Tag Archives: Anime Expo

Manga Anime, News

Alien Stage Anime Series Confirmed at Anime Expo 2026

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If you have spent any time on anime YouTube over the past three years, you have almost certainly been caught by the Alien Stage algorithm. The South Korean animated web series — eight episodes, 200-plus million views, a fanbase that crosses every SEA border — is now officially getting a full anime adaptation. Creators VIVINOS and QMENG announced the series is in production at their Anime Expo 2026 panel in Los Angeles on 3 July.

What Is Alien Stage?

Created by animator Soyeon Kim (VIVINOS) and collaborator QMENG through their Korean production team Forma+9, Alien Stage launched on YouTube in September 2022. The premise is as bleak as it is compelling: colonising aliens have subjugated humanity, raising humans as pets, and the Alien Stage is the brutal singing competition that determines who lives and who does not. Each episode is structured around an original song, performed by human contestants whose chemistry — and survival — is anything but guaranteed.

The eight-episode run wrapped in June 2025 with the aptly titled finale “Karma,” and by that point the series had logged over 200 million total views, with the final episode alone drawing more than 44 million. Its raw emotional storytelling, high-quality animation, and original music found a particularly passionate following in Singapore and across Southeast Asia. A spin-off alternate universe, Zombie Stage, launched just before Anime Expo in June 2026.

Alien Stage key art featuring the series' cast in a dramatic cosmic setting
Image courtesy of VIVINOS

The Anime Is in Production at Studio Lico

The Anime Expo announcement confirmed that the Alien Stage anime is now in production at Studio Lico, the animation studio involved in the original web series. A teaser visual unveiled at the convention showed the cast reimagined in what appears to be a school setting — a strikingly ordinary backdrop compared to the alien competition arena of the source material, suggesting the anime may explore a new angle on the Alien Stage world rather than a straight retelling.

No release window, full staff list, or cast details have been announced yet. What is clear is that this will be the franchise’s first fully serialised anime, moving beyond the eight music-video episodes into proper series territory. For a fandom that has been hungry for more story since the finale, that is a significant step.

Alien Stage anime teaser visual showing cast members in a school hallway
Image courtesy of VIVINOS / Studio Lico

Catch Up on the Original Before the Anime Drops

If you have not seen Alien Stage yet, now is genuinely the right time — every episode is free on the official VIVINOS YouTube channel. Round 6 is often cited as the most emotionally devastating entry point, building on everything that came before and sending fan communities into full meltdown. All eight rounds are available in order on the channel, and at roughly six to eight minutes per episode the whole series fits comfortably into an afternoon.

R O U N D 6 ｜ Alien Stage — via VIVINOS on YouTube

The 2027 World Tour — and What It Means for Asia

Alongside the anime confirmation, Frontier Works announced a 3D LIVE ALIEN STAGE Museum in 2372 world tour for 2027, with planned stops in Seoul, Tokyo, and Los Angeles. A preview event runs 30 October to 1 November 2026 at Shinagawa Stellar Ball in Tokyo, staging characters Sua, Ivan, and Luka through projection and CG technology. Tickets are available via eplus.jp for the Tokyo preview.

No Singapore or broader Southeast Asia tour date has been confirmed. Given the scale of the regional fanbase, it would be a missed opportunity not to extend the tour to this part of the world — keep an eye on official announcements from VIVINOS and Frontier Works for any updates. For more anime news from Anime Expo 2026, check the rest of this week’s coverage.

Alien Stage World Tour characters Sua, Ivan, and Luka in the 3D LIVE museum promotional art
Image courtesy of VIVINOS / Frontier Works

Manga Anime

Overgeared Anime October 2026: New Trailer and Cast Revealed at Anime Expo

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After Solo Leveling proved that Korean manhwa adaptations can take the anime world by storm, Overgeared is next in line — and it now has a firm launch window. The anime adaptation of Saenal’s iconic VR-MMORPG web novel is set to premiere on Crunchyroll in October 2026, with a full new trailer and additional voice cast revealed at Crunchyroll’s Anime Expo 2026 showcase in Los Angeles.

A scene from the Overgeared anime official teaser
Image courtesy of Crunchyroll / J.C. Staff
Overgeared | Official Trailer — via Crunchyroll on YouTube

Grid’s Story: From Deadbeat Gamer to Legendary Blacksmith

For anyone who hasn’t already ploughed through the original web novel or manhwa: Overgeared follows Shin Youngwoo, a directionless young man whose family has written him off, who spends most of his life grinding away in the massively popular virtual reality MMORPG Satisfy. A stroke of sheer luck hands him the legendary inheritance of Pagma’s Successor — a mythic blacksmith class that lets him forge weapons and armour of unmatched power. As his in-game character Grid, Youngwoo begins an improbable climb from bottom-tier nobody to the most feared and respected player in the game. The story rewards patience: Grid’s growth is hard-won, often messy, and genuinely satisfying when it pays off.

The source material started as a Korean web novel by Saenal (serialised 2014–2024) before receiving a webtoon adaptation by Monohumbug via REDICE STUDIO and Team Argo — REDICE being the same studio behind the Solo Leveling webtoon. The English-language publication of the manhwa is handled by Yen Press.

Production Details: J.C. Staff, New Cast Members, and the October Launch

A character scene from the Overgeared anime official trailer
Image courtesy of Crunchyroll / J.C. Staff

The anime — officially titled Tempal: The Power of Items (テムパル ~アイテムの力~) in Japan — is produced by EGG FIRM and animated at J.C. Staff. Directing is Ayako Kono, known for the two Sword Art Online Progressive films. Series composition is by Kenta Ihara (Sentenced to Be a Hero), with Ryosuke Tanigawa on character designs and Yoshiaki Fujisawa composing the score.

The main cast announced at the June 2026 reveal — Tatsumaru Tachibana as Grid and Asami Seto as Yura — was expanded at AX 2026 with two new additions: Saya Fukuzumi voicing Euphemina and Shuntaro Takayama as Huroi.

Why Singapore Manhwa Fans Should Pay Attention

The manhwa community in Singapore has been growing steadily, and titles like Solo Leveling and Tower of God already have strong local followings — Overgeared sits comfortably in that same tier of beloved Korean genre fiction. Its appeal is broad: the VR-MMORPG premise will click immediately with Singapore’s gaming-heavy audience, the slow-burn power fantasy rewards binge-readers, and the production pedigree (REDICE STUDIO’s webtoon + J.C. Staff animation) is credible. Crunchyroll streaming means no region-locking — Singapore fans can watch day-and-date from October.

Keep an eye on this one as the premiere date gets closer. For more anime news and other manga and anime coverage, check our full roundup.

Manga Anime

Rising of the Shield Hero Season 5 Confirmed for 2027 — First Trailer Drops at AX

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Naofumi, Raphtalia, and Filo are coming back — The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 5 is officially confirmed for a 2027 premiere, with the first trailer and a bold new key visual revealed during Crunchyroll’s showcase at Anime Expo 2026 in Los Angeles on 3 July.

Naofumi Iwatani in a tense scene from The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 5
Image courtesy of Kinema Citrus / KADOKAWA
The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 5 | Official Trailer — via Crunchyroll on YouTube

Everything Confirmed for Season 5

Season 5 was first teased at the end of Season 4’s final episode, but the Anime Expo announcement was the first proper look: a full trailer, a new key visual, and confirmation of the production team. Kinema Citrus continues as the animation studio, with Hitoshi Haga returning to direct — he guided both Seasons 3 and 4. Keigo Koyoagi is back on series composition, and the character design trio of Franziska van Wulfen, Sana Komatsu, and Masahiro Suwa returns. Crucially, composer Kevin Penkin is once again on music duties; his work has been one of the defining elements of the series since the very first episode.

On the cast side, all the main leads are reprising their roles: Kaito Ishikawa as Naofumi Iwatani, Asami Seto as Raphtalia, and Rina Hidaka as Filo. Season 5 is expected to push Naofumi toward his long-building confrontation with the Phoenix, with the allies he has gathered across four seasons finally put to the test.

A Darker Key Visual That Sets the Tone

A character scene from The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 5 trailer
Image courtesy of Kinema Citrus / KADOKAWA

The Season 5 key visual is a striking stylistic step. Where earlier seasons leaned into colour and warmth, this one goes almost entirely monochrome — charcoal and grey tones with Naofumi at the centre and his party flanking him in a dense, tension-filled formation. The only colour is the vivid red calligraphic title treatment: The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 5. The message is clear: this season is going somewhere harder and heavier.

How to Watch — and Where to Catch Up

A scene from The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 5 featuring new characters
Image courtesy of Kinema Citrus / KADOKAWA

Season 5 streams on Crunchyroll for viewers outside Japan — no specific premiere date within 2027 has been announced yet, but Singapore fans can expect the same day-and-date access they’ve had for every previous season. All four existing seasons are on Crunchyroll now for anyone who wants to get ahead of the story before next year. For more anime premieres and announcements this season, check our Manga & Anime section.

Manga Anime, News

Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Finally Hits Streaming on July 28

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The wait is finally over. Crunchyroll confirmed at Anime Expo 2026 in Los Angeles that Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle will stream on July 28, 2026 — nearly a year after it became one of the highest-grossing anime films ever at its Japanese theatrical debut. The announcement dropped on July 4 during Anime Expo’s panels, finally giving streaming subscribers a date to mark in their calendars.

Giyu Tomioka and Tanjiro Kamado in Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle
Image courtesy of Aniplex / ufotable

How to Watch Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle in Singapore

Singapore fans have two legitimate ways to stream the film from July 28. Netflix has confirmed availability across Asia — excluding Japan, Mainland China, and India — which puts Singapore squarely in the coverage zone. Crunchyroll is streaming it worldwide at 8:00 AM PT (that’s 11:00 PM SGT on July 28) in both original Japanese audio with English subtitles and the English dub produced for the North American theatrical run.

Crunchyroll has cautioned that regional availability may vary, so it’s worth checking your local library as the date approaches. For most Singapore subscribers, Netflix should be the more straightforward option — and given that both services have carried the Demon Slayer TV seasons here, you likely won’t need to sign up for anything new. Browse more anime news and releases on GameTrader if you’re looking to fill the wait.

This is Part 1 of the Infinity Castle trilogy. If you haven’t started the series, catch up on the full Demon Slayer TV run and the Mugen Train film first — all currently available on both platforms in Singapore.

Watch the Official Trailer

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle | Official Trailer — via Crunchyroll on YouTube

What Is Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle?

Infinity Castle kicks off the endgame of the Demon Slayer story. Set after the Swordsmith Village arc, it follows Tanjiro Kamado and the remaining Hashira as they are pulled into Muzan Kibutsuji’s supernatural stronghold — a labyrinthine, ever-shifting castle — for a cascade of life-or-death battles against the most powerful of the Twelve Kizuki. Studio ufotable’s animation is operating at a level that made critics and audiences alike describe the theatrical experience as overwhelming in the best possible sense.

Upper Moon Doma holds his ornate fan in Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle
Image courtesy of Aniplex / ufotable

The film picked up Film of the Year at the Anime Awards earlier in 2026, a title that felt almost inevitable given how it dominated conversation throughout its theatrical run. Its two theme songs — performed by LiSA and Aimer — have been circulating widely, so if you’ve been avoiding them as spoiler-adjacent, consider yourself on a countdown. The film’s Japanese Blu-ray release is set for July 29, which aligns closely with the international streaming window.

Kaigaku in his demon form surrounded by lightning in Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle
Image courtesy of Aniplex / ufotable

Parts Two and Three Are Still in the Works

July 28 is only the beginning of the end. Infinity Castle is Part 1 of a planned three-film arc that will conclude the entire Demon Slayer saga, and neither a theatrical release date nor a streaming window for Part 2 has been announced yet — with 2027 the earliest realistic guess based on production timelines. For now, set your reminder for July 28 and decide whether you’re team Netflix or team Crunchyroll — you’ll want the biggest screen you can find either way.

Manga Anime

Solo Leveling: Beyond the System Movie Is Officially in Production

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Solo Leveling is heading to theatres. Solo Leveling: Beyond the System, a brand-new anime theatrical film, is officially in production — announced at the Crunchyroll Showcase at Anime Expo 2026 on 3 July by Aleks Le, Sung Jinwoo’s English voice actor, who introduced a teaser concept video and the film’s first key visual. A-1 Pictures, the studio behind Seasons 1 and 2, is back on animation.

What Beyond the System Is About

Sung Jinwoo awakening to new power in Solo Leveling
Image courtesy of A-1 Pictures / Aniplex

The title pulls from one of the series’ most beloved early moments: the Double Dungeon Arc, where a near-dead Jinwoo first received the System that would reshape his life. Beyond the System picks up after Season 2’s Ant King raid on Jeju Island and follows Jinwoo back to the Cartenon Temple — the original dungeon where everything started — to uncover the truth about the System that gave him his power.

The released key visual shows Jinwoo with his signature blue aura eyes glowing at an intensity that implies he has risen to a level of power that transcends the System itself. A theatrical Japan premiere is targeted for 2027; an international cinema schedule, including Singapore, has not yet been announced.

Season 3 Confirmed Too

Sung Jinwoo commanding his shadow army in the Solo Leveling anime
Image courtesy of A-1 Pictures / Aniplex

Alongside the movie announcement, D&C Media confirmed Solo Leveling Season 3 is in development, with an expected release window of 2027 to 2028. The franchise is expanding on two fronts simultaneously — the movie appears to be a standalone bridge story rather than a replacement for the main season arc, which will continue with its own release.

For Singapore fans, both seasons streamed on Crunchyroll, which is fully available here, and Season 2’s Arise from the Shadows cour was among the most-discussed anime in the local community this year. The same distribution pipeline makes Crunchyroll the likely home for Beyond the System‘s digital release as well, though a local theatrical run would depend on distribution partners in the region.

The Production Team

The core production lineup remains intact: A-1 Pictures on animation, co-produced by Aniplex, Netmarble, D&C MEDIA, Kakao Piccoma, and Crunchyroll. That same team delivered the shadow army sequences and dungeon boss fights that became some of the most shared anime clips of 2024 and 2025 — Singapore fan servers included. More details — director, full cast, release windows — are expected as production progresses.

Stay tuned to our anime and manga coverage for every update on Beyond the System and Season 3 as they land.

Manga Anime

Steel Ball Run 2nd Stage Hits Netflix on 25 September

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JoJo fans, mark your calendars: Steel Ball Run’s 2nd Stage launches on Netflix on 25 September 2026, with new episodes dropping every Friday. The date was locked in at an Anime Expo 2026 panel at the Crypto.com Arena on 3 July, where a brand-new trailer dropped and composer Yugo Kanno performed live — the biggest Steel Ball Run news since Stage 1’s 47-minute premiere special back in March.

What the Steel Ball Run 2nd Stage Covers

A Steel Ball Run character in an intense action moment from the anime
Image courtesy of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Animation SBR Project

The 2nd Stage sends Johnny Joestar and Gyro Zeppeli into one of the race’s most brutal stretches: nearly 750 miles across the Arizona Desert through a region locals call the “Devil’s Palm,” where racers have been found dead under unexplained circumstances. The trailer preview revealed looks at Hot Pants and Mountain Tim, two fan-favourite additions who take on significant roles from here, as well as a first glimpse at the growing menace of President Funny Valentine.

Eleven episodes will cover Stage 2 and Stage 3 of the Steel Ball Run race combined, meaning the adaptation moves through a significant chunk of Hirohiko Araki’s manga at a tight but purposeful pace.

Watch the 2nd Stage Trailer

STEEL BALL RUN 2nd Stage Official Trailer (2026) — via ONE Media + on YouTube

JoJo Fridays Return — and the Production Team Behind Them

Johnny Joestar and Gyro Zeppeli in the Steel Ball Run anime
Image courtesy of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Animation SBR Project

The weekly Friday release schedule — “JoJo Fridays” — is back for the first time since Golden Wind. For Singapore JoJo communities that ran Friday watch parties during the Golden Wind run, this is a proper homecoming. Directors Yasuhiro Kimura and Hideya Takahashi (who helmed Golden Wind) are returning, as is composer Yugo Kanno, who gave both Golden Wind and Stone Ocean their sonic identity. English dub voice actors Daman Mills (Johnny Joestar) and Kaiji Tang (Gyro Zeppeli) also appeared at the panel.

Steel Ball Run is consistently ranked by fans as the peak of Araki’s writing — a race across 19th-century America that gradually reveals itself as one of the most emotionally ambitious stories in the franchise. The confirmed date and weekly cadence mean Singapore fans can now plan around it properly.

How to Watch in Singapore

Steel Ball Run 2nd Stage streams on Netflix from 25 September 2026, new episode every Friday. Netflix is available in Singapore with no regional restrictions on this series — it’s a global simultaneous release. Stage 1 (the 47-minute opening special from March) is already on the platform; catch up before the weekly run kicks off in September. Find more anime and manga news in our coverage hub.

Event

Anime Expo 2026 Is One Week Away — What Singapore Fans Need to Know

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Anime Expo 2026 kicks off in Los Angeles on 2 July, running through to 5 July at the LA Convention Center — and while most of us won’t be catching flights to California, Singapore fans still have every reason to pay close attention. AX is where the anime and gaming industry makes its biggest summer moves, from streaming premieres to franchise reveals that will eventually hit our queues whether we’re watching from LA or tapping through Netflix on the bus.

Here’s what to watch when the announcements roll in next week.

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 Gets Its First Closer Look on 3 July

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 — confirmed by CD Projekt Red and Studio TRIGGER — will receive an exclusive closer look at its panel on 3 July at 7:30 PM PDT (10:30 AM, 4 July in Singapore). Director Kai Ikarashi, showrunner Bartosz Sztybor, executive producer Sara Elder, and host Danny Motta are all confirmed to be there.

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

The new series is a standalone 10-episode story set in the Cyberpunk 2077 universe — entirely new characters, entirely new story. The tagline: “When the world is blinded by spectacle, what extremes do you have to go to make your story matter?” Season 1 was a global smash on Netflix and a huge hit with Singapore viewers. Everything confirmed at this panel lands in your Singapore queue.

Cyberpunk Edgerunners 2 official teaser art
Image courtesy of Netflix

Crunchyroll Takes Over the Peacock Theater

Crunchyroll at Anime Expo 2026
Image courtesy of Crunchyroll

Crunchyroll is transforming the Peacock Theater on 3–4 July with over twenty programming blocks. The highlights for Singapore fans:

  • Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Season 3 — early screenings on 2 July, before its 5 July Crunchyroll premiere
  • Gachiakuta Season 2 — exclusive first look and preview on 3 July
  • The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 — special guest panel on 3 July
  • You and I Are Polar Opposites Season 2 — episode 1 on 3 July
  • Saga of Tanya the Evil Season 2 — episode 1 on 2 July

All of these stream in Singapore on Crunchyroll. The real draw is what gets announced — AX is typically where Crunchyroll drops new title confirmations and premiere dates. Check our events coverage for breaking news as it lands.

Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle — and a ufotable Tease

A special Peacock Theater event will celebrate Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba — Infinity Castle, featuring voice cast members and exclusive footage from studio ufotable — plus, per the official announcement, a first look at ufotable’s next project. ufotable rarely teases future work this publicly. Whatever they show at AX 2026, it’s likely to be one of the most talked-about moments of the convention.

SEGA and Atlus Bring the Games

SEGA and Atlus will be on the show floor with hands-on demos, exclusive giveaways, signing sessions, and merchandise. If you’re hoping for any Persona, Sonic, or Like a Dragon news this summer, keep your eyes on their AX social updates during the first week of July.

How to Follow From Singapore

AX runs at PDT (UTC-7), which is 15 hours behind Singapore. Major announcements and trailers drop on YouTube and official socials the same day. Follow @AnimeExpo, @Crunchyroll, and @NetflixAnime on X, plus both the Crunchyroll and Netflix YouTube channels, for real-time updates.

Last words

You don’t need a Premiere Fan badge to care about Anime Expo 2026. Every streaming announcement made in that LA convention hall matters for Singapore fans, and this year — Edgerunners 2, a stacked Crunchyroll summer slate, and what could be a landmark ufotable reveal — makes AX 2026 one of the most watchable events of the summer. We’ll track announcements and report back as they drop.

Manga Anime, News

Kagurabachi Anime Casts Tomokazu Seki, Coming April 2027

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

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

Why Tomokazu Seki as Kunishige Is Such a Big Deal

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

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

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

Chihiro’s Voice and the Full Creative Team

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

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

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

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

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

The World Tour and What It Means for Singapore Fans

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

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

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

Last Words

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

Black Clover Season 2 key visual
Manga Anime, News

Black Clover Season 2 Officially Sets October 2026 Premiere — Coming to Crunchyroll in Singapore

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After a five-year wait, Black Clover Season 2 is officially happening — and we finally have a premiere window. The new season is confirmed for October 2026, with Crunchyroll streaming it exclusively outside Japan, which means Singapore fans will be watching weekly alongside the rest of the world.

Black Clover Second Season | Official Trailer 2 — via Crunchyroll on YouTube

The Official Confirmation — Published Today in Weekly Shōnen Jump

The announcement landed in Weekly Shōnen Jump issue 29 (dated June 15, 2026) and was confirmed simultaneously via the official Black Clover X account (@bclover_PR). The release window is October 2026, placing it squarely in the Fall 2026 anime season. A specific premiere date has not yet been announced, but the October window means we are roughly three and a half months away from new episodes.

Black Clover Season 2 key art
Image courtesy of Studio Pierrot / Black Clover

Director Ayataka Tanemura and the Core Team Are Back

Studio Pierrot is returning as the animation studio — the same house behind Naruto, BLEACH, and the original 170-episode Black Clover run. Director Ayataka Tanemura, who helmed the final stretch of Season 1 (episodes 153–170) and directed the beloved 2023 film Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King, is back in the chair. The core production team is also reassembled, with Keiichiro Ochi returning for series composition and Itsuko Takeda handling character design.

As covered by Anime Corner from the official announcement, director Tanemura said: “Once again, I’ll be serving as director! Will Asta and the others finally return after such a long time? We’re pushing ourselves beyond our limits in production so that we can show you an even more powerful story!”

Black Clover Season 2 promotional artwork
Image courtesy of Studio Pierrot / Black Clover

Anime Expo 2026 — World Premiere of Episode 1 on July 4

If you happen to be in Los Angeles for Anime Expo 2026, there’s a very good reason to clear your July 4 schedule: a special panel will screen the world premiere of Black Clover Season 2’s first episode, with Asta’s Japanese voice actor Gakuto Kajiwara and director Tanemura appearing live on stage. For everyone else, the weekly broadcast begins in October — Crunchyroll has confirmed exclusive international streaming rights.

If you want to catch up before it drops, check out the other anime we’ve been covering for the Fall 2026 season.

Last Words

Black Clover has always punched above its weight in Singapore. The original run had consistent viewership here, and the 2023 film performed well across Southeast Asia — so a full Season 2 is genuinely big news for local fans. Crunchyroll’s international simulcast means Singapore viewers get new episodes at the same time as Japan, no waiting for localised releases. October is roughly when the school holidays kick in too, which means the timing could not be much better for a long-running shonen marathon. Set a reminder, and keep an eye on the official Black Clover X account for the specific premiere date once it drops.