HIDIVE Reveals Anime Simulcast Lineup for Spring 2026

By
Soul Kiwami
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Yowayowa Sensei

HIDIVE has revealed three new anime titles that will round out its simulcast lineup for spring 2026, including The Most Heretical Last Boss Queen: From Villainess to Savior Season 2, Farming Life in Another World 2 and Yowayowa Sensei. These three anime titles will premiere in April and stream exclusively on HIDIVE in the U.S. and Canada, along with key overseas markets like the U.K., Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. This spring, fans attending Anime Boston 2026 can also look forward to seeing the North American premieres of the new anime ahead of its streaming debut on HIDIVE.

Here’s a description of each anime, via HIDIVE:

Farming Life in Another World 2

Relaxing country living continues in the second season of the most laidback isekai anime around! Bestowed with the all-in-one “Almighty Farming Tool,” protagonist Hiraku works tirelessly to transform the forest into a bustling civilization.  

An adaptation of the popular fantasy light novel series by Kinosuke Naito that premiered on Japanese TV in January 2023 and is directed and written by Ryoichi Kuraya with production by Zero-G.

Scheduled to premiere on Monday, April 6, 2026

The Most Heretical Last Boss Queen: From Villainess to Savior Season 2

Pride Royal Ivy is an eight-year-old princess. One day she realizes something: in her previous life she had been an ordinary girl born into a typical Japanese family—nothing special, just a normal child. But now, she has been reborn as the cruel and merciless final-boss queen in the otome game Kimi to Hitosuji no Hikari o (“A Ray of Light With You”). Realizing this, she now decides to rely on her memories of having played the game and achieve something only she can do: avoid the coming tragedies and create a world where every character can find happiness. Thus begins a fantasy about a highly capable villainess princess striving to avoid becoming the final boss.

An adaptation of the hit fantasy light novel series by Tenichi that premiered on Japanese TV in July 2023 and is directed by Norio Nitta together with writing by Deko Akao and production by OLM Team Yoshioka.

Scheduled to premiere on Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

Yowayowa Sensei

High school homeroom teacher Hiyori Hiwamura is known as the “Scary Teacher,” and if you offend her, she’ll put a curse on you! Or at least that’s what everyone believes. She’s secretly a total softy who’s deeply misunderstood, and once you see her sweet side, she’ll put a different kind of spell on you… Unfortunately, one of her students, Akihito Abikura, has accidentally discovered her secret.

An adaptation of the long-running rom-com manga series by Kamio Fukuchi that is directed by Hiroshi Ishiodori together with series composition by Yukinori Fukushima and production by Brain’s Base.

Scheduled to premiere on Saturday, April 11, 2026.

Junji Ito and Poppy Collaborate for In Old Records Audio Experience on Vinyl

By
Soul Kiwami
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Junji Ito In Old Records

Zero Zero Enterprises has launched a Kickstarter campaign for a collaboration between Japanese horror legend and manga author Junji Ito and two-time Grammy-nominated artist Poppy for a fully produced vinyl of Ito’s In Old Records (1997) short story.

This new audio experience is adapted by Ryan Cady (The X-Files, MAGDALENA) with a vocal performance and narration by Poppy in English. Renowned voice actress Shoko Nakagawa (Gurren Lagann, Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods) performs and narrates the story in Japanese. Japanese manga artist and illustrator Acky Bright designed the jacket for the In Old Records vinyl, including the packaging with Ito’s bloody handprint.

The Kickstarter campaign offers the following purchase options:

  • Early Bird Standard Vinyl – $25: Standard English version vinyl by Junji Ito and 
    narrated by Poppy with a $10 discount. Limited to only 200 copies. 
  • Standard Vinyl – $35: Standard English version vinyl
  • Blood Splatter Limited Edition – $50: A Limited Blood Splatter Variant Edition, limited to 500 copies
  • Ghostly Blue Variant – $100: A Ghostly Blue vinyl variant signed by Poppy, limited to 400 copies.
  • Glow in the Dark Variant – $125: A Glow in the Dark variant signed by Poppy, limited to 
    100 copies.
  • Test Pressing – $200: One of the rare test pressings made for promotion.
  • Retailer Bundle – $200: 10 vinyls at wholesale cost, with retailer proof of store being required pre shipment.
  • Signed by Junji Ito and Poppy – $750: Every version of the vinyl with the Glow in the 
    Dark Variant will be signed by both Junji Ito and Poppy, limited to 10 copies. 

The story of In Old Records follows the story of a long-lost record of single Paula Bell’s final song, along with the terrible curse that afflicts anyone who listens. In this case, Nakayama, a young student, gets caught in the curse after listening to the song with her friend Ogawa. As the story unravels, listeners will know that this isn’t a collector’s item, but a nightmare. 

Cozy Hex-tile Building Game Bubblegum Galaxy is Now Available

By
Soul Kiwami
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Bubblegum Galaxy

Astrolabe Games and Smarto Club have released new family-friendly and cozy hex-tile building game Bubblegum Galaxy for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. Bubblegum Galaxy invites players to relax, build, and explore a colorful universe at their own pace in an adventure with a original PlayStation-inspired art style. 

Here’s an overview of the game, via Astrolabe Games:

Intro

Bubblegum Galaxy is a cozy narrative building game about rebuilding the galaxy tile by tile. Discover and design new planets, complete missions, explore your office and befriend your co-workers… all while trying to find out who deleted the galaxy!

From the creators of Teacup, Bubblegum Galaxy is a cozy narrative building game about rebuilding the galaxy by designing planets. Relax as you create colorful planets or spend hours trying to get a perfect score!

Become A Planet Architect

Your small but trusty computer will allow you to design planets by placing tiles. To create efficient planets, the software will suggest missions such as connecting similarly colored tiles or a specific number of trees. Each planet has its own quirks and special rules you will have to master to do your best work yet!

Befriend Your Co-Workers

In-between planet designing sessions, you’ll be free to roam the office, inspect your surroundings and chat with your co-workers. Encounter hundreds of unique story events as you get to know this quirky cast of characters.

Discover Who Deleted The Galaxy

The day you started your internship the inter-dimensional universe server crashed for “unknown reasons”, deleting the entirety of the Bubblegum galaxy. If you prove your skill as a planet architect you just might find out the truth behind why the galaxy was deleted…

Aoashi Season 2 Premieres on October 4

By
Soul Kiwami
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Aoashi Season 2 anime

A new trailer for the TV anime adaptation of Yūgo Kobayashi’s Aoashi manga confirms that Aoashi Season 2 will premiere on October 4 on the NHK Educational channel. The cast of the first season will return, and new staff members for the anime were revealed. In addition to the October 4 premiere announcement, a new trailer and key visual for Aoashi Season 2 were released.

© 小林有吾・小学館／「アオアシ」Season2 製作委員会

Kazuki Yokoyama is the director of Aoashi Season 2 at TMS Entertainment, taking over duties from Production I.G. from the first season. Manabu Nakatabe, Asami Taguchi and Junko Yamanaka are the character designers. Additional staff members include script supervisor Masahiro Yokotani, sound director Shōji Hata, and composer Masaru Yokoyama. 

Based on an original story concept by Naohiko Ueno, Kobayashi launched the Aoashi manga in Weekly Big Comic Spirits in January 2015. The manga is planned to end with its 410th chapter this year. The manga’s 40th compiled book volume will be the final volume. 

Crunchyroll streamed the first season of the Aoashi anime series as it aired in Japan. The anime premiered in April 2022. Here’s an overview of the anime series, via Crunchyroll:

After a loss in his last junior high school soccer tourney, Ehime Prefecture’s ace player, Ashito Aoi, is devastated but in every loss there’s a victory. Tatsuya Fukuda, manager of an organization that trains students for one of the leading clubs in the J-League, sees Ashito’s raw talent and offers a tryout to his group. Together they’ll bring the youth club and Aoshi’s talents to new heights!

The Ramparts of Ice Anime Releases Second Official Trailer

By
Soul Kiwami
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The Rampants of Ice trailer

The second official trailer for the TV anime adaptation of Kōcha Agasawa’s The Ramparts of Ice manga is now streaming in Japanese and with English subtitles. The latest trailer for The Ramparts of Ice previews the anime’s opening theme song “Tōmei (Invisible)” by Novelbright.

 

The Ramparts of Ice will premiere on April 2 worldwide on Netflix. In Japan, the anime will air on TBS and other channels. 

Polkadot Stingray performs the ending theme song “Sakasama (Upside Down).”

The cast includes:

  • Anna Nagase as Koyuki Hikawa
  • Fūka Izumi as Miki Azumi
  • Shōya Chiba as Minato Amamiya
  • Satoshi Inomata as Yota Hino
  • Sakura Shinfuku as Tsukiko Shimojima

Mankyū directs the anime adaptation of The Ramparts of Ice at Studio KAI. Yasuhiro Nakanishi is in charge of the series scripts, Miki Ogino is designing the characters, and Kanade Sakuma and Natsumi Tabuchi are the music composers.

The Ramparts of Ice key visual
©阿賀沢紅茶／集英社・TVアニメ「氷の城壁」製作委員会

The manga began as a webtoon on the LINE Manga app from January 2020 to April 2022. Shueisha published the manga’s 14th and final compiled volume on February 4, 2025. 

Here’s an overview of the game, via MangaDex:

Inept at dealing with people, Hikawa Koyuki maintains a wall between herself and others. She spends her time in highschool away from others, all alone. At least until she encounters Amamiya Minato who keeps closing the distance between them for some reason?! The aloof Koyuki, the popular Miki, the boundary-less Minato, and the easygoing and kind basketball team member, Youta. This is the story of these somewhat complicated four, and their tantalizing, bumbling youth! In its original webtoon form!

Agasawa’s You and I Are Polar Opposites manga received an anime adaptation on January 11, and Crunchyroll is streaming it with an English dub.

Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy Reveals Character Preview Trailer for Warrior of Light

By
Soul Kiwami
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Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy Character Preview Warrior of Light

Square Enix has released a new trailer for free-to-play 3v3 team boss arena game Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy, highlighting Warrior of Light from Final Fantasy I. The latest Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy trailer introduces some of the abilities that Warrior of Light can use in battle, including Supreme Soul and Ultimate Shield. 

Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy launches in March 2026 for Android and iOS, and pre-registration is now available on the Google Play Store and App Store. 

Here’s an overview of the new title, via Square Enix:

Warriors from the Final Fantasy (FF) series assemble in modern-day Tokyo to save the world from destruction in Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy.

Fight in 3-versus-3 battles where two teams fight monsters and clash in a race to defeat the powerful boss faster than the enemy team!

Legendary FF Characters

Fight as one of several legendary FF warriors like Warrior of Light, Cloud, Lightning, and more, and take on the role of either Melee, Ranged, Agile, or Support. Choose the character that matches your playstyle and work as a team to take on powerful monsters!

More characters will be added over a period of time.

Exhilarating Action

Acquire various abilities and unleash them in battle to gain the upper hand. Customize your loadout from an array of abilities, including numerous newly drawn illustrations by a stellar team of artists.

Easy-to-Learn Controls 

Play with simple controls anywhere and on-the-go!
Change the control scheme to one that suits you best from various control settings.

Modern Story

Explore a new Dissidia story unfolding in modern-day Tokyo with Final Fantasy warriors brought to life with full Japanese voice acting and beautiful cel-shaded graphics. Get a glimpse into their daily lives and interactions with one another by watching chat messenger episodes.

Customization & Community

Show off your style by outfitting Final Fantasy characters in their original looks or new clothes fit to roam around the modern world! Collect original and arranged music tracks from your favorite FF games, edit your profile, chat with other players, and join the ultimate Final Fantasy community!

MotionRec is Coming to PS5 and Switch on April 2

By
Soul Kiwami
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MOTIONREC

PLAYISM and HANDSUM have announced puzzle action game MotionRec is coming to Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5 on April 2. 

MotionRec launched on October 27, 2025 for PC via Steam worldwide. Final Weapon reviewed MotionRec and gave it a 3.5/5 score, noting that the game “lives and dies on its gameplay mechanics. The concept of being able to record and replay your movements never gets old, partly thanks to the introduction of new gimmicks you encounter throughout your journey.”

Lastly, here’s an overview of the game, via Steam:

MOTIONREC is a recording puzzle action game where you progress through stages by recording and playing back your own movements.

Rec, the civilization-recording robot

MOTIONREC is a recording-based puzzle action game built around the concept of recording and playback. Use this ability to guide Rec, the civilization-recording robot, through a devastated world.

The power of MotionRec

You can record the trajectory of your movements, from walking to jumping. Use stage gimmicks to create and record more complex movements to traverse the world.

Record your movements…

…and play them back in another location!

This will let you reach places too high to jump up to, or even access spots where there’s nothing to stand on. You can only play back your movements a certain number of times midair, however, and this is refreshed every time you land on the ground.

Make good use of the MOTIONREC ability to unravel the mysteries behind this devastated world ruled by machines!

      • Development Team
        • HANDSUM inc.
        • Pixel Artist: m7kenji
        • Composer: KyoheiFujita
        • Developer: shoma

Laid-Back Camp: Camping Cook! Launches March 18 for Steam

By
Soul Kiwami
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Laid-Back Camp All-in-one!! developer enish has announced Laid-Back Camp: Camping Cook! will launch on March 18 for PC via Steam for 3,480 yen, followed by Nintendo Switch, Android, and iOS at a later date. Although the game will only support Japanese at launch, English and Traditional Chinese language support will be added over time, along with other language options. 

Here’s an overview of the game, via Steam:

“Laid-Back Camp: Camping Cook-off!” is a cooperative camping action game for 1–4 players, set in the world of the popular TV anime Laid-Back Camp△.

Players can take control of familiar characters such as Nadeshiko and Rin, and tackle a variety of camping tasks including cooking, setting up tents, and preparing campfires. Each stage offers unique gimmicks and challenges, requiring you to work efficiently within a time limit while enjoying the excitement of cooperating with friends.

Features

      • 1–4 Player Support: Experience the satisfaction of careful planning in solo play, or the fun chaos of cooperation in multiplayer.
      • Story Mode: In addition to original game episodes, you can also experience memorable scenes from the anime.
      • Varied Camping Actions: Cook meals, pitch tents, prepare campfires, and enjoy an authentic outdoor experience.
      • Scoring System: Get evaluated based on time, steps, and teamwork. Challenge yourself repeatedly to sharpen your skills.
      • Planned DLC: Additional stages, outfits, and more long-term content are on the way.

Cast

The main characters are voiced by the same talented cast from the anime, bringing the atmosphere of the series directly into the game.

Blending the laid-back and heartwarming camping experience of Laid-Back Camp△ with chaotic cooperative action, this is a new style of multiplayer fun. Recommended not only for anime fans but also for anyone looking for a lively and engaging multiplayer game.

Spend the ultimate camping time with your friends and family!

All three seasons of Laid-Back Camp and the Laid-Back Camp movie are available now to stream on Crunchyroll. Laid-Back Camp Season 4 will premiere in 2027.

Zenless Zone Zero Version 2.7 Special Program is Set for March 14

By
Soul Kiwami
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Zenless Zone Zero Version 2.7 Special Program

HoYoverse has announced the Zenless Zone Zero Version 2.7 “Champions Never Fall to the Past” Special Program livestream will be held on Saturday, March 14 at 19:30 (UTC+8) / 7:30 a.m. EDT on YouTube and Twitch. The upcoming broadcast will have the development team reveal all of the new information regarding the Version 2.7 update for Zenless Zone Zero, including new story content and events.

According to HoYoverse, the Zenless Zone Zero Version 2.7 Special Program livestream will reveal new details about the “Hollow Champion Tournament,” which has a massive prize pool (in-game) for everyone and the factions that will show up. The stream will be hosted by intelligence broker Mr. Z and a special consultant of Public Security, Cissia. The Angels of Delusion will also make a guest appearance, and fans can expect an exclusive redemption code that can be redeemed for a limited time.

The stream begins at the following times: 

  • Pacific Daylight Time: 4:30 a.m. PDT
  • Mountain Daylight Time: 5:30 a.m. MDT
  • Central Daylight Time: 6:30 a.m. CDT
  • Eastern Daylight Time: 7:30 a.m. EDT
  • Greenwich Mean Time: 11:30 a.m. GMT

To celebrate the 5th anniversary of HoYoFair, HoYoFair Fan Concert 2026, a fan art-driven music festival organized by 54 Entertainment and CHARISMA TANUKI PRODUCTIONS, is being held in the first half of 2026 in the US (New York, Dallas, and Los Angeles), UK (London), France (Paris), and Germany (Berlin). The concert series will feature immersive audiovisual performances across multiple games from HoYoverse, including Honkai: Star Rail, Genshin Impact, Zenless Zone Zero, and Honkai Impact 3rd.

Zenless Zone Zero is available now for PlayStation 5, Android, iOS, Xbox Series X|S and PC via Windows and Epic Games Store. 

Hokuto no Ken -Fist of the North Star- Anime is Getting a Double-Episode Premiere on April 10

By
Soul Kiwami
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Hokuto no Ken -Fist of the North Star-

Warner Bros. Japan has released a new trailer for the upcoming Hokuto no Ken -Fist of the North Star- anime, confirming the anime’s double-episode premiere on April 10 at 1:00 a.m. JST, effectively April 11. The third and four episodes of Hokuto no Ken -Fist of the North Star- will premiere on April 17, and the anime will be streaming worldwide on Amazon Prime Video. A new key visual featuring Rei was also revealed.

Hokuto no Ken Fist of the North Star key visual
© 武論尊・原哲夫／コアミックス, 「北斗の拳」製作委員会

Alexandros performs the opening theme song “Hallelujah.”

Hiroshi Maeda directs the Hokuto no Ken -Fist of the North Star- anime at TMS Entertainment, and Kazuma Ogasawara is the assistant director. Kazuhiko Inuka is in charge of the series scripts, and Naoki Hisatsune is the character designer. Kōji is the animation director, and Yūki Hayashi is the music composer. NIA Animation and Kishida Studio BACU are working on the production.

The cast includes:

  • Shunsuke Takeuchi as Kenshiro
  • Daiki Yamashita as Bat
  • M.A.O as Rin
  • Wataru Takagi as Jagi
  • Tsuguo Mogami as Toki
  • Taiten Kusunoki as Raoh
  • Kōji Yusa as Shin
  • Saori Hayami as Yuria
  • Yūichi Nakamura as Rei
  • Ruriko Aoki as Mamiya

Buronson and Tetsuo Hara’s original Fist of the North Star manga was serialized from 1983 to 1988 in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine. In 1984, a TV anime adaptation began and popularized the franchise.

Finally, the Fist of the North Star manga is available to purchase both physically and digitally at VIZ Media. Here’s an overview of the series:

One day, a wanderer appears out of the wasteland to bring justice to the guilty and hope to the people—a warrior named Ken, a man who bears seven scars upon his chest and holds the secret of a mysterious martial art known as Hokuto Shinken, the Divine Fist of the North Star!

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