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Grand Theft Auto VI — Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos, the two protagonists
Game News, News, Singapore Gaming Scene

GTA VI Pre-Orders Are Live — What Singapore Gamers Need to Know

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Grand Theft Auto VI pre-orders are now live — or going live today, 25 June — on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, with Rockstar Games officially confirming a 19 November 2026 release date. If you have been counting down since Trailer 1 broke internet records in 2023, the time to lock in your copy is now.

Grand Theft Auto VI Trailer 2 — via Rockstar Games on YouTube

GTA VI Pre-Order Date and Platforms Confirmed

Rockstar Games confirmed via its official Newswire that pre-orders begin on 25 June 2026, opening across the PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, the Rockstar Games Launcher, and selected physical retailers globally. The game launches simultaneously on:

  • PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 5 Pro
  • Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S

There is no PC version announced for 2026, and a Nintendo Switch 2 edition has not been confirmed. Rockstar historically brings GTA titles to PC 12–18 months after the console release, but no date has been given.

Which Editions Are Available?

GTA VI is available in at least two tiers: a Standard Edition and a Deluxe Edition, per the GamesRadar pre-order tracker. Rockstar has not officially published pricing as of writing — expect that to be confirmed in the storefront listings when pre-orders go fully live. If the pattern of GTA V and Red Dead Redemption 2 holds, the Deluxe tier will likely bundle GTA Online in-game currency and exclusive cosmetics, but details are to be confirmed. We will update this article as soon as official pricing is published.

What Is GTA VI About?

Set across the fictional State of Leonida — built around a sun-drenched, neon-lit reimagining of Vice City — GTA VI follows two protagonists: Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos. Lucia is the first playable female lead in a mainline Grand Theft Auto game, a milestone Rockstar barely had to announce; it simply showed up in Trailer 1 and sent the internet into overdrive. The two are entangled in a criminal conspiracy that spans swamps, beaches, and gleaming high-rises — all rendered in stunning detail on PS5 hardware.

Trailer 2, released in May 2025, clocked more than 475 million views across platforms in its first 24 hours, making it one of the most-watched entertainment trailers in history. A third trailer is widely expected to accompany the pre-order launch.

Grand Theft Auto VI Vice City skyline screenshot
Image courtesy of Rockstar Games

How to Pre-Order GTA VI in Singapore

Singapore players have two main digital routes:

  • PS5: Open the PlayStation Store app or website (Singapore region) and search for Grand Theft Auto VI. SGD pricing will display once Rockstar confirms regional rates — to be confirmed.
  • Xbox: Head to the Microsoft Store on your Series X|S or the Xbox app and search GTA VI.

Physical pre-orders are expected at local gaming retailers such as GameXtreme and major electronics chains — check their websites and storefronts. Physical copies are worth watching for in Singapore, where store exclusives and launch-day bonuses can sometimes differ from digital.

For the latest gaming news including updates as GTA VI pricing and pre-order bonuses are confirmed, stay locked to GameTrader.SG.

Last words

GTA VI is the game Singapore has been waiting years for — and with pre-orders finally live and a November release less than five months away, the hype is entirely justified. Lock in your platform, set aside your budget, and refresh that PlayStation Store or Xbox dashboard. The State of Leonida is almost open for business.

Game News, News

Sonic Frontiers: Definitive Edition Is Out Now on Switch 2 — Every Bit of DLC Included

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SEGA shadow-dropped Sonic Frontiers: Definitive Edition on Nintendo Switch 2 today — perfectly timed to Sonic the Hedgehog’s 35th anniversary — and it is the most complete version of the 2022 open-world adventure yet. Singapore fans with a Switch 2 can pick it up right now on the eShop or as a physical game-key card.

Sonic Frontiers Definitive Edition – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition – Launch Trailer — via Sonic the Hedgehog on YouTube

What Is Sonic Frontiers: Definitive Edition?

Sonic Frontiers launched in November 2022 as Sonic’s first fully open-world game, sending the blue blur across the mysterious Starfall Islands to rescue his friends. It received a string of free updates and paid DLC after launch. The Definitive Edition bundles all of that into one package, with Switch 2-specific visual and performance upgrades on top. As SEGA put it when announcing the release: “Journey across the Starfall Islands, now with improved graphics and performance, as you uncover the islands’ secrets and save Sonic’s friends.”

Everything That’s in the Box

The Definitive Edition packs a lot in for a single purchase:

  • Sonic Frontiers base game — the full open-world adventure across five islands
  • “The Final Horizon” story DLC — the biggest expansion, adding playable Tails, Knuckles, and Amy alongside a new ending
  • “Sonic’s Birthday Bash” content update
  • “Sights, Sounds, and Speed” content update
  • Explorer’s Treasure Box in-game items
  • Monster Hunter Collaboration Pack cosmetics
  • Sonic Adventure 2 Shoes cosmetic
  • Holiday Cheer Suit cosmetic
  • Digital artbook and mini soundtrack

Switch 2 Upgrades: Quality and Performance Modes

Unlike a straight port, the Definitive Edition takes advantage of Switch 2 hardware. Players can choose between a Quality Mode (higher resolution, better visuals) and a Performance Mode (smoother frame rate). SEGA and Nintendo have not released the exact specs, but both modes deliver noticeable improvements over the original Switch version in graphics and loading times. Save data can also be transferred from the Switch 1 version, so returning players pick up right where they left off.

No Upgrade Path — Existing Owners Pay Full Price

Here is the sting: if you already own Sonic Frontiers on the original Nintendo Switch, there is no discounted upgrade path to the Switch 2 Definitive Edition. You will need to purchase the Definitive Edition at the full US$49.99 price again. SEGA has not commented publicly on the decision. For those who are new to the game, that price includes everything listed above — solid value. For longtime fans, it is a tougher ask.

How to Get It in Singapore

Sonic Frontiers: Definitive Edition is available now on the Nintendo eShop for Switch 2 at US$49.99. SGD pricing on the Singapore eShop is to be confirmed — check the Nintendo Singapore site for the local listing. A physical game-key card edition is also available at retail, if you prefer a box on your shelf.

If you missed Sonic Frontiers the first time around, or held off waiting for a more complete edition, this is it. Check out our roundup of other Switch 2 launches for more on what’s hit the console this month.

Last words

A 35th-anniversary shadow drop is pure SEGA energy, and Singapore gamers on Switch 2 get the definitive version of one of Sonic’s most ambitious outings right now. The no-upgrade policy will sting returning players, but for newcomers this is a complete package at a fair price. Grab it from the eShop or look for the game-key card at your local game store.

Manga Anime, News

Fool Night Anime Revealed — Sunrise × SHAFT’s First Collab Streams on Netflix in 2026

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The wait is over. At the Annecy International Animation Film Festival 2026, the Sunrise × SHAFT anime project that has had the fandom buzzing for a week finally has a name: Fool Night. The dark sci-fi thriller will stream exclusively worldwide on Netflix later this year — yes, including Singapore.

「Fool Night」 Teaser PV — via Bandai Namco Film Works on YouTube

What Is Fool Night?

Based on the award-winning manga by Kasumi Yasuda, Fool Night is set in a bleak future where thick clouds permanently block the sun, plunging Earth into endless darkness. With plant life wiped out and oxygen depleting, humanity devised a drastic solution: transfloration, a process that converts dying humans into plant-like organisms to restore the oxygen supply.

At the centre of the story is Toshiro Kamiya, a young man who undergoes transfloration and discovers an unexpected side effect — he can hear plants. That ability sets him on a path to bridge the silence between humans and those who have transformed, a drama of identity, grief, and survival sitting somewhere between hard science fiction and quiet horror.

Fool Night anime key visual — Sunrise × SHAFT
Image courtesy of Fool Night Anime Production Committee / Bandai Namco Film Works

Two Studios. One Historic First.

This announcement caps a genuine historic milestone: Sunrise and SHAFT have never collaborated on an anime before. Sunrise’s legacy spans Cowboy Bebop, Code Geass, and the entire Gundam franchise; SHAFT built its reputation on the kinetic, visually daring style of Puella Magi Madoka Magica and the Monogatari series. Pairing them on a single dark, atmospheric sci-fi property is a bold creative bet — and the kind that tends to pay off.

Meet the Team Behind It

The production staff is full of names anime fans will recognise:

  • Director: Atsuyuki Yukawa — previously an episode director on Suzume no Tojimari; Fool Night marks his debut as a chief series director
  • Series Composition: Jin Tanaka — the writer behind Oshi no Ko
  • Character Design: Robert Sato
  • Sound Director: Yota Tsuruoka — credits include A Silent Voice (Koe no Katachi)
  • Music: Tatsuya Kato — the composer behind the acclaimed Dr. STONE score
Fool Night anime — Toshiro Kamiya and Yomiko Horai character visual
Image courtesy of Fool Night Anime Production Committee / Bandai Namco Film Works

The lead voice cast is equally well-matched. Koki Uchiyama — known to many as Tomura Shigaraki in My Hero Academia — voices protagonist Toshiro Kamiya. Minako Kotobuki (Tsumugi in K-On!) plays Yomiko Horai, Toshiro’s childhood friend.

An Award-Winning Manga with a Global Following

Yasuda’s manga is no newcomer to acclaim. Serialised in Shogakukan’s Big Comic Superior since November 2020, it currently runs to 12 volumes. It ranked in Kono Manga ga Sugoi! 2023 — Japan’s reader-voted best manga guide — and took home the Japan Expo DARUMA Award 2023 for Best Suspense in France, signalling international appetite long before any anime was confirmed. Singapore and SEA readers can pick up the English-language volumes through Shogakukan Asia.

Netflix Streams Worldwide — Singapore Included

Netflix confirmed a worldwide exclusive for Fool Night in 2026. No specific episode count or premiere date beyond “2026” was given at Annecy, so keep an eye on the Netflix Singapore page for updates. Given how quickly Netflix rolls out its anime titles globally, expect close-to-simultaneous access for Singapore fans when the series premieres.

Last Words

Midnight in Singapore, and the anime news cycle just woke up. Fool Night checks every box for a prestige Netflix anime: an acclaimed manga source, a career-defining staff roster, and two studios whose visual signatures are so distinct that their collision alone is worth watching. Singapore fans who want to get ahead of the curve can dive into the English manga through Shogakukan Asia now. We will be covering this one closely as a premiere date firms up. For more anime news, check out our Manga Anime coverage.

Manga Anime, News

Liar Game Part 2 Drops 6 July — New Cast, New Theme Songs

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The psychological mind-game thriller is back. Liar Game — MADHOUSE’s long-awaited anime adaptation of Shinobu Kaitani’s acclaimed manga — kicks off its second cour (Part 2) on 6 July 2026, picking up directly from the tense finale of Part 1. And it’s arriving with a sizeable new cast, a fresh key visual, and two brand-new theme songs to mark the escalation.

LIAR GAME – Official Trailer 2 | July 2026 (SUB) — via It’s Anime powered by REMOW on YouTube

What Is Liar Game?

Based on Shinobu Kaitani’s manga that ran in Weekly Young Jump from 2005 to 2015, Liar Game is a psychological thriller built around high-stakes deception. Nao Kanzaki (voiced by Saya Hitomi) is an honest, almost pathologically trustworthy college student who receives 100 million yen out of nowhere and a letter inducting her into the “Liar Game” — a secret competition where players are expected to cheat, steal, and psychologically destroy each other to come out on top. The loser walks away in crushing debt.

Out of her depth, Nao enlists the help of Shinichi Akiyama (Takeo Otsuka), a genius ex-con artist who sees through every opponent’s strategy. Together they try to play a game built for liars without becoming liars themselves. Part 1 launched in April 2026 and has been simulcasting on Crunchyroll worldwide, including Singapore, under the creative direction of chief director Yuzo Sato and director Asami Kawano at MADHOUSE.

What’s New in Liar Game Part 2

The announcement, which landed on 22 June, reveals a substantial cast expansion for Part 2. Headlining the new additions is Natsuki Hanae — known to Singapore fans as the voice of Tanjiro in Demon Slayer — who joins as Norihiko Yokoyan. Readers of the original manga will know exactly why this casting matters: the Yokoya arc is a turning point in the competition where the games get considerably crueller.

Liar Game anime Part 2 new character visuals
Image courtesy of MADHOUSE / Liar Game Production Committee

The full new cast confirmed for Part 2 also includes Junya Hirano as Kota Akagi, Tomohiro Yamaguchi as Kenji Ikezoe, Kengo Tsujii as Yusuke Shibayama, Reigo Yamaguchi as Tajimakaru, Ryumaru Tachibana as Akira Tsumura, Seiyu Fujiwara as Hiroshi Hasegawa, Kikunosuke Toya as Makoto Muratama, and Shinya Takahashi as Tatsuji Wada — a full table of new opponents for Nao and Akiyama to navigate.

New Theme Songs

Part 2 swaps in an entirely new pair of theme songs. The opening theme is “All in” by Kroi, a five-piece Japanese rock band whose tightly wound, high-tension sound suits a show about bluffing your way through impossible odds. The ending theme is “Tarinai” by muque, a three-piece act whose introspective style provides a counterweight to the relentless psychological pressure of the episodes. Part 1 had set a high bar with “Bubble” by Yorushika and “Asahi” by Lucky Kilimanjaro — Part 2 is clearly not taking the music lightly either.

Where to Watch in Singapore

Liar Game Part 2 continues the same simulcast arrangement as Part 1: Crunchyroll is streaming the series globally, Singapore included. New episodes drop in line with the Japanese broadcast schedule from 6 July. If you haven’t started yet, all of Part 1 is available on Crunchyroll now — plenty of time to binge before Part 2 arrives.

Liar Game is produced by MADHOUSE, the studio behind Death Note, No Game No Life, and Hunter x Hunter (2011), so the pedigree for adapting high-stakes psychological material is very much there.

Last words

If Kakegurui’s casino mind games or Kaiji’s nerve-shredding gambles are your thing, Liar Game should absolutely be on your watchlist. Part 2 looks set to deliver the confrontations manga fans have been waiting years for an anime to animate properly. Singapore fans on Crunchyroll, you’re sorted — 6 July, don’t miss it.

Catch more anime news and season updates on GameTrader.

Manga Anime, News

We Are Aliens Anime Film Lands Singapore Distributor — Shaw Organisation to Bring Cannes Premiere Here

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An independent anime film that turned heads at Cannes and Annecy this year is heading to Singapore: We Are Aliens, directed by first-time feature filmmaker Kohei Kadowaki, has been picked up by Shaw Organisation for a local theatrical release.

We Are Aliens anime film key visual
Image courtesy of Nothing New
We Are Aliens — Official Teaser — via NOTHING NEW on YouTube

A 30-Year Friendship, Told Through Rotoscoped Animation

We Are Aliens (Japanese title: Ware Ware wa Uchūjin) follows two boys — Tsubasa and Kyotaro — who become inseparable friends in elementary school, only for a moment of jealousy and misunderstanding to drive them apart. The story spans more than thirty years, slowly revisiting the distance that grew between them and the long shadow it cast into adulthood.

The film runs 102 minutes and uses a distinctive hybrid approach: hand-drawn 2D animation blended with rotoscoping — a technique that traces over live-action footage to capture the tiny, spontaneous gestures of children that are notoriously hard to animate purely by hand. Director Kadowaki, known in Japan for his work on animated music videos (including Yoasobi’s “Comet”), makes his feature directorial debut here, also handling writing, storyboarding, and editing himself.

The film is a Japan–France co-production between Nothing New (Japan) and Miyu Productions (France), with Paris-based Charades managing international sales.

A Rare Double: Cannes Directors’ Fortnight and Annecy Competition

Very few anime films land at Cannes. We Are Aliens had its world premiere in the Directors’ Fortnight (Quinzaine des Cinéastes) sidebar at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival — one of the most prestigious slots in world cinema for independent work. It was also selected for the Feature Film Competition at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival 2026, the world’s leading animation festival. That is a rare double-header, and it put the film on every serious animation buyer’s radar.

A scene from We Are Aliens anime film showing the two main characters
Image courtesy of Nothing New

On the film’s approach, director Kadowaki has said: “Designing an experience that would allow audiences to genuinely empathize with the characters after watching the film was absolutely essential,” as relayed in Variety.

Singapore: Shaw Organisation Confirmed as Local Distributor

The distribution news broke today: Shaw Organisation has acquired Singapore rights for We Are Aliens, confirmed via Variety along with a wider regional sweep. The full Asian slate is: Green Narae Media in South Korea, Hooray Films in Taiwan, Intercontinental Film Distributors in Hong Kong, and Sahamongkol Film in Thailand.

Japan theatrical release is slated for fall 2026, with international screenings — including Singapore — planned from 2027. Shaw has not yet confirmed a specific Singapore date.

We Are Aliens anime film scene
Image courtesy of Nothing New

Last Words

Singapore does not see many films of this festival pedigree hit local cinema screens through a proper theatrical release — a Cannes Directors’ Fortnight premiere and Annecy Competition slot from an independent Japanese animation studio is genuinely unusual. Shaw’s acquisition signals more than a quiet streaming deal. Keep an eye out: a Singapore release date will most likely surface in late 2026 or early 2027. We’ll update when it’s confirmed. Until then, the teaser above is well worth a watch.

Check out more anime news and coverage on GameTrader.

Manga Anime, News

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

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

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

Seven Years of Science and Grit

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

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

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

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

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

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

How to Watch the Finale in Singapore

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

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

STONE FES. 2026 — The Grand Farewell in Yokohama

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

Last words

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

Manga Anime, News

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

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

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

The Apprentice Training Arc Takes the Stage

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

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

Six New Voices Join the Stage

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

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

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

A Quick Primer for New Viewers

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

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

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

A Live Rakugo Event in Tokyo This August

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

Last Words

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

More anime news on GameTrader.SG

Manga Anime, News

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

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

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

Why This Collab Is Unlike Anything Before

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

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

What the Teaser Shows — and What It Doesn’t

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

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

What Fans Are Speculating

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

How to Watch the Reveal Tonight

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

Last Words

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

More anime news on GameTrader.SG

Manga Anime, News

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

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

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

From Ariake Arena to the World

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

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

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

The Four International Stops

Four cities have been confirmed for the world tour leg:

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

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

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

Missed Tokyo? There’s a Rewatch Stream

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

What This Means for Singapore Fans

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

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

Last words

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