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Manga Anime

Chiikawa’s First Movie Opens 24 July — Is Singapore Next?

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Japan’s most adorable — and occasionally most emotionally devastating — anime franchise is heading to cinemas for the very first time. 映画ちいかわ 人魚の島のひみつ (Chiikawa Movie: The Secret of Mermaid Island) opens in Japanese theatres on 24 July 2026, with a simultaneous IMAX release making it the biggest moment in Chiikawa history.

Chiikawa Movie: The Secret of Mermaid Island — key visual showing the full cast on the island
Image courtesy of Nagano / 映画ちいかわ製作委員会
『映画ちいかわ 人魚の島のひみつ』予告映像 — Official trailer via 東宝MOVIEチャンネル on YouTube

The Siren Arc Finally Gets Its Big-Screen Debut

If you follow the Chiikawa manga on X, you know exactly what the Siren Arc is — and why it left so many fans wrecked. Originally posted between March and November 2023, the セイレーン (Siren) storyline is the longest and darkest narrative the series has ever told: a slow-burn island adventure that starts warmly and turns genuinely tense, with Chiikawa, Hachiware, and Usagi facing something far more threatening than the usual monsters they subdue on commission. It trended repeatedly on Japanese social media and drew a huge international following during its original run.

The film adapts this arc faithfully, with the script written by Nagano — the original creator — herself. New voice talent joining the cast for the film includes Suzuki Minori as the Siren, a significant addition for a character who sits at the emotional heart of the story.

Chiikawa and friends in a tense night scene with the Siren in Chiikawa Movie
Image courtesy of Nagano / 映画ちいかわ製作委員会

CygamesPictures and Uma Musume’s Director at the Helm

Animation is handled by CygamesPictures, the studio that produced Uma Musume: Pretty Derby – Beginning of a New Era, with Kei Oikawa directing. The film score is composed by Tokumaru Shugo and Kamishidataru Chikara. The opening theme 「くつずれ」 (Kutsu-zure) is written by Nagano and performed by Hachiware’s voice actor Tanaka Seijin, backed by the Suginami Children’s Choir.

The full main cast returns: Aoki Haruka as Chiikawa, Ozawa Ari as Usagi, and Tanaka Seijin as Hachiware. Fans who have been waiting for Usagi’s full rapper persona to finally get a proper showcase will not be disappointed — the character’s rap debut in the film is confirmed as a centrepiece moment, and it gets the full IMAX audio treatment.

IMAX — Because Small Things Deserve a Big Screen

Chiikawa Movie IMAX triptych poster showing Hachiware MAX, Chiikawa MAX, and Usagi MAX
Image courtesy of Nagano / 映画ちいかわ製作委員会

The simultaneous IMAX release was confirmed on 9 July, and the IMAX-exclusive triptych poster — showing Hachiware, Chiikawa, and Usagi in extreme close-up with “MAX” plastered across each panel — immediately became a fan favourite. In IMAX, the film’s visuals stretch floor-to-ceiling and wall-to-wall, and the high-precision audio system means Usagi’s rap will be felt as much as heard.

Early viewers at participating Japanese cinemas also receive one of eight character charm mini-figures, distributed randomly at the door.

When Can Singapore Fans Watch It?

Chiikawa, Hachiware, and Usagi watch fireworks together in a beautiful night scene from the movie
Image courtesy of Nagano / 映画ちいかわ製作委員会

Japan gets the film first on 24 July. Across Asia, Hong Kong and Macau have confirmed a 6 August theatrical release — both in Japanese with Chinese subtitles and a Cantonese dub — making it the closest option for Singapore fans who happen to be travelling in August. The Philippines has also confirmed a theatrical run via Medialink Films.

For Singapore itself, Medialink Films Singapore is the regional distributor for Southeast Asia and has been signalling interest in the local release — but no Singapore date is confirmed yet. Follow @medialinkfilmssg on Instagram for any announcement. Given that Chiikawa merch practically vanishes the moment it hits Japanese lifestyle stores in Singapore, local demand is not going to be the obstacle. Keep an eye on our manga and anime coverage and we’ll report as soon as a date lands.

Manga Anime, News

Hanaori-san Still Wants to Fight in the Next Life Premieres Today on Aniplus Asia

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Demon lords, reincarnation and a hero who refuses to leave you alone — Liden Films’ summer 2026 romantic comedy Hanaori-san Still Wants to Fight in the Next Life makes its streaming debut today (11 July 2026). Singapore and Southeast Asia fans can catch it on Aniplus Asia, while most other regions get it on Crunchyroll with a same-day English dub.

Hanaori-san Still Wants to Fight in the Next Life promotional art
Image courtesy of Liden Films / Pony Canyon
Hanaori-san Still Wants to Fight in the Next Life | Main PV — via ANIPLUS Asia on YouTube

The Story: A Demon Lord Who Just Wants to Game

Ryusei Narukami is a self-described NEET who keeps to himself and spends his days playing video games. What nobody knows is that he is the reincarnation of a fearsome demon lord from another world. He is perfectly content in his new, quiet existence — until a high school girl named Meteor Hanaori shows up uninvited at his apartment. She is the reincarnation of the very hero who defeated him in his past life, and she is absolutely not willing to let the grudge go.

What follows is a sharp, energetic romantic comedy that plays with the classic isekai power fantasy from an unexpected angle: the protagonist actively wants less adventure and just wants to be left alone. Based on the manga by Hekiru Hikawa, serialised in Kodansha’s Morning Two seinen magazine since 2021, the series mixes fish-out-of-water comedy with a genuinely warm dynamic between its leads.

Production and Voice Cast

The anime is produced by Liden Films, with direction by Hideyo Yamamoto, series composition by Yukie Sugawara and character design by Yousuke Okuda.

Meteor Hanaori as an armored knight in Hanaori-san Still Wants to Fight in the Next Life
Still from ANIPLUS Asia’s official trailer

The cast is headlined by Jun Fukuyama (Lelouch in Code Geass, Felix in Re:Zero) as Ryusei Narukami and Akira Sekine as Meteor Hanaori. Maaya Uchida, who also performs the ending theme “Very Good Encounter,” voices Meru Tsumugina. The opening theme, “High Maintenance Girl,” is by Masayoshi Oishi.

Where to Watch in Singapore

Aniplus Asia is the streaming home for Singapore and Southeast Asia. Crunchyroll does not serve Southeast Asia for this title; the Crunchyroll stream (which includes the same-day English dub) covers North America, Europe, the Middle East, India, Oceania and other regions. Singapore viewers should head to the Aniplus Asia app or website — the dub situation on Aniplus is to be confirmed, but expect the Japanese audio with subtitles as the default.

New episodes follow the Japanese broadcast schedule, with the first airing on ABC TV and TV Asahi on 11–12 July. For more anime news, keep checking back.

Manga Anime, News

Live-Action Naruto Movie Launches Global Casting Search for Team 7

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The search for the next Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura is officially on. Lionsgate launched a worldwide casting call for the three leads of its long-gestating live-action Naruto film on 9 July 2026 — and the net has been cast so wide that actors from anywhere in the world, including Singapore, are potentially eligible to audition.

Official Naruto character designs for Team 7 and friends in Saimenka style
Image courtesy of Viz Media / Pierrot

A Global Audition — Who’s Being Cast and What We Know

Lionsgate is searching for actors to fill the three central roles that define the franchise: Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno — collectively known as Team 7. Additional character casting is expected to follow in a later phase. The studio is specifically not looking for established child stars; reports indicate the search favours fresh, unknown young talent with the right energy for the roles.

Application details have not yet been published. The official guidance from the Naruto official site is to follow naruto-official.com and Lionsgate’s verified social media accounts (Instagram, X, Facebook) where legitimate submission instructions for international applicants will appear first. If you see audition forms on third-party accounts, treat them with extreme caution — the real call will come through official channels only.

Naruto 20th Anniversary Revival Anime key art
Image courtesy of Viz Media

The Director: Destin Daniel Cretton

The film will be directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, best known for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021). He also wrote the script. The director is currently finishing Spider-Man: Brand New Day (releasing 31 July 2026) before turning his full attention to the Naruto production, which is tracking towards a 2027 shoot with a potential theatrical release around 2028, though no dates have been formally announced.

Cretton’s experience bringing a beloved Asian franchise to a mass Western audience — and doing it with respect for the source material — is exactly why this hire generated such excitement when it was announced. His ability to balance spectacle with character-driven storytelling is a good fit for a story as emotionally dense as Naruto’s.

“A String of Miracles” — Kishimoto’s Reaction

Masashi Kishimoto, who created the Naruto manga in Weekly Shōnen Jump back in 1999, has not held back his excitement. Writing on the official Naruto site, he said: “Right now, miracles are happening to me, one after another. My work, Naruto, is truly, truly becoming a Hollywood movie! And an even greater miracle is that the film will be directed by the one and only Destin Daniel Cretton. I am eagerly looking forward to the miraculous encounters that will bring us extraordinary and passionate actors!”

Cretton echoed the feeling: “Kishimoto-sensei’s stories have inspired generations of fans around the world, and it’s an honour to bring his world and characters to the big screen in live action for the very first time. I’m thrilled to kick off this casting search for Team 7.”

What Singapore Fans Should Know

Naruto is one of the formative anime of an entire generation here. The casting call being genuinely global is significant: this isn’t a Japan-or-US-only search — it is open to talent worldwide. For Singaporean and Southeast Asian actors with the right skills and the right look, this is a real shot.

The movie is still years away from screens — no SG or SEA release timeline has been announced, and regional distribution plans are not yet confirmed. But for anime fans who grew up with the franchise, the knowledge that a director of Cretton’s calibre is at the helm, and that the casting is genuinely inclusive of Asian talent, is a promising sign that Lionsgate is approaching this adaptation with care.

Naruto live-action movie global casting call press art
Image courtesy of Viz Media / Lionsgate

Keep an eye on naruto-official.com and Lionsgate’s official social channels for audition details when they land.

Game News, Manga Anime

Ghost of Tsushima: Legends Anime Coming to Crunchyroll in 2027

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The Ghost of Tsushima universe is heading to anime in 2027 — and Aniplex and Crunchyroll have confirmed the creative team behind it, led by legendary dark anime writer Gen Urobuchi.

Ghost of Tsushima Legends | Official Teaser | Crunchyroll — via Crunchyroll on YouTube

Ghost of Tsushima: Legends Anime Announced for Crunchyroll

A character art teaser from Aniplex and Crunchyroll reveals three extraordinary warrior figures rendered in a dark ink-brush style — already a strong signal of what KAMIKAZE DOUGA brings to animation. The series is set to premiere on Crunchyroll in 2027.

The anime is based on Ghost of Tsushima: Legends, the supernatural folklore co-op mode from Sucker Punch Productions’ acclaimed PlayStation game Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut. As relayed by Gematsu from Crunchyroll’s announcement, the anime “follows one of the last remaining samurai as he defends his homeland of Tsushima against the Mongol Empire.”

The teaser already signals the tone: three supernatural warriors — an armoured fighter bound in chains, a bow-wielding figure with spectral serpentine tendrils, and what appears to be a skeletal sorcerer draped in funerary cloth — presented against a weathered scroll-paper background. The Legends co-op drew deep from Japanese folklore’s darkest wells, and this character art stays fully in that register.

Two samurai warriors from Ghost of Tsushima: Legends standing back to back in a misty forest
Image courtesy of Sucker Punch Productions

Gen Urobuchi Is Writing It — Yes, Really

Gen Urobuchi (NITRO PLUS) is handling both story composition and script alongside NITRO PLUS colleague Satoshi Maejima. Singapore anime fans will need no introduction to Urobuchi — he wrote Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Fate/Zero, Psycho-Pass, and Aldnoah.Zero, and carries a reputation for emotionally brutal, morally complex storytelling that earns the nickname “Gen the Butcher.” His fluency with supernatural mythology and historical Japanese settings makes him a genuinely exciting fit for Tsushima’s haunted warrior legends rather than just a prestige hire.

Character designs are by Takashi Okazaki, creator of the Afro Samurai manga — an artist whose high-contrast, ink-heavy samurai aesthetic is already unmistakable in the teaser’s linework. The animation is produced by KAMIKAZE DOUGA, a studio known for hyper-stylised cel-art productions, with Takanobu Mizuno directing and HAYATE Inc. overseeing production.

Taken together it is one of the stronger creative teams announced for any game-to-anime adaptation in recent memory — each collaborator chosen for a specific visual or narrative reason rather than filler credits.

Nighttime battle scene in Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut, showing samurai warriors clashing in a village under moonlight
Image courtesy of Sucker Punch Productions

When Can Singapore Fans Watch It?

The Ghost of Tsushima: Legends anime is confirmed for 2027 on Crunchyroll, with no specific date announced yet. Given that Crunchyroll operates fully in Singapore and across Southeast Asia, this should be standard day-one streaming access for SG subscribers — barring regional surprises, which are unlikely for a Crunchyroll co-production.

If you have not played Ghost of Tsushima: Legends, the Director’s Cut is available on PS5, PS4, and PC via Steam. The co-op missions sit at the intersection of samurai action and Japanese folk horror, which is precisely the creative space Urobuchi’s script will inhabit. For more upcoming anime and manga news, check out our full section.

Manga Anime, News

Red River Anime Hits Crunchyroll — Classic Shoujo Arrives After 25 Years

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If you spent your early teens sneaking chapters of a time-travel shoujo epic when you were supposed to be studying, your wait is finally over. Red River — the beloved manga that gripped Shojo Comic readers from 1995 to 2002 — has its first-ever anime adaptation, and it landed on Crunchyroll this week. Twenty-five years after the final chapter ran, Yuri and Prince Kail are animated at last.

Red River anime 2026 wide key visual — Tatsunoko Production
Image courtesy of Tatsunoko Production

What Is Red River (Anatolia Story)?

For anyone who missed the manga: Red River (天は赤い河のほとり, Sora wa Akai Kawa no Hotori — also published in English as Anatolia Story) follows 15-year-old Japanese schoolgirl Yuri Suzuki, who is summoned against her will to the Hittite Empire in 1500 BC Anatolia. Queen Nakia plans to use Yuri as a human sacrifice to curse the royal princes and clear the path for her own son’s succession. The one who intervenes is Nakia’s stepson, the charming and politically savvy Prince Kail Mursili, who mistakenly — and then very deliberately — passes Yuri off as the reincarnation of the war goddess Ishtar.

What follows across 28 volumes is a dense mix of Bronze Age political intrigue, large-scale battles, and a romance that earns its slow burn. Creator Chie Shinohara packed an enormous amount of historical detail into the series — it remains one of the most meticulously researched shoujo manga ever written — and the story’s reach showed: over 20 million copies sold in Japan, an English-language licence from VIZ Media, a Takarazuka Revue stage production in 2018, and the 46th Shogakukan Manga Award in the shoujo category. The one thing it never had was an anime. Until now.

Red River | Official Trailer — via Crunchyroll on YouTube

The Studio, Staff, and Commitment to Historical Accuracy

The adaptation is being produced by Tatsunoko Production — the studio behind classics like Gatchaman, Yatterman, and Casshern Sins — a choice that fits a story this rooted in craft and ambition. Kōsuke Kobayashi directs, with Yoriko Tomita handling series composition and Kenji Fujisaki designing the characters.

Particularly notable is the production’s approach to historical authenticity: the team brought in historians from the Japanese Institute of Anatolian Archaeology to advise on ancient Hittite architecture, clothing, weapons, and court politics. For a story built on the real bones of a Bronze Age civilisation, that kind of scholarly input matters — and it suggests the team understands what made the source material special.

The Voice Cast — Including a 30-Year Reunion

Mirai Tachibana voices Yuri, with Wataru Kato as Prince Kail. Hiroki Nanami — who also performs the opening theme, “Akatsuki no Sora” (暁の空; Dawn Sky) — takes the role of Yuri’s present-day boyfriend Satoshi Himuro and serves as the series narrator. Aya Uchida plays the villain Queen Nakia; the wider ancient court features Shoya Chiba (Zannanza), Tomoaki Maenon (Ilbani), Koji Yusa (Urhi), and Kohsuke Toriumi (Mattiwaza), among others. Miisha Shimizu performs the ending theme, “Reunion.”

Red River anime 2026 voice cast visual — Tatsunoko Production
Image courtesy of Tatsunoko Production

The casting announcement that generated the biggest reaction came on July 8, one day after the series premiere: veteran voice actors Minami Takayama and Kazuhiko Inoue have been cast as Yuri’s parents. The two originally voiced the series lead couple in the original Red River drama CD — released some thirty years ago. Their return to the franchise, now a generation older in-universe, is exactly the kind of easter egg that rewards long-time fans. It is a small creative decision that communicates something important: the people behind this adaptation know the fandom they are making it for.

Red River anime 2026 — Tatsunoko Production
Image courtesy of Tatsunoko Production

Where Singapore Fans Can Watch Red River

Red River is streaming on Crunchyroll for international audiences. In Japan the series airs on NTV’s AnichU block on Monday nights (technically 1:35 AM Tuesday JST), with Crunchyroll carrying the simulcast. The show premiered on July 7, meaning there are episodes already waiting if you’re jumping in right now.

If you haven’t read the manga, VIZ Media’s English edition — all 28 volumes — is the ideal companion. The anime has a lot of ground to cover, and the source material rewards time with it. For longtime fans who read it in serialisation or in collected volumes as kids, this adaptation is something that didn’t seem certain to ever happen. Check out our manga and anime coverage for more on this summer’s anime season.

Manga Anime

Steel Ball Run 2nd Stage Premieres 25 September on Netflix

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The wait is over: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run 2nd Stage premieres on Netflix on 25 September 2026, with a new episode dropping every Friday. Warner Bros. Japan confirmed the date during the series’ panel at Anime Expo 2026 in Los Angeles on 3 July, alongside a new trailer and the first official character designs for three of the manga’s most anticipated figures.

Gyro Zeppeli focuses his Steel Balls in Steel Ball Run Stage 2
Image courtesy of Lucky Land Communications / Shueisha

Into the Devil’s Palm — What Stage 2 Covers

Stage 1 of the anime adapted the opening of Hirohiko Araki’s landmark manga with a measured, almost Western-drama pacing — long stretches of horse racing, growing rivalry between Johnny Joestar and Gyro Zeppeli, and the first hints of something stranger beneath the surface. Stage 2 is where Steel Ball Run stops pretending to be a period sports story.

Johnny and Gyro push deeper into the continent, arriving at the leg of the Steel Ball Run that crosses a roughly 750-mile Arizona desert passage known as the “Devil’s Palm.” This is Stand-battle territory: supernatural encounters, rival users with lethal abilities, and story developments that Araki fans regard as some of the best chapters he has ever written. Stages 2 and 3 together span 11 episodes total.

New Characters: Valentine, Mountain Tim, Hot Pants

Three characters fans of the manga have been waiting to see animated finally have official designs and voice actors:

Funny Valentine official character design for Steel Ball Run anime, voiced by Tomokazu Sugita
Image courtesy of Lucky Land Communications / Shueisha

Funny Valentine is voiced by Tomokazu Sugita — the 23rd President of the United States and the race’s most consequential shadow figure. Sugita (known to SG anime fans as Joseph Joestar in Battle Tendency and Gintoki in Gintama) is inspired casting: Valentine needs both quiet menace and a veneer of patriotic warmth, and Sugita can do both without blinking.

Mountain Tim character design for Steel Ball Run 2nd Stage
Image courtesy of Lucky Land Communications / Shueisha

Mountain Tim, voiced by Tomoaki Maeno, is a lawman and fellow racer whose calm exterior hides abilities that put him directly in Johnny and Gyro’s path. And Hot Pants, voiced by Yōko Hikasa, is a masked racer whose true allegiances and Stand power make their arc one of Stage 2’s most memorable threads.

Hot Pants character design for Steel Ball Run 2nd Stage
Image courtesy of Lucky Land Communications / Shueisha

Watch the Official Stage 2 Trailer

STEEL BALL RUN JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure 2nd STAGE | Official Trailer | Netflix — via Netflix on YouTube

Weekly Episodes Starting 25 September

After the backlash Netflix received for dropping Stone Ocean in batches, both Stage 1 of Steel Ball Run and now Stage 2 are following a weekly release structure. A new episode lands every Friday — which in Singapore time means Saturday mornings, a decent slot if you want to start your weekend with something that will make your jaw drop. The last of the 11 Stage 2-and-3 episodes will carry the story through to the end of 2026.

If you have not yet started Stage 1, it is currently streaming on Netflix. With two-and-a-half months before Stage 2 arrives, there is plenty of time to catch up and arrive at the Devil’s Palm fully prepared. Keep an eye on our manga and anime coverage for episode notes as the season unfolds.

Manga Anime

Suikoden: The Anime Brings Suikoden II to Life — October Premiere, amazarashi Opening, August Theatrical Run

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One of the most beloved JRPGs ever made is finally becoming an anime. Suikoden: The Anime, Konami Animation’s full-series adaptation of Suikoden II, has confirmed an October 2026 TV premiere — and a second promotional video released on 5 July added even more fuel to the hype, unveiling a new opening theme from Japanese rock band amazarashi and a wave of additional voice cast names including Miyuki Sawashiro.

Suikoden The Anime first promotional video
Image courtesy of Konami

What Is Suikoden: The Anime?

The series is a new production by Konami Animation adapting the story of the 1998 PS1 classic Suikoden II — widely considered one of the greatest RPGs ever made and a formative game for a generation of Singapore and Southeast Asian fans who discovered it on PlayStation. The anime follows Riou and Jowy, two young soldiers from the Highland Kingdom whose bond is tested by war, betrayal, and the weight of the 27 True Runes.

Direction is by Yūzō Satō, known for Hunter × Hunter: The Last Mission, with series composition by Michihiro Tsuchiya. The character design trio — Fumi Ishikawa (original game designs), Arata Suzuki (anime concept art), and Ryō Yamauchi (TV animation adaptation) — has been working to translate the distinctive look of Suikoden II into a full animated series.

Riou, the protagonist of Suikoden: The Anime
Image courtesy of Konami

New Trailer and amazarashi’s Opening Theme

The second promotional video, released 5 July, is the most substantial look at the series yet — and it opens with the first bars of the new theme song. “Kanashimi Sae Otonabite” (Even Sorrow Resounds) by amazarashi is the series’ opening theme, a band whose work on Dororo and Fumetsu no Anata e made them a favourite among fans of emotionally heavy anime — a fitting match for a story about friendship, war, and political betrayal.

Suikoden: The Anime — 2nd Promotional Video (opening theme: amazarashi) — via NBCUniversal Anime/Music on YouTube

Voice Cast Highlights

The main duo is played by Toshiki Kumagai (Riou) and Shimba Tsuchiya (Jowy). Jowy’s arc — starting as Riou’s closest friend and evolving into the story’s most tragic antagonist — gives Tsuchiya one of the more demanding roles in the season.

Jowy Atreides from Suikoden: The Anime
Image courtesy of Konami

Among the supporting cast, Miyuki Sawashiro (best known internationally as Celty in Durarara!! and Jolyne in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Stone Ocean) will voice Anabelle, the Mayor of Muse City — a key political figure in the Highland-City-State conflict. Hiroki Sakai joins as Jess, and King Agares Blight, the ailing Highland ruler, will be voiced by Yamanoi Hitoshi. The cast also includes Katsuyuki Konishi and Yuichi Nakamura, two veterans whose combined credits span Fate/stay night, My Hero Academia, Gintama, and dozens of other flagship titles — signalling that Konami Animation has gone all-in on the production.

Japan Theatrical Premiere and TV Broadcast

Before the series airs on TV, the first three episodes will receive a theatrical premiere in Japan on 21 August 2026 — giving audiences an early, big-screen look at the adaptation before the broadcast run begins.

The TV broadcast launches on 3 October 2026 with a 60-minute extended first episode, rolling out across TOKYO MX, Kansai TV, BS Asahi, and 32 stations nationwide.

Suikoden: The Anime promotional visual
Image courtesy of Konami

What Singapore Fans Should Know

International streaming for Suikoden: The Anime has not been confirmed yet, and there is no confirmed SG or SEA release date for the theatrical cut. Crunchyroll handled the Suikoden I & II HD Remaster marketing in the region, and NBC Universal Entertainment Japan (the distributor behind the 2nd PV) handles many titles that end up on streaming platforms globally — so a Crunchyroll or similar simulcast pick-up is plausible, but officially still to be confirmed.

For now, Suikoden: The Anime goes down as one of the most anticipated Fall 2026 series for JRPG fans and veteran anime watchers. Follow the Konami Animation official site and other anime news here for streaming announcements as they come.

Game News, Manga Anime

TEKKEN! CARTOON Premieres July 10 — Kazuya, Kuma and the Gang Get Adorable

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The fighters of Tekken 8 are leaving the ring — and entering your feed. Bandai Namco’s official TEKKEN! CARTOON animated shorts series premieres on 10 July 2026, free to watch on the TEKKEN YouTube channel, X (Twitter), and Instagram. If you have ever wondered what Kazuya does when he is not throwing people into volcanoes, now you are about to find out.

TEKKEN! CARTOON Official Teaser Trailer — via Bandai Namco Entertainment America on YouTube

The Tekken Fighters You Know, But Make Them Cute

TEKKEN! CARTOON is an official spin-off short-form animation series produced by Bandai Namco, directed by Sohta Ozawa at NERD, with character design and animation by Amehiro. Each episode is under a minute long — perfect for a quick fix between rounds — and the episodes focus on the daily lives of the Mishima family and their circle of fighters in a laid-back, pop-art world that is very far from the blood feuds and devil genes of the main canon.

Five characters headline the first season: Paul, Yoshimitsu, Kazuya, Alisa, and Kuma. The teaser trailer already shows the kind of absurdist, slice-of-life comedy the series is going for — the Tekken roster reimagined as superdeformed, pastel-hued versions of themselves with catchy original music. King also appears in character visuals from Bandai Namco’s press materials.

TEKKEN! CARTOON key visual showing cartoon characters alongside their realistic Tekken 8 counterparts
Image courtesy of Bandai Namco Entertainment

Where and When to Watch

TEKKEN! CARTOON launches on 10 July 2026 — that is this Thursday — and will be available globally and for free across three official Bandai Namco channels:

  • The TEKKEN YouTube channel
  • The official TEKKEN X (Twitter) account
  • The official TEKKEN Instagram

No streaming subscription needed, no region lock. Singapore and Southeast Asian Tekken fans can watch the same day as everyone else, making this one of the more accessible anime spin-offs we have seen from a major fighting game in a while. Bookmark the channels now so you do not miss the first drop.

Tekken 8 official cover art featuring Kazuya Mishima and Jin Kazama
Image courtesy of Bandai Namco Entertainment

Part of a Bigger Tekken 8 Season — Bob DLC Arrives 24 August

The CARTOON announcement did not arrive alone. Bandai Namco used EVO 2026 to reveal that Bob — the lightning-fast heavyweight from Tekken 6 — is returning as the second Season 3 DLC character. Season Pass 3 holders get early access on 19 August; general availability is 24 August 2026. Bob joins Kunimitsu as the second Season 3 addition, with further characters still to be revealed.

Whether you are here for the competitive scene, the Bob DLC, or just to watch Kuma stumble through everyday life, Tekken 8 is having a very busy second half of 2026. Follow our game news and manga and anime coverage for more updates as TEKKEN! CARTOON episodes drop.

Manga Anime

7 Sports Anime on Crunchyroll for World Cup Fans

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The FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-finals start tomorrow — and whether you’re a Samurai Blue loyalist, a casual neutral riding the bracket drama, or someone who just can’t stop refreshing the highlights, Crunchyroll’s sports anime library is the perfect company between whistles. Some of these series feel more relevant right now than ever before.

Blue Lock — The One Every Football Fan Needs to See Right Now

Japan made it through the Round of 32 in 2026, and with every advance, the phrase “Blue Lock is real” has been trending all over Singapore social feeds. The show’s premise — 300 high school strikers locked in a cutthroat tournament to forge Japan’s best World Cup scorer — is almost uncomfortably prophetic of the tournament’s knockout intensity. Season 3 launched in 2026, so if you’ve been meaning to start, there’s now a frankly irresponsible amount to binge before the semis.

Watch Blue Lock on Crunchyroll

BLUE LOCK | Official Trailer — via Crunchyroll on YouTube

Haikyu!! — The Gold Standard You’ll Thank Yourself For Starting

Haikyu!! anime key visual on Crunchyroll
Image courtesy of Crunchyroll

The World Cup knockout stage turns every match into an all-or-nothing situation — and Haikyu!! lives in exactly that space. Shoyo Hinata is too short and too green, his rival Tobio Kageyama is too arrogant to be a real teammate, and their high school volleyball team has no business competing with the best in Japan. It’s a deeply familiar sporting underdog formula, executed at the highest possible level. Crunchyroll has the complete series run plus the final film The Dumpster Battle.

Watch Haikyu!! on Crunchyroll

More Sports Anime Worth Your Queue

Shoot! Goal to the Future

A football anime that approaches the game from the coaching side. Former champion Atsushi Kamiya returns to guide a struggling team and reignite a player who has completely checked out. If Blue Lock is the ego-maximisation approach to football, Shoot! is about rediscovering the joy of it. Good for the post-match wind-down. Watch on Crunchyroll.

Kuroko’s Basketball

Kuroko's Basketball anime on Crunchyroll
Image courtesy of Crunchyroll

Basketball, not football — but the knockout tension maps directly onto the World Cup bracket. Tetsuya Kuroko is so unremarkable that opponents literally forget he’s on the pitch, turning his invisibility into the deadliest assist weapon in the game. The Generation of Miracles rivals each carry a different kind of overwhelm, and the tournament arc pacing is exactly what you want during the round of eight. Watch on Crunchyroll.

Eyeshield 21

Eyeshield 21 anime on Crunchyroll
Image courtesy of Crunchyroll

The 2026 World Cup is co-hosted across the USA, Canada, and Mexico, which gives Eyeshield 21’s American football premise a slightly fitting energy right now. Sena Kobayakawa has spent his whole life running errands for bullies — which made him, without realising it, the fastest schoolboy in Japan. The Deimon Devil Bats’ scrappy, improvised path through competition is among the most entertaining underdog narratives in the genre. Watch on Crunchyroll.

Yuri!!! on ICE

Yuri on Ice anime on Crunchyroll
Image courtesy of Crunchyroll

Different sport, same emotional architecture. Yuri Katsuki crashed out of the Grand Prix Final and was ready to retire entirely — then his idol Victor Nikiforov showed up as his coach. If the World Cup pressure games are triggering your performance anxiety by proxy, Yuri’s comeback from utter humiliation to the world stage is one of the most cathartic sporting arcs you’ll find on the platform. Watch on Crunchyroll.

MF GHOST

No ball, no pitch — just petrol and asphalt. MF Ghost, the spiritual sequel to Initial D by the same creator, follows driver Kanata Rivington competing on the MFG circuit across Japanese motorways after most gas engines have been outlawed. It’s competitive sport at 300 km/h, and it scratches exactly the same speed-of-decision-making itch that makes the World Cup’s high-pressure moments so watchable. Watch on Crunchyroll.

All seven series are streaming on Crunchyroll in Singapore. For more anime coverage including seasonal picks and streaming guides, check the rest of our anime section.