Problem children are coming from another world, aren't they?
PUCHIM@S
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Additional Shows
Title: Ai Mai Mi Starts: Thursday, Jan 03 at 11:00PM JST on AT-X Studio:Seven Genre: Comedy Website:
Notable Cast/Staff:
Cast: Ai Kayano (Chihayafuru's Kanade Oe), Yuka Otsubo (Yuruyuri's Kyoko Toshino), Maaya Uchida (Sankarea's Rea Sanka), Aya Uchida (Recorder and Randsell's Hina-chan)
Summary: Based on Choboraunyopomi's four-panel comedy manga, the series follows three girls in a manga club, who along with their teacher, are busy fighting evil extraterrestrial invaders and competing in various tournaments... when they're not drawing manga.
Title: Amnesia Starts:Wednesday, January 09 at 12:30AM JST on Tokyo MX Studio: Brain's Base Genre: Romance Website:
Series Composition: Touko Machida (Lucky Star, The Idolm@ster)
Summary: This television series adapts Amnesia, a romance adventure game targeted at female players. In the game, the protagonist wakes up to discover that she has no memories of the past, but tries to recall her memories through the help of a spirit named Orion.
Title: Bakumatsu Gijinden Roman Starts:Tuesday, Jan 08 at 2:05AM JST on TV Tokyo Studio: TMS Entertainment Genre: Fantasy, History Website:
Notable Cast/Staff:
Original character design: Monkey Punch (Lupin III)
Cast: Kazuya Nakai as Roman (One Piece's Roronoa Zoro, Mardock Scramble's Shell Septinos)
Summary: Main character Manjiro is a "helper" by day, but at night, he becomes Roman, a phantom thief "retriever" who steals back people's precious items that were unfairly taken from them.
Title: Beast Saga Starts: Sunday, Jan 13 at 8:44AM JST on TV Tokyo Studio: Synergy SP Genre: Adventure, Action Website:
Notable Cast/Staff:
Director: Katsumi Ono (Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's)
Character design: Yoshihiro Nagamori (Bakugan Battle Brawlers)
Summary: This series takes place on a distant planet called Beast where three beast tribes fight each other to protect their honor, and an infinite elemental power source called Godlot.
Title: Boku no Imoto wa "Osaka Okan" Starts:Saturday, Dec 22 at 1:55AM JST on BS-Asahi Studio: Charaction Genre: Comedy Website:
Notable Cast/Staff:
Original character design: Sota Sugahara (gdgd Fairies)
Script: Kotaro Ishidate (gdgd Fairies)
Summary: This series adapts Chukei Shuppan's Osaka Okan Rule and Osaka Rule, comedic guides for dealing with people from Osaka, in particular Osakan mothers. Protagonist Kyosuke is looking forward to reuniting with his sister after ten years, but she's nothing like he remembers.
Title: Chihayafuru 2 Starts:Friday, Jan 11 on NTV Studio: Madhouse Genre: Comedy, Drama Website:
Notable Cast/Staff:
Returning Director: Morio Asaka
Returning cast: Asami Seto as Chihaya Ayase, Ai Kayano as Kanade Oe, Mamoru Miyano as Taichi Mashima, Tooru Nara as Yusei Nishida, Tsubasa Yonaga as Tsutomu Komano, Yoshimasa Hosoya as Arata Wataya
Summary: Chihayafuru continues as main character Chihaya enters her second year of high school, and continues to chase her dream of being the number one karuta player in Japan.
Title: Courtesy of Zettai Karen Children - The Unlimited - Hyobu Kyosuke Starts:Tuesday, Jan 08 at 1:35AM JST on TV Tokyo Studio: Manglobe Genre: Action, Science Fiction Website:
Notable Cast/Staff:
Soundtrack: Kotaro Nakagawa (Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion)
Series script: Shinchi Inotsume (Hayate the Combat Butler, Sket Dance)
Summary: A spinoff of Psychic Squad, the series follows an esper outlaw who was betrayed in the past by humans.
Title: Cuticle Detective Inaba Starts:Friday, Jan 04 at 11:30PM JST on AT-X Studio: ZEXCS Genre: Comedy, Action Website:
Summary: Hiroshi Inaba, a part-wolf-part-human, is a private detective who runs his own detective agency, along with his cross-dressing secretary Yuuta, and everyday teenager Kei.
Title: D.C. III ~Da Capo III~ Starts:Saturday, Jan 05 at 10:00PM JST on Tokyo MX Studio: Kazami Gakuen Kōshiki Genre: Drama, Romance Website:
Notable Cast/Staff:
Original character design: Natsuki Tanihara (Tantei Opera Milky Holmes)
Summary: An adaptation of CIRCUS' D.C.III ~Da Capo III~ visual novel.
Title: Dokidoki! Precure Starts:Sunday, Feb 03 at 8:30AM JST on TV Asahi Studio: Toei Animation Genre: Magical Girl Website:
Notable Cast/Staff:
More information will be released in the upcoming issue of Kodansha's Nakayoshi magazine
Summary: Dokidoki! Precure is the 10th series in the Precure franchise, and will have a motif that involves playing cards and Tarot.
Title: Ganbare! Lulu Lolo - Tiny Twin Bears Starts:Monday, Jan 17 at 7:40AM JST on NHK-E Studio: Fanworks Genre: Comedy, Drama Website:
Notable Cast/Staff:
Director: Tetsuro Kodama (The Bears' School movie)
Script: Hiroyuki Aihara (The Bears' School movie)
Summary: Inspired by the picture book series The Bears' School, this anime follows the daily lives of two twin bear sisters, who both take on new jobs.
Title: gdgd Fairies season 2 Starts:Wednesday, Jan 09 at 12:30AM JST on Tokyo MX Studio: Strawberry Meets Pictures Genre: Comedy, Fantasy Website:
Notable Cast/Staff:
Returning cast: Kaoru Mizuhara as shrshr, Satomi Akesaka as krkr, Suzuko Mimori as pkpk
Director: Sota Sugahara (character design for Boku no Imoto wa Osaka Okan)
Summary: The second season of gdgd Fairies follows three little fairies with weak magical powers who live inside the trees in Fairy Forest.
Title: GJ-bu Starts:Thursday, Jan 10 at 1:29AM JST on NTV Studio: Doga Kobo Genre: Website:
Notable Cast/Staff:
Series composition: Hideaki Koyasu (Akikan!)
Character design: Miwa Oshima (Baka and Test)
Summary: This series adapts Shin Araki's GJ-bu light novel series.
Title: Hetalia the Beautiful World Starts:Friday, Jan 05 at 12:30AM JST on Animate TV Studio: Studio Deen Genre: Comedy Website:
Summary: Hetalia the Beautiful World will be the fifth anime series inspired by Hidekaz Himaruya's Hetalia manga.
Title: Ishida to Asakura Starts:Sunday, Jan 06 at 12:30AM JST on Tokyo MX/UHF Studio: Hotline Genre: Comedy Website:
Notable Cast/Staff:
Director: Pippuya (Kacho no Koi)
Script: Kenichi Yamashita (Ginga e Kickoff!!)
Summary: Ishida to Asakura focuses on the friendship of two high school boys, Asakura and Ishida, and is based on a Masao's surreal comedy manga.
Title: Mangirl! Starts:Wednesday, Jan 02 on AT-X Studio: Doga Kobo Genre: Comedy Website:
Notable Cast/Staff:
Director: Nobuaki Nakanishi (Shin Koihime Muso)
Original character design: Yasu (Joshiraku, Toradora!)
Summary: This series adapts Kagari Tamaoka's Mangirl! manga.
Title: Minami-ke Tadaima Starts:Sunday, Jan 06 at 1:00AM JST on Tokyo MX Studio: feel. Genre: Comedy, Slice of Life Website:
Notable Cast/Staff:
Director: Keiichiro Kawaguchi (Mayo Chiki!)
Script: Takamitsu Kouno (Abnormal Physiology)
Summary: This is the fourth season based on Coharu Sakuraba's Minami-ke manga, which follows the three Minami sisters.
Title: Ore no Kanojo to Osananajimi ga Shurabara Sugiru Starts:Saturday, Jan 05 at 12:00AM JST on Tokyo MX Studio: A-1 Pictures Genre: Comedy, Drama Website:
Notable Cast/Staff:
Cast: Chinatsu Akasaki as Chiwa, Yukari Tamura as Masuzu, Hisako Kanemoto as Himeka
Original character design: LLO (Mushi-Uta)
Summary: Eita's childhood friend Chiwa is like a little sister to him, but when a girl named Masuzu comes back from overseas and makes Eita her fake boyfriend, things get heated between the two girls.
Title: Sasami-san@Ganbaranai Starts:Friday, Jan 11 at 1:25AM JST on TBS Studio: SHAFT Genre: Romance, Comedy Website:
Summary: This series centers around a hikikomori named Sasami, who was taken care of by her brother. Sasami spends her days keeping track of the outside world using her Brother Surveillance Tool, which catches glimpses of her brother's interactions with the three beautiful Yagami sisters.
Title: Senran Kagura Starts:Sunday, Jan 06 at 8:30PM JST on AT-X Studio: Artland Genre: Action Website:
Notable Cast/Staff:
Director: Takashi Watanabe (Shakugan no Shana)
Script: Takao Yoshioka (Sekirei, Elfen Lied)
Summary: This series is adapted from MarvelousAQL's Senrai Kagura side-scrolling action game based around female ninjas.
Title: Senyu. Starts:Wednesday, Jan 09 at 1:35AM JST on TV Tokyo Studio: Ordet, Liden Films Genre: Website:
Notable Cast/Staff:
Cast: Hiro Shimono as Aruba, Yuichi Nakamura as Rosu
Director: Yutaka Yamamoto (Kannagi, Fractale)
Summary: This series follows the adventures of Aruba and Rosu, two descendents of an ancient hero who long ago sealed away the demon king Rukimedesu. Now they must fight the demons which have suddenly appeared from a mysterious hole.
Title: Tamako Market Starts:Wednesday, Jan 09 on Tokyo MX Studio: Kyoto Animation Genre: Comedy Website:
Notable Cast/Staff:
Director: Naoko Yamada (K-ON!
Script: Reiko Yoshida (K-ON!, Bakuman)
Summary: Tamako Market follows the cheerful Tamako Kitashirakawa, the mochi-loving daughter of a mochi shopkeeper in the shopping district.
Title: Yama no Susume Starts:Thursday, Jan 02 at 1:30AM JST on Tokyo MX/UHF Studio: 8bit Genre: Website:
Notable Cast/Staff:
Director: Yusuke Yamamoto (Sgt. Frog)
Summary: This series follows two childhood friends: Aoi, a girl who would rather stay indoors, and Hinata, a girl who loves mountains. They decide to climb a mountain in order to see the sunrise from its peak.
If you look up “anticlimax” in the dictionary, you'll see this story arc of That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime listed as an example.― If you look up “anticlimax” in the dictionary, you'll see this story arc of That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime listed as an example. Honestly, the arc has so much going for it with Mariabell as a villain. She was built up as a looming threat in the previous ...
With nearly all the new shows debuted, we're into episode two territory! Find out how Goodbye, Lara holds up in its sophomore episode along with Black Torch, Sparks of Tomorrow, Chainsmoker Cat and more!― Welcome to Anime News Network's Summer 2026 Anime Preview Guide! Here's how it goes: our team of critics writes up their impressions instantly, to be posted here as they go along. Each critic will...
Anime is everywhere now, in case you hadn't noticed.― ConfusedConfucius asks: "Now that anime is becoming almost ubiquitous at a global level, what are some of the ways it is seeping into the popular consciousness in ways that were never intended?" You are right. Anime is flipping everywhere if you move through life with your eyes and ears open. This is not going to be your usual “anime is mainstre...
Alas, poor Valko, players were just really divided on your existence and Papergames did not handle it well.― Hello, and welcome once more to another installment of the column! It has, to put it mildly, been a rough couple of weeks, particularly if you're in or covering the game industry. With new waves of layoffs and controversial (to put it mildly) corporate decision-making, the game industry - or ...
The World is Dancing fictionalizes the life of Zeami, one of Noh's greatest performers and writers, but what is the history of Noh theater? Marcille Donato delves into the history of Japan's oldest performing art.― Of all the forms of human expression that have ever existed, it would not be incorrect to say that one of the oldest and most universal is the art of dancing. Humans have been shaking the...
Senpai is an Otokonoko director Shinsuke Yanagi helms anime at feel. animation studio― Kadokawa announced on Monday the television anime adaptation of Enma Akiyama's Noa-senpai wa Tomodachi. (Noa is My Senior, and My Friend.) manga, and revealed the anime's teaser visual and main staff members.The manga's story centers on Rihito Ōtsuka — a laid-back and unbothered guy, and an employee in a game comp...
Hayashi illustrated many children's books including Miki's First Errand, There's a Hippo in My Bath!― Japanese news outlet The Mainichi reported on Wednesday children's book author and illustrator Akiko Hayashi died of pneumonia on July 1 in a hospital in Nagano prefecture. She was 81.She was known for illustrating the first novel of Eiko Kadono's children's novel Kiki's Delivery Service, which Stud...
I was scared it would be just a very safe yet well-produced retread of familiar ground, and I was mostly right.― It is nearly impossible to talk about this game without explaining the complicated pedigree that precedes it. Star Fox is an established Nintendo IP, but unlike many others such as Mario, Zelda, or even Metroid, the scope of games in Star Fox's library is a little bit muddled. Even though...
Director Yuzuru Tachikawa, character designer Yoshimichi Kameda reunite for English-subtitled short― The "Mob Psycho 100 Anime 10th Anniversary Event: Reunion" presented a new anime short at the Fukagawa Mirai Hall in Kawaguchi City, Saitama on Sunday. The short, which is streaming online with English subtitles, features Reigen, Shigeo ("Mob"), Dimple, and Tome at the Spirits and Such Consultation O...
The internet is cornerstone of the modern entertainment complex. Creators wanting to get their work out cannot merely be adept in their craft—they must also be able to navigate the multiplicitous lanes and uncertain signage of the information superhighway. So it must go as well for the girls bands in the BanG Dream! franchise, with this season's YUME∞MITA being heavily based in that space.―
The int...
A competent and extremely promising first outing, Millennium Tales doesn't overstay its welcome, is a bit too chatty, feels great to play, but it needs just the tiniest kick in the pants.― Team Asano has yet again moved into a new genre for their HD-2D titles: this time, an action-adventure title. While the title doesn't seem to promise much, and the characters skew a bit too archetypal for my taste...
While this film is certainly worth watching to anyone who loves Sword Art Online, the fact that the bar to entry is $110 feels ludicrous.― Unanswered//Butterfly: Sword Art Online is far from the first anime to be released as a video game extra—in this case, the Echoes of Aincrad Ultimate Edition. However, rather than an extra episode or OVA, Unanswered//Butterfly is a full-on feature film that clock...
Naono Yoshiko’s line of '70s shoujo horror stories is as grisly, harrowing, and all-around entertaining a read as they come.― My introduction to Hide and Seek went thusly: 70's shoujo manga focusing on children who meet horrible ends. I heard “70's” and “children who meet horrible ends” and immediately thought of Ringing Bell, which (cold take, I know, but) to this day is still my gold standard of o...
Jean-Karlo has lots of exciting retro game news for you this week. Are you ready to set out in your nice boat?― Welcome back, folks! Lots of photos floated around from this past weekend's Anime Expo. Apparently, they really messed up Artist Alley (sad to hear). On the other hand, Shift-Up had a Goddess of Victory: Nikke stall, complete with a Doro mascot. All the love to whoever was in that thing; t...
Hideaki Nakano talks about moving into the director's chair for Wistoria's second season and what he loves about the show.― With its gorgeous visuals, rich world building, and absolutely electrifying direction, Wistoria: Wand and Sword is an obvious standout in the realm of magical school anime. While season one was directed by Tatsuya Yoshihara, who would later go on to direct Chainsaw Man: Reze A...
Casting for other characters to come later― The official website for the Naruto franchise announced on Friday that Lionsgate's live-action film adaptation of Masashi Kishimoto's Naruto manga has begun a global casting search for the main characters Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura, with casting for other characters to come at a later date. Kishimoto commented on the announcement: Right now, miracles are h...
How BanG Dream! YUME∞MITA references a ton of foundational Shoujo themes, but in a completely new way. From the harrowed heroine to the new girl, find out how YUME∞MITA delivers a uniquely emotional experience.― The BanG Dream! franchise is one that has regularly referenced a variety of genres. Obviously this largely refers to the musical acts, where the catchy rock of Poppin'Party will play alongsi...
