Tag Archives: Studio Pierrot

Manga Anime, News

Black Clover Season 2 Finally Returns in October 2026

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Five years is a long time to wait. Black Clover Season 2 is finally returning this October 2026 — and if the world premiere screening at Anime Expo 2026 is anything to go by, Asta and the Black Bulls are coming back stronger than ever. With the manga itself having completed its 11-year serialisation in May 2026, the timing of this anime comeback lands at exactly the right moment.

The Spade Kingdom Arc — Black Clover’s Best, Now Animated

Season 2 doesn’t ease you back in gently. The premiere episode, screened to a packed audience at Anime Expo 2026 on 4 July, opens in the Spade Kingdom and dives straight into the aftermath of the Spade Kingdom Raid — the story arc many fans consider the series’ creative peak. Reactions from AX attendees described the episode as distinctly “powered-up”, with particular praise going to a striking black-and-white sequence during Nacht Faust’s Mana Zone — a bold stylistic choice that signals this season won’t play it safe.

At the heart of the story is Asta’s training with his demon partner Liebe, guided by the enigmatic Black Bulls deputy captain Nacht Faust, as the two work towards mastering Devil Union Form — a temporary fusion of human and demon that amplifies Asta’s anti-magic to jaw-dropping levels. Alongside him, Noelle Silva and Yuno Grinberryall reach new heights that pay off years of patient setup for long-time readers.

Black Clover Season 2 — Asta in front of an illustration featuring Nacht, Yami, and Yuno
Image courtesy of Studio Pierrot / Crunchyroll
Black Clover Second Season — Official Trailer 3 — via Crunchyroll on YouTube

Studio Pierrot Returns — With a Fresh Team and Higher Ambitions

Studio Pierrot is back in production, which is what fans had hoped. The studio brings a largely renewed creative team: Ayataka Tanemura takes the director’s chair (he helmed portions of the original series and directed the Sword of the Wizard King Netflix film), with series composer Keiichiro Ochi, new character designer Itsuko Takeda, and new music composer Minako Seki. The updated character designs show a noticeably more polished look for the cast, and early screenshots suggest the animation quality is aiming for the heights Pierrot reached on Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War — strong words, but the first-episode reaction from AX backs it up.

Black Clover Season 2 — official character promotional art
Image courtesy of Studio Pierrot / Crunchyroll

WANIMA Opens the Season with “Kienai Riyuu”

The opening theme is “Kienai Riyuu” (消えない理由 — “The Reason It Won’t Fade”) by Japanese punk-rock band WANIMA. The group, known for their anthemic, full-throttle energy and previous contributions to the My Hero Academia and Haikyu!! soundtracks, is an instinctive fit for Black Clover’s never-quit spirit. Previews of the theme in the official trailer have already sparked “one of the best OPs of the year” claims online — which, for a 5-year comeback, is exactly the reception this series needed.

Black Clover Season 2 — key visual promotional art
Image courtesy of Studio Pierrot / Crunchyroll

Streaming for Singapore Fans

Black Clover Season 2 premieres in Japan in October 2026. Crunchyroll has confirmed streaming in international regions outside Asia. Singapore fans should watch Crunchyroll Asia‘s catalogue directly — Asia-specific streaming rights for many Studio Pierrot titles are handled separately, so a regional platform may carry it shortly after the Japan broadcast. If the original series’ distribution is any guide, it should find its way here.

Those looking to get ahead can revisit Season 1’s 170 episodes, or — since the manga completed its 11-year serialisation in May 2026 — dive into the source material now. An Official Guidebook covering the full story with creator commentary also drops in Japan on 4 August 2026. For more upcoming anime hitting Singapore-accessible platforms, check our anime and manga section.

Manga Anime, News

BLEACH: The Calamity Premieres 25 July — Ichigo’s Final Battle on Disney+

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Twenty years of serialisation, four anime arcs — and now the finish line. BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 4 — The Calamity premieres on 25 July on Disney+ internationally and Hulu in the US, bringing Ichigo Kurosaki’s saga to its definitive end across 13 final episodes. The full final trailer dropped at Anime Expo 2026 via VIZ Media, and it is everything fans have been building up to.

Final Trailer | BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War Final Part – The Calamity | INTL SUBS | VIZ — via vizmedia on YouTube

Ichigo vs Yhwach — The War Ends Here

Part 4 picks up in the direct aftermath of the Soul King’s fall. With Yhwach having breached the Soul King Palace and unleashed his Almighty power across the Three Worlds, reality itself begins to fracture. The Thirteen Court Guard Squads, surviving Quincy warriors, and Ichigo’s closest allies converge on the Wahr Welt — Yhwach’s transformed Royal Palace — for a series of decisive confrontations, revelations about Uryu’s true allegiance, and one final stand against a being who can rewrite fate itself. The arc adapts manga chapters 664–686, covering the complete endgame of Tite Kubo’s story.

Ichigo reaches for his zanpakuto between crossed blades in BLEACH: The Calamity key art
Image courtesy of Pierrot Films

Theatrical screenings of the first three episodes — in both Japanese with subtitles and English dub — ran in select countries last month, giving some fans an early look. The Disney+ simulcast on 25 July marks the first chance for most of the world, including Singapore, to watch the arc unfold week by week.

Studio Pierrot Returns — With Two New Artists on the Soundtrack

Studio Pierrot continues under director Taguchi Tomohisa, who has helmed every part of the TYBW run since Part 1. Composer Sagisu Shiro returns to score the finale, and Tite Kubo maintains his direct supervisory role over the adaptation — the same combination that earned the series praise for matching and in many scenes exceeding the source material.

The opening theme “I-BULL” is performed by jo0ji, with “Rasen” by 9Lana as the ending. As reported by CBR, Kubo has spoken about his approach to casting theme song artists throughout the run: “I wanted to have as many new artists as possible, hoping audiences would discover musicians through the adaptation.” Both new acts continue that philosophy.

Ichigo's full power on display mid-battle in BLEACH: The Calamity
Image courtesy of Pierrot Films
Yoruichi Shihoin, fierce and ready, in BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War — The Calamity
Image courtesy of Pierrot Films

How Singapore Fans Can Stream The Calamity

BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 4 streams on Disney+ internationally from 25 July 2026, with new episodes dropping weekly. The premiere goes live at 7:30 AM Pacific Time — 10:30 PM SGT on 25 July — so Singapore fans can settle in that Saturday evening for the opening episode. Disney+ is available in Singapore; if you have been keeping up with earlier TYBW parts on the platform, nothing changes on your end.

Ichigo's battle-scarred face, hollow marking visible, in BLEACH: The Calamity final arc
Image courtesy of Pierrot Films

With 13 episodes confirmed, The Calamity is a tight, focused sprint to the finish of a story that began in Weekly Shonen Jump in 2001. The Thousand-Year Blood War adaptation has consistently been praised for its cinematic quality and fidelity to Kubo’s vision — expectations going into this final run are as high as they get. Keep an eye on our anime section for coverage as each episode drops.

Manga Anime

Black Clover Season 2 Premieres at Anime Expo 2026 — Coming to Crunchyroll in October

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After a five-year hiatus, Black Clover Season 2 made its world debut at Anime Expo 2026 in Los Angeles today — and for Singapore fans on Crunchyroll, the wait is nearly over. Studio Pierrot screened the first episode of the new season at the Peacock Theater on 4 July, with the full series confirmed to begin broadcasting in October 2026.

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

What’s Coming in Black Clover Season 2

Asta in Black Clover Season 2 — official promotional art
Image courtesy of Studio Pierrot / TV Tokyo

Season 2 picks up the Spade Kingdom Raid arc — the storyline beginning around volume 28 of Yūki Tabata’s manga. It’s the arc fans have been demanding for years: Asta and his devil Liebe pushing their Devil Union to its limit, Nacht’s gruelling training arc, and the Magic Knights launching a desperate all-out assault on the Spade Kingdom’s ruling Dark Triad.

The new key visual sets the stakes immediately. Asta dominates the centre in full Devil Union form, wild-eyed and wreathed in anti-magic shadows. Noelle rises in her Saint Valkyrie Dress; Yuno blazes with Spirit Dive. The tagline — 「倒して、生きる」 (“Defeat them, and live”) — signals this season will not ease anyone in gently.

The Anime Expo 2026 Panel

Black Clover Season 2 — Asta Devil Union cinematic promotional art
Image courtesy of Studio Pierrot / TV Tokyo

Today’s one-hour AX panel featured Asta’s voice actor Gakuto Kajiwara alongside the season’s new director Ayataka Tanemura, whose work on Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King on Netflix earned wide praise. Joining him are script supervisor Keiichiro Ochi, character designers Itsuko Takeda and Kumiko Tokunaga, and composer Minako Seki.

Attendees got an exclusive early screening of Episode 1. Early audience impressions, as covered by ComicBook.com, suggest the new season drops viewers straight into the Spade Kingdom conflict with little pause for recap — exactly the approach long-time fans will appreciate.

Watching Black Clover Season 2 in Singapore

Black Clover official promotional art — Asta with Nacht and Yami
Image courtesy of Studio Pierrot / Shueisha

Crunchyroll holds exclusive global streaming rights for Black Clover Season 2, with episodes simulcasting alongside the TV Tokyo broadcast from October. Both Japanese audio with subtitles and an English dub are confirmed. Crunchyroll is fully available in Singapore — the complete first-season run of more than 170 episodes is already on the platform if you want to rewatch or catch up before October.

A specific premiere date within October has not yet been announced — expect confirmation closer to broadcast. Given Crunchyroll’s track record with major Shōnen Jump titles, a same-day Japan simulcast is almost certain.

Five Years in the Making

The original Black Clover TV anime ran from October 2017 to March 2021, adapting Asta’s journey from a magic-less orphan to a feared Black Bulls captain across more than 170 episodes. Since then, Tabata has kept the manga moving into its final arc, and the Sword of the Wizard King film bridged the gap — but the anime adaptation of the Spade Kingdom saga has been the white whale. October cannot come fast enough.

Keep an eye on our manga and anime coverage for updates as the October premiere date is pinned down.

Manga Anime, News

Bleach TYBW: The Calamity Premieres July 25 — Kubo Chose the Final Themes

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The wait is almost over. Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Calamity, the fourth and final cour of the revived anime, has locked in its premiere: July 25, 2026, at 11:00 PM JST on TV Tokyo and affiliated networks. Streaming across multiple platforms follows from July 26 — meaning Singapore fans can catch it the very same weekend it drops in Japan.

What Is The Calamity — and Why the Entire Bleach Fandom Is Watching

This is not a regular new season. The Calamity is the endgame — the final stretch of the Thousand-Year Blood War arc, the storyline Tite Kubo concluded in the manga years ago that anime fans have been waiting to see faithfully adapted ever since the original Bleach anime ended in 2012.

The first three cours — The Blood Warfare (2022), The Separation (2023), and The Conflict (2024) — reset expectations for what shonen anime could look like visually. Part 4 now picks up with Ichigo Kurosaki and what remains of Soul Society’s forces in their final confrontation with Yhwach, the Quincy king whose power to rewrite fate makes him the most formidable villain the series has produced.

The official key visual released by Studio Pierrot makes the stakes clear without a word of dialogue: Ichigo, battered and kneeling, stares up at a massive dark form devouring the sky, surrounded by shattered zanpakuto blades. The Japanese text reads 後の刃は振り下ろされる — “the final blade falls.” Below it: 千年血戦篸 禍進譚. The Calamity. July 25.

Yoruichi Shihouin in battle in Bleach Thousand-Year Blood War The Calamity
Image courtesy of Studio Pierrot

Kubo’s Personal Touch: Choosing Both Theme Songs Himself

One of the more striking details around The Calamity’s rollout: creator Tite Kubo personally selected both theme songs for the final arc, listening to tracks from the demo stage before making the final calls. Rather than going with well-known franchise names or returning performers, he chose new-to-most-fans artists — a deliberate move to give the finale its own distinct identity.

The opening theme is “I-BULL” by jo0ji. Each episode closes with “Spiral” by 9Lana.

It is consistent with how Kubo has approached this entire adaptation. Throughout all four cours, he has reportedly contributed story material exclusive to the anime — which means even readers who finished the manga will encounter moments they have not seen before.

Official Trailer | BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War Final Part – The Calamity | INTL SUBS — via VIZ on YouTube

The Theatrical Head-Start and the Creative Team Behind It

Before the TV broadcast, the first three episodes screened in selected US theaters between June 25 and 29, part of a Viz Media theatrical event. The screenings included an exclusive behind-the-scenes conversation with Kubo, chief series director Tomohisa Taguchi, and series director Hikaru Murata — a rare window into how the final arc was assembled, as reported by ComicBook.com.

Scene from Bleach Thousand-Year Blood War The Calamity official Viz Media trailer
Image courtesy of Studio Pierrot / Viz Media

When Singapore Fans Can Watch

The broadcast starts July 25 at 11:00 PM JST — that is 10:00 PM SGT the same Saturday night. Streaming from July 26 across multiple platforms; Singapore fans who followed Parts 1–3 should find The Calamity on the same service they used for the earlier cours. If your platform of choice has not confirmed it yet, check back on or after July 26.

If you have not caught up on the previous three parts, the next three weeks are the window to do it. All prior seasons of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War run across roughly 50 episodes of visually exceptional anime — and The Calamity will not wait for stragglers.

Keep an eye on our Manga & Anime section for more Summer 2026 season coverage.

Manga Anime

Black Clover Season 2 Returns in October — Episode 1 Premieres at Anime Expo This Saturday

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After five years, one movie, and the conclusion of Yuki Tabata’s manga, Black Clover Season 2 is officially happening — and it’s coming sooner than many fans expected. The new season is confirmed for an October 2026 broadcast start, with Studio Pierrot returning to handle animation and the full original voice cast reprising their roles.

Episode 1 Premieres at Anime Expo This Saturday

Black Clover Season 2 Anime Expo 2026 panel announcement — July 4
Image courtesy of Studio Pierrot / Shueisha

Before the October broadcast begins, the first episode gets its world premiere at Anime Expo 2026 in Los Angeles this Saturday, 4 July, from 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM Pacific time. Director Ayataka Tanemura and Asta’s voice actor Gakuto Kajiwara will be at the panel in person. Singapore fans watching the AX news feed live: that session runs Sunday 5 July at 4:30 AM SGT — probably one for the truly dedicated.

The panel will include the episode 1 screening and additional announcements, so expect new details about the season — episode count, OP/ED themes, and possibly a premiere date — to surface over the weekend.

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

The Spade Kingdom Raid Arc — Where the Story Goes

Asta in Devil Union mode — Black Clover Season 2
Image courtesy of Studio Pierrot / Shueisha

Season 2 picks up where Season 1 left off in 2021: the Clover Kingdom’s Magic Knights launching their all-out assault on the Spade Kingdom to rescue Captain Yami and William Vangeance. Asta’s Devil Union with Liebe — teased extensively in the trailers — is the centrepiece of the new season’s power scaling, alongside Yuno’s Spirit Dive and Nacht’s Devil Unite techniques.

Unlike the original run, there’s no concern about the anime outpacing the source material. Tabata’s manga wrapped up after over 11 years of serialisation, which means the production team has the full story to work with — a significant advantage that should translate into a tighter, more purposeful adaptation.

The production team for Season 2: director Ayataka Tanemura (who also directed Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King), series scripts by Keiichiro Ochi, character design by Itsuko Takeda and Kumiko Tokunaga, and music by Minako Seki.

Where Singapore Fans Can Watch

Asta full Devil Union form with lightning — Black Clover Season 2
Image courtesy of Studio Pierrot / Shueisha

Crunchyroll has announced streaming rights for the US and other international regions, but explicitly excludes Asia from its distribution deal. That means Singapore fans will need to look elsewhere for a legal stream — the platform for Asia has not been officially confirmed at the time of writing. The original series was available in Singapore via both Crunchyroll and Amazon Prime Video, so Prime Video or another regional service is the most likely home for Season 2 in our market. Watch the official Black Clover social channels for a regional streaming announcement closer to October.

We’ll be following this one closely as Anime Expo announcements roll in over the weekend. In the meantime, catch up on the other anime arriving this season — the summer 2026 slate is stacked.

Manga Anime

Black Clover Second Season Confirmed for October 2026 — World Premiere at Anime Expo on 4 July

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The Black Clover anime is back. Studio Pierrot has confirmed that Black Clover Second Season will premiere in October 2026, continuing the story of Asta and the Magic Knights after a five-year gap since the original 170-episode run ended in 2021. On top of that, a world premiere of the very first episode is set for Anime Expo 2026 on 4 July in Los Angeles — just over a week away — with the voice of Asta himself, Gakuto Kajiwara, and returning director Ayataka Tanemura in attendance.

Five Years in the Making: Black Clover Second Season

The original Black Clover anime ran from 2017 to 2021 across 170 episodes, produced by Studio Pierrot and covering the manga through the intense Spade Kingdom arc. The manga concluded its serialisation in Weekly Shōnen Jump after over eleven years, and the Second Season is set to animate the story’s climactic final chapters — the ones fans who read ahead have been waiting years to see animated.

Director Ayataka Tanemura — who helmed the original run as well as the 2023 film Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King — is back in the chair, with Studio Pierrot returning as the animation house. Confirmed returnees include Gakuto Kajiwara as Asta and Nobunaga Shimazaki as Yuno.

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

Anime Expo 2026: World Premiere on 4 July

The world premiere of Episode 1 will be held at Anime Expo 2026 in Los Angeles on 4 July, ahead of the October broadcast. The panel includes Gakuto Kajiwara and director Ayataka Tanemura, making it a genuine event for fans who can attend in person — and a major source of first impressions and clips for everyone watching online. Anime Expo runs from 2 to 5 July, but the Black Clover premiere is on Day 3 at the Peacock Theater, starting at 1:30 PM Pacific Time.

Black Clover Second Season official key visual featuring Asta in Devil Union form
Image courtesy of Studio Pierrot / Shueisha

Singapore Streaming: What We Know

Crunchyroll will stream Black Clover Second Season internationally when it premieres in October — but with one important caveat: the announcement specifies that Crunchyroll’s deal excludes Asia. For Singapore viewers, that means Crunchyroll is not the confirmed option here.

The original Black Clover seasons are available on Netflix Singapore, which suggests a regional streaming deal exists — but there has been no official confirmation yet from Netflix or any other Asia-region service about carrying the Second Season. We’ll update this when streaming partners for Southeast Asia are announced. In the meantime, Asta’s return is worth bookmarking: October 2026 is about three months away, and with an episode 1 premiere at AX on 4 July, more details should surface shortly.

Asta in Devil Union mode in Black Clover Second Season
Image courtesy of Studio Pierrot / Shueisha

We’ll have full coverage of any streaming announcements for Singapore as they come. In the meantime, browse our anime news for everything else airing this season.

Black Clover Season 2 key visual
Manga Anime, News

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

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

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

The Official Confirmation — Published Today in Weekly Shōnen Jump

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

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

Director Ayataka Tanemura and the Core Team Are Back

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

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

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

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

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

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

Last Words

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