AFA: Animation For Adults : Animation News, Reviews, Articles, Podcasts and More

GKIDS Acquire The Studio Ghibli Library For UK and Ireland

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Perkins) — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 13:39:03 +0000

GKIDS Films have been the animation fan's best friend in North America for a number of years. But now it seems that they are expanding their operations across the pond. The company has announced that they have acquired the rights to the Studio Ghibli catalogue for the United Kingdom and Ireland. They have picked up theatrical, home video, TV and digital rights. Streaming rights remain with Goodfellas, who have licensed the films to Netflix.

The rights for the films remained for many years with StudioCanal, right up to When Marnie Was There. However starting with Earwig And The Witch and The Boy And The Heron they started to be released by other distributors. It seemed clear that the long standing deal had come to an end, allowing GKIDS to step in and add the territory to their existing deal for North America.

The deal covers 23 films and includes classics such as Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, Castle In The Sky, Whisper Of The Heart, Howl's Moving Castle, My Neighbour Totoro, Only Yesterday, Ponyo and more. It's not clear if it includes The Grave Of The Fireflies (the rights for which are held separately), Nausicaa Of The Valley Of The Wind (which is technically pre-Ghibli) or The Red Turtle (which is a co-production).

In the US, GKIDS has also released several related titles such as Spirited Away: Live On Stage, and documentaries The Never-Ending Man and The Kingdom Of Dreams and Madness. These could potentially be released (or rereleased) in the UK, too.

GKIDS will initially be bringing Hayao Miyazaki's Kiki's Delivery Service to IMAX screens in the UK and Ireland from August 21. The beloved story of a young witch tyring to make her own way in a new town will screen in a brand new 4K restoration. They are also already planning further 4K IMAX releases with Arrietty and Whisper Of The Heart lined up next to hit the (really really) big screen. There are plans for further IMAX screenings from this autumn, plus a re-release of the full library across home-video platforms. This isn't likely to include 4K UHD releases, at least in the short term, as currently the only Ghibli title available on 4K anywhere is The Boy and The Heron.

GKIDS will partner with UK-based sister company Anime Limited (both of them are now owned by TOHO Global). The two companies have previously partnered on several individual releases, including Arcane, Perfect Blue and Neon Genesis Evangelion.

“GKIDS is delighted to extend our relationship with Studio Ghibli into the U.K. and Ireland, and to have this opportunity to reintroduce these incomparable films to audiences old and new,” said David Jesteadt, president of GKIDS.

“We are very happy to be working together with Gkids to bring the renowned Studio Ghibli library to U.K. and Irish audiences,” added Vincent Maraval, president of Goodfellas.

Meanwhile, GKIDS continues to regularly rerelease Ghibli films in cinemas in the US and Canada as part of the ongoing GhibliFest. Next up, My Neighbour Totoro is in cinemas from July 11-15.

[source]

Out This Week: All You Need Is Kill, Food Wars and More

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Perkins) — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 10:07:14 +0000

Welcome back to Out This Week. Following last week's busier spell, we're back to a more typical summer edition this week. There's only four new releases this week, led by All You Need Is Kill, the adaptation of the Japanese sci-fi novel that was previously made as Edge Of Tomorrow. Also new is a new Steelbook edition of Food Wars: The Second Plate. Rounding out the releases are two Crunchyroll Store Exclusives. Wind Breaker Season 2 and Rascal Does Not Dream Of Santa Claus.

There are no animation releases in the UK this week.

US Releases For July 7, 2026

All You Need Is Kill (GKIDS/Shout Factory, R) "After finding an unidentified plant from outer space invasion, Rita finds herself trapped in a time loop, forced to relive the same day over and over again. With each loop, she learns. She fights. Her memories and experiences sharpen her skills, turning her into a formidable warrior. Yet, the endless cycle of death and solitude begins to wear her down. Then, she meets Keiji. “I’ve been repeating this day too,” he says. Two lost souls, trapped in an endless war. Could their meeting change fate?"

FORMATS: Blu-Ray

Buy From Amazon

Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma: The Second Plate Season 2 (Sentai Filmworks, TV-14) "To the astonishment of his peers and the dismay of the elitist food snobs who dominate Totsuki Culinary Academy, former diner cook Soma Yukihira has sliced, diced, and perfectly spiced his way through the first round of culinary competitions known as the Fall Elections. But will his customer pleasing skills and ability to think outside the bento box lead him to victory against the flavor-enhancing chemical warfare of the Academy director’s granddaughter? And which of the other contenders will advance in their own march for the gold? The Judges’ verdicts await in the heaping second seasoned helping of Food Wars!"

FORMATS: Blu-Ray [STEELBOOK]

Buy From Amazon

Rascal Does Not Dream Of Santa Claus [Crunchyroll Store Exclusive] (Aniplex, 13+) "In a new stage of life, with new people. A heart-swaying adolescent fantasy...Sakuta Azusagawa, Mai Sakurajima, and Miniskirt Santa. Who is this Miniskirt Santa and what does she want?"

FORMATS: Blu-Ray

Buy From Crunchyroll Store

Windbreaker Season 2 [Crunchyroll Store Exclusive] (Aniplex, 13+) "Welcome to Furin High School, an institution infamous for its population of brawny brutes who solve every conflict with a show of strength. Haruka Sakura, a first-year student from out of town, is only interested in one thing: fighting his way to the top."

FORMATS: Blu-Ray

Buy From Crunchyroll Store

Upcoming Releases

Dan Da Dan Season 2 July 14

Lupin The 3rd The Movie: Immortal Bloodline July 21

The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 [Steelbook] July 28

Re: Zero: Starting Life Again In Another World: Season 3 July 28

Rooster Fighter Season 1 August 04

Sketch Book- Full Colors August 11

Dragon Ball Daima: Complete Series August 11

Made In Abyss August 11

Jinsei August 18

Girls Und Panzer: This Is The Real Anzio Battle August 18

Your Name 4K Steelbook August 25

Speed Racer: The Complete Series August 25

Digimon: Digital Monsters August 25

Monster Part 1 August 25

Sgt Frog: Movie Collection August 25

Tekkonkinkreet 4K September 1

Black Butler: Emerald Witch Arc September 1

Kaiju No 8. Mission Recon September 08

My Hero Academia Vigilantes September 08

Our Last Crusade or The Rise Of The New World Season 2 September 08

Suzume 4K September 08

Vampire Princess Myu September 08

Shirobako September 15

Cha0 September 22

The Dangers In My Heart Season2 September 22

Icarus October 13

Master Of Martial Hearts October 13

He-Man and the Masters Of The Universe: The Complete Series November 03

Rick and Morty: Season 9 November 03

Akira Returning To US and Canadian Cinemas In 4K and IMAX

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Perkins) — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 14:38:45 +0000

Cinemas are a great way to watch the latest new releases. But it can also be an awesome way to watch older films the way they were intended to be seen, whether you are revisiting or experiencing it for the first time. Distributors are increasingly giving the audience the chance to watch classics in cinemas through rereleases.

Crunchyroll have announced that they will bring Akira back to select theatres in the United States and Canada this September. It will screen in 4K and IMAX, so will look better than ever before. The film is distributed by Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures Entertainment.

Few films can be said to have the impact of Katsuhiro Otomo's 1988 masterpiece. Its animation and visuals still wow nearly 40 years later and its mind-melting plot is still blowing minds. It recently received a highly successful rerelease in the UK and Ireland, taking over a million pounds and becoming one of the top-grossing UK anime releases of all time.

Crunchyroll enthuses, " iconic and game-changing, Akira is the definitive anime masterpiece! Katsuhiro Otomo's landmark cyberpunk classic obliterated the boundaries of Japanese animation and forced the world to look into the future. Akira's arrival shattered traditional thinking, creating space for future generations of ground-breaking movies."

It used to be that every anime fan had seen Akira. Now, with physical media in terminal decline and the film unavailable on streaming, that's no longer the case. This is the perfect opportunity to correct that- and there's no better way to watch it for the first time than on the big screen.

July, 1988— World War III breaks loose. Then, in 2019, in megalopolis Tokyo...
As the leader of a group of young robust delinquents, Kaneda spent his nights tearing through the urban wastes, racing his motorbike against rival groups. One night while riding with his gang, his friend Tetsuo suddenly encounters a strange boy― the product of human experimentation— and is injured in the ensuing crash. Shortly thereafter, a military squadron appears on the scene to take the boy and Tetsuo away to an army research facility. Determined to free Tetsuo from capture, Kaneda sneaks into the army research lab. However, a regimen of extreme experimental procedures has awakened a new power in his friend, and now he is consumed by madness…

Akira will screen with both English dub and in Japanese with subtitles. Check with your venue for details. The film will open on September 4, 2026.

Anime Classics Coming To Disney+ In the UK, Ireland and France

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Perkins) — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 11:05:53 +0000

Anime is one of the hottest commodities in the streaming market. But when you think of where to go to watch it, it's unlikely that the first name that comes to mind is Disney Plus. That could be changing, however, as the Mouse House's streaming service has a growing library of Japanese animation. And now, Disney has signed a deal with one of the world's foremost anime distributors to bring a selection of the most acclaimed anime movies of all time to the service.

The deal between Disney Plus and Toho International-owned Anime Limited will see the films stream to subscribers in the United Kingdom, Ireland and France. They include films from such filmmakers as Makoto Shinkai, Mamoru Hosoda, Naoko Yamada and Satoshi Kon. Several of the films are making their UK streaming debut, while others have been available on other streaming services in the past.

Titles will include Your Name, Weathering With You, Mirai, Belle, Wolf Children, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, Ghost In The Shell 2 and Perfect Blue. A Silent Voice and the iconic classic Akira will stream exclusively in the UK and Ireland, while the rest of the slate will also be available in France.

Lauren Tempest, Head of content planning and partnerships, DTC at the Walt Disney Company, said: “Anime is a powerful global storytelling force – resonating deeply with audiences around the world, including in key markets like the U.K. and France where fan communities continue to expand. We’re committed to meeting the audience where they are and making Disney+ the home of beloved anime storytelling – bringing culture, community and must-watch stories to one destination.”

Karl Holmes, General Manager Disney Plus EMEA added: “Anime fans have a handful of films they always come back to and love sharing, and this collection brings many of those favourites together. It’s easy to see why they’re so loved. Created by some of anime’s greatest storytellers, these films have inspired fans for years with unforgettable characters and extraordinary worlds. We can’t wait for our customers in the U.K. and France to discover them on Disney+.”

Kerry Kasim, co-managing director of Anime Limited said: “Fresh off the back of Annecy Film Festival, anime remains one of the most compelling storytelling mediums for audiences today. We’re overjoyed to make Disney+ the home of such strong story-led features from some of anime’s brightest lights. French, British and Irish fans are in for a treat.”

The films will be available this summer. Specific premiere dates are to be announced at a later date.

[source]

Watch This: Gotta Go!

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Perkins) — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 13:29:51 +0000

A lot of the American animation produced over the past 30 years or so has been inspired by anime. Japanese animation's stylish visuals and kinetic animation have inspired generations of animators. Now Make Originals have made their first anime-inspired cyberpunk short, Gotta Go!

Gotta Go! is an anime-inspired short that pays homage to the films that inspired its artists, while reinterpreting their visual language through a contemporary creative lens. Blending hand-drawn 2D animation with stylised 3D backgrounds, the film captures the cinematic energy of classic anime without simply recreating it.

The project marks Make's first foray into anime-inspired animation, and their first collaboration with DeeDee Animation Studio. It's also their first film to be released simultaneously across YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and TikTok, ensuring audiences can watch it wherever they are.

Director and lead animator Joshua Schneider said ""Gotta Go! gave us the opportunity to explore a visual style we'd admired for years but had never tackled ourselves. Rather than recreating classic anime frame for frame, we wanted to capture what made those films so unforgettable and reinterpret those ideas through our own creative lens."

Executive Producer Danny Robashkin added: ""At the end of the day, we just want to make content people genuinely enjoy watching. MAKE Originals gives us the freedom to create stories purely for entertainment while sharing the artists, styles, and ideas that define our studio. We hope Gotta Go! leaves people wanting to see what we make next."

Gotta Go! features a typically bad-ass female lead, on the run for unknown reasons. The combination of 2D animation and 3D environments allows for dynamic camera movement and angles, combined with the expressive possibility of hand-drawn animation. Add in a pumping synth soundtrack and it all makes for an exhilarating minute and a half. It's funny too, with visual gags abound in the backgrounds. And it all leads up to a very funny reveal that finally makes clear the significance of the title.

Also Worth Watching...

Make Originals also recently released a short making-of documentary, detailing the production of their hit series Sunny Side Down. The 14-minute doc features interviews from the artists, directors, writers and producers who helped bring the six-episode series to life.

What makes the project unique is that it was self-funded by the studio through its commercial work. It allowed them to make an original series while continuing to serve clients. Since launching in October 2025, the series has received more than 1.5 million views across the six episodes, culminating in the final episode in April 2026.

The doc offers a rare look at how an independent studio developed, financed, and produced an original animated series outside of the traditional network and streaming model.

Not Alone Teaser Trailer Makes First Contact

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Perkins) — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 11:06:34 +0000

Fresh from its announcement at Annecy Festival last week, Illumination's new film Not Alone has got its first trailer. The film is the studio's latest original feature, and is due to be released next Spring.

The film features Oscar-nominated actor Timothée Chalamet in his debut animation role, and Selina Gomez in an animated rom-com with a twist.

Chamalet voices Joe, an introverted rocket mechanic. Gomez voices Fran, a brilliant astro-botanist who is developing the world's first plant-fuelled rocket. When they meet, it's love at first sight, but neither is all that experienced in the world of romance.

Joe's quiet existence is soon disrupted when three diminutive extraterrestrials decide to take refuge in his house. Dunk, Welly and Shirm are fugitives on the run from Zandro, an overzealous but useless officer of the law who is determined to track them down. The trio think that the secret of their escape could lie in Fran's rocket...

The aliens are voiced by British comedy stars Rob Brydon (The Trip), Diane Morgan (aka Philomena Cunk) and Jamie Demetriou (Stath Lets Flats) as Dunk, Welly and Shirm, with Brett Goldstein (Ted Lasso) as Zandro. The supporting voice cast includes Alison Janney and Lamorne Morris.

Not Alone is directed by Eric Guillon, Claire Dodgson and Jonathan Del Val. Guillon was co-director of Despicable Me 3, and was also the designer on the Despicable Me and Minions series, as well as doing additional design work on the Secret Life Of Pets and Sing movies. Dodgson was an editor on The Lorax, Minions, Despicable Me 3 and Minions: The Rise of Gru. Del Val co-directed Minions: The Rise Of Gru and The Secret Life Of Pets 2.

The film is produced by Illumination founder and CEO Chris Meledandri and executive produced by Joy Poirel, Richard Curtis and David Distenfeld. The involvement of Curtis is particularly noteworthy: the writer of such films as Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill and Love Actually, he has a strong background in romantic comedy. Combined with the large contingent of Brit comedians among the cast, the film looks set to have a unique flavour (with a u).

The trailer concentrates mainly on the meet-cute between Joe and Fran, only introducing the aliens towards the end. We see enough of them to know that they will bring some Minion-esque chaos to proceedings, however. This is looking like another charmer from Illumination.

Not Alone will be released in cinemas on April 16, 2027.

Annecy Awards The Violinist, Iron Boy, Paper Trail and More

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Perkins) — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 18:00:00 +0000

The Annecy International Animation Film Festival has come to an end for another year. And as it does every year, it climaxed with a glitzy award ceremony, awarding the best of the festival. The final awards ceremony was preceded the night before by a ceremony to present the "special awards". The full list of winners can be found below.

The winner of the all-important Cristal For A Feature Film was The Violinist, Singapore's first animated feature for 15 years. Iron Boy, from former Pixar animator Louis Clichy took home the Jury Award, The Audience Award and Gan Foundation Award for Distribution. Desporado, the latest film from Spain's Alberto Vásquez was given the Paul Grimault Award.

The Cristal For A Short Film went to American indie icon Don Hertzfeldt's new film Paper Trail. The winner of the Jury Award and Audience Award was God Is Shy, which also won a Special Award for Best Soundtrack.

An Honorary Cristal was presented to King Of The Hill and Beavis and Butthead creator Mike Judge for his contributions to animation. The award was presented by Titmouse Cartoons co-founder Chris Prynoski.

At the closing night ceremony, it was confirmed that this year's festival was attended by a record 19,100 accredited attendees. The festival also confirmed that it will return next year, June 13-19 for its 2027 edition. Colombia will be the country of honour.

FEATURE FILMS

Cristal for a Feature Film

The Violinist, Ervin Han, Raúl García (Throne Inc., Robot Playground Media, TV ON Producciones, Altri Occhi/Singapore, Spain, Italy)

Jury Award

Iron Boy, Louis Clichy (Eddy Cinéma, Beside Productions/France, Belgium)

Paul Grimault Award

Decorado, Alberto Vázquez (UniKo, Abano Producións The Glow Animation Studio, Sardinha em Lata/Spain, Portugal)

Gan Foundation Award for Distribution

Iron Boy

Audience Award

Iron Boy

CONTRECHAMP FEATURES

Grand Prix

Blaise Dimitri Planchon and Jean-Paul Guige (KG Productions/France)

Jury Award

A New Dawn, (Asmik Ace, Miyu Productions/Japan, France)

SHORT FILMS

Cristal for a Short Film

Paper Trail, Don Hertzfeldt (U.S)

Jury Award

God Is Shy, Jocelyn Charles (France)

Alexeïeff – Parker Award

My Bellyaching Skin, Etienne Bonnet (Girelle Production, France)

Off-Limits Award

Core Dump, Alona Rodeh (Germany)

Jean-Luc Xiberras Award for a First Film

Please, Anna Mantzaris (Apparat Filmproduktion, Passion Paris Production, Arte, Film i Väst, SVT, Mikrofilm AS, Kuli Film, YLE and Böhle Studio/Sweden, France, Czech Republic, Norway, Finland)

Audience Award

God is Shy

TV AWARDS

Cristal for a TV Production

The Great Dreamscape, Rémi Durin (Autour de Minuit/Belgium, France)

Jury Award for a TV Series

Takopi’s Original Sin, Shinya Iino Enishiya (Tokyo Broadcasting System Television/Japan)

Jury Award for a TV Special

Song of the Storms, Caroline Attia (Sacrebleu Productions/France, Belgium)

Audience Award for a TV Production

The Broos David Mirailles (Bobby Prod, Arte/France)

COMMISSIONED FILMS

Cristal for a Commissioned Film

Unloved, Victor Caire, Lucas Navarro, Théophile Dufresne (Illogic Studios, Wizz/France)

Jury Award for a Commissioned Film

Eco Beat, Eva Bienert, Max Mörtl, (Vorarlberger Gemeindeverband, Austria, Germany)

GRADUATION FILMS

Jury Award

Dying Embers, Léa Pulini (La Poudrière/France)

Lotte Reiniger Award

Gently, Jamaica Kindlová (FAMU – Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague/Czech Republic)

VR WORKS

Cristal for the Best VR Work

A Long Goodbye, Kate Voet, Victor Maes (Cassette For Timescapes, Tarantula, Valk Productions/Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands)

SPECIAL PRIZE WINNERS

SACEM Award for Best Original Soundtrack, Short Film

God Is Shy, Jocelyn Charles (Remembers/France)

SACEM Award for Best Original Soundtrack, Feature Film

The Violinist, Ervin Han, Raúl García (Throne Inc., Robot Playground Media, TV ON Producciones, Altri Occhi/Singapore, Spain, Italy)

Annecy Presents Audience Award

Brave Cat, Gabriel Osorio (Punkrobot/Chile)

Canal+ Junior Jury Award

Piccolo Piccolo, Marta Gennari (Gebeka Films, Folimage, Reginald de Guillebon, Nadasdy Film/France, Switzerland)

Young Audience Award

Into the Forest, Antonin Niclass (Milos-Films SA/Switzerland)

André Martin Award for a French Short Film

Hold It Together, Fan Sissoko (Compass Films, Komawé, Artémis Productions – Artébis Entertainment/Iceland, France, Belgium)

ARTE Award, European Short Film

Uka-uka, Henri Veermäe (Grafik/Estonia)

Festivals Connexion Award for an Immersive Work

Voooooo—Peeeeee—, Hyeunjoo Woo, Jiyun Park (Ubac Studio/South Korea)

Vimeo Staff Pick Award for a Short Film

Creation, Béla Klingl (Béla Klingl/Hungary)

Warner Bros. Animation Award for a Graduation Film

The 12 Inch Pianist, Lucas Ansel (Rhode Island School of Design/U.S.)

Midnight Shorts Award

Eclosión, Luis Morillo (Luis Morillo, Edwin Gautreau Santana, Claudio Lluberes, Miguel Cabañas, Jaime Cano, Daysi Cruz/Dominican Republic, Spain)

City of Annecy Award

Because Today Is Saturday, Alice Eça Guimarães (Animais AVPL, La Clairière Ouest, Studio Kimchi, Os Filmes do Pinguim/Portugal, France, Spain)

Titmouse WTF Award

You Are Not Part of the Cake, Ting-Jui Chen (Royal College of Art/Taiwan, U.K)

Titmouse WTF Jury Distinction

I Have a, Rory Waudby-Tolley (Rory Waudby-Tolley/U.K)

[source]

Out This Week: Primal, Lady Oscar, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time and More

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Perkins) — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 14:13:10 +0000

Welcome back, gentle web wanderer to another fine edition of Out This Week. After several quiet weeks in a row, things have picked up considerably. New releases this week include Genndy Tartakovsky's Primal Season 3, indie adult comedy Isla Monstro, and old school mischief with Dastardly & Muttley In Their Flying Machines (Stop that pigeon, now!). And that's without even mentioning the extensive selection of anime, that has something for everyone. Gothic horror with When They Cry, Old School Cool with Lupin The 3rd Specials Collection 2, shonen action with Dr Stone: Science Future and lesbian romance with Strawberry Panic.

New to the UK this week is a 4K edition of Disney's beloved animated Alice In Wonderland. New anime includes Colourful Stage The Movie: A Miku Who Couldn't Sing and a new 4K edition of Mamoru Hosoda's The Girl Who Leapt Through Time.

UK Releases For June 29, 2026

Alice In Wonderland 4K (Disney, U) "The classic Disney animated version of Alice's adventures as she follows a white rabbit into a "Wonderland" of her own imagination. On her journey, she encounters the Mad Hatter, the Cheshire Cat, and a host of other beloved characters brought to life with the usual Disney zest."

FORMATS: 4K UHD

Buy From Amazon

Bastard!! Heavy Metal Dark Fantasy Season 1 (Anime Ltd., 18) "Fifteen years ago, the wizard Dark Schneider led the armies of the Divine Kings in a ruthless bid to conquer the world. Ultimately, Schneider failed and was sealed away into the body of a newborn, but his generals escaped and now the Kings are back with a new plan: unleashing a God of Destruction! Barring their way, however, is the kingdom of Metallicana, where the Great Priest’s daughter will unleash a surprise weapon of her own: Dark Schneider reborn! Can Yoko control her resurrected ally, or will the result be total Armageddon? The ultimate grudge match explodes in Bastard!! -Heavy Metal, Dark Fantasy!"

FORMATS: Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray CE

Buy From Amazon

Colourful Stage: The Movie- A Miku Who Can't Sing (Anime Ltd, PG) "Ichika is a high school musician who can enter a mysterious place called “SEKAI,” where she and her friends express their innermost emotions through music alongside Hatsune Miku. One day after giving a live performance, Ichika meets a new Miku that she has never seen before. No matter how hard this new Miku tries to sing, she struggles connecting with the hearts of her listeners. Miku must rely on the help of others to find a way to sing again."

FORMATS: Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray CE, DVD

Buy From Amazon

The Dangers In My Heart Season 2 (Anime Ltd., 15) "Kyotaro Ichikawa’s in a quandary. His relationship with Anna Yamada keeps going in unexpected directions. However, his school doesn’t have classes on understanding the opposite sex. Recently, fortune has given him an unexpected break… a broken arm. But it's the perfect excuse for Anna to help him with some things that are hard to do one-handed. If he can bring himself to ask her. Of course, Anna’s just as confused on her end, and they’ve got terrifying events like Valentine’s Day that they’ll have to navigate together in the second season of THE DANGERS IN MY HEART!"

FORMATS: Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray CE

Buy From Amazon

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (Anime Ltd. 12) "What if it was possible to avoid embarrassing situations? Suddenly, Makoto Konno can do this--and more--when she discovers that she can jump back in time at will. Tests are a piece of cake, and she can have her favourite food anytime; what a great life! But she soon realises that her little time jaunts are having adverse effects on the people she loves. Each time she races back in time to fix the problems she has created, it brings her one step closer to discovering the most wonderful secret in her young life."

FORMATS: 4K UHD [Steelbook], Blu-Ray, DVD

Buy From Amazon

Naruto Shippuden Volume 5 (Anime Ltd., 12) "Orochimaru is in agony as his body fails him. But when he sets his sights on taking over Sasuke’s body, he finds his new student no easy target! Then Sasuke begins recruiting some of the strongest shinobi in the land to form an unstoppable team. Their first real test comes in the form of the explosive Akatsuki, Deidara!"

FORMATS: Blu-Ray

Buy From Amazon

US Releases For June 30, 2026

Dastardly & Muttley In Their Flying Machines The Complete Series (Warner Bros, NR) "Dick Dastardly leads a fighter plane group to try ineffectualy to stop a carrier pigeon."

FORMATS: Blu-Ray

Buy From Amazon

Dr. Stone Science Future: Season Four, Part One (Crunchyroll, TV-14) "After stopping the Petrification Kingdom, Senku and his friends set their sights on the moon. The plan is for a voyage team with a revived Tsukasa to gather resources in America. But the path to progress has a roadblock - another genius scientist!"

FORMATS: Blu-Ray

Buy From Amazon

Fire and Ice (Blue Underground, PG) "It began as a once-in-a-lifetime collaboration between two of the greatest icons of the fantasy genre: Controversial animator Ralph Bakshi and legendary illustrator Frank Frazetta. It became – and remains – one of the most startling animation epics of all time. Now experience a world unlike any ever seen, where savage warriors, horrific monsters and luscious maidens battle for the soul of a civilization in a time of good and evil, pleasure and pain, and Fire and Ice."

FORMATS: Blu-Ray (MVD Entertainment Group Exclusive)

Genndy Tartakovsky's Primal: The Complete Third Season (Warner Bros., NR) "The third season of “Genndy Tartakovsky’s Primal” opens with a shocking twist that resurrects Spear in a new form—stripped of memory and humanity—and forces him to roam a brutal, untamed world as a shadow of his former self. As Spear battles savage landscapes and deadly foes, faint echoes of his past begin to stir, leading him toward an emotional and explosive reunion that will test the limits of survival."

FORMATS: Blu-Ray

Buy From Amazon

Higurashi: When They Cry: Kai Season 2 (Discotek Media, UR ) "The endless June of 1983 continues its merciless cycle. After the blood-soaked tragedies of the Watanagashi Festival claimed countless lives across shattered fragments of time, the survivors are left broken, haunted, and desperate for answers. Keiichi Maebara, torn by guilt and memory, vows to change fate itself. Rika Furude, the shrine maiden who has lived and died a hundred times, finally reveals the cruel truth of the looping nightmare. Satoko Houjou sharpens her traps and her resolve. Mion and Shion Sonozaki confront the darkness buried in their family’s past. And Rena Ryuugu—freed from the curse’s grip after her arrest—returns to a village that no longer trusts her. As the shadowy conspiracy behind the “Oyashiro-sama’s Curse” unravels, old allies become enemies, secrets become weapons, and the line between human and monster disappears completely. With time running out and the Great Hinamizawa Disaster looming once more, only one question remains: Can they break the cycle before the final night falls?"

FORMATS: Blu-Ray

Buy From Amazon

Higurashi: When They Cry Rei Season 3 (Discotek Media, UR) "In the cursed village of Hinamizawa, the endless cycle of June 1983 was supposed to be unbreakable. But something has changed. Rika Furude opens her eyes to a world without tragedy. No murders. No paranoia. No blood-soaked nights. A perfect summer where everyone lives. A paradise she has wished for across a hundred deaths. Yet paradise demands a price. To keep this miracle, she must never return. She must let her friends die in the world that needs her most. One sin to end all sins. One roll of the dice to murder hope itself. Five final stories hidden from the original curse. Forgiveness is a lie. This time, even gods cry."

FORMATS: Blu-Ray

Buy From Amazon

I Don't Like You At All, Big Brother!! (Media Blasters, 16+) "Nao Takanashi loves her older brother Shuusuke to the point where it’s become a real problem. Wishing her brother would see her as a woman, Nao makes not so subtle advances toward him on a daily basis. One day, while throwing out her brother’s extensive porn collection, Nao finds a family album containing photos from his childhood- none of which include any pictures of her! Discovering the truth about her blood ties, Nao ramps up her romantic moves on Shuusuke. Soon, her dreams of monopolizing her brother’s romantic attention are put into serious jeopardy!"

FORMATS: Blu-Ray [Amazon Exclusive]

Buy From Amazon

Isla Monstro (Abysmal Entertainment, UR) "When a secret government island of mutants is transformed into a luxury resort by an idiot, all hell breaks loose."

FORMATS: Blu-Ray, DVD

Buy From Amazon

Juden Chan (Media Blasters, 16+) "Sadness be gone! Though depressed people are scattered across the world, there are those from a parallel world who are here to help. Known as Juden-chan, these busty ladies use their special powers to charge up the mentally dejected and earn a living in the process. While Aresta and Plug are performing their Juden-chan duties, they discover a boy named Sento. Unlike most humans, Sento can actually see them!"

FORMATS: Blu-Ray [Amazon Exclusive]

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Lady Oscar: The Rose Of Versailles Complete Collection (Discotek Media, UR) "The year is 1755, and General Jarjayes of France's Royal Guard curses the birth of his fifth daughter. With no one to carry on the family's military legacy, he is driven to raise his newest daughter as his son. Fourteen years later, Oscar Jarjayes dresses in men's clothes, is peerless with the rapier, and is never afraid to take (or give) a punch. When it comes time to appoint a bodyguard to protect the Dauphine Marie Antoinette, the king of France declares that Oscar must duel Count Girodelle's son for the honor. To her, however, it isn't a question of whether she can win the duel, but whether she wants to at all. Will she choose the role of a military officer, or will she seek a life with the one she loves?"

FORMATS: Blu-Ray

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Lupin The 3rd: Specials Collection 2 (Discotek Media, UR) " Dragon of Doom: Lupin’s gang hunts a mysterious dragon statue hidden in the sunken Titanic — one that even Goemon’s Zantetsuken can’t cut. It may hold the secret to the sword’s power, but a wealthy gangster wants it too. The Pursuit of Harimao’s Treasure: Lupin races to collect three lost statues to find the legendary treasure of bandit Harimao. He teams up with aging MI6 agent Sir Archer and his granddaughter against the ruthless Neo-Himmel group. The Secret of Twilight Gemini: Dying Don Dolune gives Lupin half of the legendary Twilight diamond. The other half is in war-torn Morocco, where Fujiko’s schemes, a romance with Lara, and a psychotic killer complicate everything. Island of Assassins: Framed for Zenigata’s murder with his own Walther P38, Lupin tracks the killer to a deadly assassin island in the Devil’s Triangle. Forced to join them, he plots to steal their gold and face a ghost from his past. Tokyo Crisis: Lupin fights to steal two rare photo plates before shady dealer Michael Suzuki gets them. With Jigen and Goemon off their game and Zenigata aided by mysterious reporter Mariya, chaos ensues."

FORMATS: Blu-Ray

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Patlabor: The Mobile Police The Early Days (Discotek Media, UR) "Set in a near-future Tokyo where giant construction robots called “Labors” have become commonplace, a special police unit—Special Vehicles Section 2, Division 2—is formed to handle Labor-related crimes using their own patrol mechs: the Ingram “Patlabors.” Centered on enthusiastic rookie pilot Izumi Noa and her beloved AV-98 Ingram Unit 1 “Alphonse,” the series follows the laid-back yet highly skilled members of Division 2 as they deal with everything from malfunctioning construction Labors rampaging through the city, corporate espionage, military conspiracies, and the eerie “Phantom” computer virus that causes Labors to go berserk."

FORMATS: Blu-Ray

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Strawberry Panic (Media Blasters, 13+) "Nagisa is a young woman who transfers to a prestigious all-girls school that happens to share a campus with two other elite female academies. The new surroundings are overwhelming at first but Nagisa quickly adapts to life in Strawberry Hall with the help of her new friends. Things intensify when Nagisa catches the eye of the mysterious Shizuma, the respected representative of all three schools. Both their lives are forever changed as their bond develops beyond mere friendship amidst a school semester of heated conflicts, petty jealousies and crossed boundaries."

FORMATS: Blu-Ray [Amazon Exclusive]

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Upcoming Releases

All You Need Is Kill July 07

Dan Da Dan Season 2 July 14

Lupin The 3rd The Movie: Immortal Bloodline July 21

The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 [Steelbook] July 28

Re: Zero: Starting Life Again In Another World: Season 3 July 28

Rooster Fighter Season 1 August 04

Sketch Book- Full Colors August 11

Dragon Ball Daima: Complete Series August 11

Made In Abyss August 11

Jinsei August 18

Girls Und Panzer: This Is The Real Anzio Battle August 18

Your Name 4K Steelbook August 25

Speed Racer: The Complete Series August 25

Digimon: Digital Monsters August 25

Monster Part 1 August 25

Sgt Frog: Movie Collection August 25

Tekkonkinkreet 4K September 1

Black Butler: Emerald Witch Arc September 1

Kaiju No 8. Mission Recon September 08

My Hero Academia Vigilantes September 08

Our Last Crusade or The Rise Of The New World Season 2 September 08

Suzume 4K September 08

Vampire Princess Myu September 08

Shirobako September 15

Cha0 September 22

The Dangers In My Heart Season2 September 22

Icarus October 13

Master Of Martial Hearts October 13

Annecy Round-Up: Bubblegum and Marceline, Loving Dory, Conan The Barbarian and More

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Perkins) — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 13:57:17 +0000

For one week every June, the humble town of Annecy in France becomes the center of the animation world. Animators, executives, industry figures, artists and animation fans descend on the alpine town as it hosts a celebration of our favourite medium in all its forms. This year's festival just wrapped up this past weekend and there has been a whole load of news coming out of the festival. We've already covered several posts on the subject already, but now we bring you a round-up of the best of the rest.

Cartoon Network Studios and HBO Max have announced yet another Adventure Time spin-off. This time featuring fan favourite characters Bubblegum and Marceline. The series will feature the further adventures of the friends (girlfriends?), with plans of stories that will spread across multiple episodes and seasons. The series has been given a 10-episode straight-to-series order. Adam Muto is serving as showrunner and executive producer. Fred Seibert and Sam Register are also executive producing.

Warner Bros Animation announced an adult animated remake of the classic gothic drama Dark Shadows (previously adapted into a movie by Tim Burton). The show is in a very early stage of development, and Lisa Holdsworth, a writer on Channel 4's Dreamers, Call The Midwife and A Discovery Of Witches, is set as the showrunner.

Warner Bros Animation in association with DC Studios, announced new series, Absolute Batman, an adaptation of the comic of the same name. They also announced Joker: Laugh Riot, DC's first anime series, and a kids series starring Krypto the Superdog. They also screened the animated feature Batman: Knightfall, first in a planned trilogy of films based on one of the most notorious arcs from comics' history.

Netflix dropped a trailer for Alley Cats from creator and writer Ricky Gervais, animated by Blink Industries.

At the first-ever Prime Video Studio Focus, it was announced that Invincible has been renewed for a sixth season, before the fifth has even aired. This makes it the longest-running Amazon animated series. It was also announced that Jack Quaid (The Boys) would be joining the voice cast. It was also announced that Helluva Boss would be returning for season three on October 14.

Cartoon Network Studios and Prime Video are developing a series based on Conan The Barbarian from animation legend Genndy Tartakovsky. He said, “I’ve been trying to develop Conan since 2008, but the world was not ready, But now, after Adult Swim’s Samurai Jack and Primal, it’s prime time for this to come to life, I have been so inspired by the books written by Robert E. Howard, whose work I have a personal connection with. So far I feel super excited. This is the only IP I’ve worked on other than Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and I think it’s going to be something special.”

Disney announced their first theatrical short for five years. Lilo and Scratch will take place shortly after the first film (the animated one, not last year's live action) and Stitch is doing just fine with his new family. That is until Lilo brings home another new family member- a cat. Chris Sanders will return to voice Stitch. The short is described as "a wild, chaotic chase around the island, " Adding "this is the kind of mayhem we love with this character.” The short will debut this autumn, presumably alongside Hexed, Walt Disney Animation Studio's 65th animated feature, which the studio also previewed.

Pixar also previewed a new short. Loving Dory will feature the perrenially forgetful fish falling in love.. with a plastic bag. It will feature the return of Nemo and Dory, and other beloved characters from the Finding Nemo franchise, and is this time directed by Lou Hamou-Lhadj. Hamou-Lhadj co-directed the Oscar-nominated short Borrowed Time with Andrew Coats, and served as an episode director and art director for Pixar's TV series Win Or Lose, as well as working as an animator, artist or character modeller on various Pixar features and shorts. The short is presumed to be releasing alongside next year's Gatto, making it the first Pixar feature to be accompanied by a short in quite some time.

A trailer was released for the revived King Of The Hill (otherwise known as season 15).

More Annecy

➤Warner Bros

➤Netflix

➤Netflix Anime

➤Aardman

Watch This: Scaredy Cat

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Perkins) — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 14:05:20 +0000

Warner Bros have begun the roll-out of Cartoon Cartoons, the revival of Cartoon Network Studio's shorts program. The latest release to hit the Warner Bros YouTube channel is a gem from an animation industry veteran. Emmy-award-winning animator JJ Villard (JJ Villard's Fairy Tales) returns with his latest creation: Cartoon Cartoon short Scaredy Cat.

Villard's previous series was for Adult Swim and was decidedly not family-friendly. Scaredy Cat is a seven-minute short aimed at kids and families. Despite the change in audience, however, it still has a gross-out sensibility and a gooey and squishy feel. Although this time aimed a younger crowd.

The short centres on two supernatural 11-year-olds- the titular cute-scared-Vietnamese-cat-monster who is scared of everything and his best (and only) friend, Ghost Girl who helps him face his fears. Together they explore monsters, mysteries and magical secrets hidden beneath their hometown of Santa Barbara.

The short is inspired by Villard's own childhood, and celebrates friendship, being different and finding the courage to face your fears. Growing up Vietnamese, Villard often felt like an outsider and wanted to create something personal that would remind kids that it's OK to be scared and that being different is something to be celebrated.

At its heart, Scaredy Cat is about the importance of friendship and learning that being scared has never been so much fun.

Villard has spent more than two decades in animation, with credits including Shrek 5, Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2, Shrek the Third, Shrek Forever After, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem and numerous DreamWorks and TV productions. He was the creator of JJ Villard's Fairy Tales and King Star King for Adult Swim.

Villard's unique style and character designs bring a distinctive feel to this short, which would work very nicely as a pilot for an ongoing series. The characters are original and distinctive and the sense of humour is anarchic. The supernatural trappings and gross-out moments give it an edge that means it's probably not suitable for younger children, but there's nothing here that should give older kids (say, 10 and up) nightmares. It's spooky fun, if not for quite the whole family... it's pretty close!

Cartoon Cartoons are released on the Warner Bros TV YouTube every Monday.

[Annecy 2026] Netflix Highlights Their Anime Slate

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Perkins) — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 11:39:26 +0000

Netflix now has so much animation at Annecy International Animation Film Festival that it has to be split across multiple presentations. So, as well as its main panel, the streamer also has one dedicated to anime. The Netflix Anime Studio Focus highlighted the best in Japanese (and Japanese-inspired) animation.

Highlights include Wit Studio's The One Piece, a new adaptation of Eiichiro Oda's best-selling manga; The Ribbon Hero, director Yuki Igarashi's reimagining of Osamu Tezuka's classic Princess Knight and Sparks Of Tomorrow sees the beloved Kyoto Animation adapt Hiroshi Yuki's novel. The showcase also features anime-inspired animation with the second season of the Emmy-winning Blue Eye Samurai and Bass X Machina from creator LeSean Thomas and Executive Producer Bryan Tyree Henry.

Netflix brings anime to members in over 190 countries and regions in up to 34 languages. More than 50% of Netflix users regularly watch anime, and in 2025 alone, anime titles were viewed more than 1.5 billion times. Netflix says "As anime continues to resonate with audiences around the world, Netflix remains committed to bringing bold stories and visionary creators to fans everywhere through an expanding slate of series and films."

Details on the previewed series and films are below.

THE RIBBON HERO

Release date: August 8, 2026

LOGLINE: Yuki Igarashi, regarded as one of the industry’s most versatile animators, directs the film. He first drew wide attention for the sophisticated animation he handled alone as key animator on the ending sequence of Jujutsu Kaisen Season 1. His directorial debut, Star Wars: Visions - Lop & Ochō, received high praise in Japan and abroad for its delicate storytelling and dynamic action scenes. THE RIBBON HERO marks Igarashi’s first time directing a feature-length film.

Bringing together a team of highly skilled creators, the film depicts the story of a lone hero who chooses to defy a harsh destiny, set in a delicately crafted world and brought to life through polished action.

BASS X MACHINA

Release date: November 3, 2026

Synopsis: In a lawless Steampunk West overrun by brutal outlaws, machines, and supernatural terrors, a father is forced to become judge, jury, and executioner—knowing that every act of justice meant to protect his family may ultimately cost him the very people he’s fighting to save.

BLUE EYE SAMURAI Season 2

Release date: Coming Soon

Logline: In Season 2, Mizu’s bloody quest continues in London, where she faces new friends, old foes, and her own demons. In Japan, Akemi and Taigen navigate Edo Castle under a dangerous new Shogun, while Ringo searches for new purpose.

FOOL NIGHT

Release date: 2026

Synopsis: Transfloration— a technology that implants seeds into the bodies of those near death, transforming them into plants. It is the desperate measure humanity has chosen to ensure its survival. In a distant future where thick clouds cover the sky, trapping Earth in constant winter and night, most of the planet’s vegetation has withered away. Facing a serious oxygen shortage, humanity has built a society that relies on the meager amount of oxygen provided by Transfloration. A young man, Toshiro Kamiya, lives in poverty and works hard to pay taxes, cover living expenses, and afford medication for his mentally ill mother. However, the cruel reality around him gradually eats away at his hope.

In this dark world full of despair, he chooses the path of the “Spiriflor” — the plants that humans transform into.

SPARKS OF TOMORROW

Release date: July 5, 2026

Synopsis: In an alternate version of the early 20th century where technological progress evolved along a different path shaped by steam power, Kyoto is blanketed in constant smoke. A boy, hardened by the loss of his brother, grows distrustful after their shared dream of an “Age of Electricity” is cut short. A deeply devout girl hides her dreams and regrets for her deceased mother deep within her heart. When the two cross paths, they set about exploring the secrets of the 20th Century Electrical Catalog, a glimpse into the future they long for. Together, they must confront their pasts and carve a path toward the future they once believed in.

THE ONE PIECE

Release date: February 2027

Synopsis: Produced by WIT Studio, THE ONE PIECE is a brand new anime adaptation starting from the very beginning of the original manga’s East Blue saga. Separate from the TV anime series that has charged full speed ahead over the course of more than 25 years, this series taps into the expressive potential of modern technology to offer a familiar yet fresh take on the adventures of Luffy.

[source]

Annecy 2026: Netflix Previews Their Animated Slate

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Perkins) — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 11:57:56 +0000

Annecy Festival is basically Christmas come early for animation fans. The screenings, panels and presentations offer enthusiasts a smorgasbord of new animation content. And among the eagerly awaited events over the past few years has been Netflix's headline panel.

Netflix revealed new details about its animation slate, covering films, series, anime, from CG to hand-drawn, kids to family to adult content. The streamer says that more than 130 million members watch some form of animated content every month. Anime titles reached more than 1.5 billion views in 2025. The announcements come in the wake of an unprecedented year for Netflix Animation, with K-Pop Demon Hunters taking home two Oscars, and becoming the most watched film in the platform's history. They also won 13 Annie Awards, including three for Love Death + Robots, and two Children's and Family Emmys for Ultraman Rising.

Film

IN WAVES

Release date: December 11, 2026

Logline: In Los Angeles, AJ, a shy teenager, meets Kristen. She lives for surfing; he loves skateboarding and drawing. They fall madly in love, and a happy future seems within reach. But everything changes when Kristen faces a sudden illness. Together, they face adversity, driven by the strength of their love, their friends, and their newly shared passion for surfing and the ocean.

Director: Phuong Mai Nguyen

Writers: Fanny Burdino, Samuel Doux (Based on the graphic novel by AJ Dungo)

Producers: Priscilla Bertin, Judith Nora

Cast: Will Sharpe, Stephanie Hsu

RAY GUNN

Release date: December 18, 2026

Logline: In Metropia, a gigantic city in an alternate future as seen from 1939, private eye Raymond Gunn is drawn into a case involving aliens, murder and a multimedia star named Venus Nova.

Director: Brad Bird

Producers: John Lasseter, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, and Lisa Beroud

Cast: Sam Rockwell, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Waits

Animation Studio: Skydance Animation

STEPS

Release date: November 20, 2026

Synopsis: Think you know Cinderella's “evil” stepsisters? Think again. Sick of living in Cinderella’s shadow, Lilith (Ali Wong) steals the Fairy Godmother (Bette Midler)’s magic wand and hijacks the Royal Ball with her sister Margot (Stephanie Hsu), breaking the Cinderella story as we know it and dooming the kingdom to the tyrannical rule of Priscilla (Nikki Glaser), a villainous schemer who swoops in and snatches the throne. Now, Lilith must team up with Cinderella (Amanda Seyfried) to fight biker trolls, outrun evil henchmen, and escape the Screaming Woods on an epic quest to save the kingdom, but most importantly, their relationship.

Produced by: Amy Poehler, Jane Hartwell, Kim Lessing. Poehler and Lessing producing for Paper Kite Productions.

Screenplay By: Ava Tramer, James Madejski, Jen Chuck, Dana Schwartz, Felicia Ho

Story By: Ava Tramer, James Madejski, Dana Schwartz, Felicia Ho, Riki Lindhome, Kate Micucci

Cast: Ali Wong, Amanda Seyfried, Stephanie Hsu, Nikki Glaser, Bette Midler

Animation Studio: Netflix Animation Studios

Series

ALLEY CATS

Release date: August 7, 2026

Synopsis: Alley Cats is a sitcom created by and starring the multi-award-winning Ricky Gervais. The adult animation follows the trials and tribulations of a group of feral British cats from all walks of society, who seek companionship while ruminating on everyday life. From the funny to the absurd, the series is packed with Gervais’ signature style of heart and social commentary that audiences have come to expect.

Creator and Director: Ricky Gervais

Co-director: Elliot Dear

Executive Producers: Ricky Gervais of Derek Productions, Steven Hamilton Shaw of Shush Creative. James Stevenson Bretton and Ben Lole for Blink Industries.

Producer: Hugo Donkin

Production Designer: Tang Heng

Cast: Ricky Gervais, Tom Basden, Andrew Brooke, David Earl, Kerry Godliman, Jo Hartley, Diane Morgan, and also featuring Natalie Cassidy and Tony Way

Animation Studio: Blink Industries

GHOSTBUSTERS: NIGHT SHIFT

Release date: 2027

Logline: New York City, 1994 — Five years after the Ghostbusters took the Statue of Liberty for a walk, a new wave of supernatural terror hits the Big Apple, forcing a group of scrappy, young New Yorkers — untrained, underappreciated, and kinda sorta responsible for the problem — to put on proton packs, face their fears, and bust some ghosts.

Executive Producers: Ben Hibon, Elliott Kalan, Jason Reitman, Gil Kenan, Amie Karp, and Dan Aykroyd

THE ONE PIECE

Release date: February 2027

Original manga by: Eiichiro Oda (Weekly Shonen Jump, Shueisha)

Director: Masashi Koizuka

Assistant Director: Hideaki Abe

Series Composition: Taku Kishimoto

Character Design & Chief Animation Directors: Kyoji Asano, Takatoshi Honda

Creature Design & Image Boards: Yasuhiro Kajino

Prop Design: Eri Taguchi

Action Animators: Ken Imaizumi, Shuhei Fukuda

Art Director: Tomonori Kuroda

Animation Producer: Ryoma Kawamura

Animation Studio: WIT STUDIO

[Source]

Annecy 2026: Aardman Tease Their Future

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Perkins) — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 13:19:23 +0000

It's the biggest animation show on Earth this week, as the industry and enthusiasts alike gather in Annecy, France. And among those assembled to celebrate the art of animation was the UK's biggest studio, Aardman.

The iconic trio of Sir Peter Lord, Sir David Sproxton and Nick Park took to the stage to offer a celebration of 50 years of the studio as well as looking ahead to its future. They were joined by Sarah Cox, chief creative director and surprise guests.

The first surprise guest was Phil Rynda, director of original animation at The Pokémon Company, who joined Cox on stage to offer behind-the-scenes insights into the previously announced Pokemon/Aardman collaboration Pokémon Tales: The Misadventures of Sirfetch’d and Pichu.

Audiences were treated to never-before-seen footage from the pilot and from the series in progress. Early footage combined exquisite stop-motion with cutting-edge effects and delighted audiences. The series is due to be released in 2027.

Set in Pokémon's Galar region, which shares a lot of similarities with the real-world UK, the series will apparently have a distinctly British sense of humour.

“It’s an honour to take part in Aardman’s panel at Annecy and talk about the shared commitment to quality, strong storytelling, memorable characters and a genuine respect for audiences and fans,” said Phil Rynda, director of original animation at The Pokémon Company International. “This project gives us a unique opportunity to tell stories from the point of view of Pokémon, made possible by Aardman’s extraordinary craft, remarkable artistry. Their warmth, and affection for this much-loved Pokémon cast are evident in every brilliantly crafted frame.”

Sarah Cox, chief creative director at Aardman added: “Aardman teams are delighted to bring the vivid physicality of stop frame animation into the Pokémon world. Director Tom Parkinson and his team have created a hand-crafted spin on the wonderful Pokémon we all know and love, with comedic storytelling that celebrates the quirks, eccentricities and charms of our heroes as they explore Galar on a delightfully offbeat Quest. Aardman and Pokémon share a strong commitment to creativity and talent on this shared quest of our own to bring joy to audiences across the world.”

Cox also revealed a return to the world of Mossy Bottom, home of Shaun The Sheep. A new series was unveiled, titled Let's Go Timmy. The series is the second spin-off to feature Timmy, following Timmy Time, and is aimed at audiences aged 3-5.

In each 5-minute episode, sheepdog Bitzer is tasked with getting Timmy and his two best friends, Yabba and Apricot to Mossy Bottom School safe and on time each morning. Like all excitable children, Timmy and his pals are full of energy and curiosity and each journey spins off into a surrealist adventure.

The series will combine Aardman's classic stop-motion animation with dynamic 2D animation, which is used for the imagination sequences. The series is directed by Merlin Crossingham and Daniel Bins, and produced by Stephanie Miller with Lucy Pryke, BBC’s commissioning executive.

Cox also revealed another new project: The Almost (Untold) Story Of Danger Delilah, adapted from book series Once Upon the Alphabet by Oliver Jeffers. Aardman director Åsa Lukander, senior development executive James Higginson and Peter Lord himself are all involved in the project, which will be a "whole new story" from the book and its characters.

“The script is by Pete,” added Cox. “It’s about Danger Delilah, a girl who realises her world’s starting to disappear, before understanding that she is herself a character in someone else’s story that they’re forgetting about… So she has to literally seize the narrative and rewrite her own story.We’ve just finished a phase of development, so we’ll be ready to start pitching it soon,” .

Peter Lord explained the unique appeal of the studio's output, and why it is so beloved around the world. "Our animation might be ‘old school,’ but we do it for the love of the craft. Our teams are so good at their jobs, and this love shines on the screen. Basically, we keep doing what we love, and people love it too.”

Annecy 2026: Illumination Reveals 'Not Alone'

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Perkins) — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 11:17:44 +0000

Illumination have proved that there is more to them than Minions. From The Secret Life Of Pets to Sing, to the billion-dollar grossing Super Mario movies, they show they are no one-trick pony. And during their presentation at the Annecy festival, they unveiled their next original movie.

Not Alone is an entirely original animated feature set to star Timothée Chalamet and Selena Gomez, opening April 16, 2027.

Chamalet voices Joe, an introverted rocket mechanic who lives a quiet life. Gomez voices Fran, a brilliant astro-botanist developing the world's first plant-fueled rocket. When they are brought together to work on a project, sparks fly- but neither is particularly adept in the world of romance.

Things become more complicated when three tiny, unruly and adorable aliens take refuge in Joe's home. Dunk, Welly and Shirm are fugitives on the run from Zandro, a zealous but inept officer of the law. The trio decide that Fran's rocket could offer them their escape.

The film is produced by Ilumination founder and CEO Chris Meledandri and executive produced by Joy Poirel, Richard Curtis and David Distenfeld.

This combination of Illumination's usual charm and a British comedy sensibility promises to create something unique. In the meantime, the studio's next feature, Minions and Monsters, opens in cinemas on July 1.

[source]

Annecy 2026: Warner Bros Pictures Animation Previews Their Slate

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Perkins) — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 13:26:24 +0000

Annecy International Animation Film Festival is underway once again. The luminaries of the animation world are gathering in France to offer inside information and previews of their releases of the next few years. Among those presenting this year was Warner Bros Pictures Animation, who previewed " a new era" in their panel.

The big news was the announcement that they would be collaborating with Vivienne Medrano aka VivziePop on a new animated musical, Prehistoria. The film will mark her feature directing debut. Best known for creating Hazbin Hotel and Helluva Boss, Medrano has gone from creating videos for YouTube to producing TV series for Amazon Prime and A24. Her videos have racked up billions of views across platforms, and she has become something of an icon in independent animation.

“Since I began my animation journey,” Medrano said, “my biggest dream was to be part of a feature film. Now to be creating an original story that I have been holding for years, and with Warner Bros. Pictures Animation, a studio whose characters and stories have been a huge part of my life, is truly a dream come true. I’m SO excited to share this fossil fantasy world with everyone!”

The film will take place outside the "Hellaverse", where her previous series have been set. The film underscores WBPA's commitment to collaborating with bold, creator-driven voices.

Warner also shared the latest on Bad Faries, the latest feature from London's Locksmith Animation (Ron's Gone Wrong, That Christmas). Director Megan Nicole Dong and co-director Olivier Staphylas took to the stage and offered more details about their original punk musical. They screened two work-in-progress clips and the film's main song Live Out Loud, performed by Cynthia Erivo (Wicked) and Serrana Su-Ling Bliss, voicing Fei.

They announced that previously announced voice stars Cynthia Erivo and Ncuti Gatwa (Doctor Who, Sex Education) would be joined by hilarious English comedian James Acaster, voicing Stickers and legendary voice actor Dee Bradley Baker (American Dad, Avatar The Last Airbender) voicing Groundbeef.

Bad Faries is directed by Megan Nicole Dong and co-directed by Oliver Staphylas, based on an original screenplay by Deborah Frances-White. The original songs are written by Tony-award-winning duo Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss (Six: The Musical), with Isabella “Machine” Summers (Florence + The Machine) composing the score and contributing to the songs.

The film's creative team also includes producer Carolyn Soper (Tangled), editor Sim Evan-Jones (Shrek 2, Shaun the Sheep), cinematographer James C.J. Williams, character designer Uwe Heidschötter, heads of story Rikke Asbjoern and Chris Garbutt, and production designers Justin Hutchinson-Chatburn and .Mike Redman. The film is currently underway in London. DNEG are serving as digital partners.

Bad Faries is the first film due out as part of a first-look deal between Locksmith Animation and Warner Bros. The second film in the partnership is The Lunar Chronicles, which is due to release worldwide in 2028. A first-look clip was revealed to the audience.

WBPA also previewed extensive footage from the fully-animated Cat In The Hat movie, due out this November.

They also previewed Dynamic Duo from Swaybox Studios, produced in association with DC Studios and 6th And Idaho. Described as "a groundbreaking fusion of puppetry, practical artistry, and cutting-edge technology," the movie is a coming-of-age tale with DC Legacy characters, with both Batman and Red Hood making an appearance.

WBPA President Bill Damaschke said “Under Arthur Mintz’s leadership, the Swaybox team is pushing the medium of animation forward, building on the pioneering puppetry of visionaries like Jim Henson while redefining what’s possible with today’s tools and techniques.”

Damaschke also paid tribute to the characters that built Warner Bros animation, The Looney Tunes. Daffy Season, the first theatrical Looney Tunes short in over a decade was premiered to a raptuous reception by the enthusiastic crowd.

All in all, the future for Warner Bros Picture Animation is looking pretty bright, with a full slate of seven features and one short scheduled to release between 2026-2028.

[source]

Out This Week: Masters Of The Universe: Revelation + Revolution, The Dark Crystal and More

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Perkins) — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 12:02:22 +0000

Welcome back to Out This Week, AFA's weekly new release round-up. It's another pretty sparse week this time around, with the highest profile release being the previously Netflix-exclusive sequel series to Masters Of The Universe- Revelation/ Revolution. Also new are lengthily titled anime series I Left My A-Rank Party to Help My Former Students Reach the Dungeon Depths! and Chivalry Of A Failed Knight.

New to the UK this week is the Jim Henson double bill of The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth, making their 4K debut in some gorgeous looking editions. Also released is anime action series Undead Unluck.

UK Releases For June 22, 2026

The Dark Crystal (Anime Ltd., PG) "The last of the Gelfings, Jen and Kira join forces and embark on a dangerous journey to "heal" a precious Dark Crystal and restore order to their planet."

FORMATS: 4K UHD [STEELBOOK], 4K UHD + Blu-Ray CE [STEELBOOK]

Buy From Amazon

Labyrinth (Anime Ltd., PG) "Fifteen-year-old Sarah is so resentful of her baby brother Toby that she hopes he will just disappear. Her dream becomes reality when goblins kidnap the boy--but Sarah unexpectedly finds herself horrified by the loss. In order to retrieve him, she has to reach the centre of the fantastical labyrinth where the wicked Goblin King has imprisoned the lad. But the task is easier said than done, for the maze is filled with strange creatures and mind-bending puzzles that confuse the girl."

FORMATS: 4K UHD+Blu-Ray [Steelbook], 4K UHD+Blu-Ray CE [Steelbook]

Buy From Amazon

Undead Unluck Part One (Anime Ltd, 15) "Andy, a Negator with the ability “Undead”, has been long in search for someone with the ability to give him a 'real death’. Fuko Izumo brings misfortune to those around her due to her ability “Unluck”. The two decide to join the Union, an organization which aims to control and protect the world from unidentified phenomena. The two uncover the mystery of the world as they search for the "greatest death ever”.

FORMATS: Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray CE [alltheanime.com exclusive]

Buy From Amazon

US Releases For June 23, 2026

Chivalry Of A Failed Knight: Complete Collection (Sentai Filmworks, TV-MA) "Ikki Kurogane is a Blazer, someone with the ability to manifest weapons from their souls. Unfortunately, he’s so bad that everyone at the Hagun Academy calls him the "Worst One". But then one of the most promising new Blazers in years, Princess Stella Vermillion, challenges him to a duel. A duel where the loser must obey the winner for the rest of their life! Things are looking pretty dark… for the Princess, because Ikki inexplicably brings his A-game! Fortunately, Ikki’s actually a pretty nice guy, but now they’re both going to have to get used to being roommates in Chivalry of a Failed Knight!"

FORMATS: Blu-Ray

Buy From Amazon

I Left My A-Rank Party to Help My Former Students Reach the Dungeon Depths!: Season 1 (Crunchyroll, TV-14) "After being insulted and underappreciated, Yuke leaves his high-ranking party. Now, he's in a new party with his former students! And while they may be newbies, Yuke is discovering how a healthy team bond can be your biggest asset in a dangerous dungeon."

FORMATS: Blu-Ray

Buy From Amazon

Masters Of The Universe: Revelation + Revolution (Mill Creek Entertainment, TV-PG) "The war for Eternia begins again in what may be the final battle between He-Man and Skeletor. A new animated series from writer-director Kevin Smith."

FORMATS: Blu-Ray [STEELBOOK]

Buy From Amazon

Upcoming Releases

Doctor Stone: Season Four: Part One June 30

Lady Oscar: Rose Of Versailles June 30

Patlabor The Mobile Police: The Early Days June 30

Primal: Season 3 June 30

All You Need Is Kill July 07

Dan Da Dan Season 2 July 14

Lupin The 3rd The Movie: Immortal Bloodline July 21

The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 [Steelbook] July 28

Re: Zero: Starting Life Again In Another World: Season 3 July 28

Rooster Fighter Season 1 August 04

Sketch Book- Full Colors August 11

Dragon Ball Daima: Complete Series August 11

Made In Abyss August 11

Jinsei August 18

Girls Und Panzer: This Is The Real Anzio Battle August 18

Your Name 4K Steelbook August 25

Speed Racer: The Complete Series August 25

Digimon: Digital Monsters August 25

Monster Part 1 August 25

Sgt Frog: Movie Collection August 25

Tekkonkinkreet 4K September 1

Black Butler: Emerald Witch Arc September 1

Kaiju No 8. Mission Recon September 08

My Hero Academia Vigilantes September 08

Our Last Crusade or The Rise Of The New World Season 2 September 08

Suzume 4K September 08

Vampire Princess Myu September 08

The AFA Podcast Interview: With Shea Wageman (Icon Creative)

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Perkins) — Sat, 20 Jun 2026 13:19:12 +0000

Well, hello there and welcome back to The AFA Podcast, the official podcast of animationforadults.com. This is another interview special, this time with Shea Wageman, the CEO of Icon Creative Studios, Canada's largest independent animation studio, and the director of the upcoming film Dragoons, the trailer for which is set to be unveiled at this year's Annecy Festival.

Presented and produced by Chris Perkins.

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Watch This: Andrew Ganvickton

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Perkins) — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 11:41:14 +0000

Smart people know that one of the best things on TV in the past few years was Don't Hug Me, I'm Scared. Starting life as a series of popular YouTube videos, it was subsequently turned into a BAFTA-winning TV series by Blink Industries and the UK's Channel 4, eventually surfacing in the US on Dropout TV. The satirical puppet show was created by Joe Pelling and Becky Sloan.

Now, Joe Pelling is back, this time alongside his brother/collaborator Charlie Pelling, creating a short animation for Adult Swim's SMALLS program. The short is available via the official Adult Swim YouTube channel and was produced in association with Blink Industries.

Titled Andrew Ganvickton, the short follows the exploits of a hapless middle-aged man (Andrew Ganvickton) after he pays a visit to the doctor. There he finds that an apparent cyst on his back in fact was revealed to be his previously undiscovered (tiny) twin brother, who goes on to rain chaos on his life.

The twin brother is voiced by award-winning Australian comedian Sam Campbell, best known in the UK for Taskmaster, Last One Laughing UK and Make That Movie. The other voices are provided by Joe Pelling, Charlie Pelling and Kath Hughes.

Andrew Ganvickton is created and written by Joe Pelling and Charlie Pelling and directed by Joe Pelling.

Fans of Don't Hug Me I'm Scared will definitely recognise the sense of humour and the style of the voice acting. The style is basically the same, even if its moved from puppetry to full animation. The animation style is loose and scrappy, giving it a fun, sketchy style. Sam Campbell brings his unique style to the voice performance, proving a perfect fit for the tone here.

The short is presented as if it could be a random episode from an ongoing series. And we definitely would not object to seeing the further adventures of Andrew Ganvickton. This could easily be a series.

Check out the short, below.

Trailer Triple Bill: Hexed, Gatto and Shrek 5

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Perkins) — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 13:41:14 +0000

Animation trailers can often be like buses- you wait ages for one, and then three come along at once. And that's quite literally what has happened as we have been given new trailers for films from Disney, Pixar and DreamWorks within the space of a few days. And we've handily rounded them up for you here, because we're awesome like that.

The first trailer has arrived for Hexed, Walt Disney Animation Studios' 65th feature. The magical coming-of-age saga features unconventional and impulsive teenager Billie (voiced by Hailee Steinfeld) and her cautious mother Alice (voiced by Rashida Jones). When Billie accidentally uncovers her latent magical abilities, she finds herself thrown from suburbia and into the magical realm of Hexe. There she is greeted by Ms. Quill (voiced by Tracey Ullman) and Elias Quire (voiced by Stephen Fry). As Billie's adventure unfolds, she discovers family mysteries that could change the magical world of witches forever.

Hexed is directed by Fawn Veerasunthorn and Jason Hand, co-directed by Josie Trinidad, and produced by Roy Conli and Yvett Merino.

Veerasunthorn said, “A wonderfully strange phenomenon is happening all around Billie, something she can’t explain. She's someone who has felt miscast in her own life, and it takes leaving her normal world behind and entering a hidden world of wild, unhinged magic to begin to understand herself.”

"Hexe is a place where Billie begins to feel seen for the first time in her life,” co-director Jason Hand said. “She embarks on a journey of self-discovery that reveals a powerful connection to magic, and in the process, uncovers long-held secrets about her family.”

Hexed opens exclusively in cinemas on November 27, 2026.

Receiving its first teaser trailer is Pixar's Gatto, which introduces us to the feline-run underbelly of Venice, Italy.

Joining the cast is Mark Ruffalo (The Avengers series, Spotlight) as the scrappy black cat Nero, and Laurence Fishburne (The Matrix, John Wick) as the ruthless mob cat Rocco. The teaser trailer introduces Nero and Rocco as they grill another cat in a funny interrogation scene.

In Gatto, after years of manoeuvring the canal-ridden, superstitious city of Venice, Nero begins to wonder whether he has lived the right nine lives. In debt to Rocco, the local feline mob boss, Nero is forced to forge a truly unexpected friendship that may finally get him to his purpose. Unless Venice gets the better of him first.

Gatto is directed by Enrico Casarosa and produced by Andrea Warren, the filmmaking team behind the Oscar-nominated Luca. The film will be released in cinemas in March 2027.

Lastly but not leastly, we come to the long-awaited return to the Shrek franchise, in the form of Shrek 5. This time sees "hideous ogre" Shrek and "delusional" Donkey headed off on an adventure to the magical city of Further Further Away. The sequel also introduces us to Shrek and Fiona's offspring, one of which is a daughter voiced by Zendaya. The kids barely feature in the teaser trailer, though, which is more concerned with reminding us why we love Shrek and Donkey in the first place.

Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy and Cameron Diaz return in their iconic role as Shrek, Donkey and Fiona respectively. Joining the cast is Zendaya as Felicia, Fiona and Shrek's daughter and Marcello Hernandez and Skyler Gisondo as sons Fergus and Farkle

Shrek 5 is directed by Shrek series veterans Conrad Vernon and Walt Dohrn. Vernon co-directed Shrek 2 as well as Monsters Vs Aliens and Madagascar 3. He also provides the voice of the fan-favourite character of Ginge across the Shrek-iverse, and as the trailer reveals he will be returning for the new film. Dohrn worked on the second and third Shrek films as a writer and artist and provided the voice of Rumpelstiltskin in Shrek Forever After. He also served as co-director on the first Trolls film, and directed Trolls World Tour and Trolls Band Together.

The film is produced by returning producer Gina Shay, who produced Shrek Forever After and by Illumination CEO and Academy Award nominee Chris Meledandri (the Super Mario, Despicable Me and Minions franchises). The film is co-directed by Brad Ableson (Minions: The Rise of Gru, The Simpsons).

Shrek 5 opens June 30, 2027

Michael J. Fox Joins 'Dragoons'

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Perkins) — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 11:32:32 +0000

Credit: Icon Creative Studio

Icon Creative Studio is Canada's largest independently owned animation studio. Famous for their work on various TV series, including Young Jedi Adventures, Sofia the First, Supernatural Academy, Monsters at Work and Wondla, they have since graduated to features with Charlie The Wonderdog.

The studio is preparing to offer a first look at their upcoming second feature Dragoons at this year's Annecy Festival. And now ahead of the unveiling, they have announced that legendary actor Michael J Fox will lend his voice to the main character, Dougie.

In Dragoons, Dougie is an overlooked worker at WizCorp- until that is a freak accident awakens something extraordinary in his new apprenctice, Dart. Transformed into a mighty dragon, Dougie and Dart uncover a seeming impossible truth: their kind were once legendary rulers of the skies, until the ruthless wizard-CEO Hex shrank them, erased their memories, and stole their power to build his empire. With the truth in front of their eyes, and in their hearts, Dougie and Dart must find the courage to rise, awaken theri kind and prove that even the smallest spark can light up the sky.

“Dougie and Dart’s story is one I understand deeply, the idea that something immense can be sleeping inside you, just waiting for the right moment to be set free,” said Fox. “This is a film for anyone who has ever felt overlooked, underestimated, or forgotten. I’m honored to help bring Dougie to life.”

“Michael J. Fox is Dougie,” said Shea Wageman, CEO and President of ICON Creative Studio (and director of the film). “From the moment we began developing this character, we knew we needed a voice that could carry both immense warmth and unshakeable spirit. Michael brings all of that and more. He gives Dougie a soul that audiences of every age will root for from the first frame to the last.”

Dragoons is the latest animated feature from Icon Creative Studio whose award-winning production slate includes Charlie The Wonderdog, starring Owen Wilson and featuring original music by Bryan Adams. Icon is renowned for its world-class storytelling and full-pipeline CG animation excellence, with service partnerships with companies including Disney, LucasFilm, Apple TV+, Netflix, Warner Bros, Paramount, Skydance and Sony.

Further details, including release date and additional casting will be revealed in the coming months.

Credit: Mark Seliger

The Apothecary Diaries: Palace Chronicles Available Now

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Perkins) — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 14:26:18 +0000

One of the biggest breakout hits in anime over the past couple of years is The Apothecary Diaries. Starting life as a series of light novels, it went on to be adapted into an anime series that debuted in 2023. The series went on to win several awards at the Crunchyroll Anime Awards this year, including Best Main Character and Best Drama. Fans are now eagerly awaiting the third season, coming this autumn, and the franchise's first feature film also due this year. But to keep them busy until then the series is getting its first video game: The Apothecary Diaries: The Palace Chronicles.

The game puts you in the shoes of main character Maomao, who was kidnapped and sold to the palace. Quickly promoted as a lady-in-waiting, she uses her skills as an apothecary to solve mysteries and help people out.

In the game, follow Maomao as she navigates the Imperial Court and pleasure district, solving mysterious incidents one after another. Use her apothecary abilities and carefully prepared medicines to help crack cases while advancing through each stage.

The game also features an original "Medical Office" system where you can use in-game items to upgrade and develop your facilities. Strategic planning around item collection and facility enhancement lets you create your own unique management style for deep, rewarding progression.

The game allows you to collaborate with beloved male characters from the anime- including Jinshi and Gaoshun, to collect herbs. Cultivate the herbs you gather into superior materials, then cooperate with other players to create concoctions and earn exciting rewards.

Female characters, including Xiaolan and Yinghua, can become your allies. They liven up the Medical Office by gifting items and developing skills. Work alongside your allies to grow and enhance the Medical Office. Note that the character of Xiaolan is available for a limited time only.

The Palace Chronicles is available exclusively on G123, Japan's leading browser-based game service. This means that not only is it free-to-play but can be played on desktop PC, smartphone or tablet, with no need for downloads or software.

You can check out the game for yourself right here, and find more anime browser games from G123 here.

Out This Week: The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, Perfect Blue 4K, Scarlet and More

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Perkins) — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 13:11:22 +0000

Welcome back, once again to another edition of Out This Week. This week is a little bit busier than we have been seeing lately. Stateside releases are led by the biggest animated film of the year so far, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. Also new is the 4K debut of Satoshi Kon's classic psycho-thriller Perfect Blue, released in a collector's edition Steelbook. The new releases are rounded out by a number of anime titles including Berserk: The Golden Age Arc and Rock Is A Lady's Modesty.

Just the two releases in the UK this week and they are Is It Wrong To Try To Pick Up Girls In A Dungeon season 4, and a 4K Steelbook Edition of Mamoru Hosoda's latest Scarlet.

All information is correct to the best of our knowledge and is subject to change.

UK Releases For June 15, 2026

Is It Wrong To Try To Pick Up Girls In A Dungeon? IV (MVM Entertainment, 15) "After finally levelling up to Level 4, Bell finds himself receiving Hestia Familia’s first mandatory assignment from the Guild… and it’s going to be brutal! Even after careful advanced planning, his expedition to the lower levels quickly encounters disaster after disaster, separating the party. While his allies and the partnered members of the Miach and Takemikazuchi Familias struggle to stay alive, a lost Bell encounters a mysterious underwater maiden, while Cassandra finds all of her worst premonitions becoming reality…"

FORMATS: Blu-Ray

Buy From Amazon

Scarlet 4K (Sony Pictures, 15) "Scarlet is described as the story of a brave princess who transcends time and space."

FORMATS 4K UHD STEELBOOK

Buy From Amazon

US Releases For June 16, 2026

Assassination Classroom: The Complete Series (Crunchyroll, TV-14) " When the deviants of Class 3-E get a tentacled creature as a teacher, they finally get an assignment that sparks motivation - kill the teacher."

FORMATS: Blu-Ray

Buy From Amazon

Berserk: Golden Age Arc (Crunchyroll, TV-MA) "When lone swordsman Guts is defeated in a duel by Griffith, ambitious leader of the Band of the Hawk mercenaries, he now must fight for him. Distrustful of all at first, through hard-fought battles, he soon begins to bond with his new comrades and their leader. As they rise in rank to a full-fledged army, he begins to harbor doubts about a life lived by the blade, unaware a dreadful fate awaits."

FORMATS Blu-Ray STEELBOOK

Buy From Amazon

Colorful Stage! The Movie: A Miku Who Can't Sing (GKIDS/ Shout Factory, PG) "Ichika is a high school musician who can enter a mysterious place called “SEKAI,” where she and her friends express their innermost emotions through music alongside Hatsune Miku. One day after giving a live performance, Ichika meets a new Miku that she has never seen before. No matter how hard this new Miku tries to sing, she struggles connecting with the hearts of her listeners. Miku must rely on the help of others to find a way to sing again"

FORMATS: Blu-Ray

Buy From Amazon

Heavy Metal L GAIM (Sentai Filmworks, TV-MA) "In 1984, fresh from the creation of the legendary MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM, director Yoshiyuki Tomino teamed with the young designer who would later make FIVE STAR STORIES, Mamoru Nagano, to create a sprawling 54-episode animated science fiction series as gigantic as its titular namesake. Join Daba Myroad and his expanding band of allies as an epic quest takes them across the many planets of the Pentagona System and through multiple adventures as they seek to free the Pentagona populaces from dictator Oldna Posaydal and her forces. Their secret weapons? Daba’s surprising popularity with the ladies and the legendary giant robot known as Heavy Metal L-Gaim!"

FORMATS: Blu-Ray

Buy From Amazon

Perfect Blue 4K (GKIDS/Shout Factory, NR) "Pop star Mima, her fame and fortune beginning to slide as fashions change, is persuaded to turn actress, reluctantly accepting an ill-defined role in a television soap opera. However, Mima's grip on reality begins to loosen as a result; she imagines that she has an identical twin who has maintained a singing career, and becomes increasingly paranoid after her friends are either threatened or killed. Can Mima unravel the truth before she is driven completely over the edge?"

FORMATS: 4K UHD

Buy From Amazon

Rock Is A Lady's Modesty: Complete Collection (Sentai Filmworks, TV-14) "For Lilisa, every day at Oushin Academy is another day of pretending to be someone she’s not, all to please her new rich stepfamily by becoming one of the school’s elegant “Noble Maidens.” And it sucks, because with her new fake persona, she can’t even play the guitar her real dad left her. But when she discovers one of the school’s other “perfect girls” smashing out her frustrations on a set of drums, Lilisa realizes that maybe she’s not alone. Maybe her dreams are closer than she’d thought. Of course, that’s assuming that they can find enough other closeted lady rockers and form a band in Rock is a Lady's Modesty!"

FORMATS: Blu-Ray

Buy From Amazon

The Super Mario 2 Movie-Collection (Universal Studios, PG)" From Nintendo and Illumination come two animated films based on the world of Super Mario Bros. First follow Mario and Luigi on a whirlwind adventure through the Mushroom Kingdom in The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Then join them again as they blast off on an epic journey and encounter new worlds, iconic characters, and unexpected threats in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie."

FORMATS: 4K UHD, Blu-Ray

Buy From Amazon

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (Universal Studios, PG) "Mario ventures into space, exploring cosmic worlds and tackling galactic challenges far from the familiar Mushroom Kingdom."

FORMATS: 4K UHD, Blu-Ray Collector's Edition, Blu-Ray

Buy From Amazon

Yandere Dark Elf: She Chased Me All The Way From Another World (Sentai Filmworks, TV-MA) "As a Japanese orphan, Hinata Sunohara was a perfect candidate to be isekai’d to another world, but when he beat the Dark Lord, he was sent back to Earth without even a T-shirt for his trouble! Or so he believed until one of his party members, the dark elf Mariabelle, arrives at his home completely naked! Now, some might think having a beautiful elven sorceress as a roommate isn’t such a bad deal… but Mariabelle’ s a DARK Elf who’s infatuated with Hinata, which means that any Earth girls Hinata likes are in for another world’s worth of trouble in Yandere Dark Elf: She Chased Me All the Way from Another World!"

FORMATS: Blu-Ray

Buy From Amazon

Upcoming Releases

Chivalry Of A Failed Knight June 23

I Left My A-Rank Party to Help My Former Students Reach the Dungeon Depths! June 23

Doctor Stone: Season Four: Part One June 30

Lady Oscar: Rose Of Versailles June 30

Patlabor The Mobile Police: The Early Days June 30

Primal: Season 3 June 30

All You Need Is Kill July 07

Dan Da Dan Season 2 July 14

Lupin The 3rd The Movie: Immortal Bloodline July 21

The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 [Steelbook] July 28

Re;Zero: Starting Life Again In Another World: Season 3 July 28

Rooster Fighter Season 1 August 04

Sketch Book- Full Colors August 11

Dragon Ball Daima: Complete Series August 11

Made In Abyss August 11

Jinsei august 18

Girls Und Panzer: This Is The Real Anzio Battle August 18

Your Name 4K Steelbook August 25

Speed Racer: The Complete Series August 25

Tekkonkinkreet 4K September 1

Vampire Princess Myu September 08

Lesbian Space Princess Gets UK Preview Events This June

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Perkins) — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 11:35:29 +0000

Just in time for Pride Month, the LGBTQ+ themed sci-fi comedy Lesbian Space Princess comes to the big screen in the UK and Ireland. And throughout the month, Peccadillo Pictures will host special preview events at venues across the country.

Lesbian Space Princess is written and directed by Australian filmmakers Leela Varghese and Emma Hough Hobbs. The film showcases LGBTQ+ talent and culturally diverse voices both on and off screen.

In the film, the eponymous Lesbian Space Princess, Princess Saira is suddenly dumped by her Bounty Hunter girlfriend Kiki, for being too needy. But when Kiki is kidnapped by the Straight White Malians, Saira must leave the comforts of gay space to deliver the ransom...her royal labrys (the most powerful weapon known to lesbian kind). The only problem is.. she doesn't have it!

With just 24 hours to find her labrys and rescue Kiki, Princess Saira finds herself on an inter-gay-lactic adventure that includes an encounter with a problematic spaceship and a growing friendship with gay-pop runaway Willow.

The film features the voices of Shabana Azeez, Bernie Van Tiel , Gemma Chua Tran , Aunty Donna, Richard Roxburgh, Jordan Raskopolous, Madeleine Sami and Kween Kong .

Lesbian Space Princess will be in UK and Irish cinemas from June 19, but there will be a chance to catch the film early, along with some live entertainment at several venues across the UK.

RuPaul's Drag Race Star Kate Butch will be presenting an extended introduction and performance followed by a preview of Lesbian Space Princess at Curzon Soho Cinema on June 17.

The other preview events are as follows:

Tyneside Newcastle | 12th June 8.30pm

Pre-film LSP cosmic party from 6pm
Hosted and introduced by Sunderland’s own Space Cadet Alex Redman
Raffle to win exclusive merch
Best dressed prize

Glasgow Film Theatre | 14th June 7.10pm

Known for her stunning mug and ridiculously enticing performances and join our host the trans diva from Glasgow Ann Phetamine
Raffle to win exclusive merch

Home Manchester | 16th June 8pm

6.30pm pre-film Get your free Queer Space Portrait drawn by artist Izzy Hellman and sway away with music playlist devised by DJ Ki Victoria Jeal
Her new show I Was Dancing In The Lesbian Bar combines her three great loves: music, comedy, and lesbians; Holly Redofrd-Jones will be your host for the night at HOME at 8pm
Raffle to win exclusive merch

Curzon Soho | 17th June 6.20pm

Kate Butch will be your host for the evening at Curzon Soho, treating fans to a pre-film performance

Showroom Sheffield | 19th June 8.15pm

Hosted and introduced by Lucy Smith-Jones from Queer Comedy Sheffield
Raffle to win exclusive merch
Post film with DJ Sophie Rees from FLAW Collective

The Rio Dalston | 21st June

Pre-film Zine Workshop with Jenny Clarkes & Club de Femmes
Raffle to win exclusive merch

Chapter Arts Cardiff | 18th June AND Watershed Bristol | 26th June

More details TBA

Detective Conan: Fallen Angel Of The Highway (2026)

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Perkins) — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 16:59:30 +0000

Detective Conan, sometimes known in English as Case Closed, is one of the biggest anime and manga in the world. Starting in the pages of Shonen Sunday back in 1994, it was adapted into a hugely popular anime TV series that celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. The TV series also spawned annual big-screen spin-off. 2026's Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway is the 29th feature in the franchise.

Released in April in Japan, the film went on to be the most successful Detective Conan movie so far. It achieved the highest opening weekend in the franchise's history, taking in ¥3.5 billion (approx. $22 million USD), earning it not only the Japanese box-office number one, but also the number three at the worldwide box-office for that week.

The movie is directed by Takahiro Hasui (Mob Psycho 100 III), and written by series veteran Takahiro Okura (Detective Conan: The Million Dollar Pentagram)and Gosho Aoyama. Music is composed by Yugo Kanno. It features the voices of Minami Takayama, Wakana Yamazaki, Rikiya Koyama, Megumi Hayashibara, Miyuki Sawashiro and newcomers Ryusei Yokohama (Kokuho) and Mei Hata (Blue Lock).

Detective Conan follows teenage sleuth Shinichi Kudo, who one day, while on the trail of some never-do-wells, is poisoned and turned back into the primary-school-aged version of himself. In order to protect himself and those he loves, he takes on the identity of Conan Edogawa, named after Arthur Conan Doyle and Japanese mystery writer Edogawa Ranpo. His body may have shrunk but his mind is still sharp as a tack, and he continues to get to the bottom of mysteries that no one else can solve.

In the new feature-length adventure, Conan and his friends head to Kanagawa to attend a motorcycle show. On the way, they encounter a mysterious out-of-control black motorcycle, being pursued by motorcycle cop Chihaya Hagiwara. As the cycle- which is soon named Lucifer- continues to cause chaos on the streets of Kanagawa, can Conan and Chihaya uncover the identity of the mysterious biker and stop them before it's too late?

You don't get to 29 movies by making the same movie 29 times- at least if you want to prevent it from getting stale. Conan's movies aren't afraid to shake it up. They take a turn for the more cinematic, and mix the whodunnit mysteries that are the franchise's bread and butter with spectacular action set-pieces.

Fallen Angel Of The Highway is a perfect example of this. It feels distinct from the previous movie One-Eyed Flashback , but fans will still see it as recognisably Conan. Although there is still a mystery at the heart of the story, that's not the be-all and end-all of the movie. The film features plenty of high-octane action sequences, car and motorcycle chases that are well choreographed and well animated, with expertly integrated CGI. These chases are exhilarating and exciting and will have you on the edge of your seat. They are a key part of the film's appeal.

Much of the film focuses on the character of Chihaya, to the degree that she is practically co-lead. Not only is she a key part of many of the aforementioned chases (because she's an ace motorcycle rider, naturally) but she proves to be the film's emotional centre, with a story from her past becoming key to the plot. As a result, Conan's role seems a little reduced, but he still gets his moment in the sun. Other regular cast members' appearances can feel like little more than cameos but there's only so much room in the story.

If the film feels more cinematic thanks to its high-speed chases and action sequences, the visuals have similarly received an upgrade. The characters look as stylised as they do in the series, but the animation is more impressive. The urban setting looks fantastic, with towering skyscrapers and busy roads. Overall, everything looks pretty great.

The film moves along at quite a clip, despite a fairly generous run-time. There's never any time to get bored, as any quieter moment is typically followed by another chase sequence or another revelation

The more action-heavy feel shouldn't put off Conan fans who are here for the mysteries, as they are here too. Similarly, franchise newcomers shouldn't worry that too much prior knowledge is needed to enjoy this. Although it does tie into previous plots and characters, it also functions perfectly well as a standalone movie. And it's as good a place as any to start.

Detective Conan: Fallen Angel Of The Highway is easily one of the better examples of anime TV-spin-offs. And the fact that it can feel this polished and well executed after 29 movies is nothing short of remarkable.

FORMAT: MOVIE AVAILABLE ON: CINEMA RELEASE FROM: CINE ASIA RATING: 12A[UK] RUNNING TIME : 1 HR 49 MIN

IN A NUTSHELL: The Fast and Furious Meets Sherlock Holmes. The Latest Conan Mystery Will Keep You On The Edge Of Your Seat

★★★★☆

Mathematical! Adventure Time: Side Quests Gets A Trailer

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Perkins) — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 12:55:19 +0000

Adventure Time: Side Quests is the third spin-off series from the original Adventure Time. Described as a companion piece to the original series, it is an attempt to return to the more episodic, less lore-heavy feel of the early seasons. As the new trailer would have it, the series is "going back to where it all began", and featuring younger versions of the characters, but not dramatically; this ain't Muppet Babies.

The trailer shows that it looks to be pretty much business as usual for Adventure Time. Finn the human and Jake the dog undertake various quests and adventures, encountering bizarre creatures, monsters and critters. There are appearances from several beloved characters such as BMO, Princess Bubblegum and The Ice King (and Gunter).

Where things have changed, though, is in terms of the show's visual style. Although the characters are all recognisable, the art style has changed. The visuals are bright, colourful but flat-looking, contrasted with some elaborate-looking backgrounds. It's definitely a departure from the original. It should appeal to the younger audience that this is targeting, without alienating long-term fans. Because, although it looks different, it still basically looks like Adventure Time.

The series is produced by Cartoon Network Studios, and the showrunner and executive producer is Nate Cash. Darrick Bachman is the story editor. Victor Courtright and Niki Yang are the directors, Nick Cross is the Art Director, and Matthew Janszen wrote the score.

Finn is voiced by Sasha Knight, and John DiMaggio (Futurama) returns as the voice of Jake the Dog. Other returning characters include The Ice King (Tom Kenny), Princess Bubblegum (Hynden Walch), Marceline (Olivia Olson), and BMO (Niki Yang).

Adventure Time: Side Quests will stream in the United States on hulu and Disney+ from June 29. The show will begin its international rollout on Cartoon Network and HBO Max from October 5