was first reported by Famitsu (Japanese) and the Aniplex official site. Follow anime news on GameTrader.SG for any Singapore screening updates as they drop.

Manga Anime

One Piece: Heroines Is Now on Crunchyroll — Nami, Robin, Vivi and Perona Get the Spotlight

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One Piece: Heroines — the long-awaited anime special spotlighting the franchise’s iconic female crew — premiered on Fuji TV in Japan on 5 July, and is now streaming globally on Crunchyroll, including in Singapore. If you have been waiting 27 years for Nami, Robin, Vivi and Perona to carry an entire story on their own, the wait is finally over.

Nami in a blue formal outfit on stage in One Piece: Heroines
Image courtesy of Toei Animation

What Is One Piece: Heroines?

One Piece: Heroines is an anime television special adapted from the light novel series of the same name, written by Jun Esaka and illustrated by Sayaka Suwa, published by Shueisha under the Jump J-Books imprint. The novels have been available in English via Viz Media since April 2025 (volume one) and July 2025 (volume two), so if the special hooks you, there is more to read. Direction is by Haruka Kamatani, with scripts by Momoka Toyoda and character design by Takashi Kojima.

ONE PIECE HEROINES | Official Trailer — via ONE PIECE Official – ENG on YouTube

Four Stories, Four Heroines

The special presents four stand-alone short stories, each centred on a different heroine from across the Grand Line:

  • Nami: After buying a pair of shoes that hurt her feet, Nami returns to confront the designer — who offers to craft her a bespoke pair from scratch, but only if she agrees to model for him. A quiet vignette about craftsmanship, pride and what it means to find something that truly fits.
  • Robin: Nico Robin is called on to decipher a mysterious stone tablet that could help the Revolutionary Army and their chief of staff, Koala.
  • Vivi: Princess Vivi finds the Kingdom of Alabasta buzzing over a love letter addressed to her — and takes matters into her own hands to get to the bottom of it.
  • Perona: The Ghost Princess faces off against Mihawk — not with swords, but over a prized barrel of vintage wine.
Official character design sheets for Nami and Robin in One Piece: Heroines
Image courtesy of Toei Animation

AiNA THE END Sings “Blue Shining Star”

The theme song, “Blue Shining Star,” is performed by AiNA THE END — vocalist, actress and one of the most distinctive voices to come out of the BanG Dream! franchise, where she voices Mashiro Kurata. She has also built a strong solo career with a raw, emotive style. The choice fits: her voice brings a bittersweet warmth that mirrors the understated, character-first tone of each story in the special.

Close-up teaser visual of Nami and Robin for One Piece: Heroines
Image courtesy of Toei Animation

How to Watch in Singapore

One Piece: Heroines is streaming now on Crunchyroll with simulcast access for Singapore subscribers. The special hit the platform on 6 July, one day after its Fuji TV broadcast in Japan. A premium Crunchyroll subscription gives full simulcast access; some content is available free with ads for new users. Keep an eye on our Manga Anime section for more summer 2026 streaming picks as they land.