Tag Archives: isekai

Manga Anime

KonoSuba Season 4 Gets Studio ENGI and 2027 Premiere at 10th Anniversary Event

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Ten years in, KonoSuba is not slowing down. At this afternoon’s 10th anniversary stage event held at Pacifico Yokohama National Convention Hall, Kadokawa revealed the full production team behind KonoSuba: God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World! 4 — and with it confirmed that the fourth season will air in 2027. The entire main cast is back, and a new studio is stepping up to animate it.

Studio ENGI Takes the Helm — A Franchise First

The headline from today’s event: studio ENGI will produce KonoSuba Season 4. It is the first time in the franchise’s history that Kadokawa has assigned the series to one of its own joint-venture studios. ENGI, established in 2018 as a Kadokawa-backed operation, built its reputation with the 2025 figure skating drama Medalist — an adaptation that drew critical praise for its fluid character animation and emotional precision — and the 2023 Netflix kaiju series Gamera Rebirth. Previous KonoSuba seasons cycled through Studio DEEN (Seasons 1–2), J.C.Staff (the 2019 film), and Drive (Season 3 and the Megumin spinoff). Bringing ENGI in signals a deliberate push toward consistent in-house production going into the franchise’s second decade.

KonoSuba main cast — Megumin, Darkness, Kazuma, and Aqua
Image courtesy of Kadokawa

Full Season 4 Production Team

The confirmed crew for Season 4, as announced at today’s Yokohama event:

  • Chief Director: Takaomi Kanasaki (returning — helmed Seasons 1 & 2 and the 2019 film)
  • Director: Manabu Kurihara (new to the franchise)
  • Series Composition: Makoto Uezu (returning — has written every prior KonoSuba anime season)
  • Character Design: Koichi Kikuta (returning)
  • Sound Director: Yoshikazu Iwanami (returning)
  • Music: Masato Kōda (continuing as series composer)

Kanasaki’s return as chief director is the clearest signal that KonoSuba’s comedic rhythm and character chemistry will not be disrupted by the studio change. He has been the constant creative anchor across every major animated entry in the franchise. Kurihara coming in as director under Kanasaki gives ENGI room to evolve the visuals without breaking what fans love about the series’ pacing and gag timing. Uezu returning to write the scripts is equally reassuring — his command of the source material has been one of KonoSuba’s quiet strengths through three seasons.

KonoSuba Anime 10th Anniversary Memorial Livestream — via KADOKAWAanime on YouTube

The Whole Party Returns

All four lead voice actors who appeared on stage in Yokohama today are confirmed to reprise their roles. Jun Fukushima returns as the unlucky-but-resourceful Kazuma Satō. Sora Amamiya is back as the beautiful-but-useless goddess Aqua. Rie Takahashi reprises the explosive Megumin, and Ai Kayano returns as the masochistic crusader Darkness. No new cast additions were announced at this stage.

KonoSuba cast in winter costumes for the 10th anniversary audio drama
Image courtesy of Kadokawa

Season 4 and the Bigger Anniversary Picture

Season 4 is one thread in a broader 10th anniversary push that Kadokawa set in motion at the start of 2026. The slate also includes a brand-new official game — Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku wo! Kono Aisubeki Machi ni Hanei wo! (nicknamed Machisuba) — developed with an original story supervised by series creator Natsume Akatsuki and arriving on mobile and PC in 2026, along with a new audio drama, a commemorative song compilation, and a 10th anniversary exhibition scheduled for autumn 2026 at AKIBA_SQUARE in Akihabara.

KonoSuba: Machisuba official mobile and PC game announcement visual
Image courtesy of Kadokawa

How Singapore Fans Can Watch

Season 4 is confirmed for a 2027 broadcast — no specific season or airdate was announced at today’s event. Crunchyroll holds the international streaming rights for the entire KonoSuba franchise, and every prior season is currently available to Crunchyroll subscribers in Singapore. A simulcast for Season 4 is the expected arrangement once Kadokawa confirms broadcast details. For now, Singapore’s KonoSuba fans can follow the franchise’s official production news via Anime News Network for updates as they come, and check out all other anime coverage here at GameTrader.SG.

Manga Anime

From Far Away Anime Reveals Cast and October 4 Debut

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Thirty-five years after the first chapter appeared in LaLa magazine, the TV anime adaptation of Kyoko Hikawa’s landmark shōjo manga From Far Away (彼方から, Kanata Kara) is officially real. A teaser promotional video released today alongside the full voice cast and a confirmed October 4 premiere — and for anyone who grew up on the Viz Media English volumes, this one lands a little differently.

A Shōjo Classic That Earned Its Reputation the Hard Way

Kyoko Hikawa original manga art of Izark and Noriko from From Far Away
Image courtesy of Kyoko Hikawa / Hakusensha

From Far Away ran in Hakusensha’s LaLa magazine from September 1991 through October 2002, collected into 14 tankōbon volumes. The setup reads deceptively simply: ordinary high schooler Noriko is hurled into a parallel fantasy world and lands near Izark, a formidable young warrior carrying a curse-like destiny. What made the series stand out — and what kept it in readers’ memories long after it ended — is that Noriko arrives unable to speak or understand a single word of the local language. Communication is earned, not handed over. Meanwhile, an ancient prophecy frames her arrival as the trigger for an unstoppable catastrophe.

The series won the 35th Seiun Award for best science fiction comic in 2004 and surpassed four million copies in circulation. Hakusensha licensed the English release to Viz Media, which published all 14 volumes between November 2004 and January 2007 — which means Singapore’s manga community had a very clean window to read it. If you never got around to it, there is now a deadline.

The Teaser PV, Cast and Production Team

TVアニメ『彼方から』ティザーPV | 2026.10.4～ON AIR!! — via NBCUniversal Anime/Music on YouTube

Studio DEEN is producing the anime. The director is Noriyuki Abe — known in Singapore for bringing Bleach, Yu Yu Hakusho, and Flame of Recca to the screen — and this marks a notable move into shōjo territory for him. Series composition is by Rika Takasugi; character design by Eiji Abiko; music by Takeshi Hama. Kyoko Hikawa is credited as original work supervisor, keeping the adaptation in close conversation with her vision.

The confirmed main cast, per the Natalie announcement (Japanese):

  • Noriko Tachiki — Tomoyo Kurosawa, best known internationally for her role as Violet in Violet Evergarden
  • Izark Kia Tarj — Kentarō Kumagai
  • Rachef — Yūichirō Umehara, known for Made in Abyss and Black Clover
  • Keimos Lee Goda — Eiji Takeuchi

The teaser leans into atmosphere over action — a close-up of Izark, the alien landscape, a sense of a world that operates by rules Noriko does not yet understand. It reads as faithful to the manga’s tone.

Premiere Date and What Singapore Fans Can Watch

From Far Away Kanata Kara teaser PV still showing Izark close-up, October 2026
Image courtesy of Studio DEEN / 彼方から Production Committee

From Far Away premieres on TOKYO MX on October 4 at 24:00 JST — that is 11 PM SGT on October 4. ABC TV follows on October 10, WOWOW on October 13. No international streaming deal has been announced as of today; we will update this post when a platform confirms rights for Singapore and Southeast Asia. International licensing for Studio DEEN productions has gone various ways in recent years, so it is genuinely to be confirmed.

In the meantime, the full teaser is on NBCUniversal Anime/Music’s YouTube channel, and the official anime site is live with the key visual. For more anime and manga news, browse our full archive.

Manga Anime

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

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

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

Everything Confirmed for Season 5

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

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

A Darker Key Visual That Sets the Tone

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

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

How to Watch — and Where to Catch Up

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

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

Manga Anime, News

Mushoku Tensei Season 3 Premieres July 5 on Crunchyroll

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Singapore isekai fans, this is your reminder: Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Season 3 drops on Crunchyroll on 5 July 2026 — tomorrow. One of the most consistently impressive isekai anime in recent memory picks up directly where Season 2’s emotionally loaded finale left off, and from what the trailers are showing, Studio Bind has not let the momentum slip.

Eris Boreas Greyrat as Sword King in Mushoku Tensei Season 3 — close-up key visual with sword
Image courtesy of Studio Bind

The Asura Kingdom Arc — From Domestic Peace to Political War

Season 3 adapts Volumes 13–18 of Rifujin na Magonote’s light novel series, covering what fans know as the Asura Kingdom Arc — the point where the story expands from personal drama into full-scale political intrigue. Rudeus Greyrat is married to both Sylphiette and Roxy Migurdia now, he’s a graduate of Ranoa Magic Academy, and for a brief, gorgeous moment it looks like his reincarnated life might actually go well. Then a visit to Perugius’s floating fortress brings a crisis that pulls the whole party apart, and the fallout leads straight into the power struggles surrounding Princess Ariel’s claim to the Asura throne.

Two new characters are introduced: Nina Farion (voiced by Haruka Tomatsu) and Gal Farion (voiced by Tetsu Inada), who play significant roles in this arc.

Rudeus Greyrat with Sylphiette and Roxy Migurdia in Mushoku Tensei Season 3
Image courtesy of Studio Bind

Eris Is Back — and She Is a Sword King

If you’ve been waiting for this since Eris walked away without explanation at the end of Season 1, Season 3 is where she returns in full. The Season 3 key visual shows Eris Boreas Greyrat as a Sword King — one of the highest combat tiers in the North God style of swordsmanship — and the close-up of her expression tells you everything about how she’s changed. She left a fiery, impulsive noble girl; she’s coming back as something forged. What happens when she and Rudeus finally face each other again is one of the most anticipated character moments in the entire novel series.

Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Season 3 | Official Trailer — via Crunchyroll on YouTube

Production — Studio Bind’s Full Team Returns

Studio Bind is back with the full crew: director Ryosuke Shibuya, character designers Sanae Shimada and Ryota Furukawa, and composer Yoshiaki Fujisawa on the score. Yuiko Ohara, who has performed key songs throughout the franchise, performs the Season 3 opening theme Ketsui no Uta. The continuity of staff is one of the reasons Mushoku Tensei has maintained such a consistent visual and tonal identity across its seasons — no major shake-ups here.

Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation series key art with full cast
Image courtesy of Studio Bind

Watch on Crunchyroll from 5 July — Singapore

Crunchyroll holds global simulcast rights for Season 3, which means Singapore viewers get new episodes alongside the Japanese broadcast each week from 5 July 2026. Subtitled episodes arrive first; an English dub will follow in the coming weeks.

If you haven’t started the series yet, both Season 1 and Season 2 are available on Crunchyroll now. It’s one of the few isekai titles that genuinely earns its long runtime — the craft behind each arc gets richer the longer you stay in. Find more summer season picks in our anime coverage.

Manga Anime

Re:ZERO Season 4 Recapture Arc Premieres August 12 on Crunchyroll

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Re:ZERO fans, mark your calendars — the Recapture Arc, the high-stakes second half of Season 4, lands on Crunchyroll on 12 August 2026. With the first episode of the new arc being screened today at Anime Expo 2026 in Los Angeles as part of KADOKAWA’s 10th Anniversary Panel, the anticipation is already running high for Singapore fans.

Where Season 4 Left Off

Re:ZERO Season 4 Loss Arc key visual featuring Subaru surrounded by characters and the tagline Who are you?
Image courtesy of KADOKAWA / Re:ZERO4 PARTNERS

White Fox’s fourth season launched on 8 April 2026 with the Loss Arc (喪失編) — eleven crushing episodes set in the Watergate City of Priestella. Subaru and his allies clashed with the Archbishops of Gluttony and Lust, emerging with a fractured victory that cost them dearly: Rem fell into an unending sleep under the Authority of Gluttony, Crusch lost her memories entirely, and Julius’s very name was devoured from the minds of everyone who knew him. Subaru himself came out the other side suffering from amnesia.

The Loss Arc concluded on 17 June 2026 and all eleven episodes are on Crunchyroll right now — perfect for Singapore viewers who need to catch up before the Recapture Arc drops in August.

The Recapture Arc — “Take it back, no matter what”

The new key visual, revealed on 17 June, says everything about the shift in tone. Subaru surges upward with his arms outstretched and desperation on his face, surrounded by Emilia, Beatrice, Ram, Echidna, and the rest of the cast — while Rem, still lost in her unending sleep, sits quietly in the lower right corner. The warm, golden palette of library-lit amber couldn’t be further from the cracked, shadowed blue of the Loss Arc’s ominous “Who are you?” poster.

The Recapture Arc (奪還編) covers Arc 6 of Tappei Nagatsuki’s original light novels and runs for 8 episodes (Episodes 12–19). Subaru’s mission leads him into the Auguria Dunes — a vast and unforgiving desert that stands as the only path to the Pleiades Watchtower, where the Sage Shaula may hold the key to reversing the catastrophic damage wrought by the Archbishops of Gluttony.

“Stay Alive ~Regain~” — ten years of Emilia in three minutes

「Stay Alive 〜Regain〜」Studio Performance — via Re:ゼロから始める異世界生活チャンネル【公式】 on YouTube

To mark the end of the Loss Arc, the official Re:ZERO channel released a studio performance video of “Stay Alive ~Regain~” — a new rendition of the beloved Season 1 ending theme, now performed by Emilia’s voice actress Rie Takahashi. Written, composed and arranged by Heart’s Cry, the track became available on digital platforms from 18 June 2026.

Stay Alive Regain single artwork showing a close-up of Emilia's eye, with text showing the song title and Rie Takahashi as voice actress
Image courtesy of KADOKAWA / Re:ZERO4 PARTNERS

It’s the first time Takahashi has performed the song in character since Season 1 — and the weight of that decade shows. As she explained in the official announcement relayed via Anime Corner: “While preserving the feelings and spirit of the original song, I embraced it with the warmth that Emilia carries in her heart today.” The performance doubles as a celebration of Re:ZERO’s 10th anniversary — the original web novel series began in 2012, and this franchise has defined isekai storytelling for an entire generation of fans.

When and Where to Watch in Singapore

Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- Season 4 streams on Crunchyroll, which is available in Singapore and across Southeast Asia with both subtitled and English dubbed episodes, simulcast alongside the Japanese broadcast. Episode 12 — the first chapter of the Recapture Arc — goes live on 12 August 2026.

Director Masahiro Shinohara leads the production at White Fox, with character designs by Haruka Sagawa. The season’s opening theme is “Recollect” by Konomi Suzuki and Ashnikko; the ending theme is “Ender Ember” by Myth & Roid and TK from Ling Tosite Sigure.

If you’re powering through the backlog, all previous seasons are on streaming platforms — and you can find more anime coverage right here on GameTrader.SG.

Manga Anime

Thunder 3 Anime Hits Netflix 8 July — What to Expect

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If your Netflix queue needs a fresh weekly obsession this July, Thunder 3 (サンダー3) might be exactly that. The isekai mystery series — based on Yuki Ikeda’s manga from Monthly Shōnen Magazine — debuts globally on Netflix on 8 July 2026, with Singapore subscribers able to stream from day one.

What Is Thunder 3? The Manga That Just Ended

Thunder 3 ran in Kodansha’s Monthly Shōnen Magazine from May 2022 to June 2026, wrapping up its complete 8-volume run literally weeks before the anime adaptation premieres. Written and illustrated by Yuki Ikeda, the series sits at the intersection of isekai, mystery, and science fantasy — a more interesting combination than it might first sound.

Panel from the Thunder 3 manga showing Pyontaro and Hiroshi
Image courtesy of Yuki Ikeda / Kodansha

The story follows three inseparable middle schoolers — Pyontaro Tezuka, Hiroshi Ochanomizu, and Tsubame Azuma, nicknamed the “Small Three” — who stumble upon a mysterious disc belonging to their teacher, Dr. Doc. Playing it unleashes an alien dragonfly from their TV screen, and in the chaos Pyontaro’s younger sister Futaba and the family pet are dragged into a parallel world and captured by its extraterrestrial inhabitants. What starts as ordinary boyhood friendship turns into an interdimensional rescue mission.

Netflix, Fuji TV, and a Surprising Director

Thunder 3 | Official Trailer — via Netflix Anime on YouTube

The TV anime premieres on Fuji TV’s +Ultra block from 8 July 2026, broadcasting every Wednesday night, with Netflix handling global streaming from the same date. Singapore viewers can jump straight in on launch day — no region restrictions.

The creative team is worth noting. Per the Anime Expo 2026 press release coverage, Hiroyuki Seshita directs — the same filmmaker behind the bleak, atmospheric sci-fi of Blame! (2017) and Ajin: Demi-Human on Netflix. Series composition is handled by Hiroshi Seko (Witch Hat Atelier, Rooster Fighter), with studio UNEDN producing the animation. That pairing of a hard-sci-fi director with a chibi-inflected adventure story is one of the more unexpected creative decisions of the summer anime season.

The Small Three — Pyontaro, Hiroshi, and Tsubame — in the Netflix Official Trailer for Thunder 3
Image courtesy of Thunder 3 Production Committee

North American Premiere at Anime Expo 2026

Thunder 3 gets its North American premiere at Anime Expo 2026 on 4 July — Room 408AB at the Los Angeles Convention Center, 3:15 PM PDT — with Seshita and Seko present for the panel. For Singapore fans weighing up a new seasonal watch, that screening lands just four days before the Netflix global drop, so any buzz coming out of LA will be very fresh when the series goes live on 8 July.

Character close-up from the Thunder 3 anime promotional video 2
Image courtesy of Thunder 3 Production Committee

How to Watch Thunder 3 in Singapore

Thunder 3 is a Netflix exclusive in Singapore from 8 July 2026, with new episodes dropping weekly. The manga source is fully concluded at 8 volumes — available digitally through Kodansha USA’s Azuki platform for anyone who wants to read ahead or revisit the story after the credits roll. Browse more anime picks on GameTrader as the summer season gets underway.

Manga Anime

Mushoku Tensei Season 3 Premieres 5 July — Studio Bind Is Back

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After a two-year gap, Rudeus Greyrat is almost back. Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Season 3 has locked in a 5 July 2026 premiere date, with Studio Bind returning for what is shaping up to be one of the biggest isekai events of the summer season.

Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Season 3 | OFFICIAL TRAILER — via Crunchyroll on YouTube

What Is the Perugius Arc — and Why Does It Matter for Mushoku Tensei Season 3?

Mushoku Tensei Season 3 key visual featuring the main cast
Image courtesy of Studio Bind

Season 3 picks up from Volume 14 of Rifujin na Magonote’s original light novel, heading into the so-called Everyday-life Arc. Rudeus and his companions make for the legendary floating fortress of the Dragon God Perugius — a destination that promises answers about the world’s deeper mysteries. But the journey takes a dark turn when one member of the group is struck down by a deadly illness, forcing Rudeus to navigate a new kind of crisis: not a dungeon boss or a magical disaster, but the threat of losing someone he loves to something he cannot simply fight off.

It is a quieter arc by Mushoku Tensei’s standards, but fans of the source material know it lands some of the series’ most emotionally resonant moments. After Season 2’s harrowing conclusion — which left both Rudeus and his audience reeling — the shift into this more grounded chapter feels earned.

Studio Bind Returns With the Same Team That Built the Benchmark

Consistency is one of Mushoku Tensei’s greatest strengths, and Season 3 is no exception. Director Ryosuke Shibuya is back, as are character designers Sanae Shimada and Ryota Furukawa, and composer Yoshiaki Fujisawa, who has scored every instalment of the anime to date. The returning core voice cast is intact: Yumi Uchiyama as Rudeus, Kokomo Kohara as Roxy, Ai Kayano as Sylphiette, and Ai Kakuma as Eris.

Roxy Migurdia in Mushoku Tensei Season 3
Image courtesy of Studio Bind

Two notable new faces join the cast this season: Haruka Tomatsu steps in as Nina Farion, and Tetsu Inada voices Gal Farion — characters whose significance to the Perugius storyline will become clear once the season is underway. Both are experienced voice actors with extensive credits across major anime titles, which suggests the new roles are being taken seriously.

With an 8.2 rating on IMDb and four consecutive Crunchyroll Anime Awards nominations across its first two seasons, Mushoku Tensei has established itself as one of the genre’s flagship productions. Season 3 inherits that reputation and, from the looks of the official trailer, intends to uphold it.

Yuiko Ohara Opens; Mika Nakashima Brings the Season Home

The theme song lineup for Season 3 is turning heads. Yuiko Ohara — whose warm, introspective style proved a perfect fit for this series in earlier seasons — handles the opening theme. The ending, meanwhile, goes to Mika Nakashima, whose contribution is titled Prayer, If It Ends.

Singapore fans who caught Mika Nakashima’s 2026 Asia tour will recognise the name immediately — she is one of Japan’s most beloved singer-actresses, with a discography that spans J-pop ballads and anime tie-ins alike. Having her sign off each Mushoku Tensei episode this summer is a genuinely exciting pairing, and the ending theme PV released in early June 2026 gives a strong sense of the emotional register she brings to the material.

Where to Watch Mushoku Tensei Season 3 in Singapore

Crunchyroll has confirmed a worldwide simulcast for Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Season 3, with episodes dropping weekly as they air in Japan from 5 July. Singapore viewers should note that streaming rights for anime in Southeast Asia sometimes differ from the global arrangement — previous seasons of Mushoku Tensei were available locally via platforms including Muse Asia, Netflix, and meWATCH in addition to Crunchyroll, depending on the period. We recommend checking your preferred platform close to the premiere date to confirm local availability.

For more anime coming this summer, keep an eye on our coverage as the July season ramps up.

Last Words

Two years is a long time in anime fandom, but Mushoku Tensei has always rewarded patience. The Perugius Arc brings a different energy to the series — slower, more introspective, and emotionally heavier than the action peaks of earlier seasons — and that shift in register is precisely what makes it such a compelling pivot point in the story. With the same creative team, a stacked voice cast, and a genuinely exciting music lineup headlined by Mika Nakashima, Singapore fans have every reason to clear their schedule for 5 July. Rudeus’s journey continues — and if the trailer is any guide, Studio Bind has no intention of letting the standard slip.

Manga Anime

The Fake Alchemist Gets TV Anime — Passione Animates

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Kadokawa has confirmed that The Fake Alchemist (Nisemono no Renkinjutsushi) is getting a full TV anime adaptation — and the announcement came with a teaser visual and a commemorative PV. The studio handling the project is Passione, and with over a million copies of the manga sold in Japan, this one has been a long time coming.

From Pixiv Gem to Million-Copy Sensation

The Fake Alchemist began as a self-published webcomic on Pixiv by storywriter Jirō Sugiura and illustrator Umemaru before being picked up for official serialisation on Kadokawa’s KadoComi and Nico Nico Seiga platforms in June 2023. In just three years the manga quietly crossed one million copies in Japan — a remarkable milestone for a series that started as a passion project.

The Fake Alchemist manga announcement artwork
Image courtesy of Kadokawa / Umemaru

The series is available in English via Yen Press, with five compiled volumes out now — so Singapore fans who want to read ahead of the anime already have a solid head start.

What Is The Fake Alchemist About?

The story is set in the city-state of Orichalconia, a world where alchemy and magic permeate everyday life. A reincarnated Paracelsus ekes out a quiet existence as an alchemist, carefully concealing abilities that far exceed those of everyone around him. His low-key arrangement unravels when he enters into a contract with a shaman slave-girl named Nora — the character at the centre of today’s teaser visual — and later encounters Coco, an elf who has lost all four limbs and five senses.

The premise leans into classic isekai conventions — a hidden overpowered protagonist, unlikely bonds, a richly imagined fantasy world — but the manga’s devoted following suggests Sugiura and Umemaru execute them with enough craft to stand apart from a crowded field.

The Studio: Passione

Production duties go to Passione, the studio known for its work on the Higurashi: When They Cry – GOU and SOTSU reimaginings. Cast, staff, and broadcast schedule details have not yet been announced — Kadokawa says further information will be shared at a later date.

When Can Singapore Fans Watch It?

No streaming partners have been confirmed yet, but given that Crunchyroll covered the announcement today, it remains a natural fit — though nothing is locked in. In the meantime, check out our Manga Anime section for more picks while you wait for a broadcast date.

Last words

A million-copy indie manga earning its anime adaptation with a proven studio attached — The Fake Alchemist is exactly the kind of grassroots-to-mainstream story we love to see. Singapore fans who have been sleeping on the manga now have a very good reason to start reading. We’ll bring you cast and air-date news the moment Kadokawa drops them.