Chained Soldier Season 2 Reveals New Ending Theme Song by Maaya Uchida

By
Soul Kiwami
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Chained Soldier Season 2 ending theme song

The official X (formerly Twitter) account for Chained Soldier Season 2 has announced that Maaya Uchida will perform the anime’s second ending theme song “LOVE LOVE Beam.” This is in addition to the previously announced opening theme song for Chained Soldier Season 2, “Hikari yo, Boku ni” by Akari Kitō.

Chained Soldier Season 2 premieres on January 8, 2026. As previously announced, Chained Soldier Season 2 will be streaming on HIDIVE, just like the first season.

The cast of Chained Soldier Season 2 includes:

  • Kana Hanazawa as Ren Yamashiro
  • Akari Kitō as Kyōka Uzen
  • Kana Ichinose as Konomi Tatara
  • Fairouz Ai as Mira Kamiunten
  • Manaka Iwami as Bell Tsukiyono
  • Fūka Izumi as Yakumo Ezo
  • Maaya Uchida as Tenka Izumo
  • Yukana as Fubuki Azuma
Chained Soldier Season 2 second key visual
©T,Y/S,CS2P

Masafumi Tamura is directing the anime at studio Passione and Hayabusa Film. Keiya Nakano is handling the character design, while Kohta Yamamoto handles the music. Yasuhiro Nakanishi, Ohine Ezaki, Takahiro Nagase, and Kyōta Kanō are the scriptwriters.

Additional staff includes:

  • Series Composition: Yasuhiro Nakanishi
  • Concept Composite: Junpei Takatsu
  • Art Director: Shino Ohara
  • Color Design: Sakie Suzuki
  • Assistant Color Designer: Mai Kabatani
  • Director of Photography: Kōji Hayashi
  • CG Director: Takayuki Taba (SANZIGEN)
  • Editor: Ayako Tan
  • Sound Director: Chikako Yokota
  • Sound Production: Dax Production

Takahiro and Yōhei Takemura released the Chained Soldier manga on Shueisha’s Shonen Jump+ manga website in January 2019.

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

Two supernatural forces appeared simultaneously on Earth: entrances to another dimension known as Mato and Peaches, resources that give unique abilities to women. From the Mato come Yomotsu Shuuki, dangerous monsters that leave destruction in their wake. The government’s Anti-demon Corps stands against these creatures, employing women empowered by Peaches to face the monstrous threat.

Yuuki Wakura watches these forces clash from a distance, but when he unexpectedly runs afoul of a Yomotsu Shuuki, he’s rescued by Kyouka Uzen, the chief of the Seventh Unit of the Anti-demon Corp—and she sees something in him that could turn the tide of the monster incursion. Yuki holds the unique power to make Peaches more effective, but he’ll have to become Kyoka’s willing slave to join the fight against the Yomotsu Shuuki and save the world.

Love Live! Hasu no Sora Jōgakuin School Idol Club Bloom Garden Party Film Premieres May 8 in Japan

By
Soul Kiwami
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The staff for the Love Live! franchise announced the new Love Live! Hasu no Sora Jōgakuin School Idol Club Bloom Garden Party 3D anime film will premiere on May 8, 2026 in theaters in Japan. The main cast and more staff members for Love Live! Hasu no Sora Jōgakuin School Idol Club Bloom Garden Party were also revealed with a new trailer and key visual.

Love Live! Hasu no Sora Jōgakuin School Idol Club Bloom Garden Party
©プロジェクトラブライブ！蓮ノ空女学院スクールアイドルクラブ

The cast includes:

  • Nozomi Nirei as Kaho Hinoshita
  • Kokona Nonaka as Sayaka Murano
  • Niina Hanamiya as Kozue Otomune
  • Kotoko Sasaki as Tsuzuri Yūgiri
  • Kanna Kan as Rurino Ōsawa
  • Kona Tsukine as Megumi Fujishima
  • Hina Sakurai as Ginko Momose
  • Fūka Hayama as Kosuzu Kachimachi
  • Rin Kurusu as Hime Anyōji
  • Miu Miyake as Ceras Yanagida Lilienfeld
  • Amane Shindō as Izumi Katsuragi

Gō Kurosaki directs the anime at Sublimation. Fumiaki Maruto is the script writer, Haruko Iizuka is the character designer,  and Kaito Hamakawa directs the CG. Keiichi Nozaki is the sound director, and Yoshiaki Fujisawa is the music composer with Lantis handling music production.

Additional staff members include:

  • Design Works: Yū Kisaragi
  • Art Director: Yasuhiro Okumura
  • Stage Concept Art: Marina Manode
  • Color Key Artist: Emi Chiba
  • Compositing Director of Photography: Hiroshi Tanaka
  • Editing: Manabu Kamino

The Love Live! Hasu no Sora Jōgakuin School Idol Club idol group includes Kaho Hinoshita, Sayaka Murano, Kozue Otomune, Tsuzuri Yugiri, Rurino Osawa, Megumi Fujishima, and more. Haruko Iizuka is the project’s character designer in the Link! Like! Love Live! smartphone game app.

Blue Miburo Season 2 Reveals Cast Members and Theme Songs

By
Soul Kiwami
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Blue Miburo Season 2 anime trailer

The staff of Blue Miburo Season 2 have released a new trailer, revealing the opening theme song “Blue Noise” by Ryōsuke Yamada and the ending theme song “Hōmatsu (Ephemeral)” by Soushi Sakiyama. Six more cast members for Blue Miburo Season 2 were also revealed, 

Blue Miburo Season 2 will be streaming on OceanVeil an hour after the anime’s premiere in Japan on December 20. OceanVeil also opened a new website recapping the first season of the anime. 

Blue Miburo Season 2 adapts the “Serizawa Assassination” arc, and the cast includes Taku Yashiro as Yamazaki Susumu. In the anime, Yamazaki makes a living as a swordsman instead of taking over his family’s business.

The new cast members include: 

  • Kazuki Ura as Hayashi Shintarō
  • Rikuya Yasuda as Asano Tōtarō
  • Kōsuke Takaguchi as Ozeki Yashirō
  • Ryō Sugisaki as Ozeki Masajirō
  • Mitsuki Saiga as Katsura Kogorō
  • Junya Enoki as Sakamoto Ryōma

Tsuyoshi Yasuda launched the Blue Miburo manga in October 2021. The series is still ongoing to this day, with Kodansha publishing the manga. The first season of Blue Miburo is streaming on Crunchyroll.

Lastly, Kodansha describes the series:

It’s 1863, the twilight of the shogunate, and Japan is on the cusp of monumental change. The streets of the nation’s capital are soaked in blood as political upheaval and rising tensions between masterless, wandering ronin and government samurai set the stage for one of the most turbulent times in Japan’s history. Young orphan Nio is no stranger to the harsh realities of the world, and yet he can’t help but cling to his burning passion for justice and desire to change the world for the better.

One day, he crosses paths with two men who will become central figures of the coming revolution: Hijikata Toshizo and Okita Souji, two of the founding members of a group of hated ronin known as the Miburo–who would later become known as the Shinsengumi. Inspired by the efforts of the so-called “Blues Wolves of Mibu,” Nio decides to join the ranks to help carve a path to the world he wishes to see. But with new betrayals and reversals every day, will Nio be able to stay true to his conscience?

Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway is Getting an Episodic TV Version

By
Soul Kiwami
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Mobile Suit Gundam Call of Hathaway

Bandai Namco Filmworks has announced the first film of the Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway anime film series will get a TV broadcast version as part of the “Call of Hathaway” commemorative project. The Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway film will be re-cut into four episodes, which will begin broadcasting weekly on Nippon TV’s AnichU programming block starting January 6.

Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway The Sorcery of Nymph Circe will premiere on January 30, 2026 across 365 theaters in Japan, with North American screenings to follow. Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway The Sorcery of Nymph Circe is the sequel to the original film, which was released in Japanese theaters in June 2021. At the time, the film garnered garnered widespread attention for its stunning visuals and cinematic quality.

The cast members of the sequel include:

  • Hiroshi Shirokuma as Brinks Wedge
  • Anna Nagase as Julia Suga
  • Mahana Yamasaki as Hala Morley
  • Hinata Satō as Betchy
  • Kazuki Kyan as Rod Hein
  • Taiki Yamashita as Lowaist Heinrich
  • Shinya Takahashi as Chartchai Coleman
  • Noriaki Kanze as Josef Cedi
  • Shūichi Uchida as Ridorick
  • Hayato Inomata as Vilantes Suecken
  • Taihi Kimura as Drab Liddo

The main cast and a majority of the first film’s staff returns. Yuichi Kuboki joins Takako Suzuki as color key artists. Yoshinori Sayama is credited for display designs, Yoshihisa Ōyama is the new compositing director of photography, and Manabu Kamitōno directs the visual effects.

Bandai Namco Filmworks recently released Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans Urðr Hunt -Path of the little Challenger- compilation film in Japan as part of the special Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans 10th Anniversary project. The release includes a new short film titled Makuai no Kusabi. The project reunites key staff members from the original series, including director Tatsuyuki Nagai and the main cast members of Mobile Suit Gundam Iron‐Blooded Orphans Urðr‐Hunt such as Rina Ikoma.

Top-Selling Hardware for US Black Friday Week 2025 Revealed

By
Saras Rajpal
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Top-Selling Hardware for US Black Friday Week 2025 Revealed

Analyst Mat Piscatella has revealed the top-selling video game hardware during Black Friday Week 2025 in the US. The top-selling hardware includes the PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, and the NEX Playground. 

In the United States, the PlayStation 5 accounted for 47% of total hardware unit sales, selling the most out of any console during the week. The Nintendo Switch 2 sold the second most amount of consoles, with it filling 24% of hardware sales. Lastly, there’s the NEX Playground, a kinect-esque system designed for kids and families, which made up 14% of hardware sales, just beating out the Xbox Series X|S. 

Recently, after over eight years of waiting, Nintendo released Metroid Prime 4: Beyond for the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2. Alongside the game’s release, update 1.1.0 is now available for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond with rumble effects for cinematics, amiibo functionality, and Hard difficulty adjustments. 

As previously revealed, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition includes two different graphics options, Quality Mode and Performance Mode, which output at 4K 60 FPS and 1080p 120 FPS, respectively. Both of these modes support HDR, and there’s even the option to play with mouse controls with Joy-Con 2. Furthermore, new Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Samus and Vi-O-La amiibo will release on November 6, followed by the launch of the Sylux amiibo alongside the game on December 4.

Furthermore, Nintendo confirmed that Prime 4 begins a new story for the series and that it is not required to play Metroid Prime, Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, and Metroid Prime 3: Corruption in order to understand Beyond. When you first start the game, a casual and normal mode will be available. The casual mode will lower enemy HP and reduce the damage you take, while normal features the default settings. When you first beat the game in normal mode, a hard mode will be available.

High School! Kimengumi Anime Premieres on January 9

By
Soul Kiwami
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High School! Kimengumi anime premiere

2026’s second issue of Weekly Shonen Jump has confirmed the TV anime adaptation of Motoei Shinzawa’s High School! Kimengumi manga series will premiere on January 9, 2026. New episodes of High School! Kimengumi will premiere on the Fuji TV network’s Noitamina programming block on Fridays at 11:30 p.m. (9:30 a.m. EST).

The anime’s theme song “Ushiroyubi Sasaregumi,” which was covered by Shiraishi and Hasegawa with a modern rearrangement by Night Tempo.

The anime’s cast includes:

  • Tomokazu Seki as Rei Ichidō
  • Shunsuke Takeuchi as Gō Reietsu
  • Yoshitsugu Matsuoka as Kiyoshi Shusse
  • Chiaki Kobayashi as Jin Daima
  • Kikunosuke Toya as Dai Monohoshi
  • Haruka Shiraishi as Yui Kawa
  • Ikumi Hasegawa as Chie Uru
  • Nobuhiko Okamoto as Yō Nihiruda
  • Toshiki Horikita as Omiya Nakasudō
  • Yūhi Asagiri as Kensaku Meri
  • Masafumi Kobatake as Ranto Jōgai
  • Kazuki Ogawa as Koeru Tabuchi
  • Yūsuke Kobayashi as Kai Undō
  • Takuto Yokoyama as Ken Akiresu
  • Masayuki Satō as Susumu Intahai
  • Shuya Watanabe as Yutaka Konjō
  • Ayumu Asakura as Chikara Suji
  • M.A.O as Jako Amano
  • Kaoru Sakura as Maki Hidari
  • Sachiko Okada as Ikue Sandanhara
  • Marie Ōi as Desuko Honba
  • Minami Shindō as Kayo Ōba
  • Daisuke Sakuma as Shō Kireide
  • Hayato Yamamoto as Kimeru Setto
  • Yohei Sasamori as Torio Tanokin
  • Ayato Morinaga as Kazaru Sugata
  • Hiroki Nishimiya as Takashi Hokori

Kazuaki Seki directs the anime at Animation Studio Seven, with Takashi Nishikawa as the animation director. Shigeru Murakoshi oversees the series scripts, and Yuka Abe is the character designer. Night Tempo is producing the project’s songs, and Slow Curve is planning and producing the project.

REMOW is currently streaming the original High School! Kimengumi anime on YouTube. Lastly, here’s an overview of the anime, via REMOW:

The Funny-face Club are technically high school students, but that’s where the normal part ends. The five members (Rei Ichido, Go Reiketsu, Kiyoshi Duse, Dai Moroboshi, and Jin Ooma) all have unique faces and even more unique personalities. Whether you’re talking about temperaments, intellect, physical quirks, or behavior, they’re all complete weirdos!
Alongside them are other colorful groups at school like the Pretty-boy Brigade, the Buckle-down Bunch, and the Rebel Crew), alongside classmates like Yui Kasengawa and Chie Ururu, and all their teachers who also get caught up in the chaos. Together, they dive headfirst into a nonstop series of wacky, wild antics.
It’s a story packed with absurdity, nonsense, unpredictability, and utter madness, featuring five hopeless underachievers that will stay in your memory forever!

Tales of Berseria Remastered is Getting New Merchandise at Animate Stores in Japan

By
Soul Kiwami
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Tales of Berseria Remastered merchandise

Bandai Namco has announced that Tales of Berseria Remastered is getting new merchandise at Animate stores in Japan from February 21 to March 22, 2026. During the Tales of Berseria Remastered “launch commemoration fair,” Animate will sell acrylic stands, keychains, holographic prints, and other merchandise featuring brand-new illustrations of the game’s characters. Every purchase above 1,100 yen in the lineup includes illustration sheets as well.

Tales of Berseria Remastered launches February 27, 2026, for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. Pre-orders include the Super Adventuring Assistance Set, which includes Apple Gel x 10, Peach Gel x 10, Life Bottle x 10, and Panacea Bottle x 10. A Digital Deluxe Edition will be available for $59.99 featuring the Standard Edition ($39.99), the Battle BGM Pack, a digital artbook and soundtrack, and the bonus Super Growth Support Herb Set.

Lastly, here’s an overview of the remaster, via Bandai Namco:

In Tales of Berseria Remastered, players will follow the journey of Velvet Crowe as she embarks on a journey of vengeance and uncovers the mystery behind her brother’s murder. Players will embark on a tale torn between emotion and reason, where Velvet and her comrades slash through everyone in their path and navigate through emotional bonds and betrayal.

Tales of Berseria Remastered is a remastered version of TALES OF BERSERIA, first released in 2016. The remastered title features notable quality of life enhancements such as early access to the Grade Shop, destination icons, and the ability to toggle encounters. The title also features also includes downloadable content from the original release, featuring character costumes, bonus items, and other fan-favorite extras.

Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- Collaborates with JINYA Ramen Bar

By
Soul Kiwami
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JINYA Ramen Bar is teaming up with the Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- anime series to bring fans two Chef’s Specials with a limited-edition keepsake through February 28, 2026. Fans can order the Tokyo Yatai Classic at JINYA Ramen Bar to receive one of three limited-edition ramen spoons featuring Demon Slayer characters Tanjiro Kamado, Zenitsu Agatsuma or Inosuke Hashibara while supplies last.

The Tokyo Yatai Classic is a tribute to Japan’s street food culture. This ramen includes a chicken clear broth with pork chashu, a seasoned egg, spinach, fresh green onion, chopped onion, a slice of naruto (Japanese fish cake), and thin noodles with crisp nori. The Crispy Chicken Wings are great complementary dish to the Tokyo Yatai Classic. These wings are tossed in Asian sweet-sour sauce and garnished with cabbage, cilantro, and chili slices.

“These two dynamic, chef-curated creations bring fresh energy to our menu this season,” said JINYA Ramen Bar CEO and founder Tomo Takahashi. “At JINYA, we continually seek new ways to elevate ramen culture — honoring traditional Japanese craftsmanship while creating memorable, modern experiences for our guests. Our collaboration with Demon Slayer lets fans ‘summon their favorite warriors’ while enjoying a bowl worthy of a hero.”

These dishes make for some great treats to celebrate the success of Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- Infinity Castle Part 1 – Akaza Returns film has become the first Japanese film to earn over 100 billion yen ($644 million) worldwide. Haruo Sotozaki directed the film at studio ufotable. In addition, Akira Matsushima is the character designer and chief animation director.

Uncle Death Wants to Bring LET IT DIE: INFERNO to Switch 2

By
Soul Kiwami
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LET IT DIE INFERNO Switch 2

Uncle Death would like to bring survival action roguelite game LET IT DIE: INFERNO to Nintendo Switch 2, according to an interview with the mascot and director Hideyuki Shin at Cubed3. Uncle Death notes that most of the LET IT DIE: INFERNO team at Supertrick Games mostly plays Switch 2 games, and a “highly specialized team” tested the game’s performance on the platform, noting that the game runs just fine. 

“These two platforms were simply chosen because straight away they can deliver the vision that we wanted for INFERNO…,” Uncle Death said. “That said, we love Switch 2 and definitely want to port INFERNO there. In our company, most of the people actually play Switch 2 games!”

Uncle Death continued “There is a team that does approvals and checks out things like that. We’ve already had this highly specialized team test the performance on Switch 2, and you’ll be pleased to know Inferno runs fine. We’ve been given the okay that LET IT DIE: INFERNO can work on Switch 2!”

LET IT DIE: INFERNO launched on December 3 for PlayStation 5 and PC via Steam. According to the game’s post-launch roadmap, LET IT DIE: INFERNO will receive various new modes, quality-of-life improvements, and new features. The updates will be released in Season 1 (December 2025 to February 2026), Season 2 (March to May 2026), and Season 3 (June to August 2026).

What’s more, an offline version of LET IT DIE for PlayStation 4 and PC is currently in the works.

Crunchyroll to Stream Bungo Stray Dogs WAN! 2, Tamon’s B-Side and More Anime This Winter

By
Soul Kiwami
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Bungo Stray Dogs Wan 2 Crunchyroll

During the company’s CCXP Brazil industry panel, Crunchyroll announced various anime titles that will be streaming on the platform in the coming winter anime season, including Bungo Stray Dogs WAN! 2, Tamon’s B-Side, The Drops of God, and more. Crunchyroll will reveal premiere dates and times for Bungo Stray Dogs WAN! 2 and the other exciting anime titles at a later date, so stay tuned.

Get the full details below, via Crunchyroll:

Crunchyroll Winter 2025 Anime Announcements

Bungo Stray Dogs WAN! 2

Release Date: 2026

Territories: North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Africa, Oceania, the Middle East and CIS

Season 1 Synopsis: Bungo Stray Dogs: an action battle epic set in the bustling, fictional city of Yokohama, where the port winds howl as “gifteds” whose powers take after the giants of literature.

Could you believe that those characters of the Armed Detective Agency and the Port Mafia, whose battles bring them to the edge of death, would come looking so adorable and minimalistic, just to jest and jive?!

Jack-of-All-Trades, Party of None

Release Date: January 2026

Territories: North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Africa, Oceania, the Middle East, CIS and India

Synopsis: Betrayed by his childhood friend and cast out of the Hero Party, Orhun Dura—once their loyal Enchanter—is branded by his former comrades as “a jack-of-all-trades but a master of none.” Alone, he sets out to forge a new path as a solo adventurer. His journey sparks explosive battles, deadly rivals, and unexpected allies—and he’ll rise to shatter every expectation. The ultimate solo comeback begins!

Jack-of-All-Trades, Party of None

Kujima: Why Sing, When You Can Warble?

Release Date: April 2026

Territories: North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Africa, Oceania, the Middle East, CIS and India

Synopsis: In the fall of his first year of junior high school, Arata Kouda encountered a strange thing—-. In this home comedy, a mysterious creature named “Kujima” brings new life to the Konohda family, where the atmosphere is slightly tense due to the concern for the eldest son, a ronin student who is preparing for the entrance examinations! By the way, the creature, who calls himself Kuzima, speaks normal language and eats the same food as humans (or insects). Did he come from outer space, or did he…!

Kujima Utaeba Ie Hororo key visual

Tamon’s B-Side

Release Date: December 31, Time TBA

Territories: Worldwide excluding Japan, China, Hong Kong, Korea, Macau, Mongolia and Taiwan

Synopsis: Utage Kinoshita is a high school girl who works part-time as a housekeeper. She has devoted her life to her favorite idol, Tamon Fukuhara, from the group F/ACE. Then one day, Utage ends up being assigned to Tamon’s house! There she discovers that off-stage, he is nothing like his wild idol persona. A gloomy, introverted boy with no self-confidence, Utage still finds herself falling for him anyway.

Tamon's B-Side key visual

The Drops of God

Release Date: 2026

Territories: North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Africa, Oceania, the Middle East and CIS

Synopsis: The award-winning comic about wine that has been a hit not just all over Asia but also in France! Learn about legendary bottles as well as affordable secrets while enjoying a page-turner that’s not about superheroes but people with jobs to keep. When world-renowned wine critic Kanzaki passes away, his will reveals that his fortune of a wine collection isn’t bequeathed as a matter of course to his only son, who in a snub went to work sales at a beer company. To come into the inheritance, Shizuku must identify—in competition with a stellar young critic—twelve heaven-sent wines whose impressions the will describes in flowing terms

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