As we’re still in the season of COVID-19 and with things getting uglier around the world, it’s safe to say it has affected not only our lives but also the medium we all enjoy. And while most anime and events are being cancelled, we still get a fair share of good news here and there. These are some the most major news in anime this week.
No Guns Life 2nd Half Resumes July
First off, the official website for the TV anime No Guns Life announced earlier this week that the anime which was previously delayed from its scheduled April premiere date due to effects of the COVID-19, will now premiere this July instead.
The anime’s first half premiered back in October with Funimation streaming the series as it airs in Japan. The anime is directed by Naoyuki Itou who notably worked on the Overlord TV anime series at Studio Madhouse. With Yukie Sugawara (who also worked on Overlord) working on scripts, Masanori Shino (who worked on Black Lagoon) as the character designer, and Kenji Kawai (who worked on Ghost in the Shell) as the series composer.
To those interested, the synopsis for the English version of the manga published by VIZ Media is as follows:
“With no memory of his previous life—or who replaced his head with a giant gun—Juzo Inui now scratches out a living in the dark streets of the city as a Resolver.”
Hinamatsuri Manga Ends Serialization on July 15
We also saw an Amazon listing for the 76th issue of Harta magazine, which notes that the comedic manga for Hinamatsuri by Masao Ohtake will be ending its serialization on July 15. It was also announced earlier in the 18th compiled volume of the manga that the 19th volume will be the last.
On peace books which licenses the manga in English describes it as such:
“Nitta is an ambitious, young member of the Ashikawa-gumi yakuza syndicate. One day, a mysterious, oval-shaped object falls out of thin air into his apartment, and suddenly changes everything! Inside of the object is an expressionless young girl named Hina. The girl has formidable telekinetic powers that she uses to threaten Nitta, forcing him to allow her to live in his apartment. Dangers abound as the yakuza member and young psychic begin their life together as roommates!”
The Legend of Super Normal City KASHIWA R
The Legend of Super Normal City KASHIWA R (which is to be the series’ third season) was announced as a new project and latest installment in the series. To those unaware, this homegrown anime was funded by Japanese crowdfunding site Camp-Fire, and is a limited animation series that uses images of local venues and areas.
This time however, the anime will feature new guest stars thanks to it’s higher donation tiers. We were also blessed with a new Promotional Video of the anime’s theme song by Seiji Miura (who worked on Heaven’s Lost Property.)
The series will premiere on July 6 on Chiba TV in Japan.
【第１弾PV＆OPテーマ解禁！】
TVアニメ「魔王学院の不適合者」7月4日(土)から各局にて放送開始！
本日第１弾PVを公開！アニメ映像初公開です！さらにOPテーマ情報を解禁！OPテーマ：CIVILIAN「正解不正解」
音源もPV内で初公開！https://t.co/U7ot8UkFk0https://t.co/kK9kbMe0qW#魔王学院 pic.twitter.com/wqNhpvUovT
— TVアニメ「魔王学院の不適合者 ～史上最強の魔王の始祖、転生して子孫たちの学校へ通う～」 (@maohgakuin) June 1, 2020
The Misfit of Demon King Academy
The Misfit of Demon King Academy TV anime which was originally scheduled to premiere on April of 2020 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is now set to premiere this July with a new key visual, and a new trailer.
The Misfit of Demon King is an adaptation based on the series of fantasy light novels written by Shu and illustrated by Yoshinori Shizuma. The novels are published in Japan by ASCII Media Works.
A synopsis of the series can be found below:
“The story follows Anos Voldigoad, an overwhelmingly powerful Demon King who reincarnates after an absence of 2000 years, only to discover that the world has grown accustomed to peace and that many of his dark magic skills have decayed. When Anos enrolls at the academy designed to test candidates for the position of Demon King, his powers can’t be properly measured, and he’s labeled ‘inept’. With the help of his only friend and fellow classmate Misha, Anos sets out to surpass his own descendants and reclaim his title.”
The anime is directed by Shin Onuma and Tamura Masafumi and is produced by SILVER LINK.
／#ムヒョロジ 第2期 放送情報決定✨
＼アニマックス：7月7日より毎週火曜日19時～
BSスカパー！：7月10日より毎週金曜日21時～
J:テレ「アニおび」：7月15日より毎週水曜日26時～※配信についてはアニメ公式サイト及び公式ツイッターでお知らせします。https://t.co/44U2pkffFW
— アニメ「ムヒョとロージーの魔法律相談事務所」公式 (@mahouritsuanime) June 1, 2020
Muhyo & Roji’s Bureau of Supernatural Investigation Season 2
The official website for the TV anime adaptation of Muhyo & Roji’s Bureau of Supernatural Investigation also announced earlier this week that the highly-anticipated second season is set to premiere on Animax in Japan on July 7. The anime is being developed by Studio Deen and will gain the voice casts for the six new characters who will join the second season.
Risae and Satsumi Matsuda, who are twin sisters in real life, are cast as the twin characters Lili & Maril Mathias. The first season of Muhyo & Roji’s Bureau of Supernatural Investigation aired from August to October 2018 on Crunchyroll.
BEM ～BECOME HUMAN～ Anime Film
Fans of the anime BEM will be happy to know that a new feature film titled BEM ~BECOME HUMAN, which is based on the 2019 series BEM, was announced to premiere this fall in Japan. The 2019 series of BEM was, in turn, a reboot of the classic anime in the 1960s and was made to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the anime.
Hiroshi Ikehata will reportedly be directing the film with Atsuhiro Tomioka (who worked on Digimon Adventure) as the composer, and Yoshino Matsumoto serves as the character designer based on the original designs provided by the illustrator Range Nurata (who worked on LAST EXILE)
Additionally, the production studio will be changed from its original, LandQ Studios to Production I.G. The TV anime’s three main voice cast members Katsuyuki Konishi (Bem), M.A.O (Bela), and Kensho Ono (Belo) will be reprising their roles in the film.
The synopsis for the anime is as follows:
“Libra City is the place where splendor and decadence, prosperity and poverty, coexist across the canals. Sonia, a young female detective, meets three people called Bem, Bela, and Belo, while following the mysterious cases that have occurred frequently in the city. The three, who transform into their ugly forms, are eventually called “Yokai Ningen (Humanoid Monster) and are hunted as suspects of the case. However, they are the ones who have solved the cases and saved people. It’s all about fulfilling their desire, “We want to be a human being.”
When Bem, Bela, and Belo discover that the “Invisible Congress,” which controls Libra City behind the scenes, is the mastermind behind the cases, they face off against its ringleader, another humanoid monster, Vega. After a fierce battle that resulted in the destruction of the bridge connecting the canal, Bem and the other two disappeared… Two years later. Sonia, who has been searching for Bem’s whereabouts, visits a pharmaceutical company called “Draco Chemical” based on sighting information. There she meets Belum Eyesburg, a man who looks exactly like Bem…”
【放送再開のお知らせ】
新型コロナウイルスの感染拡大の影響を受け、第4話以降の放送・配信を延期しておりましたTVアニメ「放課後ていぼう日誌」につきまして、7月より放送・配信の再開が決定いたしました。
第1話を7月7日(火)より再び放送し、第4話以降は7月28日(火)より放送予定です。#teibo pic.twitter.com/of6kYKdX2a— 「放課後ていぼう日誌」公式 (@teibo_bu) June 2, 2020
Diary of Our Days at the Breakwater Resumes July 7
We also received an announcement from the official website for the TV anime adaptation for Hokago Teibo Nisshi / Diary of Our Days at the Breakwater that the anime is set to resume broadcasting from its first episode on July 7 after it was delayed when its third episode aired on April 21.
The anime’s production committee states that:
“We have decided to resume broadcast and streaming of the TV anime ‘Hokago Teibo Nisshi,’ which has been postponed after its fourth episode due to the effect of the spread of the new coronavirus, in July. Its first episode will be rebroadcast on July 7, then its fourth episode and subsequent episodes will be aired from July 28. We will continue to work on the TV anime ‘Hokago Teibo Nissh’ while taking into consideration the safety of the staff and cast members for its resumption of broadcast and streaming. Please wait for a while until the resumption of the broadcast and streaming in July.”
Hokago Teibo Nisshi / Diary of Our Days at the Breakwater premiered in Japan on April 7 and has been simulcast on Funimation.
A synopsis of the anime by Funimation is given below:
“Introverted Hina Tsurugi is trying to adjust to her new school since moving from the countryside. And in spite of her unease around sea life, classmate Yuuki Kuroiwa somehow convinces her to join the Breakwater Fishing Club. She wants to be open to these new friends and experiences, but some of them are as strange as the fish they’re supposed to hook. Is she biting off more than she can chew?”
Crunchyroll Expo Cancelled
We also received some sad news earlier this week that the planned Crunchyroll Expo which was to hold this year had been cancelled.
The Crunchyroll Expo team had this to say regarding the news:
“We are very sad to announce that Crunchyroll Expo, at least in its usual physical form, will not take place this year. The health and safety of our fans, attendees, exhibitors, guests and staff is our number one priority and given the unpredictable nature of the COVID-19 virus, we believe this is the right decision. Fans who purchased tickets to this year’s event will have the option to receive a full refund or transfer their tickets to next year’s event at this year’s price.
Crunchyroll Expo is our favorite time of the year because we get to celebrate the best and brightest in Japanese anime alongside all of you. While we won’t be together in person this year, please stay tuned to our social channels and expo.crunchyroll.com for updates on other exciting ways we plan to bring our community together under the Crunchyroll Expo banner this year!”
While this news is very disheartening, we are happy to announce that CRX 2021 will be held on August 6-8, 2021 at the San Jose Convention Center.”
Seitokai Yakuindomo 2nd Film Delayed
Continuing on with the sad news, the official website for the anime adaptation of the comedic manga Seitokai Yakuindomo, announced that the release of its forthcoming second feature film which was initially to set to be released in Japan on July 10, has been postponed due to the effects of COVID-19.
The anime’s production committee had this to say regarding the news:
“Thank you very much for your continued support for “Seitokai Yakuindomo.” Due to the impact of the new coronavirus infection (COVID-19), we are forced to postpone the release of “Seitokai Yakuindomo: The Movie 2,” which was scheduled to be released on July 10, 2020. The new release date will be announced on the official website as soon as it is decided. We are very sorry for the audiences who are looking forward to the release of the film and ask for your understanding. In addition, please keep the advance tickets you purchased as they can be used at the postponed release.”
This is arguably one of the more unfortunate delays as we haven’t seen much from the series since the first film aired in 2017.
Studio Ghibli’s Earwig and the Witch Film
Surprisingly, it seems we are getting a new Studio Ghibli film this year as the 2020 Cannes Film Festival announced 56 films that were chosen for the 2020 Official Selection. The selection notably includes the Japanese film Aya to Majyo (Earwig and the Witch) by Goro Miyazaki.
Aya to Majyo (Aya and the Witch) is reportedly based on the 2011 children novel Earwig and the Witch, by Diana Wynne Jones and is set to be broadcast on NHK General TV this winter. It also serves as Studio Ghibli’s first full 3DCG feature-length anime and will have a running time of 82 minutes. Goro Miyazaki (who notably worked Tales from Earthsea and From Up on Poppy Hill) is to direct the film.
Kadokawa Light Novel Expo 2020 Postponed
The upcoming KADOKAWA Light Novel EXPO 2020 was unfortunately also announced to be postponed this week due to concerns of the COVID-19 virus.
The full statement from the official website can be seen below:
“KADOKAWA Light Novel EXPO 2020” (sponsored by KADOKAWA MF Bunko J editorial department Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko editorial department Dengeki Bunko editorial department Famitsu Bunko editorial department Fantasia Bunko editorial department) was scheduled at Tokorozawa Sakura Town October 10 The event will be postponed from Sunday (Sat) to 11th (Sun).
“In response to the spread of the new coronavirus on a global scale and the unpredictable situation even in Japan, such decisions were made as a result of first considering the health and safety aspects of visitors, exhibitors and related parties. I went to Thank you for your understanding.
Details of the postponement time and details will be announced on the official website (https://kimirano.jp/special/lnexpo/) etc.”
Additionally, the Light Novel EXPO which was slated for October 10 and 11—is has been similarly delayed with no word on the new date for the opening of the venue or expo.
Re:ZERO Season 2
In potentially lighter news, (I say potentially as this is an announcement for an announcement.) After the initial delay of the second season of Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World, it seems more news for the upcoming season 2 will be announced on June 11.
The announcement will reportedly come by way of a live-stream on the KADOKAWA anime YouTube Channel and will guest star the voice actors for Subaru and Emilia; Yusuke Kobayashi and Rie Takahashi. The announcement will take place on June 11 at 9 PM Japan time and can be streamed worldwide.
Meanwhile, in anticipation for the upcoming season, the Memory Snow film and The Frozen Bond was recently released on Crunchyroll.
What do you think of this week’s news? What’s your most anticipated anime? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.