Observation Records of My Fiancée Anime Reveals New Teaser Trailer

Observation Records of My Fiancée

A new teaser trailer for the new TV anime adaptation of Shiki and Wan Hachipisu’s Observation Records of My Fiancée: The Misadventures of a Self-Proclaimed Villainess light novel series has been released. The trailer previews the main cast of Observation Records of My Fiancée, including Yūsuke Kobayashi as Cecil and Miyu Tomita as Bertia

Junichi Yamamoto directs the Observation Records of My Fiancée: The Misadventures of a Self-Proclaimed Villainess anime at Ashi Productions. Miki Matsumoto is the character designer for animation, and Akiko Inoue is both writing and overseeing the series scripts. Yūki Hayashi, Luke Standridge, and Asa Taylor are the music composers, with music production cooperation by Futokoro Gatana.

Additional staff members include:

  • Sub-Character Design: Abe, Uni Matsui
  • Color Design: Naomi Nakano (Stella)
  • Assistant Color Design: Yuika Nagai (Stella)
  • Art Director: Junichi Higashi
  • Background Art: Yūta Fujii
  • Director of Photography: Hideki Eto (EXPLOSION)
  • Prop Design: Kio Edamatsu
  • CG Director: Jie Ren (Boundary)
  • Editing: Akinori Mishima (Mishima Editing Room)
  • Sound Director: Yukio Nagasaki
Observation Records of My Fiancée anime key visual
©しき・アルファポリス/バーティア様を愛でる会

Shiki first serialized the story on the Shōsetsuka ni Narō website, and AlphaPolis released the original novel in two volumes in 2017 with illustrations by Wan Hachipisu. Hanashi Media publishes the light novel series in English.

Here’s a description of the story, via Hanashi Media:

Exceptionally gifted to his own detriment, Prince Cecil had always found life effortlessly mundane. One ordinary day, his life took an unexpected turn when he became engaged to Miss Bertia, the Chancellor’s daughter. This engagement, however, was anything but typical.

“Prince Cecil! I must confess – I am the villain of this story!” Bertia’s declaration was startling. She claimed to have memories of her former life, where she had been the antagonist in a “Otome game”. Her lofty ambition was to excel as a villainess and thus have her engagement annulled. However, despite her plans for various misdeeds, her attempts have always been unsuccessful.

The Apothecary Diaries Series Surpasses 45 Million Copies in Circulation

The Apothecary Diaries manga

Imagica Infos has announced that Natsu Hyuga’s The Apothecary Diaries series has surpassed 45 million copies in circulation. The 45 million copies include Hyuga’s novel series and the two manga adaptations of The Apothecary Diaries by Nekokurage and Minoji Kurata.

Hyuga writes the original The Apothecary Diaries light novel series, with illustrations by Toko Shino. The novel made its debut on the Shōsetsuka ni Narō website in October 2011. Nekokurage later released an ongoing manga adaptation in Square Enix’s Monthly Big Gangan magazine in May 2017.

The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 will premiere in October 2026 with a two-cour run. The third season’s second cour will follow up in April 2027, and a new original anime film was announced for December 2026. What’s more, the new anime film includes a new story written by Hyuga.

The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 ran from January 10 to July 4, 2025, and it’s streaming on Crunchyroll. What’s more, Itsuki Nanao’s The Apothecary Diaries: Xiaolan’s Story manga was launched on March 23 on Manga UP!.

Lastly, here’s a synopsis of the series, via Crunchyroll:

Maomao lived a peaceful life with her apothecary father. Until one day, she’s sold as a lowly servant to the emperor’s palace. But she wasn’t meant for a compliant life among royalty. So when imperial heirs fall ill, she decides to step in and find a cure! This catches the eye of Jinshi, a handsome palace official who promotes her. Now, she’s making a name for herself solving medical mysteries!

Tamon’s B-Side Anime Reveals Cast Members for Kinoshita Siblings

The official website for the Tamon’s B-Side anime has revealed two new cast members. Runa Sasaki and Ayaka Nanase are joining the cast of Tamon’s B-Side anime as Homare and Yamato Kinoshita, Utage’s younger sister and younger brother.

The anime will premiere in January 2026.

Previously announced cast members for Tamon’s B-Side include:

  • Saori Hayami as Utage Kinoshita
  • Kakeru Hatano as Tamon Fukuhara
  • Shōya Chiba as О̄ri Sakaguchi
  • Tasuku Hatanaka as Keito Tachibana
  • Kōhei Amasaki as Natsuki Ishibashi
  • Ryuuho Nagaoka as Rintarо̄ Kai
  • Masaaki Mizunaka as Wataru Fujita
  • Takako Honda as Izumi Shiraishi
  • Saya Fukuzumi as Yuina
  • Yurika Hirayama as Riko

The in-story idol group F/ace performs the insert song “Supernova.”

The staff includes:

  • Chief Animation Directors: Mitsuru Chiba, Airi Tsuyuki
  • Prop Designer: Moe Fujii
  • Music: Takashi Ōmama, Natsumi Tabuchi
  • Art Director: Li Yu
  • CG Director: Ayaka Momma
  • 2D Design: Makoto Yoshigaki
  • Compositing Director of Photography: Soyaka Aoyagi
  • Color Key Artist: Miho Kimura
  • Editing: Michi Takigawa
  • Sound Director: Fumihiko Ōtera
  • Sound Effects: Sachiko Nishi
  • Sound Production: Rie Tanaka

Chika Nagaoka will direct the anime at J.C. Staff and Chiaki Nagai will both write and oversee the series’ scripts. Further, Yōko Itō is the character designer and chief animation director and Shochiku, King Records, and Hakusensha will produce the anime.

The original manga by Yuki Shiwasu, which debuted in 2021, is available to read in English on VIZ Media. Lastly, here’s an overview of the manga, via VIZ Media:

Tamon is an insecure mess in real life, and what’s worse, he’s threatening to quit! Utage refuses to let anyone stand in Tamon’s way—least of all himself. What’s a fangirl to do but roll up her sleeves and support her favorite singer with everything she’s got?

Assassin’s Creed Shadows Details Switch 2 Features

Assassin's Creed Shadows Switch 2

Ubisoft has revealed new details about the Nintendo Switch 2 version of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, including features and performance. According to the developer blog post, bringing Assassin’s Creed Shadows to Switch 2 was one of the “toughest but most rewarding challenges” Ubisoft has ever tackled.

Ubisoft developed and applied numerous optimizations for Assassins’ Creed Shadows on Switch 2, including baked global illumination, downscaled simulation data, and ARM processor-related enhancements. The port also leverages the use of NVIDIA’s DLSS upscaling technology, and the game maintains a stable 30 FPS in both handheld and docked modes. Handheld mode supports Variable Refresh Rate, or VRR for short.

All updates are included with the exception of the Claws of Awaji expansion, which will release in February 2026 for Switch 2. Assassin’s Creed Shadows supports cross-progression via Ubisoft Connect, so players can continue playing the game seamlessly across platforms. The Switch 2 version of Assassin’s Creed Shadows also supports touchscreen navigation with menus, and additional features and optimizations will be released in new updates, including keyboard and mouse compatibility in docked mode.

What’s more, a collaboration between Assassin’s Creed Shadows and the ever-popular Attack on Titan anime series is being held until December 22. Assassin’s Creed Shadows players can enjoy a special limited-time quest and purchase the Attack on Titan Dual Pack in the in-game store. The bundle includes outfits, weapons, trinkets, and a new mount based on the iconic anime and manga franchise.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is available now on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam, Epic Games Store, and Ubisoft Store. The Nintendo Switch 2 version launches on December 2. Recently, Final Weapon interviewed one half of the duo behind the Assassin’s Creed Shadows soundtrack: The Flight.

Girlfriend, Girlfriend Manga is Getting an Omnibus Print Edition

Girlfriend, Girlfriend

Kodansha USA has announced that Hiroyuki’s Girlfriend, Girlfriend manga is getting an omnibus print edition on December 9. The Girlfriend, Girlfriend omnibus print edition will be a 2-in-1 release.

Hiroyuki launched the Girlfriend, Girlfriend manga in Kodansha’s Weekly Shōnen Magazine in March 2020. The manga series ran until May 2023.

Two seasons of the Girlfriend, Girlfriend anime are streaming on Crunchyroll. Hikari Codama performs the opening theme song “Dramatic ni Koi Shitai” (I Want to Fall in Love Dramatically) by Hikari Codama plays in the new video. Pop group ClariS performs the ending theme song “Forira”.

Here’s the staff and cast of the second season:

  • Staff
    • Director: Takatoshi Suzuki (Synergy SP)
    • Series scripts: Keiichirō Ōchi, Kazuhiko Inukai
    • Character designer: Shouko Hagiwara
    • Composers: Kanade Sakuma, Miki Sakurai, and Junko Nakajima
    • Music production: Nichion and Myrica Music.
    • Art director: Masakazu Miyake
    • Color designer Haruko Seto
    • Photography director Noriko Wada
    • Editor: Yumiko Nakaba
    • Sound director: Satoshi Motoyama (HALF H·P STUDIO)
  • Cast
    • Aoi Koga as Risa Hoshizaki
    • Junya Enoki as Naoya Mukai
    • Ayane Sakura as Saki Saki
    • Azumi Waki as Nagisa Minase
    • Ayana Taketatsu as Rika Hoshizaki
    • Rie Takahashi as Shino Kiryū

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

The protagonist, Naoya, is a first-year in high school.
He asks out Saki, a girl he has been in love with, and she agrees to be his girlfriend. He’s currently on cloud nine.

But then, a beautiful girl named Nagisa comes up to Naoya one day and tells him that she wants to go out with him.

Naoya feels himself wavering because Nagisa is such a good girl, and he comes to a decision!

A new kind of romcom from a rather unexpected decision is about to begin!

 

Reincarnated in a Mafia Dating Sim Anime is in the Works

Reincarnated in a Mafia Dating Sim anime

TO Books has announced an anime adaptation of Tōko Amekawa’s Reincarnated in a Mafia Dating Sim (Akutō Ikka no Manamusume, Tensei-saki mo Otome Game no Gokudō Reijō Deshita. Saijōkyū Rank no Akuyaku-sama, Sono Dekiai wa Fuyō Desu!) light novel series is in the works. Tōko Amekawa also shared a special message to fans of Reincarnated in a Mafia Dating Sim on X (formerly Twitter).

Amekawa launched the story on the Shōsetsuka ni Narō website in 2022, and TO Books began publishing the series with illustrations by Meiji Anno in May 2023. Sora Gōto is credited for the original character design, and LINO took over with illustrations for the light novel series with the fourth volume. Gōto is also the author of the franchise’s ongoing manga adaptation.

Lastly, Tokyopop describes the story as follows:

When the granddaughter of a yakuza boss is reincarnated as Francesca Calvino, the heroine in a mafia dating video game — set in a fantastical world where crime bosses serve the king — she knows what to expect: another ill-fated life without friends. But thanks to her upbringing, she’s already hatched a plan. By expertly navigating the game’s main story, Francesca will leave the world of organized crime behind for good!

First on her agenda: break off her engagement to the notorious Leonardo Aldini, the young head of the Aldini family and major villain of the game. But after breezing through her kidnapping without a male lead in sight, Francesca proves herself to be a little too good at taking Leonardo on. Not only does he still wish to marry, but he won’t leave her alone.

How is Francesca supposed to live a normal life while being pursued by an insolent crime lord?

In Order to Love My Most Beloved Step-Brother Light Anime Reveals New Teaser Trailer

In Order to Love My Most Beloved Step-Brother, I'll Live a Long Life!

A new teaser trailer for the “light anime” adaptation of Tenma Asahi’s In Order to Love My Most Beloved Step-Brother, I’ll Live a Long Life! light novel series was released. The teaser trailer reiterates that the anime will premiere in January 2026.

The main cast of the In Order to Love My Most Beloved Step-Brother, I’ll Live a Long Life! anime includes Ayumu Murase as Alba and Shōta Aoi as Orsis.

Yūsuke Morishita is directing the anime, while Izumi Tezuka is handling the series scripts. Kazuya Takahashi is the production supervisor. IMAGICA Infos and Imageworks Studio are the animation producers. DNP and Imagica Info’s Animation ID are producing the project.

AlphaPolis published the first volume of the light novel series in September 2021 and published the fifth compiled book volume on January 20. In January 2025, Aki Tsujimoto launched a manga adaptation of the series on the AlphaPolis platform. AlphaPolis shipped the second volume on July 2.

Here is an overview of the series via Alphapolis:

Reincarnated as the beloved son of a duke, he starts his life over again…?!
When I was reincarnated, I found that my favorite person from my previous life had become my brother-in-law. Such a life would be too good to be true…! But then I thought, wait, wasn’t I the reason my brother-in-law lost his smile…?

Remembering the harsh future, I, Alba, began searching for a way to live longer so that my brother-in-law, Orsis, wouldn’t lose his smile and so that I could continue to love him. From finding medicine to rehabilitating my stepfather, to praising my brother-in-law to the max! While Alba, who loves his brother, was running around desperately like this, Orsis somehow gradually became more and more obsessed with his younger brother…

Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 – The Culling Game Part 1 English Dub Casts Alan Lee as Naoya Zen’in

JUJUTSU KAISEN Season 3 –– © Gege Akutami_Shueisha, JUJUTSU KAISEN Project –– Naoya Zen'in

Crunchyroll has announced that Alan Lee is joining the English dub cast of Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 – The Culling Game Part 1 as Naoya Zen’in. More English dub cast members for Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 – The Culling Game Part 1 will be revealed at a later date.

Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 – The Culling Game Part 1 premieres January 8 during the “Super Animeism Turbo” programming block on MBS, TBS, and affiliate channels. Crunchyroll will stream the anime.

Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution premiered in Japanese theaters on November 7 with IMAX, and the compilation film includes The Culling Game Part 1 episodes 1 and 2. GKIDS brings Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution to theaters in North America on December 5 with Japanese voice-overs and English dubs.

The voice cast includes:

  • Junya Enoki as Yuji Itadori
  • Yuma Uchida as Megumi Fushiguro
  • Daisuke Namikawa as Choso
  • Megumi Ogata as Yuta Okkotsu
  • Kōji Yusa as Naoya Zen’in
  • Yoshiko Sakakibara as Tengen and narrator

The staff includes:

  • Director: Shota Goshozono
  • Series Composition and Script Writer: Hiroshi Seko
  • Character Design: Yosuke Yajima and Hiromi Niwa
  • Deputy Director: Yosuke Takada
  • Art Director: Junichi Higashi
  • Color Design: Eiko Matsushima
  • CG Producer: Yusuke Tannawa
  • 3DCG Director: Daisuke Ishikawa (Monster’s Egg)
  • Director of Photography: Teppei Ito
  • Editor: Keisuke Yanagi
  • Music: Yoshimasa Terui
  • Music Producer: Yoshiki Kobayashi
  • Sound Director: Yasunori Ebina
  • Sound Production: dugout
  • Animation Studio: MAPPA

What’s more, Starforge Systems launched its Jujutsu Kaisen 0 Limited Edition PC collection. The Jujutsu Kaisen 0 PC bundle ($2399.99) is the all-encompassing headliner of the collection with a custom PC, desk mat, and wall art. The new PC bundle includes an AMD RX 9070 XT 16GB GPU, AMD Ryzen 5 7600X CPU, and a custom UV printed case. The wall art and desk mat are available separately for $59.99 and $49.99 at starforgesystems.com, along with a PC case bundle.

Nintendo Acquires Bandai Namco Studios Singapore

Nintendo Studios Singapore

Nintendo has announced a share transfer agreement with Bandai Namco to fully acquire Bandai Namco Studios Singapore, the developer of Hirogami. The acquisition will see Bandai Namco Studios Singapore become a subsidiary of Nintendo and continue development operations with a new name: Nintendo Studios Singapore.

Nintendo notes that the acquisition is meant to strengthen Nintendo’s development structure. Bandai Namco Studios Singapore previously aided development of Nintendo’s titles, including the Splatoon series, and has a strong business relationship with the company.

Nintendo explains the purpose of the acquisition in its official investor’s relations release:

Bandai Namco Studios Singapore was established as one of Bandai Namco Group’s overseas bases and is a development company with strong expertise in creating in-game art assets. It has contributed to the development of Nintendo titles, including the Splatoon series, and has an ongoing business relationship with Nintendo.

Considering this business record, Nintendo has made the decision to acquire shares in BNSS to strengthen the development structure of the Nintendo Group.

Subject to the satisfaction of all relevant customary conditions for transactions of this nature, Nintendo plans to acquire 80% of BNSS shares on April 1, 2026. The remaining shares will be acquired after a certain period, once the subsidiary’s operations have stabilized.

Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties Trailers Preview Life at Morning Glory and Kanda Damage Control

Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties

SEGA and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio have revealed two new trailers for Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties previewing the “Life at Morning Glory” and “Kanda Damage Control” content. Kiryu manages the Morning Glory Orphanage in Yakuza Kiwami 3, while Mine conducts business with Kanda and deepens their bond in Kanda Damage Control in Dark Ties.

Set in 2009, the story of Yakuza Kiwami 3 takes place after the Omi Alliance conflict in Yakuza Kiwami 2. Kazuma Kiryu entrusts the future of the Tojo Clan to Daigo Dojima and moves to Okinawa with Haruka. In Okinawa, Kiryu runs Morning Glory, an orphanage connected to his late foster father Shintaro Kazama. He spends his day there in peace with his children until a government-backed resort development plan by Japan’s land, infrastructure, and transport minister Yoshinobu Suzuki threats to wipe out the orphanage entirely. 

Meanwhile, the Tojo Clan is embroiled in turmoil during a fierce succession dispute after Daigo is shot by a mysterious figure. A massive conspiracy emerges in the political world, and Kazuma Kiryu must once again don his iconic suit to face new conflicts in Okinawa and in Tokyo. As previously discussed, Kiryu has access to his Dragon of Dojima: Kiwami and new Ryukyu fighting styles, with the latter being weapon based and rooted in Okinawan martial arts. Kiryu has his most diverse skill set to date, thanks to missions, training, and other avenues of character progression, including his cell phone.

The Dark Ties prequel story takes place in 2007—two years before the events of Yakuza Kiwami 3. Yoshitaka Mine, who once launched a successful startup, is stabbed in the back by a trusted partner. In his drunken stupor, Mine witnesses a conflict between yakuza factions in Kamurocho. After watching Daigo’s subordinate sacrifice themselves, Mine decides to search for what makes a bond transcend material gains. He approaches Tsuyoshi Kanda of the Tojo Clan’s Nishikiyama Family to learn more about Daigo, and in turn, becomes Kanda’s sword brother. The Tojo Clan catches on to Mine and Kanda’s actions, resulting in them springing to action.

The antagonist of Yakuza Kiwami 3 is the protagonist in Dark Ties, and he access to an elegant fighting style based on shoot-boxing in combat. As Mine, players can exploit openings in the opponent’s defense and beat them down with refined combos. Mine is also mobile with dashes, including a mid-air hop. Like Kiryu, Mine also has numerous abilities and Heat Actions. Mine can also unleash Dark Awakening, a mode that empowers him with a feral, cold-blooded fighting style. 

Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties launches February 12, 2026 for Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam.