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Manga Anime

Sekiro: No Defeat Anime Film Hits Japan on 4 September — Crunchyroll Worldwide Streaming Confirmed

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Seven years after Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice swept the Game of the Year awards and consumed an untold number of hours for players worldwide, FromSoftware’s samurai action classic is getting its anime adaptation. Sekiro: No Defeat has confirmed a Japan theatrical opening date of 4 September 2026, with advance tickets going on sale today — and Crunchyroll worldwide streaming rights already secured for audiences outside Japan.

Sekiro: No Defeat anime film official key art
Image courtesy of KADOKAWA

Studio, Director, and a Fully Hand-Drawn Approach

Animation is handled by Qzil.la, with KADOKAWA and ARCH overseeing production. Director Kenichi Kutsuna makes his feature film directorial debut on the project, with Takuya Sato on screenplay and Takahiro Kishida as character designer. The production commits to full 2D hand-drawn animation throughout — no CGI substitutes.

The film already appeared on the international festival circuit before its wide theatrical rollout, with screenings at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival and the Fantasia International Film Festival. The official PV released today alongside the advance ticket announcement gives the clearest look yet at how the title’s parry-heavy combat and Sengoku Japan atmosphere translate into animation.

「SEKIRO: NO DEFEAT」PV｜2026年劇場版全国公開 — via KADOKAWAanime on YouTube

Japan Theatrical Run — And When Singapore Fans Can Watch

The Japan theatrical run is a limited three-week engagement from 4 September 2026. For Singapore and the rest of Southeast Asia, the good news is that Crunchyroll has confirmed worldwide streaming rights — though a specific streaming date has not been announced yet. A release following the theatrical window, likely in late 2026 or early 2027, is the most reasonable expectation based on how Crunchyroll has handled similar Japanese theatrical exclusives.

Sekiro: No Defeat anime scene promotional image
Image courtesy of KADOKAWA

There is no Singapore theatrical release confirmed at this time. Advance tickets for the Japan run are priced at ¥1,600 (approximately SGD 14.50) and are available now via participating Japanese cinema chains. The advance tickets include a collectible bonus item.

FromSoftware’s Most Award-Laden Game Gets an Anime

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice launched in 2019 and won Game of the Year at The Game Awards, among other industry honours. Its uncompromising parry-centric combat and Sengoku Japan setting built one of FromSoftware’s most devoted fanbases — one that only expanded as Elden Ring brought millions of new players to the studio’s world.

Sekiro: No Defeat anime film scene
Image courtesy of KADOKAWA

For Singapore fans who spent hours at the feet of Genichiro or the Demon of Hatred, seeing those encounters adapted into animation is the central draw. The PV leans heavily into action choreography, which should reassure anyone who worried this might become a slow character drama at the expense of its source material’s defining quality.

Sekiro: No Defeat anime promotional visual
Image courtesy of KADOKAWA

Follow developments at sekiro-anime.jp (Japanese) for the latest updates, and keep an eye on Crunchyroll for streaming details. For more anime news on GameTrader, check our dedicated section.

Manga Anime

Kagurabachi Anime Coming to Crunchyroll April 2027 — Singapore Confirmed

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Crunchyroll has officially confirmed it will stream the Kagurabachi anime adaptation starting April 2027 — and Singapore is in the streaming territory. The series will be available on Crunchyroll worldwide, excluding Japan, Mainland China, North Korea, and South Korea, putting it within reach of fans here from the first episode.

Kagurabachi | Official Teaser | Crunchyroll — via Crunchyroll on YouTube

Why Kagurabachi Has Shonen Fans Excited

Based on the manga by Takeru Hokazono, serialised in Weekly Shonen Jump since 2023, Kagurabachi follows Chihiro Rokuhira — a young swordsman driven by revenge, wielding the enchanted blade Enten. The series built a devoted readership unusually quickly for a new Jump title, drawing fans in with its striking visual style and a lean, unrelenting revenge narrative that wastes no time on filler.

Chihiro Rokuhira character visual for the Kagurabachi anime
Image courtesy of Crunchyroll

The Studio and Creative Team

The adaptation is directed by Tetsuya Takeuchi, with character design by Keigo Sasaki. Animation production is handled by Crunchyroll-announced studio Cypic, whose previous credits include Umamusume: Pretty Derby — Cinderella Gray and The Summer Hikaru Died. The studio is relatively young, but those projects signal it can handle both high-energy action sequences and the quieter, more atmospheric moments Kagurabachi demands.

Kunishige Rokuhira character visual for the Kagurabachi anime
Image courtesy of Crunchyroll

Japanese Voice Cast — What Has Been Confirmed

Three members of the Japanese voice cast have been announced so far:

  • Chihiro Rokuhira — voiced by Taihi Kimura
  • Kunishige Rokuhira (Chihiro’s father, a master swordsmith) — voiced by Tomokazu Seki
  • Togo Shiba — voiced by Katsuyuki Konishi

The most recent addition is Katsuyuki Konishi as Togo Shiba, announced alongside a new character visual and dedicated character trailer. Further casting is expected to be revealed closer to the April 2027 premiere.

KAGURABACHI | Official Character Trailer: Chihiro Rokuhira — via CyberAgent ANIME Global on YouTube
Togo Shiba character visual for the Kagurabachi anime, voiced by Katsuyuki Konishi
Image courtesy of Crunchyroll

World Tour Screenings Before the Premiere

Ahead of the April 2027 broadcast debut, a global Kagurabachi Anime World Tour of early episode screenings has been confirmed. Part 1 of the tour takes in:

  • Anime Expo (Los Angeles, July 2026)
  • Japan Expo (Paris)
  • AnimagiC (Germany)
  • Otakon (Washington D.C.)
  • Anime NYC (New York)

No stops in Singapore or Southeast Asia are confirmed for Part 1. Full tour details are at the official Kagurabachi World Tour site.

When Can Singapore Fans Watch Kagurabachi?

Kagurabachi is confirmed for Crunchyroll in Singapore when it premieres in April 2027. A precise episode schedule and simulcast details have not been announced yet. For more upcoming anime heading to the platform, check our Manga Anime coverage.

Manga Anime

Mushoku Tensei Season 3 Premieres 5 July on Crunchyroll

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After a wait that tested even the most patient fans, Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Season 3 has a confirmed premiere date: 5 July 2026 on Crunchyroll. Studio Bind returns to helm the production, and the newly released key visual and main trailer point to one of the most emotionally charged arcs in the series.

Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Season 3 — Official Main Trailer — via AnimeSelect on YouTube

Premiere Dates and How to Watch in Singapore

Season 3 opens with a special double-episode premiere in Japan on 4 July 2026, broadcast on Tokyo MX and ABEMA at 20:00 JST (21:00 SGT) for Episode 1, and 20:30 JST for Episode 2. These opening episodes kick off the Eris Training Arc before the season expands into its broader story threads.

The Crunchyroll simulcast begins on 5 July 2026, with new episodes arriving weekly every Sunday from 12 July. Crunchyroll is available in Singapore and across Southeast Asia, so local fans can watch on day one. Previous Mushoku Tensei seasons also appeared on iQIYI, WeTV, and Muse Asia in the region — it is worth checking those platforms closer to the premiere to see whether they secure Season 3 as well.

Mushoku Tensei Season 3 promotional still
Image courtesy of Studio Bind

What Season 3 Covers

Season 3 picks up directly after the second season’s finale, continuing Rudeus Greyrat’s journey as the consequences of earlier choices begin to press in from multiple directions. The opening episodes center on Eris — her drive to become stronger and the personal cost of the path she has chosen — before the narrative threads begin to converge.

Studio Bind, which has produced all three seasons, brings back the same careful animation and deliberate pacing that distinguished the earlier runs. No directorial changes have been announced, meaning longtime fans should find the transition into Season 3 seamless.

Mushoku Tensei Season 3 anime scene
Image courtesy of Studio Bind

Key Visual and Opening Theme

The Season 3 key visual places the main cast in a composition that carries the same atmosphere as earlier seasons’ promotional art. The opening theme is “Ketsui no Uta (Song of Decision)” by Yuiko Ohara, a name familiar to fans of the franchise — her previous contributions to the series’ soundtrack give the choice a satisfying sense of continuity.

Mushoku Tensei Season 3 character visual
Image courtesy of Studio Bind

Catch Up Before 5 July

If you are new to the series — or just want a refresh before Season 3 drops — Seasons 1 and 2 of Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation are available on Crunchyroll now. The anime is based on Rifujin na Magonote’s light novel, and covers one of the more thoughtfully constructed isekai narratives of the last decade. For more summer 2026 anime coverage, browse the Manga/Anime section on GameTrader.

Manga Anime

Cyborg 009: Nemesis Drops All Three Episodes at Once on 19 July — Coming to Crunchyroll

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The cyborg heroes of Shotaro Ishinomori’s legendary manga are back on screen — and this time, their enemies are mirror images of themselves. Cyborg 009: Nemesis, a brand-new three-episode anime from Studio Arect, drops in full on 19 July 2026 with all episodes releasing simultaneously, and Crunchyroll will carry it internationally.

「サイボーグ009 ネメシス」 Main PV — via 「公式」石森プロ on YouTube

A New Story with Familiar Heroes

Cyborg 009: Nemesis tells an original story set in Ishinomori’s universe. The classic nine-person team — individuals turned into cyborgs against their will, led by Joe Shimamura (009) — faces a new threat: a rival faction called Nemesis, a group of counter-cyborgs who mirror their abilities and even their numbering. Leading the Nemesis side is a figure designated N009, codenamed Graviton. All three episodes are available from day one, so the complete story is there to binge without a weekly wait.

Cyborg 009 Nemesis full roster of characters from both the original team and the Nemesis faction
Image courtesy of Ishimori Productions

A Cast That Commands Attention

Director Hideki Ambo has assembled a genuinely star-packed cast. Yūki Kaji takes the lead as Joe Shimamura (009); Mamoru Miyano voices Jet Link (002); Saori Hayami plays Françoise Arnul (003); Tomokazu Sugita is Albert Heinrich (004); and Yūichi Nakamura voices the Nemesis leader Graviton. That lineup covers some of the most in-demand voice actors working in anime today and signals that Ishimori Productions is treating this as a genuine franchise revival rather than a commemorative side project.

N009 Graviton character card from the official Cyborg 009 Nemesis site
Image courtesy of Ishimori Productions

An Opening Theme 47 Years in the Making

The opening theme is a revival of “Taga Tame ni” (誰がために, “For Whom”) — the signature track that opened the 1979 Cyborg 009 TV anime — this time performed by rock singer Kyōko. The ending theme, “Climal” by Sukima Switch, was confirmed alongside the main trailer that launched on 24 June as reported by Anime News Network. Sukima Switch’s melodic J-pop sensibility makes for an interesting contrast against a nostalgia-heavy opener, and the combination gives the series its own personality rather than leaning entirely on legacy.

How to Watch Cyborg 009: Nemesis in Singapore

Crunchyroll holds international streaming rights for the series, with confirmed territories including North America, Europe, Latin America, and Oceania. Singapore fans can check the Crunchyroll app from 19 July — Crunchyroll’s Southeast Asia coverage typically follows its Oceania rights. In Japan, Cyborg 009: Nemesis streams on the same date across ABEMA Premium, U-NEXT, dアニメストア, Prime Video, and DMM TV.

Shotaro Ishinomori, who created Cyborg 009 in 1964, is one of the most prolific manga artists in history — the same creator behind Kamen Rider, Kikaider, and dozens of other series. A new production in 2026 with an A-list cast is a genuine occasion for long-time fans, and a fine entry point for those discovering the franchise for the first time. Check the official website for details, and browse more anime and manga coverage on GameTrader.SG.

Manga Anime

Classroom of the Elite Season 5 Confirmed — Ayanokoji Is Not Done Yet

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The credit roll had barely finished on Classroom of the Elite’s fourth season when the announcement dropped: a fifth season is officially in production. Kadokawa confirmed on 24 June 2026 — right as the Season 4 finale aired in Japan — that the anime adaptation of Kinugasa Shōgo’s light novel series will continue, accompanied by a new key visual that is as deliberately unsettling as the show itself.

Classroom of the Elite 4th Season official key visual showing the main cast
Image courtesy of Kadokawa / Classroom of the Elite Production Committee

Where Season 4 Left Off

Classroom of the Elite 4th Season: 2nd Year Arc – 1st Semester ran 16 episodes from April 2026, opening with an unusually bold four-episode batch premiere. The season took Ayanokoji and his classmates deep into their second year at Tokyo Koudo Ikusei Senior High School, capping off with a demanding uninhabited island survival exam that pushed every alliance, grudge, and hidden skill the cast has accumulated across three years of escalating psychological warfare. Studio Lerche produced the season, with director Noriyuki Nomata and series composer Ko Shigenobu (both on board since Season 3) maintaining the series’ steady, methodical tension through the full run.

Classroom of the Elite 4th Season PV2 — via KADOKAWAanime on YouTube (Japanese)

The Season 5 Key Visual Is Ayanokoji in One Image

The announcement came with a newly drawn visual that strips everything back to the character himself: a monochrome sketch of Ayanokoji, hand raised to his face with his eyes visible over his fingers, all set against a pure black background. There is no colour, no secondary characters, no setting — just the inscrutable stare the series has built its identity around. The text reads simply: “5th Season — Production Confirmed.” It is, in short, exactly what Classroom of the Elite fans were hoping for.

Classroom of the Elite Season 5 announcement key visual — Ayanokoji in monochrome on black background
Image courtesy of Kadokawa / Classroom of the Elite Production Committee

Season 5 and What Comes Next

Season 4 adapted the first semester of Ayanokoji’s second year. Season 5 will pick up with the second semester — a stretch that readers of Kinugasa Shōgo’s light novels consider one of the most politically dense arcs in the run, with the school’s class rankings under genuine pressure and the alliances Ayanokoji has carefully arranged beginning to strain in ways no one saw coming. No air date or airing window has been set; as of the announcement, production is confirmed but scheduling details have not yet been shared by the official team at you-zitsu.com or on the official @youkosozitsu X account.

All four existing seasons of Classroom of the Elite are available on Crunchyroll in Singapore as part of its global simulcast library, making this a solid window to catch up before Season 5 arrives. For more anime news and what’s streaming now, head to our Manga Anime section.

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

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

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

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

What Is Liar Game?

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

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

What’s New in Liar Game Part 2

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

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

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

New Theme Songs

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

Where to Watch in Singapore

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

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

Last words

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

Catch more anime news and season updates on GameTrader.

Manga Anime, News

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

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

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

Seven Years of Science and Grit

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

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

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

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

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

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

How to Watch the Finale in Singapore

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

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

STONE FES. 2026 — The Grand Farewell in Yokohama

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

Last words

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

Manga Anime, News

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

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

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

The Apprentice Training Arc Takes the Stage

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

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

Six New Voices Join the Stage

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

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

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

A Quick Primer for New Viewers

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

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

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

A Live Rakugo Event in Tokyo This August

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

Last Words

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

More anime news on GameTrader.SG