Tag Archives: Aniplex

Fate/Grand Order Exhibition Opens in Tokyo — 11 Years of Chaldea Come to Roppongi Hills

Eleven years of Fate/Grand Order — the servants, the singularities, the heart-wrenching event stories, and the climactic conclusion of Part 2 — have been distilled into a single Tokyo exhibition that opened its doors this morning. Fate/Grand Order Exhibition: Stargazer’s Corridor (Japanese: 星見の回廊) is now running at Mori Arts Center Gallery on the 52nd floor of Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, and it runs through 14 September 2026. If a Japan trip is anywhere on your radar this summer, this is the pilgrimage.

Fate/Grand Order展 -星見の回廊- チケットCM — via 【公式】Fate/Grand Order チャンネル on YouTube

Seven Zones Trace the Whole Chaldean Journey

Organised by Aniplex, the exhibition lays out the breadth of FGO’s decade-plus lifespan across seven distinct zones that you walk through in sequence. The highlight — Zone 4, Chaldea’s Journey — features a 17-metre ceiling painting that frames Mash Kyrielight’s arc from debut to the finale of Part 2: Cosmos in the Lostbelt, accompanied by newly commissioned illustrations that were made specifically for this venue. Zone 5, the Stargazer’s Corridor itself, uses video projection to put you inside the final battle, and it’s the centrepiece the title promises.

Fate/Grand Order Exhibition Stargazers Corridor floor map showing all 7 zones
Image courtesy of TYPE-MOON / FGO PROJECT

The remaining zones are equally worth your time. Zone 1 opens with a premiere video made for the exhibition only. Zone 2, the Production Materials Room, surfaces the scripts, storyboards, and concept illustrations that shaped every chapter — rare stuff that FGO’s overseas player base has never had a chance to see in person. Zone 3 archives items and motifs from the event stories, while Zone 6 wraps up with a Memorial Message wall signed by the staff who built the game. Zone 7 is the FGO Store, selling event-exclusive goods bearing the newly commissioned main visual artwork.

Mash at the Centre — and the Art Tells the Story

Mash Kyrielight in Shielder armour holding a crystal star, FGO exhibition visual
Image courtesy of TYPE-MOON / FGO PROJECT

The main visual — illustrated by Takashi Takeuchi and finished by Hiroyoshi Koyama — foregrounds Mash standing in a field of flowers, and that choice telegraphs the exhibition’s emotional angle: this is FGO’s story told through its characters as much as its lore. Every zone loops back to the human (or quasi-human) relationships that made the writing land.

Mash Kyrielight in a white dress beside an ornate embroidery wheel, FGO exhibition art
Image courtesy of TYPE-MOON / FGO PROJECT

All visitors receive a booklet and a random bookmark — one of 12 designs — on entry. A weekly rotating set of A5 cards (14 designs in total) is also given out, so fans who visit more than once across the run have a reason to return.

Collab Café, In-Game Bonus, and What FGO Singapore Players Can Grab Now

Close-up of Mash Kyrielight's face in warm orange tones, FGO exhibition art
Image courtesy of TYPE-MOON / FGO PROJECT

A collaboration café called THE SUN & THE MOON operates on the same 52nd floor throughout the exhibition run (17 July – 14 September, 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM). A valid exhibition ticket or Roppongi Hills Tower entry ticket covers access — no separate booking, just show up. Menu specifics have yet to be detailed in the materials available, but expect FGO-themed drinks and desserts in line with the exhibition’s aesthetic.

For Singapore players who can’t make the trip: the official FGO game is running a commemorative in-game campaign (Japanese) tied to the opening. If you play the JP server, check the campaign page — there’s a pickup gacha and login-bonus rewards live now.

Practical Info: Tickets, Hours, and Getting There

Venue: Mori Arts Center Gallery, 52F Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, 6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Dates: 17 July – 14 September 2026
Hours: 10:00 AM – 8:30 PM (last entry 7:30 PM)
Access: Direct from Roppongi Station via the underground concourse (Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line or Toei Oedo Line)
Tickets (day-of): ¥3,800 standard / ¥6,800 with merchandise bundle (layered acrylic block) — children of preschool age and under, free
Timed entry is in effect; book your slot via Mori Arts Center Gallery’s site or E-plus

Singapore fans flying to Japan this northern summer already have a packed itinerary — the Dragon Quest the DIVE exhibition is also running in Harajuku through early September. Two major Tokyo exhibitions in one trip is entirely doable.

Check out other events on GameTrader.SG for more Japan pop-culture coverage.

MELTY BLOOD: TWI-LUMINA — Black Len Confirmed Playable

The wait is over. Aniplex and FRENCH-BREAD’s TYPE-MOON TIMES Mini broadcast wrapped up earlier tonight at 7PM SGT, and the headline reveal for MELTY BLOOD: TWI-LUMINA is now confirmed: Black Len is officially joining the roster — her first appearance in the modern Tsukihime continuity.

MELTY BLOOD: TWI-LUMINA new character visual for Shiki Tohno and Len, revealed at Anime Expo 2026
Image courtesy of Aniplex

What the TYPE-MOON TIMES Mini Broadcast Revealed

Voice actors Ryosuke Kanemoto (Shiki Tohno) and Kaori Ishihara (Len) joined the stream to recap the latest TWI-LUMINA news from Anime Expo 2026 Lite. The broadcast showed new character visuals for both — Shiki swaps his familiar school uniform from Type Lumina for a casual jacket-and-jeans look, while Len’s design keeps her signature black Gothic dress and blue hair but with updated high-resolution artwork. Both voice actors are reprising their roles from the previous entry.

Black Len: Why This Is a Big Deal

Len close-up from the MELTY BLOOD: TWI-LUMINA official teaser trailer with Japanese text: a new story begins here
Still from Aniplex and TYPE-MOON GAMES’ official teaser trailer

For those not deep in the TYPE-MOON rabbit hole: Black Len is the “dark” shadow counterpart of Len, and she has been absent from the modern Tsukihime storyline — she did not appear in the Tsukihime -A piece of blue glass moon- remake that Type Lumina was built upon. Her confirmation in TWI-LUMINA suggests the new game is expanding beyond its predecessor’s narrative scope, something developer FRENCH-BREAD has described as a “reworked version rather than a completely separate reboot.”

For fighting game fans who felt the Type Lumina roster left some favourites on the cutting room floor, this is exactly the kind of signal they were waiting for.

「MELTY BLOOD: TWI-LUMINA」Teaser PV — via 【公式】TYPE-MOON GAMES on YouTube

What We Know About TWI-LUMINA So Far

MELTY BLOOD: TWI-LUMINA gameplay combat screenshot showing Len fighting in a street environment
Still from Aniplex and TYPE-MOON GAMES’ official teaser trailer

Development is by FRENCH-BREAD — the same team behind every entry in the Melty Blood series — and the game is published by Aniplex. The story is a new scenario written by Kinoko Nasu himself, which is a meaningful commitment: Type Lumina was light on story, so Nasu’s direct involvement suggests TWI-LUMINA will have more narrative weight.

The full 22-character roster from Type Lumina is expected to carry over as the foundation, with additions like Black Len layered on top. Returning gameplay systems include Moon Skill, Rapid Beat auto-combos, Reverse Beat chains, and Sky-Grabber, with FRENCH-BREAD promising refined battle mechanics across the board. Text will be supported in eight languages: Japanese, English, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Korean, Spanish, French, and Portuguese — voice acting remains Japanese only.

Platforms, Release Window, and Singapore Availability

MELTY BLOOD: TWI-LUMINA is targeting an early 2027 release window across PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PC via Steam — all platforms launching on day one with no timed exclusivity.

For Singapore players, the Switch and Switch 2 versions are particularly relevant given the consoles’ dominance locally. No Singapore-specific pricing has been announced yet — we will update when that changes. In the meantime, check our game news section for any further TWI-LUMINA updates as the early 2027 window draws closer.

Ghost of Tsushima: Legends Anime Coming to Crunchyroll in 2027

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.

MELTY BLOOD: TWI-LUMINA — New Info Drops Tonight at 7PM SGT

One of Japan’s most beloved anime fighting game series is making a dramatic comeback — and Singapore fans can catch the next major reveal tonight. MELTY BLOOD: TWI-LUMINA, the full renewal of MELTY BLOOD: TYPE LUMINA, is heading to PS5, Switch 2, PC and more in Early 2027, with TYPE-MOON dropping fresh details in a live broadcast at 7PM SGT this evening (10 July).

Len returns in MELTY BLOOD: TWI-LUMINA — official teaser visual
Image courtesy of TYPE-MOON / Aniplex
「MELTY BLOOD: TWI-LUMINA」Teaser PV — via 【公式】TYPE-MOON GAMES on YouTube

What Is MELTY BLOOD: TWI-LUMINA?

If you follow the fighting game community or TYPE-MOON’s catalogue, MELTY BLOOD needs no introduction: it’s the anime 2D fighter born from the Tsukihime visual novel universe, following Shiki Tohno — a young man whose mysterious ability to perceive the “lines of death” in all things makes him both protector and target in a city haunted by vampires and nightmares. TWI-LUMINA is not a sequel, but a complete renewal of 2021’s MELTY BLOOD: TYPE LUMINA, featuring a brand-new story written by Kinoko Nasu, redesigned characters by artist Takashi Takeuchi, and an overhauled battle system that developers FRENCH-BREAD say pushes the competitive depth of the series further than TYPE LUMINA did.

The game was first announced at EVO Japan 2026 in May, where publisher Aniplex unveiled a teaser alongside sweeping key art of returning fan-favourite Len — accompanied by the tagline, “A tale of conflict stirs once again within a dream.” FRENCH-BREAD, who has handled every Melty Blood entry since the original PC game, remains the developer.

Characters Confirmed: Shiki Tohno and Len Make Their Return

New character visuals for Shiki Tohno and Len revealed at Anime Expo 2026 for MELTY BLOOD: TWI-LUMINA
Image courtesy of TYPE-MOON / Aniplex

At Anime Expo 2026 earlier this month, TYPE-MOON and Aniplex unveiled character visuals for two confirmed roster members. Shiki Tohno, voiced by Ryosuke Kanemoto, returns as the lead — his redesign here puts him in a casual school jacket, a contrast to the more combat-ready looks of past entries. Len, voiced by Kaori Ishihara, also makes her return — her absence from TYPE LUMINA was one of the community’s loudest complaints, so seeing her back (and featured front-and-centre in the key art) signals that TWI-LUMINA is leaning hard into its Tsukihime roots.

Also confirmed is Black Len, a darker counterpart character who did not appear in TYPE LUMINA, suggesting the story is venturing further into the dreamworld lore that defines the Tsukihime: A Piece of Blue Glass Moon universe. Full roster details have not been announced.

Platforms, Languages and Release Window

MELTY BLOOD: TWI-LUMINA is confirmed for PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and PC via Steam, with a launch window of Early 2027. No pricing has been announced yet; as a reference point, TYPE LUMINA launched at around SGD 59–69 on PS4 and Switch at local game retailers. Text language support covers English, Japanese, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Korean, Traditional Chinese and Simplified Chinese — voice acting will be Japanese-only, which is the series standard.

The multi-region simultaneous release on PS5 and Switch 2 means Singapore players will not be waiting behind other markets. Whether a physical edition ships to SEA has not yet been confirmed.

Watch Tonight: TYPE-MOON Times Mini at 7PM SGT

TYPE-MOON Times Mini — July 10 2026 broadcast featuring MELTY BLOOD: TWI-LUMINA news
Image courtesy of TYPE-MOON

Tonight, July 10, at 8PM Japan time (7PM SGT / 11AM UTC), TYPE-MOON airs a new TYPE-MOON Times Mini broadcast on the official 【公式】TYPE-MOON GAMES YouTube channel. Voice actors Ryosuke Kanemoto and Kaori Ishihara will appear, and the studio has confirmed the stream will reveal the latest information on MELTY BLOOD: TWI-LUMINA. New character reveals, a gameplay look, or a narrower launch window are all plausible — the stream archive will be available to watch after broadcast for those who cannot tune in live.

Singapore’s fighting game community has been growing steadily — with EVO Singapore confirmed for 2027 at Marina Bay Sands — and TYPE-MOON titles always draw strong interest locally given the huge Fate and Tsukihime fanbases here. TWI-LUMINA is shaping up to be a day-one pick-up for many. Keep an eye on GameTrader for a follow-up once tonight’s stream reveals its hand.

SAO: Integral Domain — New Original Film Announced for 2028

Kirito and Asuna are heading back to the big screen — and this time, it is not a retelling. Aniplex has revealed Sword Art Online the Movie – Integral Domain –, a completely original theatrical story set beyond the Alicization arc, with a 2028 cinema release confirmed. Full staff, the teaser visual, and a first teaser trailer all dropped on 7 July 2026 via the Aniplex official channels, making this the most concrete look yet at where the SAO franchise goes after the TV series concluded its main storyline.

SAO Integral Domain 2028 announcement — staff, cast and key visual
Image courtesy of Aniplex

The First Fully Original SAO Film Since Ordinal Scale

This is a significant distinction worth flagging for fans: Integral Domain is not an adaptation of existing light novel chapters. That puts it in the same category as Ordinal Scale (2017) — a story written specifically for the cinema, with original screenwriting direction from creator Reki Kawahara. The two Progressive films (2021 and 2022) adapted the Progressive reboot light novels, so this is genuinely new territory.

The Aniplex official page describes the premise simply: “the story moves to a new stage” — set directly after the events of the Alicization / War of Underworld arc. No plot details beyond that have been released yet, but Kawahara is providing the story concept, so this is the author’s own vision for what happens next to Kirito and Asuna rather than a spin-off scripted by a different writer.

Sword Art Online the Movie – Integral Domain – | COMING 2028 — via Aniplex USA on YouTube

Director, Studio, and Full Staff Confirmed

The creative team is a familiar combination of SAO franchise veterans and fresh production muscle:

  • Director: Shingo Adachi — an animation director across multiple seasons of the TV series, making his theatrical directorial feature debut here
  • Character design: Yumiko Yamamoto — returning from both Progressive films
  • Original character design concept: abec (the original light novel illustrator)
  • Story concept: Reki Kawahara
  • Animation production: A-1 Pictures / Psyde Kick Studio — Psyde Kick Studio is A-1 Pictures’ newer internal animation label, co-producing alongside the parent studio
  • Distribution (Japan): ANIMEC

Voice cast confirmed so far: Yoshitsugu Matsuoka as Kirito and Haruka Tomatsu as Asuna. Both are originals from the first season. No additional cast has been announced yet.

SAO: Integral Domain — official background art showing Aincrad-like spire silhouettes
Image courtesy of Aniplex

What Singapore SAO Fans Need to Know

No international theatrical dates have been announced beyond the 2028 Japan release window, and no Southeast Asia distribution partners have been named yet. That said, every major SAO theatrical release has made it to Singapore: Ordinal Scale screened here in 2017, and both Progressive films received local cinema runs as well — so a Singapore theatrical release is realistic, just unconfirmed.

If you are behind on the series, the 2028 release gives you time to work through Alicization and War of Underworld before the film’s story picks up. Crunchyroll carries both arcs for streaming in Singapore.

The official film page is live at swordart-online.net/integral, and the Japanese announcement was first reported by Famitsu (Japanese) and the Aniplex official site. Follow anime news on GameTrader.SG for any Singapore screening updates as they drop.

Solo Leveling: Beyond the System Movie Is Officially in Production

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.

Demon Slayer: Hinokami Chronicles 2 Switch 2 Edition Dated

Demon Slayer fans and Switch 2 owners, mark your calendars. Aniplex and CyberConnect2 have confirmed a dedicated Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles 2, launching physically in Japan on 29 October 2026. The news broke via Weekly Jump, Japan’s flagship manga anthology, and was reported by Gematsu on 25 June.

Demon Slayer Hinokami Chronicles 2 combat gameplay
Image courtesy of Aniplex / CyberConnect2

What the Switch 2 Edition Includes

The physical Nintendo Switch 2 Edition carries a price of ¥7,810 and bundles the “Infinity Castle – Part 1 Character Pass” right in the box. For Singapore fans who caught Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Part 1 in cinemas last August and fell in love with its lineup of Hashira and Upper Moons, this is the DLC pack worth picking up.

CyberConnect2 has also confirmed that an Upgrade Pack will be available for players who already own the original Switch version and want to bring their save data across to the Switch 2 edition — though pricing for the upgrade has not yet been announced.

Demon Slayer Hinokami Chronicles 2 action scene
Image courtesy of Aniplex / CyberConnect2
Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles 2 – Announce Trailer — via Nintendo of America on YouTube

40+ Characters and Infinity Castle Story Content

The Hinokami Chronicles 2 launched on 1 August 2025 in Japan and 5 August 2025 internationally across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, the original Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam. The game expanded on its predecessor with over 40 playable characters, a revamped combat system, and new story chapters spanning the Swordsmith Village and Hashira Training arcs.

With the Infinity Castle film having dominated Singapore box offices when it opened in August 2025, appetite for in-game content tied to those new characters has been high among local players. The Switch 2 Edition bundles the character pass from day one, making it the most complete physical version of the game available.

Demon Slayer Hinokami Chronicles 2 character roster
Image courtesy of Aniplex / CyberConnect2

Getting It in Singapore

At time of writing, only a Japan physical launch date — 29 October 2026 — has been confirmed. The original game was published internationally by Sega, and a global announcement for the Switch 2 Edition is expected but has not been made. Singapore players who want the Switch 2 version at launch will need to import from Japan or wait for Sega’s global rollout.

The Switch 2 is region-free for game cards, so a Japanese physical copy runs on any Singapore console without modification. Do check retailer listings before importing, as Japanese game packages may not include English subtitles or menus — confirm language support before buying. SGD pricing for a potential Singapore or international release has not been announced.

Demon Slayer Hinokami Chronicles 2 special attack
Image courtesy of Aniplex / CyberConnect2

We will update this piece once Sega confirms global release plans and pricing. For more on Switch 2 titles and anime game news, head over to our game news section.

Madoka Magica: Walpurgisnacht Rising — Main Trailer Out, Opens Japan August 28

The main theatrical trailer for Puella Magi Madoka Magica: The Witch’s Rondo — Walpurgisnacht Rising (劇場版 魔法少女まどか☆マギカ〈ワルプルギスの廻天〉) dropped in the early hours of Monday morning, and it brings two headline announcements in one: a confirmed Japan theatrical opening on August 28, 2026, and the reveal that the film’s theme song — “彼方” (Kanata) — will be performed by FictionJunction, the vocal unit led by composer Yuki Kajiura. For fans who have been waiting since 2013’s Rebellion Story ended on one of anime’s most divisive cliffhangers, the wait is down to two months.

A magical girl stands beneath a starry sky in Madoka Magica Walpurgisnacht Rising
Image courtesy of Aniplex

Homura’s World, Cracking at the Edges

Walpurgisnacht Rising picks up inside the false reality that Homura Akemi built at the end of Rebellion — a world where Madoka lives as an ordinary student, shielded from the fate she accepted when she wished every witch in every timeline out of existence and became the “Law of Cycles,” a transcendent cosmic force. Homura achieved this by tearing a fragment of that power away and rewriting reality itself, a choice that cost her everything except Madoka’s presence.

The new trailer makes clear that the seams of that world are showing. A mysterious girl without a Soul Gem has been hunting Mazoku — the magical beasts that replaced witches in Homura’s version of reality — which should be impossible. Then two magical girls arrive from outside the constructed world, seeking to restore the Law of Cycles and carrying a message: “We will not forgive Homura Akemi.”

『劇場版 魔法少女まどか☆マギカ〈ワルプルギスの廻天〉』本予告 — via Aniplex Channel on YouTube
A lone figure stands before a massive statue-like entity in an impossible labyrinthine space
Image courtesy of Aniplex

The threat they carry with them is named in the synopsis as 名塚底根 (Nadzuka Sokone) — described as the “beginning of all witches,” a collective entity formed from multiple witches that tortured Homura across her many timeline loops. It is, in other words, the original Walpurgisnacht made into something even larger. The title 廻天 — roughly “the heavens revolve” — signals that the circular logic of the Madoka universe is completing another terrible turn.

Yuki Kajiura Composes the Full Score

Dark atmospheric imagery from the film — a witch-like entity against a textured orange sky
Image courtesy of Aniplex

The return of Yuki Kajiura — whose compositions for the original 2011 series are among the most celebrated in the medium — is confirmed for the complete BGM, not just the theme song. In her own words, as published alongside the trailer reveal (Dengeki Online, in Japanese): “I did not want it to be a song that simply provides the ‘answer.’ As a devoted fan of this work who has been by these girls’ sides for a long time, I wanted to send them off brilliantly.” A fragment of FictionJunction’s “Kanata” (彼方, meaning the other side or beyond) plays in the final moments of the trailer.

Kajiura’s involvement signals a full-circle return for the franchise’s sonic identity. Her earlier Madoka work introduced sounds — choral Latin fragments, baroque counterpoint over TV-static noise — that influenced scores across anime for years afterward.

August 28 in Japan — Singapore Dates Yet to Be Confirmed

Two Madoka Magica characters face each other in a golden sunset scene
Image courtesy of Aniplex

Walpurgisnacht Rising opens theatrically in Japan on August 28, 2026. No Singapore or Southeast Asia release date has been announced at the time of writing. Major Aniplex theatrical productions in recent years have generally received regional rollouts, but timelines and distribution vary — watch announcements from local cinema chains and anime distributors for confirmation. The trailer’s release this close to the Japan opening date suggests the wider rollout information may not be far behind.

Rilakkuma Anime Season 2 Reveals “Tekuteku World Travel” — Stream It Now on Crunchyroll

Rilakkuma fans, your bears are going somewhere new. Aniplex today unveiled a fresh promotional video for the short TV anime, confirming that it is moving into a second season with an all-new subtitle: Tekuteku World Travel (てくてく世界旅行 — “Steadily Traveling the World”). The new key visual, released alongside the PV, shows Rilakkuma, Korilakkuma, and Kiiroitori dressed in travel gear and ready to hit the road.

From Dreamy Getaway to Full World Tour

The Rilakkuma short anime premiered on 4 April 2026 on TBS, with its first season carrying the subtitle Goyurori Yume no Tabi (Leisure Trip of Dreams). If Season 1 felt like a slow, cosy holiday, Season 2 turns the dial up to a proper globe-trot: the iconic San-X trio will be exploring different corners of the world, sampling regional food and soaking in local culture along the way. The vibe stays firmly in Rilakkuma territory — gentle, warm, and easy to watch — but now with a travel-diary frame to hang each episode on.

Rilakkuma anime Season 2 Tekuteku World Travel key visual showing Rilakkuma, Korilakkuma and Kiiroitori in travel attire
Image courtesy of Aniplex
アニメ「リラックマ」第2弾PV (Season 2 PV) — via アニプレックス チャンネル on YouTube

The Production Team Behind It

Production I.G — the studio behind Ghost in the Shell, Haikyuu!!, and Vinland Saga — is handling animation, giving the show a noticeably polished look even in short-form. Yoshimi Itazu and Yumi Kamakura share directing duties, with character design by Chiyo Morita. Narration is provided by Lilas Ikuta, the vocalist behind YOASOBI, who also performs the series theme song “stay with me.” If you are already a YOASOBI fan, her voice lends the show an immediately familiar warmth.

How Singapore Fans Can Watch

Crunchyroll is streaming the series internationally, so Singapore viewers can dive straight into Season 1 right now — no waiting for a local release. In Japan, new episodes air every Saturday at 9:25 AM on TBS, and a library of past episodes is also available on platforms including Prime Video and ABEMA Premium for Japanese subscribers. With Season 2 episodes starting to roll out, now is a good time to catch up before the travel adventure gets into full swing.

Rilakkuma, Korilakkuma, and Kiiroitori in travel attire from the Season 2 PV
Image courtesy of Aniplex

Last words

Rilakkuma has had a long, quiet presence in Singapore’s pop culture — from the plushie claw machines at Bugis+ and Orchard to the Rilakkuma Cafe pop-up at Kumoya that drew long queues. A full TV anime backed by Production I.G and narrated by a YOASOBI vocalist feels like a serious step up for the franchise. Whether you are in it for the chill vibes, the travel scenery, or just to hear Lilas Ikuta’s voice over gentle bear adventures, Crunchyroll has you covered. Check out more anime news on GameTrader.SG.