Category Archives: Manga Anime

Manga Anime, Shop and Merchandise

GARRACK Demon Slayer Watches Add Upper Moon Villains at Narita

Leave a comment

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

Leave a comment

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

Leave a comment

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

Leave a comment

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

Leave a comment

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

Leave a comment

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.

Manga Anime

Jurassic Shadows Anime Revealed at Anime Expo 2026

Leave a comment

Imagine dinosaurs never went extinct — they just learned to hide. That’s the chilling premise behind Jurassic Shadows (竜化粧の忍 / Ryugesho no Shinobi), a brand-new original anime unveiled at Anime Expo 2026 by the director of the beloved The Apothecary Diaries.

Jurassic Shadows ninja with dramatic makeup and glowing red eyes from the Project PV
Still from Avex Pictures’ official trailer

A Tokyo Overrun by Ancient Predators

Set in Tokyo, 2029, Jurassic Shadows imagines a world where dinosaurs survived the mass-extinction event not by thundering across open plains, but by interbreeding with humans over millions of years, embedding ancient predator DNA deep into the population. Today, they walk among us — and when they choose to feed, they prey on humanity from within.

Standing against them is a covert order of ninjas who wield Ryugesho (「竜化粧」, literally “dragon makeup”) — a special pigment infused with ancient memories that awakens dormant dinosaur power inside its wielder. Part paint, part ancestor ritual, and entirely unlike any power system anime has tried before.

The teaser key visual says it all: a lone ninja, back turned to the viewer, faces off against a colossal T-rex in a rain-drenched street with Tokyo Tower looming overhead. “Reclaim your power” reads the tagline. Expectations are already sky-high.

Watch the Project PV

Jurassic Shadows | Project PV — via avex pictures on YouTube

The 90-second Project PV showcases animation studio Cannon Code’s fluid action style — explosive transformation sequences, ink-like energy trails, and a modern Tokyo setting that grounds the fantastical premise with gritty urban detail. Even from this brief first look, the visual ambition is clear: this is a series aiming to stand apart in a crowded action anime landscape.

The Creative Team Behind the Series

Jurassic Shadows marks director Norihiro Naganuma‘s first full-scale action project. He made his name leading both cours of The Apothecary Diaries, the period mystery-drama that dominated Crunchyroll charts globally (and in Singapore) across 2023 and 2024. Several of his Apothecary Diaries collaborators return here:

  • Director: Norihiro Naganuma (The Apothecary Diaries)
  • Screenplay: Kenta Ihara
  • Character Design: Yōichi Amano
  • Animation Design Adapter: Yukiko Nakatani
  • Art Director: Yusuke Takeda
  • Music: Shūhei Mutsuki
  • Animation Production: Cannon Code, LLC
  • Producers: Slow Curve / Avex Pictures
  • Original Work: SANB

A manga adaptation by Kodansha was also announced alongside the anime — a media-mix rollout that mirrors the launch strategy behind franchises like Jujutsu Kaisen.

Jurassic Shadows character from behind, energy surging from their body in the anime's signature dragon-makeup transformation
Image courtesy of SANB / Jurassic Shadows Production Committee

What Singapore Fans Need to Know

The Apothecary Diaries was a genuine phenomenon among Singapore anime fans — it topped local Crunchyroll streaming charts for months and generated some of the most passionate online discussion in the SG anime community since Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2. Naganuma directing a high-concept action anime with a core production team reassembled from that hit is exactly the kind of announcement worth tracking.

Crunchyroll covered the Jurassic Shadows announcement directly on their news platform, alongside the full AX 2026 staff reveal, suggesting international streaming discussions are already in progress. No streaming partner or release window has been officially confirmed yet — we will update as details emerge.

For more anime news and streaming updates relevant to Singapore, check the Manga & Anime section.

Manga Anime

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run 2nd Stage Hits Netflix on 25 September

Leave a comment

After months of near-silence following the March debut of Episode 1, Netflix has confirmed that JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run 2nd Stage will begin streaming on 25 September 2026. New episodes drop every Friday, reviving the beloved “JoJo Fridays” schedule that fans last enjoyed during Golden Wind.

JoJo Fridays Are Back — 11 New Episodes from 25 September

The 2nd Stage and 3rd Stage together cover 11 new episodes, picking up where the first episode left off. The story moves into the “Across the Arizona Desert” arc (manga chapters 12–27), where the race across North America shifts from pure horse riding into something far more dangerous: Stand battles. The vast desert terrain, searing heat, and waves of hostile competitors make this the arc where Steel Ball Run stops feeling like a sports anime and starts feeling like the JoJo you know.

The announcement was made at the Steel Ball Run panel at Anime Expo 2026 in Los Angeles on 3 July, where composer Yugo Kanno and English dub voice actors Daman Mills (Gyro) and Kaiji Tang (Johnny) joined producers on stage to debut the new trailer.

New Cast Revealed — Mountain Tim, Hot Pants, and the President Himself

Mountain Tim close-up from Steel Ball Run 2nd Stage official trailer
Image courtesy of David Production / Warner Bros. Japan

Three characters who define the 2nd Stage were officially cast at the panel:

  • Tomoaki Maeno as Mountain Tim — the laconic Texas Ranger with a Stand that turns his own body into rope. Maeno is widely known in Singapore for voicing Zhongli in Genshin Impact, and his measured delivery is a perfect fit for Tim’s calm menace.
  • Yoko Hikasa as Hot Pants — the mysterious priest whose Stand manipulates flesh. Hikasa is a veteran of countless leading roles across two decades of anime.
  • Tomokazu Sugita as Funny Valentine — arguably the casting of the year. Sugita, already beloved in Singapore for Gintoki in Gintama and Joseph Joestar, now takes on the quietly terrifying President of the United States. Valentine is widely considered one of manga’s greatest antagonists, and Sugita’s gravity suits him perfectly.

Watch the Official Trailer

STEEL BALL RUN JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure 2nd STAGE | Official Trailer — via Netflix Anime on YouTube
Gyro Zeppeli and Johnny Joestar ride through the Arizona desert in Steel Ball Run 2nd Stage
Image courtesy of David Production / Warner Bros. Japan

What to Expect from the Arizona Desert Arc

For anyone who hasn’t touched the manga yet: the 2nd Stage is the point where Steel Ball Run reveals its full ambition. The race format stays — Johnny and Gyro are still chasing the prize money across North America — but other competitors now have Stands, the supernatural abilities central to every JoJo part. The Devil’s Palm stretches across the desert: a region where the land itself seems to conspire against the racers, and where each competitor’s true motivation starts coming into focus.

The Mountain Tim close-up in the trailer suggests David Production is giving him the same visual care they brought to Golden Wind’s standout characters. Funny Valentine’s introduction is still a few episodes out, but his casting alone is reason enough to lock in 25 September on your calendar.

Netflix Singapore: Stage 1 Is Already On — Stage 2 Should Follow

Stage 1 (Episode 1) of Steel Ball Run launched on Netflix Singapore in March 2026 as part of Netflix’s worldwide early distribution for the series. Based on that precedent, Singapore Netflix subscribers should be able to stream Stage 2 weekly from 25 September — though Netflix has not yet issued a region-by-region availability list, so confirm in the Netflix app once the date arrives.

If you’ve been holding off on Steel Ball Run until the release schedule sorted itself out, now is a good time to catch up on Episode 1. For more anime hitting Singapore streaming services this season, see our Manga & Anime coverage.

Event, Manga Anime

One Piece x MINISO Pop-Up Sails Into Suntec City

Leave a comment

Set a course for the Atrium — the One Piece x MINISO pop-up is sailing into Suntec City from 4 to 26 July 2026, and it’s packing Wanted-poster pillows, Den Den Mushi plushies and a whole Grand Line’s worth of Straw Hat merch. This is Singapore’s second One Piece x MINISO drop after last year’s Plaza Singapura debut, and the “2.0” tag means a fresh haul for fans who cleared out the first one.

When and where to find the One Piece MINISO pop-up

The pop-up takes over the Level 1 Atrium at Suntec City (Tower 1 & 2) for the full stretch of the July school holidays, running 4–26 July 2026. Opening day kicks off at 10am and runs till 10pm, so early birds and after-work shoppers both get a shot at the shelves. Entry is free — you only pay for what you carry out.

The booth itself is a pirate-ship build, complete with a billowing sail flying the One Piece Jolly Roger and life-size standees of the crew flanking the entrance. It’s easily one of the more photogenic anime setups to land in a Singapore mall this year, so bring your phone charged.

Crowds shopping the One Piece x MINISO pop-up store under the giant sail installation
Image courtesy of MINISO

What’s on the shelves

MINISO’s One Piece line draws from the anime’s latest Egghead arc, and the global collection runs to more than 300 officially licensed items covering all ten members of the Straw Hat Crew. The Suntec pop-up carries a big slice of it, so expect everything from grab-and-go keychains to centrepiece plushies.

The headliners are the Wanted-poster cushions — Monkey D. Luffy and Trafalgar Law get their own bounty posters stitched into pillow form — alongside squishy Den Den Mushi (transponder snail) plushies, character tote bags, stainless tumblers and water bottles, printed backpacks, travel neck pillows and mouse pads. Luffy fans should hunt down the signature straw-hat bucket hat.

MINISO One Piece collection flatlay with Wanted-poster pillows, Den Den Mushi plushies, tote bags and backpacks
Image courtesy of MINISO

Collectors get their fix too: stylised chibi figurines, acrylic stands, character badges, holographic trading cards and blind boxes round out the display, plus themed stationery, socks and dining bits like chopstick sets. Chopper, Zoro and Nami all get plenty of love beyond the usual Luffy spotlight — a nice touch for fans whose favourite isn’t the captain.

MINISO One Piece figurines, Devil Fruit plush, acrylic stands, badges and holographic cards
Image courtesy of MINISO

Opening-day deals worth queuing for

MINISO is loading up day one with reasons to show up early. The first 40 shoppers who spend at least $100 on 4 July walk away with a $50-off coupon and an exclusive postcard — a strong nudge if you were already planning a big haul. Throughout the run, paying with ShopBack Pay nets you up to $8 off.

Since you’re already at Suntec, the mall’s own perks stack on top: hit the minimum spend for free or discounted parking, redeem a $5 Suntec+ e-Voucher with $150 spent, and grab mystery dining e-Vouchers with just $20 in a single transaction. It’s a genuinely easy day out to build around — browse the pop-up, then refuel nearby. Keep an eye on Suntec City’s socials for sneak peeks and any gift-with-purchase reveals as the dates get closer.

Part of a global Grand Line tour

Singapore’s stop is one leg of MINISO’s One Piece Global Pop-Up Tour, which has already docked in Hong Kong and is heading on to Thailand, Canada and the United States (New York’s first-ever One Piece pop-up opens at Tangram in Flushing on 26 July), with themed zones also rolling out across Indonesia, Malaysia and Australia. For Southeast Asian fans, the Suntec run is one of the earlier and more complete stops in the region — worth catching before the popular pieces sell through.

MINISO One Piece accessories including Luffy straw hat, character socks, keychains and stickers
Image courtesy of MINISO

If your calendar’s already anime-heavy this month, the timing lines up nicely with AFA’s Creators Super Fest at Suntec Singapore (11–12 July) — an easy double-header for a single trip into town. Hunting for your next fix? Browse our other events and manga & anime coverage.

The One Piece x MINISO 2.0 pop-up runs 4–26 July 2026 at the Suntec City Level 1 Atrium. Set sail before the Wanted pillows hit “sold out.” One Piece ©Eiichiro Oda/Shueisha, Toei Animation.