Fire Emblem Heroes ‘Gift I’ll Give Again’ Summoning Event is Now Live

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Soul Kiwami
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Fire Emblem Heroes Gift I'll Give Again event

Nintendo, Intelligent Systems, and DeNA have launched the “Gift I’ll Give Again” event for Fire Emblem Heroes with holiday-themed Special Heroes. The new Fire Emblem Heroes event adds playable characters Gatekeeper: Midwinter Toil, Seiðr: Candlelit Hope, Alfred: Joyous Snowdrop, and Ivy: Flurry Embrace (duo unit with Camilla), and players can summon from Gift I’ll Give Again until January 14, 2026 at 10:59 p.m. PST.

What’s more, 5-star hero Zelkov: Winter Shadow will appear as a Score Reward in the next Tempest Trials+ event. Legendary Revival is also coming soon, allowing players to summon past Legendary Heroes as 5-star Focus Heroes with an initial appearance rate of 4% in the summoning revival. Players who summon 40 times or more may choose one of the 5-star Focus Heroes to summon for free, along with obtaining a Celestial Stone.

Lastly, Fire Emblem Heroes is available now for Android via Google Play and iOS via App Store worldwide. The game’s developers also worked on Fire Emblem Shadows, a new free-to-play real-time strategy and social deduction game for Android via Google Play and iOS via App Store. Fire Emblem Shadows is available now worldwide.

A Gentle Noble’s Vacation Recommendation Anime Premieres January 7, Theme Songs Revealed

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Soul Kiwami
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A Gentle Noble's Vacation Recommendation anime

A new promotional video for the TV anime of Misaki’s A Gentle Noble’s Vacation Recommendation (Odayaka Kizoku no Kyūka no Susume in Japanese) light novel series confirmed the anime’s January 7 premiere on TV Tokyo and Fuji TV On Demand. The new promotional video for A Gentle Noble’s Vacation Recommendation also reveals the opening theme song “Gypso” by Hikaru Makishima and ending theme song “Ussura” (Faint) by Hina Suguta.

The anime’s cast includes:

  • Sōma Saitō as Lizel
  • Yūichirō Umehara as Gil
  • Tetsuya Kakihara as Eleven
  • Jun Fukuyama as Studd
  • Daiki Yamashita as Judge
  • Kōsuke Toriumi as Rei
  • Hiroki Yasumoto as Shadow
  • Kenji Hamada as Insy

Kenta Noda directs the anime at Synergy SP, with production collaboration from Ascension. Yōsuke Suzuki is in charge of the series scripts, Akito Fujiwara is the character designer, and Kōsuke Yamashita is the music composer

Additional staff members include:

  • Chief Animation Directors: Akito Fujiwara, Masaaki Sakurai
  • Art Director: Seiko Akashi
  • Color Designer: Junpei Washimi
  • Director of Photography: Yoshihiro Kajiwara
  • 3D Director: Chiaki Kumakura
  • Editing: Yumiko Nakaba
  • Sound Director: Jun Watanabe
  • Sound Effects: Hiromune Kurahashi
  • Sound Production: TO Books
A Gentle Noble's Vacation Recommendation key visual
© 岬・TOブックス／穏やか貴族製作委員会

Misaki launched the web novel in January 2014, and TO Books began publishing the light novel series with art by Sando in June 2018. Momochi is writing the ongoing manga series adaptation, which is being released in English by Tokyopop.

Lastly, here’s a story synopsis of the first volume, via Tokyopop:

When Lizel mysteriously finds himself in a city that bears odd similarities to his own but clearly isn’t, he quickly comes to terms with the unlikely truth: this is an entirely different world. Even so, laid-back Lizel isn’t the type to panic. He immediately sets out to learn more about this strange place, and to help him do so, hires a seasoned adventurer named Gil as his tour guide and protector.

Until he’s able to find a way home, Lizel figures this is a perfect opportunity to explore a new way of life adventuring as part of a guild. After all, he’s sure he’ll go home eventually… might as well enjoy the otherworldly vacation for now!

Assassination Classroom the Movie: Everybody’s Time Reveals New Trailer, Key Visual and Theme Song

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Soul Kiwami
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The official website for the Assassination Classroom the Movie: Everybody’s Time (Gekijōban Ansatsu Kyōshitsu Minna no Jikan) anime film has revealed a new trailer and key visual for the upcoming premiere. The trailer confirms that singer-songwriter Sora Tomonari performs the theme song of Assassination Classroom the Movie: Everybody’s Time, titled “Teacher.”

Assassination Classroom 2026 anime key visual
© 松井優征／集英社・アニメ「暗殺教室」製作委員会2025

Previously announced cast members include:

  • Kikuko Inoue as Azusa
  • Mai Fuchigami as Hotaru and Nagisa
  • Sayumi Suzushiro as Kaho Tsuchiya
  • Mai Kanazawa as Kokona Tagawa
  • Yūichirō Umehara as Seeker
  • Kappei Yamaguchi as Futoshi
  • Tetsu Inada as Sengoku
  • Kazuhiro Yamaji as Mario
  • Hiroki Tōchi as Chantha

Assassination Classroom the Movie: Everybody’s Time opens in theaters on March 20, 2026 in Japan. The film features a full collection of episodes that were left out from the anime due to time constraints. Author Yūsei Matsui notes that the new Assassination Classroom film also continues the main story of the anime.

Yūsei Matsui’s Assassination Classroom manga ran from 2012 to 2016 in Weekly Shonen Jump. A 22-episode anime adaptation aired in 2015, followed by a second season with 25 episodes in 2016. Crunchyroll is streaming the first and second seasons with English dubs and subs. The anime movie adaptation, Assassination Classroom the Movie: 365 Days, opened in Japanese theaters in November 2016. 

Lastly, here’s an overview of the anime series, via Crunchyroll: 

Forget about homework and pop quizzes. The students of Class 3E have a far more important assignment: kill their teacher before the end of the year! A tentacle-d sensei that moves at Mach 20 is out to conquer the classroom after destroying seventy percent of the moon. In addition to reading, writing, and arithmetic, the murderous monster behind the lectern will teach his students everything he knows about the assassination game. Should some eager beaver prove to be a quick study in killing, he or she will save Earth from extinction – and collect a hefty reward.

KAIJU NO. 8: THE GAME Update Adds ‘Festive Christmas’ Akari Minase

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Soul Kiwami
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KAIJU NO. 8 THE GAME Festive Akari Minase update

Akatsuki Games, TOHO CO., and Production I.G have released a new update for KAIJU NO. 8: THE GAME with more content celebrating Christmas, including Santa Narumi and 5-star playable character [Festive Christmas] Akari Minase. Akari was dispatched by the Third Division to assist with the division’s Christmas event.

The latest KAIJU NO. 8: THE GAME update introduces Akari Minase as the game’s first 5-star Fire Attacker, along with her AR-Xmas 25 Assault Rifle, in the latest Pickup Gacha. By activating her Combat Skill, Follow-Up Skill, or Ultimate Skill, there’s a chance she’ll apply the Burn status to her enemy. Her Combat Skill applies a Damage over Time multiplier buff, which strengths the Burn effect even further for up to three stacks.

Kaiju No. 8 Season 2 is streaming with English dubs and subs on Crunchyroll. Aurora performs the opening theme song “You Can’t Run From Yourself.” OneRepublic performs the ending theme song “Beautiful Colors.”

Crunchyroll describes the anime as follows:

In a world plagued by creatures known as Kaiju, Kafka Hibino aspired to enlist in The Defense Force. He makes a promise to enlist with his childhood friend, Mina Ashiro. Soon, life takes them in separate ways. While employed cleaning up after Kaiju battles, Kafka meets Reno Ichikawa. Reno’s determination to join The Defense Force reawakens Kafka’s promise to join Mina and protect humanity.

Lastly, KAIJU NO. 8: THE GAME is available now for Android, iOS, and PC via Steam.

Bushiroad Closes Bushiroad Games Brand, Plans to Directly Publish Games

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Soul Kiwami
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Bushiroad

Bushiroad has announced that its Bushiroad Games brand is ending operations by the end of December 2025. Going forward, Bushiroad will publish console and PC games directly under the Bushiroad name, and mobile games will be published under the Bushimo label.

This change affects the BanG Dream! Girls Band Party live service game and the upcoming Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Survivor roguelite action game for mobile. Both titles will operate under the aforementioned Bushimo brand.

Bushiroad and WonderPlanet’s Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Survivor launch in 2026 for Android and iOS as a free-to-play title with in-app purchases. Here’s an overview of the game, via the official website:

This is the first Hunter x Hunter survival roguelite.

This is an action game in which you control unique characters and fight against a horde of approaching enemies.

While the simple controls make it enjoyable for a wide range of players, it is also designed to be deep, requiring strategic decisions based on party formation and the combination of various skills.

Additionally, boss battles incorporate a variety of gimmicks to create the tense combat that is characteristic of Hunter x Hunter.

Bushiroad Games previously collaborated with Arc System Works and Eighting to release 3v3 fighting game Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact, which is available for PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam. The Season Pass brings Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact DLC characters Phinks Magcub, Shizuku Murasaki and Zeno Zoldyck. Neferpitou is available now, followed by the release of Phinks Magcub in winter 2025, Shizuku Murasaki in spring 2026, and Zeno Zoldyck in summer 2026.

Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles 2 DLC Character Akaza (Infinity Castle) Releases on December 19 in Japan

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Soul Kiwami
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Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles 2 - Akaza

Aniplex has announced that Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles 2 DLC character Akaza (Infinity Castle) launches on December 19 in Japan. Akaza (Infinity Castle) is expected to be released alongside another free update for Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles 2.

The DLC character is available separately for $4.99 and is included with the Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles 2 Infinity Castle Character Pass ($29.99).

The Infinity Castle Character Pass includes:

Previously, SEGA released the version 1.20 update for Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles 2 featuring the “Infinity Castle” for Versus Mode. What’s more, the Anime Song Pack is available for $14.99, allowing players to change the background music in Versus Mode to songs from the anime series. This includes TV versions of opening and ending theme songs.

Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles 2 launched on August 5 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam for $59.99. Final Weapon reviewed Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles 2, noting it’s a great game that recaps the events leading to the Infinity Castle Arc.

Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- Infinity Castle – Akaza Returns premiered on September 12 in theaters across the U.S. The movie achieved the biggest opening weekend for an anime film in the country, surpassing the record held by Pokémon: The First Movie in 1999 ($31 million).

Ace of Diamond Act II Season 2 Premieres in April 2026

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Soul Kiwami
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A new trailer for Ace of Diamond Act II Season 2 has confirmed the anime’s April 2026 premiere on TV Tokyo and affiliate channels in Japan. Ace of Diamond Act II Season 2 will also air on AT-X.

Ace of Diamond Act II Season 2 key visual
©寺嶋裕二・講談社／「ダイヤのA actⅡ‐SS‐」製作委員会・テレビ東京

The cast of the anime includes:

  • Ryota Ohsaka as Eijun Sawamura
  • Nobunaga Shimazaki as Satoru Furuya
  • Takahiro Sakurai as Kazuya Miyuki
  • Yūma Uchida as Kōshū Okumura
  • Shintarō Asanuma as Yōichi Kuramochi
  • Natsuki Hanae as Haruichi Kominato 
  • Shunsuke Takeuchi as Yūki Masashi
  • Daiki Yamashita as Takuma Seto
  • Ayumu Murase as Kaoru Yui
  • Tasuku Hatanaka as Hirofumi Asada
  • Daisuke Ono as Masamune Hongō
  • Junichi Suwabe as Enjō Renji
  • Ayane Sakura as Yoshikawa Haruno
  • Yūichirō Umehara as Sōichirō Mima 
  • Jun Fukushima as Kazuto Kōtari

Hideaki Ōba is the director at OLM. Kenji Konuta oversees the series scripts, Yasukazu Shōji is the character designer, and Hajime Hyakkoku is the music composer.

 

Yūji Terajima released the original Ace of Diamond manga in 2006. An anime adaptation for the series released in 2015. Later in 2006, the sequel manga, Ace of Diamond Act II released. The first season of the anime aired in 2019. The full anime is available to watch on Crunchyroll.

Crunchyroll describes the Ace of Diamond anime series as follows:

The Seido baseball club has been invited to the spring invitational at the hallowed Koshien Stadium. Sawamura will finally stand on the mound! Standing between Seido and the national title are the winners of last year’s summer tournament Komadai Fujimaki and their unstoppable ace Masamune Hongo. Can Seido triumph over Komadai? It’s the start of another heated battle in youth baseball!

The Everyday Life of Torture Part-Time Workers Anime Reveals More Cast Members

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Soul Kiwami
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The Everyday Life of Torture Part-Time Workers anime series

Kadokawa has revealed more cast members for the TV anime adaptation of Yawora Tsugumi’s The Everyday Life of Torture Part-Time Workers (Gōmon Baito-kun no Nichijō) manga series. 

  • Nozomi Yamamoto as Berta

  • Kozue Yūki as Reu

  • Satsuki Hatori as Nero

  • Tomohiro Ōno as Fon

The Everyday Life of Torture Part-Time Workers will premiere on January 4 on Tokyo MX, BS Asahi, TV Aichi, and Yomiuri TV, along with various streaming services.

GRANRODEO performs the opening theme song “GO GO PARADISE!!,” and Takuma Terashima performs the ending theme song “Ashita Tenki ni Naare.”

The previously announced cast of The Everyday Life of Torture Part-Time Workers includes:

  • Shunichi Toki as Cero
  • Takuma Terashima as Shiu
  • Takuma Nagatsuka as Mikke
  • Yōhei Azakami as Hugh
  • Kishō Taniyama as Hela
  • Rikuya Yasuda as Noe

Fumitoshi Oizaki directs the anime series at diomedéa. Hitomi Amamiya is in charge of series scripts, and Sakae Shibuya is the character designer.

Additional staff members include:

  • Color Design: Saori Tachimatsu
  • Art Director: Seo Gu Lee
  • Compositing Director of Photography: Yuki Shiina
  • Editing: Toshihiko Kojima
  • Sound Director: Yayoi Tateishi
  • Sound Effects: Yoko Sakurai
  • Sound Production: Bit Grooove Promotion
  • Music: Kenji Fujisawa (Team-MAX)
  • Music Production: Lantis
The Everyday Life of Torture Part-Time Workers key visual
© 次見やをら/白泉社

Yawora Tsugumi first released the manga on Hakusensha’s Young Animal Web service in December 2022.

Lastly, here’s an overview of the series via My Anime List:

This is a world where killing and torture are legalized. Sero, a part-time worker at a torture company, enjoys torturing people every day with his senior colleague, Siu. With the addition of new part-timers Mike and Hugh, fun torture life continues!

The gap between the at-home, easy-going workplace, and the gruesome torture is bound to attract a lot of addicts!

A Misanthrope Teaches a Class for Demi-Humans Anime Premieres January 10, Reveals New Cast Members

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Soul Kiwami
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A Misanthrope Teaches a Class for Demi-Humans

Kadokawa has announced the TV anime adaptation of VTuber Kurusu Natsume’s A Misanthrope Teaches a Class for Demi-Humans light novel series will premiere on January 10 at 26:00, or January 11 at 2:00 a.m. JST, during the Animazing!!! programming block on ABC TV, TV Asahi, and 22 other channels in Japan. The anime will also begin streaming 30 minutes after the initial TV premiere on ABEMA and d Anime Store.  

New cast members for the A Misanthrope Teaches a Class for Demi-Humans anime include:

  • Honoka Inoue as Mirai Haruna
  • Kazuhiko Inoue as Shirō Karasuma
  • Makoto Ishii as Satoru Hoshino
  • Ai Kayano as Yuki Saotome

The anime’s previously announced cast includes:

  • Toshiki Masuda as Rei Hitoma
  • Sora Amamiya as Kyōka Minazuki
  • Saori Ōnishi as Isaki Ōgami
  • Maria Naganawa as Sui Usami
  • Rui Tanabe as Tobari Haneda
  • Manami Numakura as Karin Ryuzaki
  • Misato Fukuen as Machi Nezu
  • Reina Ueda as Neneko Kurosawa
  • Yui Ishikawa as Aoi Wakaba
  • Yui Horie as Maki Okonogi

Masayoshi Ōishi performs the opening theme song “Ningen (Human).” Kyōka Minazuki (voiced by Sora Amamiya), Isaki Ōgami (voiced by Saori Ōnishi), Sui Usami (voiced by Maria Naganawa), and Tobari Haneda (voiced by Rui Tanabe) perform the ending theme song “Ningen Come True.”

Akira Iwanaga directs the anime at studio asread. Katsuhiko Takayama is in charge of series scripts, and Maiko Okada is designing the characters.

Additional staff members include:

  • Sub-Character Designers: Hidetsugu Hirayama, Kanako Watanabe, Chika Kojima
  • Art Director: Yoh Fujisawa
  • Color Key Artist: Chisato Shioda
  • Prop Design: Hara Yoshikazu
  • Art Setting: Junko Nagasawa
  • 3D Director: Yūta Nagaoka
  • Compositing Director of Photography: Kenji Takehara
  • Editing: Junichi Itou
  • Sound Director: Tomohiko Yaginuma
  • Sound Production: Zack Promotion
  • Music: Makoto Miyazaki
  • Music Production: Pony Canyon

Lastly, here’s a synopsis of the light novel series, via Yen Press:

I’m Rei Hitoma, a self-professed misanthrope, thanks to some past trauma. Just when I thought my new teaching job in the mountains would provide a chill, rejuvenating environment, it turns out that this school is actually for demi-humans who want to become full-fledged human beings! There’s a mermaid, a werewolf, a rabbit, and a bird…all of whom are now my charges. It’s my duty to teach them about humankind—and maybe in the process, I’ll learn a few things myself. This isn’t an alternate world or a case of reincarnation. It’s just the story of a teacher at a somewhat peculiar school, and his students who are striving to become human.

Reincarnated as a Dragon Hatchling Anime Premieres January 10

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Soul Kiwami
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Reincarnated as a Dragon Hatchling anime release date

Hakuhodo DY Music & Pictures announced the TV anime adaptation of Nekoko and NAJI yanagida’s Reincarnated as a Dragon Hatchling light novel series will premiere in January 10 at 9:30 p.m. JST on AT-X, 10:30 p.m. on Tokyo MX, and 11:30 p.m. on Sun TV. 

Reincarnated as a Dragon Hatchling full key visual
© 猫子・NAJI 柳田/SQUARE ENIX・ドラたま製作委員会

HIDIVE will be streaming the Reincarnated as a Dragon Hatchling anime in U.S., Canada, U.K., Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. HIDIVE also presented the North American premiere of Reincarnated as a Dragon Hatchling at Anime Frontier 2025, which ran from December 12 to 14 at the Fort Worth Convention Center in Texas.

Sizuk performs the opening theme song “Gliding Claw,” while virtual singers TAO and SAK perform the ending theme song “Sky Clipper.”

The cast of the anime includes:

  • Shunichi Toki as Ilusia
  • Ami Koshimizu as Divine Voice
  • Miku Itō as Myria
  • Rie Kugimiya as Marielle
  • Tomori Kusunoki as Black Lizard

Yūta Takamura is directing the anime at GA-CREW and Felix Film. Nobuyoshi Arai serves as assistant director, and Tatsuhiko Urahata is handling the series scripts. Masahito Onoda is the character designer, while Hiroyasu Oda is the monster designer. Kō Ōtani is composing the music at IMAGINE, and Tsuyoshi Takahashi is the sound director.

Nekoko began releasing the Reincarnated as a Dragon Hatchling novel on the Shōsetsuka ni Narō website in August 2015. The story was published in print by Earth Star Entertainment in December 2015 with art by NAJI yanagida, and was published in 12 volumes. Square Enix publishes the series from the 13th volume and onward, and Seven Seas Entertainment releases the English language version.

Lastly, here is an overview of the series via Seven Seas Entertainment:

In a world full of dangerous monsters, our unnamed protagonist finds himself reborn at the very bottom of the food chain as an immobile, powerless egg. Even just hatching will require leveling up by fighting monsters–the same monsters who’d love to eat him as a snack. But with the help of the mysterious voice in his head, he’s determined to grow into the most powerful creature in the world!

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