Category Archives: Manga Anime

Manga Anime

Haruhi Suzumiya Anime Hits 20: SOS Exhibition Open Now, ABEMA Stream Starts Tomorrow

Leave a comment

The Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu anime turned twenty this year, and KADOKAWA is marking the occasion with a full programme of events — including a Tokyo exhibition that runs through 30 August, an ABEMA special stream kicking off 16 August (that’s tomorrow), and a limited Seiko chronograph that costs more than most consoles but looks spectacular. For Singapore fans: both anime seasons and The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya are on Crunchyroll right now.

SOS Exhibition at Sunshine City Ikebukuro

The SOS展〜世界を大いに盛り上げた涼宮ハルヒの展〜 is running from 10 to 30 August 2026 at Sunshine City Ikebukuro (文化会館ビル2F 展示ホールD), open daily 10:00–19:00. Tickets are ¥2,500 for timed entry; a ¥2,000 merchandise exchange ticket is also available for those primarily there for the goods. The exhibition’s illustration is by original character designer Noizi Ito (いとうのいぢ), featuring new visuals of the full SOS Brigade.

SOS Exhibition poster for the Haruhi Suzumiya 20th anniversary event at Sunshine City Ikebukuro, illustrated by Noizi Ito
SOS展 exhibition poster illustrated by Noizi Ito. Image © Nagaru Tanigawa, Noizi Ito/KADOKAWA
Brigade Leader armband merchandise card for the Haruhi Suzumiya SOS Exhibition
The ¥2,000 merch exchange ticket includes exhibition-exclusive goods such as the Brigade Leader armband. Image © Nagaru Tanigawa, Noizi Ito/KADOKAWA

ABEMA Stream and the 20th Anniversary PV

Starting 16 August, ABEMA is running a special anniversary stream of the series — Japan-only, unfortunately. What is accessible from anywhere: KADOKAWA’s official 20th anniversary PV (embedded below), and a voice cast appreciation video featuring Aya Hirano (Haruhi), Tomokazu Sugita (Kyon), Minori Chihara (Nagato), Yuko Goto (Mikuru), and Daisuke Ono (Koizumi).

Official 20th anniversary PV — via KADOKAWAanime on YouTube

Where Singapore Fans Can Watch

Both Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu seasons (2006 and 2009) and The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya film are available on Crunchyroll in Singapore. If you have never seen it: the 2009 broadcast order, which opens differently from the original air order, is the one generally recommended for first-time viewers. The film — covering the events of the fourth light novel — is one of the stronger theatrical anime releases of its decade and holds up well twenty years later.

The Seiko Collaboration Watch

A limited-edition Seiko chronograph is part of the 20th anniversary merchandise line. It features a light-blue dial referencing Haruhi’s school uniform, an “H” marker at 12 o’clock, and the SOS Brigade emblem engraved on the case back. Specs: quartz movement, stainless steel case, 10 ATM water resistance. Price: ¥65,780 (approximately S$595). Pre-orders are through PREMICO; estimated shipping is mid-December 2026. Seiko anime collabs tend to move fast, so if this is on your radar it’s worth bookmarking before general sale opens.

More anniversary coverage in our manga and anime section.

Manga Anime

New Prince of Tennis Anime Returns — U-17 World Cup Final Arc Starts 30 September

Leave a comment

The manga may have just closed its 27-year run, but the New Prince of Tennis anime is absolutely not done. A new instalment — 新テニスの王子様 U-17 WORLD CUP 決勝メンバー決定戦 (The New Prince of Tennis: U-17 World Cup — Final Member Selection Match) — was officially announced on 14 August with a full key visual, teaser video, and brand-new cast. It premieres on TV Tokyo on 30 September 2026.

If you’ve been following the U-17 World Cup arc — Japan saw off Germany in the SEMIFINAL arc that aired in 2024 — this is the direct continuation. Japan’s next opponent is Spain. Before that match even begins, though, Coach Mishipu has decided the bigger challenge lies within the squad itself.

Japan Fights Itself to Reach the Final

Ryoma Echizen and a teammate face off in New Prince of Tennis U-17 WORLD CUP Final Member Selection Match
Image courtesy of 許斐剛/集英社・NAS・新テニスの王子様プロジェクト

Rather than a straightforward run-up to the Spain match, the new arc opens with an internal 決勝メンバー決定戦 — a selection tournament held within Japan’s own squad. Players compete against each other for the right to represent Japan in the World Cup final. Roster spots, pride, and years of rivalry are all in play as Ryoma Echizen, Keigo Atobe, Seiichi Yukimura, and the rest of Japan’s assembled talent go head-to-head with everything on the line.

It’s a classic Tenipuri escalation: the first opponent is never the one on the other side of the net.

Second teaser video — via アニメ 新テニスの王子様 オフィシャルチャンネル on YouTube

Four New Voice Actors Join as Spain’s Team

Close-up of Ryoma Echizen in New Prince of Tennis U-17 WORLD CUP Final Member Selection Match anime
Image courtesy of 許斐剛/集英社・NAS・新テニスの王子様プロジェクト

The August 14 reveal confirmed four new voice actors joining the series to play Spain’s national team:

  • Tasuku Hatanaka (Kirishima in My Hero Academia) as Julio Roman
  • Reiji Kawashima as Mars de Colon
  • Ryuho Nagaoka as Silva Serra Bambieri
  • Megumi Han (Gon in Hunter x Hunter) as Seda

Junko Minagawa returns as Ryoma Echizen, and Junichi Suwabe is back as Keigo Atobe. The production had previously confirmed Romeo Fernandez will be voiced by Yu Shirota — a name many longtime Tenipuri fans will recognise from his years on the TeniMyu stage, now stepping into the anime booth.

Two Japan team members on court in New Prince of Tennis U-17 WORLD CUP Final Member Selection Match anime
Image courtesy of 許斐剛/集英社・NAS・新テニスの王子様プロジェクト

The Music — Opening Theme and a Character Song Ending

The opening theme, “Walls And Bridges”, is performed by 青酢 (Aozusu, FEEL MEE UNIT). The ending theme carries on the franchise’s beloved character song tradition: 金環蝕phenomenal is performed by Keigo Atobe and Yuushi Oshitari — in character. If you’ve watched any of the Dream Live concert films or followed the Tenipuri music releases over the years, you know this is as on-brand as it gets. The franchise has always taken its music seriously, and this new arc is no exception.

Opening theme card for New Prince of Tennis U-17 World Cup Final Member Selection Match — Walls And Bridges by Aozusu FEEL MEE UNIT
Image courtesy of 許斐剛/集英社・NAS・新テニスの王子様プロジェクト

Broadcast and Where to Watch from Singapore

The series begins 30 September 2026 on TV Tokyo (Wednesdays at midnight), TV Osaka (Wednesdays 25:35), and TV Aichi (Wednesdays 25:30). The official site is tenipuri.jp/u17/selection-match/ (Japanese).

International streaming for the new arc has not yet been confirmed. The previous instalment, U-17 WORLD CUP SEMIFINAL, was available on Amazon Prime Video in Singapore — that remains the most likely platform, but there has been no official announcement as of publication. Given that the manga wrapped just last week and this anime looks to be the primary vehicle carrying the story forward, an international deal feels like a matter of when rather than if. Worth keeping tabs on.

Find more upcoming anime in our anime and manga coverage.

Manga Anime

Sparks of Tomorrow Arc 2 Starts 16 August — Five New Cast Members

Leave a comment

Kyoto Animation’s steampunk romance is back. Arc 2 of Sparks of Tomorrow begins this Sunday, 16 August, with Episode 7 “Elopement” dropping on Netflix Singapore — and the production has announced five new cast additions joining the story for the new arc.

Sparks of Tomorrow — Kihachi, as seen in the Netflix Anime official trailer
Image courtesy of Kyoto Animation / Netflix

Arc 2 Takes Kihachi and Inako to Shiga

Kihachi and Inako stand on a rooftop overlooking a steampunk industrial city at sunset in Sparks of Tomorrow
Image courtesy of Kyoto Animation / Netflix

The first arc of Sparks of Tomorrow — which we covered when the series premiered on Netflix in July — followed Kihachi Yoshida and sake brewer Inako Kintoki on a frantic search for the mythical “20th Century Electricity Catalog,” a lost compendium of electrical knowledge hidden somewhere in Meiji-era Japan. Arc 2 picks up that thread and moves the hunt to Shiga, where the missing second half of the Catalog is said to be located.

The arc premiere episode preview also drops a significant personal complication: Inako appears to accept a marriage proposal from Yosuke, a choice that threatens to end the partnership at the worst possible moment. Meanwhile, Kihachi’s older brother Seiroku steps into a more prominent role as the search enters its most consequential phase.

Five Voice Actors Joining the Cast

Kihachi reacts with surprise in a warmly lit scene from Sparks of Tomorrow
Image courtesy of Kyoto Animation / Netflix

Ahead of the new arc, Kyoto Animation and Netflix Anime confirmed five new voice cast members for characters arriving in Arc 2:

  • Yoshihisa Kawahara as Stewart Smith — described by the production as a key figure in the arc’s events
  • Hiroshi Yanaka as Jinemon Momokawa
  • Mayumi Asano as Naeko Momokawa
  • Daichi Endo as Bunshichi Yagura
  • Ayahi Takagaki as Tome / Inari
Sparks of Tomorrow | Official Trailer | Netflix Anime — via Netflix Anime on YouTube

How to Watch in Singapore

All six Arc 1 episodes of Sparks of Tomorrow are streaming now on Netflix Singapore. Episode 7 “Elopement” — the Arc 2 premiere — drops globally on Netflix on 16 August 2026. The series is directed by Minoru Ota at Kyoto Animation, based on the manga 20 Seiki Denki Mokuroku by Hiro Yuki. Netflix SG subscribers get the episode simultaneously with the rest of the world — no simulcast delay.

For more anime coverage and streaming guides, check our full Manga Anime section.

Manga Anime

Chiikawa Movie Hits ¥8 Billion at Japanese Box Office — Fans Screening at GV Suntec August 22

Leave a comment

Japan can’t get enough of Chiikawa — and honestly, neither can we.

THE MOVIE CHIIKAWA: THE SECRET OF THE MERMAID ISLAND has officially crossed ¥8.07 billion (roughly S$73 million) at the Japanese box office as of August 14, cementing its place as the top-grossing film in Japan for 2026. That’s a massive number for a movie that only opened on July 18 — just under four weeks of theatrical run.

Chiikawa, Hachiware, and Usagi gazing at a shooting star in THE MOVIE CHIIKAWA: THE SECRET OF THE MERMAID ISLAND
©ナガノ / 2026「映画ちいかわ」製作委員会

If you missed our earlier coverage, this is Chiikawa’s very first full-length theatrical film — check out our original post for the full Singapore release details and what the movie is all about. The short version: creator Nagano’s beloved tiny creature and its pals Hachiware and Usagi head to a mysterious mermaid island, and things get surprisingly emotional along the way.

The ¥8 billion milestone follows an enormous opening weekend and relentless word of mouth that has kept audiences coming back week after week. With the film now hitting Southeast Asia from August 20, those international numbers are only going to climb.

The non-credit opening animation, released officially this week — pure Chiikawa magic.

The production team also dropped the full non-credit OP this week, and it’s a stunning piece of animation. The sequence leans fully into the cosy, watercolour-tinged world Nagano built — and if you weren’t already emotionally compromised by this franchise, this clip will do the job. It’s been making the rounds online and it’s easy to see why.

Close-up of Chiikawa and new characters against a purple background in the Mermaid Island movie
The mermaid island brings new faces into Chiikawa’s world. ©ナガノ / 2026「映画ちいかわ」製作委員会

The movie also introduces a set of armoured antagonists who look wildly out of place in the usually soft and gentle Chiikawa universe — which is precisely what makes them so unsettling. Promotional materials have leaned into the contrast between the cute and the ominous, and fans have clearly responded to it.

Three armoured villain characters holding a bell, a pink bear plushie, and a bowl of ramen in Chiikawa Mermaid Island
The movie’s armoured antagonists — carrying plushies and ramen, because this is still Chiikawa. ©ナガノ / 2026「映画ちいかわ」製作委員会

Fans Screening at GV Suntec — August 22

For Singapore fans, here’s the news you actually came for: Golden Village is running a special Chiikawa Fans Screening at GV Suntec on August 22, and tickets go on sale today (August 14) at 3PM. Prices are $30 for standard seats and $28 for GV members. The wider theatrical release in Singapore begins August 20, but if you want the full fans-screening energy with fellow Chiikawa devotees, August 22 is your date.

With Japan’s box office firmly in its pocket and a dedicated fan community here in Singapore, THE MOVIE CHIIKAWA: THE SECRET OF THE MERMAID ISLAND is shaping up to be one of the anime events of the year locally. Tickets for the fans screening won’t last — set a reminder for 3PM today.

Manga Anime

WIT Studio Teases New Attack on Titan Project — Announcement Coming 20 August

Leave a comment

WIT Studio, the animation house that gave Attack on Titan its iconic look across Seasons 1–3, has just teased something new — and the AoT fandom is losing its collective mind over it. On 13 August 2026, the studio posted an official visual to their social channels carrying a single line of Japanese text and a date: 20 August 2026.

The Official Teaser: “Its Name Is Attack on Titan”

The teaser image released on WIT Studio’s official X account arranges close-up eye shots of the core Survey Corps cast — Eren Jaeger, Mikasa Ackerman, Armin Arlert, Levi Ackerman, Erwin Smith, and Hange Zoë — in horizontal strips against a deep red-to-violet gradient. Stamped across the image in bold white kanji: 名は 進撃の巨人 (“Its Name Is Attack on Titan”). Beneath it, the date 2026.8.20. The copyright line reads: ©諫山創・講談社／「進撃の巨人」The Final Season 製作委員会 — directly from the official Attack on Titan The Final Season Production Committee, not a third-party licensee.

The accompanying post was cryptic: WIT Studio suggested that these characters, “during ‘that period’,” would be gathering for a special dinner. No format, no platform, no title — just an unmistakably official tease and a six-day countdown. The studio’s choice to invoke the WIT Studio era cast (rather than the Marley arc or Rumbling-era characters MAPPA animated) is deliberate and pointed.

WIT Studio Attack on Titan August Monthly Postcard featuring Jean Kirstein by Kyoji Asano
Image courtesy of WIT Studio / Attack on Titan The Final Season Production Committee

WIT Studio’s Return to the AoT Universe — The Context

The August 20 tease doesn’t come out of nowhere. Since April 2026, WIT Studio has been running the Kyoji Asano Monthly Original Drawing Project — limited-edition postcard illustrations by AoT’s original chief animation director, available as purchase bonuses at SHIBUYA TSUTAYA and Kyoto IP stores. August’s postcard features Jean Kirstein; previous months covered Eren and Armin. Alongside this, WIT Studio launched a UKIYO-E series — merchandise rendered in the style of traditional Japanese woodblock prints, featuring Erwin, Levi, and other Survey Corps members on hanging scrolls, metal badge pins, and acrylic keychains.

WIT Studio Attack on Titan UKIYO-E series hanging scroll tapestries featuring Erwin and Levi
Image courtesy of WIT Studio / Attack on Titan The Final Season Production Committee

And on 13 August — the same day as the teaser — WIT Studio quietly marked its 15th anniversary, publishing an interview with founder Wada Joji reflecting on the studio’s journey. The timing looks intentional: a studio milestone and an AoT bombshell on the same day.

What Could It Be? Mark 20 August on Your Calendar

Nothing is confirmed until the 20th, but the teaser’s elements give fans plenty to work with. The exclusive focus on the WIT Studio era cast, the “special dinner during that period” framing, and the official Production Committee copyright all point to a new animated work rather than another merchandise drop. Speculation is running hot across Reddit, X, and Discord: a WIT Studio OVA covering a previously unshown scene? A remastered compilation film showcasing the Season 1–3 arc? Something else entirely?

Whatever it is, it lands at a particularly charged moment for Singapore AoT fans. The Attack on Titan: Symphony from Paradis concert is confirmed for Singapore this November, and the Attack on Titan 3 action game from Omega Force and Koei Tecmo locks in its December 10 release date. A new WIT Studio announcement would complete a year that has already handed local fans more AoT content than any year since the anime concluded. The announcement drops 20 August — follow @WIT_STUDIO on X to catch it live.

More anime news on GameTrader

Manga Anime

Tank Chair Anime Premieres October 4 — SiM Leads the Charge With New OP

Leave a comment

Manga readers have been hyped about this one for a while. Tank Chair — the action series about a wheelchair-bound combatant who refuses to be anything but the most dangerous person in any room — is getting its anime adaptation from Polygon Pictures, premiering October 4, 2026 on Tokyo MX.

Based on Manabu Yashiro’s manga serialised in Monthly Shonen Sirius (Kodansha), Tank Chair follows Nagi Taira, a young man who takes on enemies from a custom combat wheelchair — the Tank Chair. The tagline says it all: 座して、最強. Seated, the strongest.

Polygon Pictures Steps Up

The studio choice is a deliberate one. Polygon Pictures has built their name on action-heavy titles with precise visual execution — Ajin: Demi-Human, Knights of Sidonia, Drifting Dragons — and Tank Chair’s central mechanic, with combat choreography built around a wheelchair in motion, benefits from exactly the kind of CG animation discipline Polygon brings. Fight sequences in the trailer already show the Chair being used as both a weapon and a vehicle in ways that feel mechanically grounded.

Tank Chair anime action scene showing masked antagonist with glowing red eyes in a dark and intense combat sequence

Cast

  • Koki Uchiyama as Nagi Taira
  • Minori Fujidera as Shizuka
  • Saori Hayami as Touko Kurosaka
  • Gakuto Kajiwara as Naozumi

Uchiyama brings the kind of intensity this role needs — he handles emotionally complex protagonists well, and Nagi is not a simple character. Hayami as Touko and Kajiwara as Naozumi round out what looks like a strong core cast from the key visual.

SiM on the Opening — This Is Going to Be Loud

Opening theme: “DALALA” by SiM. The Yokohama punk-metal outfit known for their hard-hitting anime theme work is a dead-on match for Tank Chair’s energy — aggressive premise, aggressive sound. If the OP hits as hard as it looks in the trailer, this one is going straight into the gym playlist.

Ending theme: “SYNC” by Daoko, bringing an atmospheric, introspective counterweight to balance out each episode’s intensity.

Tank Chair anime official trailer — released on the Anime Manga Official Kodansha YouTube channel

Official Trailer

Tank Chair premieres October 4, 2026. No Southeast Asian streaming platform has been announced yet — we will update this post when simulcast details drop. Keep it locked to GameTrader.

Manga Anime

Tenkaichi Anime Confirmed for April 2027 — Cast Revealed

Leave a comment

If you’ve ever wanted to see Miyamoto Musashi, Honda Tadakatsu, and a whole roster of Japan’s greatest historical fighters settle things once and for all in an anime — this one’s for you. Tenkaichi: The Greatest Warrior Under the Rising Sun (テンカイチ 日本最強武芸者決定戦) is officially getting a TV anime, premiering in April 2027, and the first teaser PV and cast are out now.

Tenkaichi anime — cast key visual showing all fighters facing off
Image courtesy of Kodansha / Tenkaichi: The Greatest Warrior Under the Rising Sun Production Committee

What Is Tenkaichi?

The manga, written by Yōsuke Nakamaru and illustrated by Kyōtarō Azuma, launched in Kodansha’s Monthly Young Magazine in January 2021 and has been running ever since — 14 volumes in as of August 2026. The premise is deliciously simple: the year is 1600, Oda Nobunaga has unified Japan and is getting old, and rather than naming an heir, he announces a tournament. Whoever brings him the strongest warrior in the land wins control of the country.

The result is a single-elimination martial arts bracket — anything goes, death is on the table — pitting Japan’s legendary fighters against each other in match-ups that history never gave us. First up: undefeated prodigy Miyamoto Musashi (sponsored by the Chōsokabe clan) versus peerless spear-wielder Honda Tadakatsu (sponsored by Tokugawa Ieyasu). If you love Vinland Saga or Rurouni Kenshin, Tenkaichi occupies a similar space: real historical figures, deeply fictional fights, spectacular violence. The manga is available in English on Kodansha’s K Manga platform if you want to start reading before April 2027 rolls around.

The Warriors Assemble — Cast and Staff

The teaser PV dropped on August 13, 2026 alongside the key visual and the first cast reveals, as reported by Anime News Network. Studio Fugaku is producing the animation with Masashi Abe directing, Kazuharu Sato handling series composition, and Hayato Matsuo composing the music. Character designs are by Ryōji Nakamori.

The three cast members announced so far:

  • Miyamoto Musashi — voiced by Gen Sato
  • Honda Tadakatsu — voiced by Kenichiro Matsuda
  • Oda Nobunaga — voiced by Kenyu Horiuchi
Tenkaichi anime — Miyamoto Musashi official character design
Image courtesy of Kodansha / Tenkaichi: The Greatest Warrior Under the Rising Sun Production Committee

Watch the Teaser PV

Official Teaser PV — via TVアニメ『テンカイチ』公式 on YouTube
Tenkaichi anime teaser PV — Miyamoto Musashi with 2027.04 broadcast announcement
Image courtesy of Kodansha / Tenkaichi: The Greatest Warrior Under the Rising Sun Production Committee

The teaser is largely mood and atmosphere — Nobunaga declaring the tournament, brief glimpses of the combatants, and enough of Musashi’s wooden-sword style to get your blood pumping. It establishes that this is going to be a brutal, high-stakes affair.

Read the Manga Before April 2027

14 volumes is a manageable catch-up — and volume 14 ships on August 20, so there’s never been a better moment to dive in. Tenkaichi is published in English digitally on K Manga, Kodansha’s official digital platform, which Singapore readers can access. If you enjoy historical action manga in the vein of Vagabond or the bonkers spectacle of Record of Ragnarok, Tenkaichi sits somewhere in between: historically grounded character identities with full creative licence on the fights. Check out more manga and anime news on GameTrader.

When and Where to Watch

The anime premieres in April 2027 in Japan. Streaming rights for Singapore and the broader Southeast Asia region have not been announced yet — watch the official Tenkaichi anime website for updates. Given Kodansha’s existing relationships with Crunchyroll for other titles, an international simulcast is possible, but nothing is confirmed. We’ll update when streaming details land.

Manga Anime, Shop and Merchandise

Blue Archive × ZOZOTOWN: Black Collection Pre-Orders Open Now

Leave a comment

Blue Archive just kicked off pre-orders for its second ZOZOTOWN collaboration — and this time, Gehenna Academy’s Prefect Team is trading their school blazers for full black-military drip. The Blue Archive × ZOZOTOWN BLACK COLLECTION opened for orders today, 13 August 2026, at noon Japan time, with a pre-order window running all the way to 7 September.

Gehenna’s Black Military Collection

The collection centres on four Gehenna Academy students — Hina, Ako, Iori, and Chinatsu — reimagined in original outfit illustrations by artist Sola Nijihashi (Japanese). The theme is unmistakably military-chic: fitted black silhouettes, red accent stitching, and Gehenna Academy insignias worked into the garment designs. This is the second ZOZOTOWN drop for Blue Archive; the first featured the Arius Squad in streetwear.

What’s in the Black Collection

Blue Archive × ZOZOTOWN Black Collection hoodie — black with red stripe accents
Image courtesy of NEXON Games / Yostar / ZOZOTOWN

The full lineup runs to eight product types, mixing wearables with desk collectibles:

  • Graphic T-shirts (6 character variants) — ¥4,400
  • Open-collar long sleeve shirt — ¥9,350
  • Hoodie — ¥9,900
  • Long pants — ¥9,900
  • Long coach jacket — ¥39,600
  • Reversible MA-1 bomber jacket (black outside, Gehenna-red lining with embroidered insignias) — ¥36,300
  • Big acrylic stands (4 variants — one per character) — ¥2,200 each
  • Rubber play mat (all four characters across a full-width mat) — ¥3,850

The standout piece is the reversible MA-1 jacket: flip it inside out and the red lining reveals embroidered Gehenna faction symbols across the back — a detail fans of the game’s lore will appreciate immediately.

Blue Archive × ZOZOTOWN Black Collection reversible MA-1 bomber jacket showing black exterior and Gehenna-red lining with embroidered insignias
Image courtesy of NEXON Games / Yostar / ZOZOTOWN

Order Dates and What Singapore Players Should Know

Blue Archive × ZOZOTOWN Hina Big Acrylic Stand in black military outfit
Image courtesy of NEXON Games / Yostar / ZOZOTOWN

Pre-orders close 7 September 2026 at 11:59 PM Japan time, with items shipping in mid-December 2026. All items are exclusive to ZOZOTOWN — there is no retail or overseas retail channel.

ZOZOTOWN does not offer direct international shipping, so Singapore fans looking to pick up pieces from the Black Collection will need a Japan forwarding service. Services such as Tenso and Buyee support ZOZOTOWN orders and deliver to Singapore; expect Japanese domestic shipping (¥1,500–3,000 roughly) plus the forwarder’s fee on top of the item price, so factor that in before checkout.

Blue Archive × ZOZOTOWN Black Collection rubber play mat featuring Iori, Ako, Hina, and Chinatsu across a wide desk mat
Image courtesy of NEXON Games / Yostar / ZOZOTOWN

Blue Archive continues to be one of the most collab-active gacha titles for licensed fashion in Japan. If the Black Collection follows the first ZOZOTOWN drop, orders will close without a restock — Gehenna fans in Singapore who want a piece of the collection should plan their forwarding setup before 7 September. Check our anime and game coverage for more merchandise news.

Manga Anime

Makoto Shinkai’s Untitled 8th Film Lands at Crunchyroll — Where Does That Leave Singapore?

Leave a comment

Makoto Shinkai is coming back — and Crunchyroll has already claimed its seat at the premiere. Sony Pictures Entertainment and Crunchyroll announced on 11–12 August 2026 that they have jointly acquired global distribution rights to the director’s still-untitled eighth feature film. The deal positions Crunchyroll as the primary streaming home for the film across most of the world. The one catch? A large portion of Asia — the region that arguably loves Shinkai’s work most intensely — sits outside that agreement.

A scene from Weathering With You (2019), directed by Makoto Shinkai
Makoto Shinkai’s Weathering With You (2019) grossed over US$193 million worldwide. (© CoMix Wave Films)

What We Know About the Deal

Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures Entertainment struck the agreement to distribute Shinkai’s next film across territories described as outside Japan and India, with some reports characterising the exclusion zone as broader — covering Asia as a whole, with India carved back in as an exception. The exact territorial boundaries have not been spelled out in official press materials, and the ambiguity matters a great deal to fans in this part of the world.

What is not ambiguous: Singapore is not covered by the Crunchyroll deal. Whether the exclusion zone is “outside Japan and India” or “outside Asia except India,” Singapore falls inside it either way. That means local fans will be watching for a separate theatrical or streaming announcement from a regional distributor — the same situation that played out for Suzume in 2022, when Encore Films handled Singapore distribution.

Shinkai’s Eighth Feature

This is Shinkai’s first film since Suzume (2022), which earned over US$300 million at the worldwide box office and picked up a Golden Globe nomination for Best Animated Feature Film. Before that came Weathering With You (2019) and the global phenomenon Your Name (2016), which remains one of the highest-grossing anime films of all time.

A scene from Suzume (2022), directed by Makoto Shinkai
Suzume (2022) earned a Golden Globe nomination and over US$300 million worldwide. (© Crunchyroll / CoMix Wave Films)

The new film is Shinkai’s eighth feature overall. No title, plot synopsis, or release date has been announced. In an X post from January 2026, Shinkai offered his clearest signal yet that something was close: “It looks like this will be the year I can finally share concrete details about the new movie I have been preparing for a long time. We are all having fun creating it together.”

More recently, the director has described the theatrical premiere as “probably not far away,” though without a specific window. Early speculation, drawing on production signals and Shinkai’s comments in Japanese media, suggests the new film may move away from the romance-driven template of his recent trilogy and explore science-fiction territory — though nothing has been confirmed.

What This Means for Singapore Fans

For viewers here, the immediate takeaway is patience. The Crunchyroll and Sony global rollout will not include Singapore, which means the theatrical window and any streaming availability will depend entirely on a separate licensing deal with a local or regional distributor. If Suzume is any guide, that deal will come — Encore Films brought it to cinemas here — but fans should not expect to line up a Crunchyroll subscription and call it done.

A scene from Your Name (2016), directed by Makoto Shinkai
Your Name (2016) remains one of the highest-grossing anime films of all time. (© CoMix Wave Films)

We will be tracking any regional distribution announcements as they come. In the meantime, you can revisit the last chapter with the official Suzume trailer below — a reminder of just how high the bar is set for whatever Shinkai has been quietly building.

Are you hyped for Shinkai’s next film? Let us know in the comments what you hope to see — and whether you are holding out for a local cinema run or streaming the moment it hits wherever it does.