Crunchyroll Is Turning Its Back on Anime Physical Media

By
Noah Hunter
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Crunchyroll Physical Media

I’m a big fan of physical media. I believe in owning Blu-rays and games that I love, putting them on a shelf, and grabbing them whenever I want to experience them again. I’ve got hundreds of Nintendo and PlayStation games, plus plenty of 4K Blu-rays, too. However, one of the biggest cornerstones of my physical media collection is anime Blu-rays. I’ve got all my favorites, including Attack on Titan, Gurren Lagann, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Re:ZERO, and much more. In recent years, I haven’t built up my collection much, and a large reason for this is because of one company: Sony. If you’re familiar with the anime world, you’re likely aware of the fact that Sony owns Crunchyroll, Aniplex, and has made major investments in companies such as Kadokawa. While this alone wouldn’t normally have a major effect on physical media, one piece of Sony’s anime business has become especially frustrating for physical media collectors: the Crunchyroll Store.

The more time goes on, the more I continue to mourn the loss of RightStufAnime. What was once a brilliant storefront containing great deals, a seemingly endless catalog, top-of-the-line shipping practices, and generally just customer-first practices has been diminished into the Crunchyroll Store, following Sony’s acquisition of RightStuf in 2022. The Crunchyroll Store started alright, but as time has gone on, it has removed and stripped away almost everything that RightStuf did to put physical media first. As we sit here in 2026, I have serious concerns that this incredibly important part of the anime industry will ever get the respect it deserves under Sony.

The Crunchyroll Store Barely Has Any Product

At least for the first few years of the Crunchyroll Store, inventory was never really an issue (at least in my experience). I could always browse the catalog as I did on RightStuf, with clear descriptions of whether an item was in stock or on backorder. However, things have drastically changed over the last few months. Now, the store is basically empty. You can search for some of the most popular series out there, and often, there’s no Blu-rays listed, completely gone, off the store. 

Frieren was one of the clearest examples of this, but it seems like a Backorder has been pseudo-dropped for July. Great, but what does that do for series like Vinland Saga, which has ZERO listings for Season 2 Blu-rays and only three manga volumes? What about one of the biggest Shonen Jump series of all time, Bleach, having just a few Blu-rays and manga volumes, with more clothing than physical media? I’m not sure what the reason behind such limited offerings is, but truly, it’s baffling. This is the case for almost any series you can think of, with more clothing available than anything. I find it incredibly hard to believe that anime fans shopping at the Crunchyroll Store are searching for clothing rather than a manga volume or Blu-ray set of their favorite series.

Many fans online have tried to pinpoint the reason behind these changes, with some discovering that Crunchyroll’s warehouse operations are likely shifting away from the former RightStuf facility in Iowa. Whatever the cause, the customer-facing result has been frustrating. Backorders for hundreds of products were canceled without a clear explanation; my long-awaited Gurren Lagann Archives backorder was a victim of this. There is speculation that Crunchyroll is planning to liquidate its entire inventory and shut down operations for the store, and if this is the case, the result feels like the slow dismantling of what made RightStuf so beloved in the first place. Even worse, the store could now function as a place focused on strange clothing and other things that no user of RightStuf ever cared for. Whatever the case may be, customers deserve transparency. Crunchyroll promised “to enrich the shopping experience for the anime community” with the RightStuf integration. It has done anything but that.

Beyond hundreds of anime and manga no longer being purchasable, there’s also the factor of price. You see, Crunchyroll is still releasing new Blu-ray sets. Season 3 of Re:Zero is coming this Summer (even though you can only buy TWO light novels on the store, of course), plus the first cour of Dr. STONE Science Future. However, as exciting as it is to see new Blu-ray sets hit the market, it’s hard to be thrilled when these Crunchyroll-distributed releases are marked at $69.99 and $79.99, respectively. Crunchyroll gives a special “discount” to all users that brings the price down, generally ~20% or so from MSRP, but you’re still paying over $60 per Blu-ray.

Just a few years back, we saw most Blu-ray releases listed for $40-50, and now we’re at $80 MSRP. I’m not here to complain about the price of Aniplex Blu-ray sets, as those have been priced much higher than other sets for years. However, we’re even seeing new releases for Aniplex rise in price – Rascal Does Not Dream of Santa Claus is listed for $111.98, with a $139.99 MSRP. You can buy the Season 1 Blu-ray set for $127.98, which contains Season 1 plus Rascal Does Not Dream of a Dreaming Girl. (but again, don’t worry about buying any light novels for the series since the store has none). It’s a shame these are Crunchyroll Exclusive.

Thankfully, Crunchyroll Store isn’t the only storefront that carries anime Blu-rays. One of the most popular happens to be Amazon, a name everyone knows. Considering how bare Crunchyroll’s store is, it’s hilarious to find Amazon acting as the savior of anime Blu-rays for the time being. There are constantly deals on various Blu-rays from popular and niche series, and in all honesty, I could easily find almost any Blu-ray, anime, or manga I wanted. However, I hate relying on Amazon because you never know how products will be packaged. I used to rely on RightStuf to ship my anime physical media, and even the Crunchyroll Store for a while, as there was quality, worry-free shipping that assured items would arrive in pristine condition. This defined RightStuf as a storefront, and with Crunchyroll, it’s not a guarantee anymore. Anime collectors need clear availability, reliable packaging, predictable preorders, complete catalogs, and backorder transparency. Right now, it’s impossible to get that anywhere.

Overall, it’s incredibly frustrating to see what was once the premier storefront for all things anime devolve into a shell of its former self. I can’t even get excited about sales anymore, as those are a far cry from the ones seen with RightStuf. While things look bleak with Crunchyroll, there is hope for the future with other distributors.

There Is A Future for Physical Media

Not all hope for anime physical media is lost. GKIDS, best known for its releases of Studio Ghibli classics, has slowly ramped up distribution more and more over the last two years, and it’s a trend that I hope to see continued going forward. GKIDS handled DANDADAN Season 1 last year, with Season 2 out this year. These releases were priced at $34.99 for the standard edition, which is a MAJOR shift from the $79.99 MSRP that we see Crunchyroll asking for the same 12 episodes. What’s further is the offering of Collector’s Editions, priced at $64.99 MSRP. Isn’t it wild that you can buy TWO standard copies or a Collector’s Edition Blu-ray for less than the price of just one Blu-ray distributed by Crunchyroll?

Even when not considering the price, GKIDS’ standard releases are better than Crunchyroll’s, as these almost always contain bonus features that you normally never find on CR Blu-rays. GKIDS just revealed a Blu-ray of Witch Watch Season 1 this week, bringing all 25 episodes for $39.99! There’s a bonus documentary and director/cast interviews included, too. It’s interesting as well how this series just ended in October 2025 and is already receiving a full Blu-ray release, whereas with Crunchyroll, we’d be getting the first 12 or 13 episodes for $69.99 or higher.

If there’s anything to take away from this, more support needs to be put towards distributors like Sentai and GKIDS, especially. Great things are happening at GKIDS beyond Blu-ray pricing, with quality releases packed with extras for fans, 4K releases for films, and more. GKIDS has also made an incredible effort to bring movies to the big screen each month, with Whisper of the Heart even showing up in IMAX restored in April. I can only hope that we see more and more anime series move to GKIDS for distribution in the years to come.

Considering the sad state of the Crunchyroll Store, Sony and Crunchyroll don’t seem to have any care in the world for physical media fans. It’s such a whiplash and far cry from what we had with RightStuf, and I think anyone could have seen this coming, despite the promises Crunchyroll made with the acquisition. I canceled my Crunchyroll subscription for the first time since subscribing in 2018 after the price hike announcement, and looking at how the business is run, I don’t plan on returning anytime soon. All I can hope is that transparency is brought forth about the strange nature of the Crunchyroll Store, and more care is put towards physical media moving forward. Fans deserve better, customers deserve better, and the anime themselves deserve better than being treated like an afterthought.

Star Wars Visions: Tsukumo Releasing in July 2026

By
Saras Rajpal
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Star Wars Visions: Tsukumo

Eiichi Shimizu and Tomohiro Shimoguchi have announced that their upcoming manga, Star Wars Visions: Tsukumo will release in July 2026 to coincide with San Diego Comic-Con. The Japanese version will release at a later date. 

Star Wars Visions: Tsukumo builds on the Star Wars universe as part of the Star Wars: Visions anime project. It features a unique take on the post-Order 66 era. Viz Media will publish the upcoming manga upon its release. Check out a new look at Star Wars Visions: Tsukumo via the creator duo below:

Viz Media, via several store pages, describes Star Wars Visions: Tsukumo as follows:

Following Order 66, the Empire’s Jedi purge is in full swing and anti-Jedi propaganda is at its height. Among the survivors is Jedi Knight Nagi Tsukumo. Betrayed, poisoned, and on the run, he joins forces with two droid outcasts searching the galaxy for coordinates to a fabled Droid Paradise. 

With an Imperial assassin hot on their tail, Nagi, along with droids Dee-Seven and Ee-Ten, must find the rumored utopia before the Empire catches up with them. But when they finally reach their destination, all seems lost. Can one Jedi overcome the Empire’s influence, or will peace demand the ultimate sacrifice?

The initial season of Star Wars: Visions released in 2021, and featured anime studios such as Studio Colorido, Geno Studio, and Science Saru. Volume 3, which released last year, featured follow-ups for “The Ninth Jedi” from Production I.G., “The Duel” from Kamikaze Douga, and “The Village Bride” from Kinema Citrus. lastly, a full limited series based on “The Ninth Jedi” episode of season 1, titled Star Wars: Visions Presents The Ninth Jedi, will air in 2026. 

AndaSeat Phantom 4 Pro Review – A Mid-Range Home Run

By
Noah Roman
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Gaming chairs have come a long way from the racing-bucket era, but one issue has stayed throughout the years: the lumbar pillow problem. That loose cushion that’s perfectly positioned for maybe thirty seconds before it slides down your back, gets wedged into the seat, or falls on the floor. A handful of brands have started to move away from the loose pillow toward lumbar supports that are built into the chair and actually move with you. The Phantom 4 Pro is the first chair that I have personally used with one of these systems, and after a few days of daily use, I can’t imagine going back.

I’ve spent the last few days living with the Phantom 4 Pro, from Discord calls to recording and editing for the Final Weapon channel, and writing this very review. I also did some research on other offerings in this space, and I’d say that AndaSeat has created one of the most thoughtful and reasonable mid-range chairs on the market right now. Of course, there are a few things you should know before buying.

Initial Setup


No gaming chair arrives assembled, so the setup needs to be seamless and easy. Luckily, unboxing the Phantom 4 Pro is the usual routine. An allen key, a small set of M8 screws, and a build order that starts from the bottom and works up to the top. You drop the casters into the wheelbase, slot in the gas piston and sleeve, screw the armrests onto the seat cushion, then slide the backrest brackets down onto the recline brackets and tighten everything with the Allen key. From there, you flip the chair, insert the levers, attach the tilt mechanism, connect the wheelbase, and stand the chair up.

What really surprised me were the magnetic side covers. Instead of bolting on the plastic shells over the brackets after assembly, they’re magnetic and snap into place. Such a small thing may seem insignificant, but it’s the kind of thoughtful design choice that makes the finished chair look cleaner and knocks a few minutes off the setup.

The Lumbar System


This is the part of the gaming chair that I want to spend the most time on, because it’s the entire purpose of the Phantom 4 line. AndaSeat calls it the “Mechanical Dynamic Auto-Tracking Lumbar Support,” and I’ll be honest, I definitely rolled my eyes when I first read the marketing. But after using it for the last few days, I understand it.

The lumbar is built into the backrest itself, so you can dial in exactly how much it pushes into your back with a series of locking depth positions. That part is normal. The interesting bit is what happens when you extend the lumbar forward. It can swivel left or right and tilt forward or back, and it does this in response to your own movement. If I leaned to grab my phone off my desk, the lumbar tracked with me. If I twisted to look over at my TV, it stayed in contact with my spine instead of pressing against nothing.

That is the true fix to the pillow problem. Static lumbar works fine if you’re sitting perfectly still, which no one does. The second you start fidgeting, which we all do, they’re either uncomfortably jamming into the wrong spot or getting nudged out of place. When the lumbar tracks with you, you stop noticing it altogether, which is exactly what you want from an ergonomic chair. After a couple of days, I forgot that the Phantom 4 Pro even had the lumbar mechanism, until I sat in my office at work and, unfortunately, remembered how normal chairs operate.

How It Feels Day to Day


The seat foam is firm without feeling hard, and there’s no sinking-in feeling when you sit down. It’s also flatter than I expected, which allows me to tuck my leg under me comfortably, which my brain for some reason deems necessary to enhance my focus.

The recline and rocking range are decent, but the Pro’s tilt lock is my personal favorite feature, as it allows me to lock the chair in place when I’m editing or recording. One of the main issues with other chairs that I’ve owned is that they constantly sway when I’m sitting in them, and because I fidget, I need them to stay still.

The 3D armrests are the other Pro upgrade I appreciate. They go up and down, slide forward and back, and rotate, which sounds super overkill until you start switching between typing, gaming on a controller, and leaning to watch a video. The magnetic memory foam head pillow is a great touch, too, and the cooling gel layer is great for longer sessions.

The PVC leather is decent too, and has a premium look to it, and I never expected to get real leather at this price point. AndaSeat also sells the Phantom 4 Pro in a linen option, too, so that is also a consideration if you run hot.

Phantom 4 vs Phantom 4 Pro

The Phantom 4 Pro is listed at $389 at the time of writing this review, while the base model Phantom 4 is $299. That $90 difference comes down to three big upgrades: the 3D 360-degree rotating armrests instead of 2D, the multi-function tilt mechanism with a tilt lock instead of butterfly tilt, and the magnetic memory foam cooling gel head pillow instead of the elastic-banded pillow. The lumbar system, which is the actual reason to consider the Phantom 4 line, is identical between the two chairs.

There is one tradeoff in the opposite direction that is worth noting. The standard Phantom 4 actually has a higher seat height adjustment range than the Pro, with 10cm of travel versus the Pro’s 6.5cm. If you’re sharing the chair with different users of varying heights, that wider range might matter to you.

For what you’re getting on the Pro version, the $90 is worth the upgrade. If the difference were closer to $200, I would recommend the cheaper base model, but at this price point, there is no real reason to choose it. There are enough functional upgrades on the Pro to justify the price difference.

FINAL THOUGHTS

If you’re looking to spend around $400 on a gaming chair, the AndaSeat Phantom 4 Pro is the perfect choice if you want to take your back seriously but also don’t want to spend Herman Miller money on a seat. AndaSeat is not the first brand to put a moving lumbar in a gaming chair, but the Phantom 4 Pro works as advertised, the build quality is great, and the extra money that you spend over the regular Phantom 4 seems worth it.

Of course, it’s not a perfect product. The recline limit and size will limit some from buying it, and the “PVC leather” is more practical than luxurious. But at this price range, it’s one of the easiest recommendations I can make in 2026.

The AndaSeat Phantom 4 Pro is available now at AndaSeat.com starting at $389.

Disclaimer: AndaSeat provided a Phantom 4 Pro unit for review purposes.

Xbox Presents: A Special Look at Stranger Than Heaven – Where and When to Watch

By
Soul Kiwami
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Xbox Presents A Special Look at Stranger Than Heaven

After much anticipation, SEGA and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio will reveal what fans need to know about upcoming action game Stranger Than Heaven, previously known as Project Century, during the “Xbox Presents: A Special Look at Stranger Than Heaven” special event. Final Weapon has everything you need to know about the Xbox Presents: A Special Look at Stranger Than Heaven ahead of the premiere, including when and where you can tune in.

Stranger Than Heaven is the next ambitious IP from Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, the developers of the Like a Dragon series. As shown in the “Five Eras” trailer, Stranger Than Heaven takes players through a cinematic, action-packed tale spanning across five different eras—1915, 1929, 1943, 1951, and 1965—in five different cities. Xbox Presents: A Special Look at Stranger Than Heaven will bring more insight into what’s exactly on the horizon.

What Time Does Xbox Presents: A Special Look at Stranger Than Heaven Begin?

Xbox Presents: A Special Look at Stranger Than Heaven will begin on May 6 at 4:00 p.m. PT / 7:00 p.m. ET / 12:00 a.m. UTC. Fans can tune into Xbox Presents: A Special Look at Stranger Than Heaven on YouTube.com/Xbox, Twitch.tv/Xbox, and Twitch.tv/XboxASL. A runtime for the broadcast was not revealed. 

RGG Studio previously released Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties for $59.99 on Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. Final Weapon reviewed Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties and gave it a 3/5 score, stating that the game is “a remake and new side story that both improves and subtracts from the original Yakuza 3, making it a mixed bag of a title for those who were wanting a definitive and improved version of the PS3 game.”

The Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties Original Soundtrack is now available on various streaming services, including YouTube Music, Spotify, and Apple Music. What’s more, the Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties Original Soundtrack by Wave Master released physically on March 4 for 5,280 yen (tax included) in Japan. The Original Soundtrack comes in a massive four-CD set, which includes a cover of Bakamitai by Japanese singer Akiko Wada.

Steam Controller Sold Out Faster Than Valve Anticipated, More Stock Coming Soon

By
Soul Kiwami
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Steam Controller

Valve shared a brief update regarding its new Steam Controller, which sold out faster than the company had anticipated. Valve is currently working on getting more Steam Controllers in stock, and there will be an update on the expected timeline for replenished stock soon. 

The Steam Controller launched on May 4 at 10:00 a.m. PT / 1:00 p.m. ET with a $99 MSRP on Steam. Steam users began to notice technical issues and long wait times while orders were processed, and at times, users were unable to add Steam Controller to cart entirely due to it being sold out.

Valve’s flagship controller is designed with comfort and control in mind with magnetic TMR thumbsticks, HD rumble with haptic feedback (4x haptic motors), grip-enabled gyro called Gyro Sense (hold and release to enable/disable), trackpads, a Steam button, and Quick Access menu functionality, along with the standardized button layout commonly seen on controllers for PC.

The controller is natively compatible with Steam Input across devices and utilizes the Steam Controller Puck, a low-latency wireless transmitter that provides fast and stable connection for both play and charging. Players can also opt for Bluetooth or USB-C connections instead. On a single charge, players can expect 35+ hours of gameplay on a single charge.

Valve previously confirmed that it still plans to ship out the Steam Machine and Steam Frame in the first half of 2026. The memory and storage shortages have affected Valve’s initial plans for the shipping schedule and pricing due to rising costs and limited availability. It’s possible that these plans have since changed, so PC gamers should be looking out for a subsequent update in the near future.

R-Type Dimensions III Physical Editions Delayed Due to ‘Global Production Challenges’

By
Soul Kiwami
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R-Type III Dimensions

ININ Games and Tozai Games have announced that physical editions of R-Type Dimensions III have been delayed due to “global production challenges.” the physical Standard and Special Editions of R-Type Dimensions III have been delayed to August 11, while the Collector’s Edition has been delayed to winter. 

Fans who already pre-ordered any physical edition of R-Type Dimensions III may request a free digital key to start playing as early as May 15. A separate email with details regarding the digital redemption will be sent to customers. More details about the game’s physical editions can be found at ININ Games’ latest blog post.

A new sneak peek trailer was also released:

R-Type Dimensions III launches on May 19 for Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam.

Get the latest details below:

A Complete Modern Rebuild of the Arcade Legend

R-Type Dimensions III brings the intensity, precision, and creative enemy design of the arcade originals to a new generation. Every stage, boss, and projectile pattern has been rebuilt with high-end 3D graphics, enhanced animations, and richly detailed environments, whilst preserving the instantly recognizable atmosphere that defined R-Type’s identity.

The same applies to the original music and sound effects. With an enormous effort, everything has been rebuilt so that Players can switch seamlessly between the original and the new R-Type III at any time, offering both nostalgic authenticity and a striking modern reinterpretation.

“R-Type is a cornerstone of video game history, and working with Tozai to reimagine these classics at this scale has been an extraordinary honor,” said Felix Wagner, Publishing Producer at ININ Games. “Dimensions III is our most ambitious restoration and modernization project yet, created for long-time fans and newcomers discovering R-Type for the first time.”

Key features include:

      • A fully remastered experience with completely reconstructed assets
      • Local co-op, enhanced with new scoring and survival mechanics
      • Advanced mode is accessible from the start
      • Customizable controls and quality-of-life features in the settings
      • 3D Camera settings (normal and crazy) 

The Classroom of a Black Cat and a Witch Gets a New Ending Theme Song by Shoko Nakagawa

By
Soul Kiwami
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The Classroom of a Black Cat and a Witch new ending theme song

The staff of the anime adaptation of Yōsuke Kaneda’s The Classroom of a Black Cat and a Witch manga confirmed that Shoko Nakagawa will be performing the new ending theme song “Twilight Magic” for the anime’s second cour. Teddyloid wrote and composed the new ending theme song for The Classroom of a Black Cat and a Witch.

New episodes of The Classroom of a Black Cat and a Witch release on Sundays at 7:30 a.m. PT / 10:30 a.m. ET on Crunchyroll. 

ASCA performs the opening theme song “Cusp,” and Spira Spica is performs the ending theme song “Tune Up.”

The cast of the anime includes:

  • Kaede Hondo as Spica Virgo
  • Nobunaga Shimazaki as Claude Sirius
  • Minori Suzuki as Merrow Pisces
  • Azusa Tachibana as Ewe Aries
  • Haruka Shiraishi as Io Taurus
  • Yūto Uemura as Castor Gemini
  • Rena Hasegawa as Pollux Gemini
  • Shōya Ishige as Tarf Cancer
  • Ai Fairouz as Leo Regulus
  • Tomohiro Ōno as Astraea Libra
  • Miho Wataya as Hana Sasorijo
  • Kazuki Ura as Chiron Sagittarius Aradia
  • Miyuki Sakurai as Capella Capricorn
  • Kana Hanazawa as Principal Jeanne
  • Show Hayami as Vice Principal Justice Libra
  • Daisuke Hirakawa as Procyon-sensei

Naoyuki Tatsuwa is directing the anime at LIDEN FILMS. Midori Gotō is handling the series scripts, and Takayuki Onoda is designing the characters.

©金田陽介・講談社／「黒猫と魔女の教室」製作委員会

Yōsuke Kaneda released the manga on Kodansha’s Magazine Pocket manga app in March 2022. Kodansha’s K MANGA service publishes the manga in English.

The anime’s official website describes the series as follows:

From Yousuke Kaneda, creator of “Boarding School Juliet”-A magical academy fantasy of a hapless witch and her black cat teacher begins! Witch apprentice Spica Virgo can’t use magic at all. To earn a place in the magic school she dreams of entering, she needs a mentor-but she has neither money nor connections.

One day, a mysterious black cat who speaks and wields magic appears before her! Spica wants to master sorcery, and the black cat longs to break a curse. The pair’s goals align. Thus begins their secret master-apprentice pact! And the key to breaking the curse is a kiss on the…?!

Though I Am an Inept Villainess Anime Gets New Children’s Day Visual

By
Soul Kiwami
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The staff of the upcoming TV anime adaptation of Satsuki Nakamura’s Though I Am an Inept Villainess light novel series released a new key visual to celebrate Children’s Day in Japan. The Though I Am an Inept Villainess Children’s Day visual depicts Kou Reirin, Shu Keigetsu, Eu Gyomei and Shin-u as they rest after drawing together.

Though I Am an Inept Villainess Children's Day visual

Crunchyroll will stream Though I Am an Inept Villainess this July in North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Africa, Oceania, the Middle East, CIS, and the Indian Subcontinent.

The cast of the Though I Am an Inept Villainess anime includes:

  • Manaka Iwami as Kou Reirin
  • Natsumi Kawaida as Shu Keigetsu
  • Makoto Furukawa as Ei Gyoumei
  • Yuichiro Umehara as Shin-u
  • Hana Hishikawa as Lily
  • Nikray Farahnaz as Kou Tousetsu

Mitsue Yamazaki directs the Though I Am an Inept Villainess anime series at studio Dōga Kōbō. What’s more, Yoshiko Nakamura oversees the series scripts, and Ai Kikuchi is the anime’s character designer. 

Additional staff members include:

  • Color Key Artist: Kei Ishiguro
  • Art Director: Seina Yaguchi (Studio Pablo)
  • Compositing Director of Photography: Yui Fukuoka
  • Editing: Mutsumi Takemiya
  • Music: Yukari Hashimoto
  • Casting: Makoto Tanimura
  • Sound Effects: Yuika Shiraishi
  • Audio-Recording Engineer: Toshihiro Hayano
  • Recording Assistant: Ryō Kaneko
  • Sound Production: Tohokushinsha Film Corporation
©中村颯希・一迅社／「ふつつかな悪女」製作委員会

Ichijinsha launched Nakamura’s light novel series in December 2020. The manga adaptation by Ohitsuji was launched at the same time in Ichijinsha’s Monthly Comic Zero-Sum magazine. Seven Seas Entertainment publishes the series in English.

Lastly, here’s an overview of the Though I Am an Inept Villainess series, via Seven Seas Entertainment:

In a kingdom inspired by historical China, five clans put forth their maidens as imperial consorts–but only one will be crowned empress. The frail and beautiful Kou Reirin, the so-called “butterfly” of the imperial court, is a shoo-in to marry the crown prince. But when “court rat” Shu Keigetsu lashes out at her during the glittering Lantern Festival, it’s Reirin who wakes up in the dungeons! Body-swapped by her assailant to steal her position at court, Reirin’s plight seems dire…to everyone else! Now that she’s got a robust new body, not even the looming threat of execution can stop her!

Witch Hat Atelier Anime Reveals New Ending Theme Song and Art

By
Soul Kiwami
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Witch Hat Atelier new art

The staff of the TV anime adaptation of the Kamome Shirahama’s Witch Hat Atelier manga and artist Nakamura Hak have revealed the anime’s new ending theme song “Hikari,” which is Hakamura’s previously unreleased song. Kamome Shirahama also revealed new artwork of Coco, which was inspired by Nakamura Hak’s ending theme song for Witch Hat Atelier. The new artwork will be on the cover of the CD single for “Tada Utsukushii Noroi,” which includes two other songs featured in the series.

Crunchyroll is streaming the Witch Hat Atelier anime in English and Japanese.

The English dub cast includes: 

  • Anjali Kunapaneni as Coco
  • Joshua A. Waters as Qifrey
  • Madeleine Morris as Agott
  • Sarah Wiedenheft as Tetia
  • Nerida Bronwen as Richeh
  • Reagan Murdock as Olruggio
  • Bryn Apprill as Brushbuddy
  • Erin Nicole Lundquist as Iguin
  • Katsuyuki Konishi as Dagda
  • Toshiki Kumagai as Custas

The Japanese cast of the anime includes:

  • Rena Motomura as Coco
  • Natsuki Hanae as Qifrey
  • Hibiku Yamamura as Agott
  • Kurumi Haruki as Tetia
  • Hika Tsukishiro as Richeh
  • Yūichi Nakamura as Olruggio
  • Misaki Kuno as Brushbuddy (Fudemushi)
  • Mitsuki Saiga as Iguin
  • Kotono Mitsuishi as Alaira

Ayumu Watanabe directs the series at BUG FILMS, Hiroaki Kojima is the producer, Yuka Kitamura is the music composer, Kairi Unabara is the character designer. Eve and suis will perform the opening theme song “Kaze no Anthem (Anthem of Wind) feat. suis from yorushika,” and Nakamura Hak performs the ending theme song “Tada Utsukushii no Noroi (Just a Beautiful Curse).”

Additional staff members include:

  • Assistant Director: Jun Shinohara
  • Series Script Supervisor: Hiroshi Seko
  • Chief Animation Director: Kairi Unabara
  • Art Director: Ryōta Gotō
  • Color Key Artist: Naomi Nakano
  • Compositing Director of Photography: Tadashi Kitaoka
Witch Hat Atelier key visual
©Kamome Shirahama/KODANSHA/ Witch Hat Atelier Committee

Kodansha USA Publishing releases the Witch Hat Atelier manga in English and describes the series as follows:

In a world where everyone takes wonders like magic spells and dragons for granted, Coco is a girl with a simple dream: She wants to be a witch. But everybody knows magicians are born, not made, and Coco was not born with a gift for magic. Resigned to her un-magical life, Coco is about to give up on her dream to become a witch…until the day she meets Qifrey, a mysterious, traveling magician. After secretly seeing Qifrey perform magic in a way she’s never seen before, Coco soon learns what everybody “knows” might not be the truth, and discovers that her magical dream may not be as far away as it may seem…

MOTORSLICE is Now Available for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S

By
Soul Kiwami
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MOTORSLICE

Regular Studio and Top Hat Studios have released Mirror’s Edge-inspired parkour action-adventure game MOTORSLICE for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. MOTORSLICE stars Kira Buckland, known for her role as 2B in NieR: Automata, as protagonist P. 

The Steam page describes the game as follows:

Inspired by Prince of Persia, Mirror’s Edge and Shadow of the Colossus, traverse brutalist landscapes in this slice of life action-adventure game!

Parkour through a brutalist post-apocalyptic world with smooth gameplay, and engage in seamless combat encounters. You must use your skills and agility to find your way in this desolated place.

Play as a girl named ‘P’, and use everything at her disposal to escape from deadly traps. Run, climb, slide, crouch, wall run, perform stunts, and even use your chainsaw to cross impossible distances.

From smaller autonomous construction equipment, to massive dump trucks, survive a hostile environment where everything wants to kill you. Who’s gonna win, a sleepy girl with a chainsaw, or an army of rogue machines?

Strike first, or die. A single mistake can cost your life in a brutal clash of metal. Too big to destroy with one swing? Climb bosses and slice them into pieces, turning colossal machines into dust.

Not everything can be solved with a chainsaw. Alone with a flashlight, you are powerless against the crushing atmosphere of the structure. Rush through the darkness in endless corridors and cross liminal spaces.

Insignificant as you are on the scale of this cursed place, you have to face your fears and complete the job. But can you fight your megalophobia?

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