Summary

Twin Engine teased a new 'Mononoke' project after the trilogy film’s finale, further expanding the franchise's supernatural lore.The lore expands with the third Medicine Seller in a yellow and purple kimono, voiced by Hirofumi Araki.

Twin Engine has marked the conclusion of the Mononoke movie trilogy with a surprise teaser video confirming a new project that expands the anime’s universe. Originally celebrated for its cult‑favorite 2007 TV series - renowned for blending avant‑garde Japanese paper textures with psychological horror - the franchise returned in 2024 with a three‑part film series. The new promotional video introduces another incarnation of the Medicine Seller, the enigmatic protagonist and storyteller central to the franchise’s identity.

According to established lore, there are 64 Medicine Sellers, each wielding one of 64 distinct Exorcism Swords. This project unveils the third iteration: the Medicine Seller of Ken, distinguished by an ornate yellow‑and‑purple kimono layered over a vibrant red undershirt, voiced by Hirofumi Araki. Ken follows the lineage of Ri, the original protagonist from Ayakashi: Samurai Horror Tales (2006) and the Mononoke TV series (2007), voiced by Takahiro Sakurai, and Kon, the central figure of the recent film trilogy, voiced by Hiroshi Kamiya. The trailer blends familiar motifs with updated surreal visuals, highlighting the Medicine Seller’s exorcism sword and charms while hinting at new narrative directions. Its atmosphere leans into experimental animation roots while adopting a modernized palette and pacing, signaling a bold new chapter for the franchise.

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Summary

Twitch megastar Kai Cenat has officially announced his highly anticipated return to live streaming following a multi-month hiatusMarking his first major broadcast of 2026, Cenat will go live tonight, July 6, at 8:00 PM EST, to reveal the student and professor roster for Streamer University 2026The return introduces a landscape-shifting multi-platform strategy, marking Cenat's first-ever official simulcast across both his Twitch and YouTube networks

Twitch titan Kai Cenat is officially putting an end to his prolonged streaming hiatus, charting a monumental multi-platform return to the digital airwaves. The 24-year-old internet phenomenon has confirmed via X that he will host a massive live broadcast tonight, Monday, July 6, 2026, at 8:00 PM EST. The highly anticipated stream will not only breathe life back into his premier, creator-focused initiative—Streamer University—but it will also mark an unprecedented structural shift for Cenat, deploying his first-ever simultaneous broadcast across both Twitch and YouTube.

Cenat's return effectively concludes a quiet, multi-month chapter that left his massive online fanbase of over 20 million Twitch followers subsisting entirely on recycled archive clips. The Bronx native unexpectedly paused his record-breaking streaming routine at the start of the year, releasing a vulnerable YouTube video titled "I Quit" on January 13, 2026. In the video, Cenat opened up about severe creative burnout, continuous self-doubt, and the mental tax of maintaining a grueling broadcast calendar, noting that he needed to step away from the cameras to prioritize his personal well-being and focus on outside creative endeavors—such as launching his multi-disciplinary clothing label, Vivet.

The core anchor for Cenat’s grand re-entry into the live ecosystem is the unveiling of Streamer University 2026 (Streamer University 2). Serving as the direct sequel to his wildly successful 2025 inaugural class—which took over the University of Akron campus and generated a staggering 27 million hours of total watch time—the real-world accelerator is engineered to bridge the gap between aspiring, low-profile internet personalities and the digital elite. Selected creators spend days participating in intense networking events, collaborative streaming sessions, and specialized brand-building workshops. To build hype for the 2026 edition, Cenat dropped a cinematic, high-budget enrollment trailer in early June that drew heavy aesthetic inspiration from Harry Potter, featuring an influx of mystical owls overtaking his headquarters.

The selection process highlights just how fiercely competitive Cenat's digital academy has become. The official enrollment portal reportedly attracted well over one million applications from digital hopefuls worldwide, all vying for a highly restrictive bracket of roughly 100 to 150 student seats. Accepted applicants receive completely free attendance, curated meals, and full travel accommodations. Tonight's broadcast will feature Cenat live from his signature streaming room inside the AMP collective house, where he will personally pull back the curtain on the entire student roster, returning alumni, and the high-profile internet stars tapped to serve as the "professors" and "club directors" for the 2026 school year.

Missed yall

— Kai Cenat (@KaiCenat) July 4, 2026

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Summary

Jesse Eisenberg has expressed immense enthusiasm for filming Now You See Me 4, calling his role as arrogant illusionist J. Daniel Atlas his absolute "happiest place" on a movie setThe actor contrasted the character with his typical dramatic roles, noting that playing an ultra-confident mastermind allows him a rare boost in on-set moraleThe update follows a highly lucrative box office run for 2025’s 'Now You See Me: Now You Don't,' which pushed the global franchise cumulative total past $932 million

Jesse Eisenberg is ready to step back onto the stage and pull another rabbit out of his hat, declaring that he is incredibly eager to begin filming Now You See Me 4. Speaking to reporters while celebrating his honorary President’s Award at the 60th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, the two-time Academy Award nominee revealed that returning to the high-stakes, sleek world of Lionsgate’s signature magic-heist franchise provides him with a rare sense of creative joy unmatched by almost any other role in his acclaimed career.

For Eisenberg, the allure of playing J. Daniel Atlas, the hyper-confident and arrogant mastermind of the original Four Horsemen, lies entirely in the psychological departure from his standard dramatic fare. "Honestly, I'd love to do Now You See Me 4 more than anything else," Eisenberg shared with complete earnestness to The Wrap. "I've never felt happier than when playing that part. Normally, I play depressed people, which makes me depressed, but playing that confident, arrogant magician, I walk away everyday thinking, 'That was amazing.' It's the only character where I get to stand up straight and wear a nicer outfit. It's my happiest place."

The actor's public eagerness follows a highly lucrative resurgence for the property. After a nearly decade-long hiatus following the 2016 sequel, Lionsgate successfully revived the trick-fueled heist series with late 2025's Now You See Me: Now You Don't (Now You See Me 3). Directed by Ruben Fleischer on a $90 million production budget, the star-studded third installment seamlessly blended the classic ensemble (Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco, Isla Fisher) with a fresh generation of illusionists portrayed by Justice Smith, Dominic Sessa, and Ariana Greenblatt. The sequel proved to be a major financial win, raking in over $243 million USD globally and officially driving the aggregate franchise box office past a monumental $932 million USD milestone.

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Summary

Bandai Namco released the fifth trailer for Science SARU’s 'THE GHOST IN THE SHELL.'J-Rock sensation King Gnu performs the official opening theme song, titled "GO GHOST".The series launches its global broadcast and Prime Video streaming rollout on July 7, 2026.

Bandai Namco Entertainment has released the fifth promotional trailer for Science SARU’s THE GHOST IN THE SHELL, building anticipation ahead of the anime’s premiere this week.

The freshly released footage delivers a striking montage of atmospheric mood shots, offering fans a closer look at the raw energy, characters, and high-fidelity setting of the cybernetic world. Serving as a core highlight, the clip officially previews the series' main opening theme song, "GO GHOST," engineered by the massive J-Rock sensation King Gnu — the band renowned for delivering viral anime themes, including the chart-topping openings for Jujutsu Kaisen, "SPECIALZ" and "AIZO." "GO GHOST" seamlessly fuses the group's signature alternative-rock edge with futuristic electronic synth motifs, perfectly encapsulating the franchise's retro-cyberpunk mood.

THE GHOST IN THE SHELL will officially premiere in Japan and worldwide via Prime Video on July 7, 2026, marking one of the year’s most anticipated anime launches.

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Summary

Studio Trigger announced its fourth project with Hiroyuki Imaishi and Kazuki Nakashima.The duo promises explosive energy, resilience, and rebellion themes.Project already in development, positioned as a flagship release for the studio.

Studio Trigger has announced a fourth original collaboration between director Hiroyuki Imaishi and screenwriter Kazuki Nakashima -- the dream team behind genre-defining classics like Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, Kill la Kill and the 2019 cinematic feature Promare.

In an official production commentary video, Imaishi and Nakashima jokingly apologized to their patient fanbase for the seven-year gap since Promare, explaining that while they initially intended to churn out a new script within a single year, various standalone side projects and theater schedules kept them running in separate circles until a clear development path finally solidified.

While Trigger is currently keeping the title and visual layouts locked behind closed doors, Nakashima revealed that his screenplay is finished, prompting Imaishi to secretly map out the initial storyboards entirely from his own head. Nakashima described the upcoming anime as a definitive culmination of their decades-spanning creative synergy, framing his completed text as a massive creative anthology of everything they have learned. Imaishi expanded on this grand scale, noting that the production will funnel all of their bottled-up creative energy into a chaotic synthesis of their signature thematic hallmarks alongside entirely unattempted, innovative narrative techniques.

【今石監督 最新作📢】

最強タッグが、再び動き出す🔥

2007『天元突破グレンラガン』
2013『キルラキル』
2019『プロメア』

そして…

監督：今石洋之 × 脚本：中島かずき
第4弾作品、始動‼️

続報にご期待下さい pic.twitter.com/0Q2GH5SOUr

— TRIGGER Inc. (@trigger_inc) July 5, 2026

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Summary

The micro-budget indie horror film'Obsession' has officially passed the $400 million USD milestone at the worldwide box office in its eighth week of release Directed by former YouTuber Curry Barker, the film has generated $245.3 million USD domestically and $157.8 million USD across international territoriesProduced for just $750,000, 'Obsession' now stands as the highest-grossing film in history with a sub-$1 million production budge

In what is cementing itself as the box office story of the decade, Focus Features' micro-budget horror masterclass Obsession has officially crossed the $400 million USD threshold worldwide. Tracking through its eighth weekend in theaters, the surreal word-of-mouth juggernaut has defied every conventional theatrical model, proving that premium narrative hook and grass-roots internet hype can outmaneuver even the most seasoned, multi-hundred-million-dollar studio blockbusters.

The trajectory of Obsession reads like an industry fairytale. Originally produced independently on a shoestring budget of just $750,000 USD by newcomer filmmaker Curry Barker, the film generated massive waves at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) before Focus Features aggressively acquired the domestic distribution rights for a reported $15 million. Released wide on May 15, 2026, the psychological thriller follows a hopeless romantic (played by Michael Johnston) who breaks the rules of a mysterious "One Wish Willow" to win his crush's heart (Inde Navarrette), only to find that his ideal fantasy manifests as a terrifying, sinister nightmare.

What makes the film's $403.1 million USD current worldwide haul so unprecedented is its historical resilience in theaters. While modern horror releases traditionally suffer steep 50% to 60% drop-offs in their second frame, Obsession actually registered back-to-back weekend-to-weekend ticket increases during its second and third weeks of release. In its fourth frame, the film fell by a miniscule 7%, bringing in $25.6 million USD to strip The Blair Witch Project (1999) of its legendary fourth-weekend holding record. The absolute peak of its box office dominance occurred on its 25th day of release, where it pulled in $4.2 million USD on a discount Monday to out-gross what Avengers: Endgame and Star Wars: The Force Awakens made on their respective 25th days in theaters.

With this weekend's tracking data finalized, Obsession has officially unseated Bruce Lee's iconic 1973 classic Enter the Dragon ($400 million USD gross on an $850,000 USD budget) to become the highest-grossing movie of all time among films produced for under $1 million. The historic return on investment has left rival studios scrambling to copy its blueprint, especially as it effortlessly shared marquee space with A24’s similarly explosive indie horror hit Backrooms. Even as Universal Home Entertainment launched the film onto digital premium video-on-demand (PVOD) networks on June 30, cinema ticket sales have remained remarkably stable, driven by repeat viewings and a dedicated subcultural fanbase eager to experience the dread collectively.

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Summary

Netflix confirmed 'Delicious in Dungeon' Season 2 will premiere globally in October 2027.Studio Trigger returns to handle animation production, ensuring visual continuity with Season 1.The new key visual previews Laios' party, Chimera Falin and Thistle the Mad Mage.

Netflix has confirmed that Delicious in Dungeon will return for a highly anticipated Season 2 in October 2027. Based on Ryoko Kui's award-winning, completed fantasy manga series, this upcoming continuation features the triumphant return of director Yoshihiro Miyajima, series composition editor Kimiko Ueno, character designer Naoki Takeda and iconic composer Yasunori Mitsuda.

To commemorate the announcement, Kadokawa debuted a new key visual showcasing Laios and his party venturing deeper into the labyrinth, with Falin in her chimera form sweeping across the right side of the image with Thistle, the Mad Mage riding on her back. Building on the success of Season 1, which blended inventive cooking sequences with high‑stakes dungeon-crawling-RPG-style adventure, the new season promises to expand both the narrative scope and the imaginative food‑based worldbuilding that made the series a breakout hit. Production remains under the direction of Studio Trigger, ensuring stylistic continuity with the first season’s vibrant animation and dynamic action.

🐲 DELICIOUS IN DUNGEON SEASON 2 🐲

Season 2 of #DeliciousinDungeon has been announced at #AX2026!

🍴 Coming October 2027 only on Netflix!!https://t.co/XkCjopSXc8 pic.twitter.com/e57fUzHPO5

— Delicious in Dungeon - Official (@dun_meshi_en) July 4, 2026

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Summary

'MURCIÉLAGO' anime adaptation confirmed for 2027, announced at Anime Expo.Teaser PV showcases Kuroko Koumori and Hinako Tozakura in violent, stylish crime action.Directed by Takashi Naoya and Matsuo Asami, animated by Satelight and Staple Entertainment.

The cult‑favorite crime action manga MURCIÉLAGO is officially set to receive its long‑awaited anime adaptation in 2027. Announced during Anime Expo with the release of a striking teaser video, the series, which has sold over 2.3 million copies worldwide, follows former death‑row inmate turned government executioner Kuroko Koumori and her partner Hinako Tozakura as they confront society’s darkest corners with unrestrained violence and style.

Production is being helmed by chief director Takashi Naoya and director Matsuo Asami, with animation jointly handled by Satelight and Staple Entertainment. The blistering 50-second debut teaser trailer offers a kinetic, highly contrasted preview of the series' signature lethal action and dark humor. The footage rapidly introduces the franchise's legendary, eccentric duo: Kuroko Koumori, a former death row serial killer turned state-sanctioned executioner, and her bright-eyed, pink-haired partner Hinako Tozakura, a naive girl possessing legendary driving skills.

お待たせいたしました
ムルシエラゴついにアニメ化決定でございます！
勘のいい読者諸姉諸兄におかれましては「こいつある時期からアニメ化云々の話しなくなったな…？」とお考えの方もおられたかと存じます
黙ってるのしんどかったなぁ！
原作漫画含め、コンゴトモヨロシク！
ｶｰｯ(ビブラスラップ) https://t.co/Z4RivnfGd1 pic.twitter.com/RI02n9CWTq

— よしむらかな@ｵﾘｬｰ°˖✧◝(⁰▿⁰)◜✧˖°ｵﾘｬｰ (@yoshimurakana) July 5, 2026

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Summary

The 'STEEL BALL RUN' 2nd Stage trailer previews Johnny Joestar and Gyro Zeppeli’s survival across brutal desert terrain.Netflix confirms weekly episode drops, beginning September 25, 2026.David Production leads animation, with 'JoJo' series veterans directing and supervising.

The trailer for STEEL BALL RUN's 2nd Stage wastes no time in raising the adrenaline for the upcoming installment of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Part 7. What begins as a grueling 750‑mile crossing morphs into a survival gauntlet, with Johnny Joestar and Gyro Zeppeli battling sandstorms, collapsing cliffs, and rival Stand users who turn the competition into all‑out warfare. The preview doesn’t shy away from introducing key new players either — Mountain Tim rides in with his cowboy flair, Hot Pants emerges shrouded in mystery, and Funny Valentine looms as the political mastermind pulling strings behind the race. The combination of high‑stakes action and eccentric character reveals sets the stage for a darker, more complex arc in Hirohiko Araki’s saga.

Netflix has confirmed that fan demand for weekly episodes will be met with a split‑cours block of 11 episodes released every Friday, beginning September 25, 2026. The production remains in the hands of David Production, with co‑directors Yasuhiro Kimura and Hideya Takahashi working alongside series director Toshiyuki Kato and veteran script supervisor Yasuko Kobayashi. Announced during Warner Bros. Japan’s Anime Expo 2026 panel, the continuation underscores the franchise’s global momentum, promising faithful adaptation paired with cinematic spectacle.

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Summary

'Witch Hat Atelier' Season 2 teaser unveiled by BUG FILMS continues Kamome Shirahama’s acclaimed dark‑fantasy manga adaptation.Coco and her fellow witch apprentices face deeper socio‑political conflicts and forbidden arts.The upcoming season track the dangerous trials awaiting apprentice Coco following the Serpentback Cave cliffhanger.

Following up on the initial streaming announcements from Crunchyroll, the official production committee for Witch Hat Atelier has unveiled a super teaser trailer for Season 2. Handled by the breakout studio BUG FILMS, the upcoming season continues the exquisite dark-fantasy adaptation of Kamome Shirahama’s critically acclaimed, award-winning manga.

At the heart of the story is Coco, a determined young girl with no magical lineage who stumbles upon the secret of drawn witchcraft and becomes an apprentice to the enigmatic sorcerer Qifrey. Season 2 builds directly on the events of Season 1, plunging Coco and her fellow apprentices deeper into the perilous socio‑political currents of the magical world and the forbidden arts. The newly released teaser hints at the aftermath of the Serpentback Cave incident, previewing ominous trials and escalating stakes that promise to test the apprentices’ resolve while expanding the series’ richly imagined universe.

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Summary

Crunchyroll announced Solo Leveling: Beyond the System at Anime Expo 2026.The film bridges Season 2 and Season 3, exploring Sung Jinwoo’s psychological evolution and the System’s origins.Co‑produced by Crunchyroll, Aniplex, Netmarble, D&C Media, Kakao Piccoma with A‑1 Pictures animating.

A Solo Leveling anime film has been announced at Crunchyroll's showcase at Anime Expo 2026. Officially titled Solo Leveling: Beyond the System, the feature‑length movie expands the universe of the hit series with an original storyline with a completely original storyline. Positioned as a bridge toward Season 3, the movie promises to push Sung Jinwoo’s journey into uncharted territory, probing the psychological toll of his transformation and the deeper mysteries behind the System that elevated him from “the World’s Weakest Hunter” to a mythic powerhouse. Animation duties remain with A‑1 Pictures, ensuring stylistic continuity with the hit series while scaling up the cinematic scope.

The companion concept trailer sets a strikingly darker tone, opening with sweeping, hyper‑realistic shots of oceans, cities, and ominous portals, all underscored by Jinwoo’s introspective monologue questioning the true ownership of his absolute power. This atmospheric preview hints at a narrative that will challenge both the protagonist and the foundations of the world he inhabits. While a specific release date has yet to be confirmed, Beyond the System is officially co‑produced by Crunchyroll, Aniplex, Netmarble, D&C Media and Kakao Piccoma, signaling a global rollout and high production ambition.

Solo Leveling: Beyond the System, the brand-new anime theatrical feature film is officially in production — the thrilling continuation of Sung Jinwoo’s story after the last season.

Co-produced by Aniplex, D&C Media and Crunchyroll

⚔️ Read: https://t.co/aUmVGs3PNo pic.twitter.com/4Pqlg6MRAj

— Solo Leveling (@sololeveling_en) July 3, 2026

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As the calendar turns toward the warmer months, the anime industry is gearing up to deliver another massive wave of highly anticipated titles for the summer season. Building on the momentum of the year's first half, this slate features series continuing straight from their successful spring premieres, such as Liar Game and Daemons of the Shadow Realm. New and returning titles also dominate the roster, spanning shonen epics, high-stakes action, fantasy dramas and ambitious video game adaptations. While every entry on this list is noteworthy, heavy hitters like Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War are preparing to take their final bow, just as the legendary Ghost in the Shell franchise receives a fresh reimagining. To help you navigate the packed schedule, here are the 10 anime releases we are keeping our eyes on, complete with what fans can expect from the studios bringing them to life.

Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia 

Release Date: July 4, 2026

Kicking off the season is Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia, an adaptation that promises to be a visual and cultural feast. Set against the sweeping steppes of the 13th-century Mongol Empire, the story follows a young captive named Sitara, who plots her revenge against the empire from within. Fan expectations are incredibly high with Studio Science SARU at the helm. Naoko Yamada - renowned for her emotive storytelling in A Silent Voice and K-ON! - serves as chief director alongside Science SARU's Abel Góngora, whose recent co-helming credits include Scott Pilgrim Takes Off and DAN DA DAN. Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will stream via Crunchyroll starting July 4, debuting with a special one-hour broadcast featuring the first two episodes.

Daemons of the Shadow Realm Second Cour

Release Date: July 6, 2026

Following the critical success of its spring run, Hiromu Arakawa's Daemons of the Shadow Realm transitions seamlessly into its second cour without interruption. The first installment was heavily praised for flawlessly establishing Arakawa’s signature world-building and moral ambiguity, ending with Yuru uncovering the terrifying truth about his village. Studio Bones (Bones Film) continues to handle the animation, guaranteeing a consistent, high-quality production. Manga fans are eagerly anticipating this continuation as it delves deeper into the complex conspiracies and conflicts among various Daemon-wielding factions. The new episodes will be available on Crunchyroll, Netflix and Disney+ in select Asian regions.

Sparks of Tomorrow

Release Date: July, 5, 2026

Adding a touch of grounded, emotional storytelling to the lineup is Sparks of Tomorrow. This original anime production centers on an alternate 20th-century Kyoto, following two youths who dream of ushering in the "Age of Electricity" using a mysterious electrical catalog. Produced by Kyoto Animation - the powerhouse behind Free!, Sound! Euphonium and Violet Evergarden - expectations are understandably high. Audiences anticipate the studio's trademark breathtaking background art, nuanced character acting and emotionally resonant narrative to shine through in this ambitious sci-fi and historical drama. The series will make its exclusive global debut on Netflix.

Mushoku Tensei Season 3

Release Date: July 6, 2026

The pioneer of the modern isekai genre finally returns after a two-year break. Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation enters its highly anticipated third season, with Studio Bind once again helming the project. Despite a noticeable dip in animation quality during Season 2 - stemming from a change in director and key animation staff - the previous installment still garnered widespread acclaim for its delicate handling of Rudeus’s personal growth, ending on a bittersweet note as he settled into family life. Season 3 will comprise 27 episodes split over two cours and will stream on Crunchyroll. Given its length, this new installment will likely encompass some of the narrative's most critical storylines, including the Eris Training Arc, the Asura Kingdom Arc and the highly anticipated Turning Point 4 (Human-God Arc).

Liar Game Part 2

Release Date: July 6, 2026

The mind-bending psychological warfare of Liar Game continues. The first part of the anime adaptation was lauded by both newcomers and longtime manga fans for how Madhouse perfectly captured the suffocating tension of Shinobu Kaitani’s intricate puzzles. Picking up exactly where the cliffhanger left off, Nao Kanzaki and Shinichi Akiyama are thrust into even more ruthless rounds of the tournament. Readers of the source material have high expectations for Part 2, eager to see how Madhouse’s sharp visual direction and haunting soundtrack will elevate the famously convoluted games without sacrificing the manga's logical clarity. For those needing to catch up, the first part of the series is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.

THE GHOST IN THE SHELL

Release Date: July 7, 2026

Masamune Shirow’s legendary cyberpunk masterpiece is returning to the screen with a brand-new adaptation. Helmed by the visionary minds at Science SARU, this iteration promises a major stylistic departure from the iconic 1995 film adaptation by Production I.G. Fans of the original manga will be especially thrilled, as this version aligns more closely with the source material's lore and vibrant '80s art style. THE GHOST IN THE SHELL will stream globally on Amazon Prime Video starting July 7, 2026.

Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War - The Calamity

Release Date: July 25, 2026

After years of buildup, the definitive conclusion to Tite Kubo’s iconic shonen saga is finally here. Subtitled The Calamity, the final part of the Thousand-Year Blood War will chronicle the ultimate clash between the Soul Reapers and Yhwach’s Quincy forces. Studio Pierrot has treated this revival with unparalleled care. Because the original manga's ending was famously rushed, longtime fans have high expectations for this final act to deliver the satisfying conclusion the franchise has always deserved. Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War - The Calamity will stream exclusively on Hulu in the US and on Disney+ in select international markets.

The Elusive Samurai Season 2

Release Date: July, 2026

Yusei Matsui’s historical action-comedy The Elusive Samurai sprints back onto screens for a second season. The first season was a breakout hit, praised for how Studio CloverWorks blended bizarre humor with brutal historical realities, wrapping up with young lord Tokiyuki Hojo successfully gathering his core retainers. As the series moves into an all-out war to reclaim the shogunate, fans are expecting CloverWorks to maintain the kinetic camera work and highly experimental visual gags of the first season while successfully scaling up the massive battlefield clashes that define the upcoming arcs. Just like its predecessor, the new installment will stream weekly on Crunchyroll and Netflix in select Asian regions.

The Ribbon Hero

Release Date: August 8, 2026

A late-season surprise, The Ribbon Hero is an upcoming animated feature film that brings a legendary piece of manga history into the modern era. Directed by Yuuki Igarashi and animated by Studio Outline, the film is a brand-new adaptation of Osamu Tezuka’s pioneering classic, Princess Knight. Co-produced by Twin Engine and Netflix, fans of the "God of Manga" are watching this project closely. Expectations are high to see how Outline honors Tezuka's original trailblazing vision while updating the animation style and pacing for a contemporary global audience.

Sekiro: No Defeat

Release Date: September, 4, 2026

Rounding out the season is an adaptation that has had the internet buzzing: Sekiro: No Defeat. Based on FromSoftware's notoriously punishing video game Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, the series will translate the bloody journey of the One-Armed Wolf to animation. Produced by studio Qzil.la, expectations are incredibly stringent; fans expect the studio to flawlessly translate the game's oppressive atmosphere and distinct combat rhythm into animation. Sekiro: No Defeat will arrive on Crunchyroll following its limited theatrical release in Japan.

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Summary

Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures are bringing AKIRA back to North American theaters.The 124-minute landmark cyberpunk classic will screen in 4K and IMAX starting September 4, 2026.Katsuhiro Otomo’s masterpiece will be available in both English-subtitled and dubbed formats.

The ultimate cyberpunk monument is officially roaring back onto the big screen this fall. Crunchyroll, in partnership with Sony Pictures Entertainment, has announced that Katsuhiro Otomo's legendary anime masterpiece, AKIRA, will return to select theaters across North America this fall. Cinephiles and anime enthusiasts alike will be able to experience the film optimized for both 4K resolution and immersive IMAX auditoriums.

Clocking in at a runtime of 124 minutes, the theatrical run will accommodate all fans by offering screenings in the original Japanese audio with English subtitles as well as the classic English dub, ensuring that a new generation can witness the definitive cinematic achievement that obliterated the boundaries of traditional animation. Originally released in 1988, Otomo's visionary narrative begins in the ashes of a fictional July 1988 outbreak of World War III, eventually shifting to the dystopian wastes of Neo-Tokyo in the year 2019.

The limited theatrical screenings will begin on September 4, 2026. For details regarding the list of participating theatres, head over Crunchyroll's website.

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Summary

Amblin's Steven Spielberg, United Artists' Scott Stuber and Amazon MGM Studios won the film rights following an 11-studio bidding warSeries creator Alex Kister will direct the adaptation from a screenplay he co-wrote with Tyler CliftonThe deal extends a wave of YouTube horror properties moving to theaters following the success of Backrooms and Obsession

Steven Spielberg is producing a feature film adaptation of The Mandela Catalogue, the viral YouTube horror series that has become one of the defining titles in the analog horror genre. Amblin's Spielberg, United Artists' Scott Stuber and Amazon MGM Studios acquired the film rights following a highly competitive 11-studio bidding war, with series creator Alex Kister set to direct the adaptation from a screenplay he adapted with Tyler Clifton.

Launched in 2021, The Mandela Catalogue is set in the fictional Mandela County, Wisconsin, which is invaded by shape-shifting, nearly immortal creatures called Alternates. The series has amassed well over 100 million views across its official episodes alone, making it one of the largest original analog horror franchises to come out of YouTube, and is widely regarded as one of the defining titles in the analog horror genre, alongside Local 58 and The Backrooms.

That lineage explains why the bidding war got so competitive. The deal follows the mega success of Backrooms and Obsession, with Curry Barker's horror romance Obsession pulling in $374 million USD worldwide and Kane Parsons' Backrooms becoming an unforeseen phenomenon that outstripped even anticipated tentpoles like Star Wars: Mandalorian and Grogu and DC Studios' Supergirl. Studios have been chasing that formula ever since, keen to mine the next big YouTube genre filmmaker in an effort to keep Gen Alpha and Gen Z audiences flowing into theaters.

Handing Kister the director's chair on his own creation keeps The Mandela Catalogue inside that same pattern, treating the person who built the mythology as the person best equipped to bring it to a wider screen.

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Summary

The Pokémon Company and Mitsubishi Estate are co-hosting a six-week 'Pokémon Sleep' third anniversary event across two Minato Mirai shopping centersA roughly 3-meter sleeping Snorlax anchors Landmark Plaza, with a 29-item merch shop, a themed drink stand and a Toyota-developed nap pod filling out MARK IS MinatomiraiFree entry across the full activation, with a stamp rally rewarding visitors who complete both venues

Pokémon is marking the third anniversary of its sleep-tracking mobile app Pokémon Sleep with a sprawling activation in Yokohama's Minato Mirai district, running from July 17 to August 23. Officially titled "Pokémon Sleep 3rd Anniversary 横浜でみっけ！ポケモンねがおリサーチ presented by MITSUBISHI ESTATE GROUP," the event splits itself across two of the neighborhood's flagship shopping centers, Landmark Plaza and MARK IS Minatomirai, and folds an unusual mix of installations, retail, food and even a Toyota-built nap pod into a single sleep-themed circuit.

The anchor sits inside Landmark Plaza's first-floor Sakata no Tane Garden Square, where a Snorlax roughly 3 meters in scale is staged mid-nap under the banner "Sleeping Snorlax Plaza." Photos of dozing Pokémon are arranged around the installation, and a message corner invites visitors to write notes on berry-shaped cards and add them to the space, turning the plaza into a slow-moving communal set piece rather than a static photo op. Three floors up, the same building houses a Mega Pokémon Gacha machine loaded with four Pokémon Sleep muffler towel designs.

Across the street, MARK IS Minatomirai takes on the retail and food weight of the activation. The first-floor Pokémon Sleep Shop stocks 29 items built specifically for the third anniversary, including Pokémon 30th anniversary pin badges featuring Snorlax, Pikachu and Eevee, an oversized Snorlax cushion, a 3rd anniversary festival T-shirt, a "Cyan Beach" clear bottle, bucket hats, sleeping stickers and carrying pouches. Entry to the shop during its opening stretch from July 17 to 26 runs on an advance lottery system, with post-event online sales for anyone who misses out planned from August 24 onward. Nearby in the Grande Galleria, the Pokémon Sleep Drink Stand serves four beverages inspired by in-game items, with the press release naming Early Bird Coffee Jelly and Devil's Kiss Fruit Ole among them, and every order comes with one of six random original coasters.

The fifth floor is where the activation drifts furthest from typical franchise territory. There, visitors can try the "Nap Recovery Device supported by TOTONE," a first-time collaboration between Pokémon Sleep and Toyota's TOTONE, a strategic napping tool the automaker developed by applying its automotive cabin design know-how to sleep. The unit has been given a Poké Ball styling for the event, and the experience remains free with a Pokémon Sleep app screen shown to staff. For those wanting to go further, an optional brainwave measurement using the InSomnograf service is available on site, developed by S'UIMIN, the University of Tsukuba spinoff chaired by sleep scientist Professor Masashi Yanagisawa. Participants receive a custom-designed report of their brainwave results as a takeaway.

Threading the whole activation together is a stamp rally that treats the wider shopping district as its playing field. Sheets are available at MARK IS Minatomirai's B4F Ekimae Hiroba, where a Snorlax welcomes arrivals stepping out of the station. Six stamp stations sit across the two buildings, three in each, and completing them earns a Pokémon Sleep original sticker.

Pokémon Sleep 3rd Anniversary 横浜でみっけ！ポケモンねがおリサーチ runs from July 17 to August 23 across Landmark Plaza and MARK IS Minatomirai in Yokohama.

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Summary

Warner Bros. won a bidding war for the rights to 'Siren Head,' the viral internet horror creation from artist Trevor HendersonBrian Duffield will direct from a screenplay he is co-writing with 'Weapons' filmmaker Zach CreggerThe deal marks the latest studio push to bring internet-native horror IP to theaters following the successes of 'Backrooms' and 'Obsession'

Weapons director Zach Cregger is teaming with filmmaker Brian Duffield on Siren Head, a Warner Bros. horror feature based on the viral internet urban legend created by artist Trevor Henderson. Duffield will direct from a screenplay he is writing with Cregger, with Warner Bros. taking the project after winning a bidding war for the rights to one of the internet's most recognizable modern horror figures.

The deal reads less like a one-off IP grab and more like the next entry in an emerging pattern. Hollywood's chase for internet-native horror properties accelerated after A24's Backrooms broke through as a hit for 20-year-old director Kane Parsons, who had originally built the concept on YouTube. That success was quickly followed by Obsession, another recent horror hit created by 26-year-old Curry Barker, whose own filmmaking career started on the same platform. Both films confirmed something studios had been trying to pin down for years: that internet-born horror mythology can translate to the theatrical box office when the right filmmakers get involved.

Siren Head fits that lineage while pointing to a slight recalibration of the model. Henderson created the character as an internet-fueled urban legend, imagining a mysterious predator with two sirens for a head and a long, thin frame, and the design has since become one of the most-shared horror concepts in online culture. Where Backrooms handed the reins to its original creator, Warner Bros. is instead pairing Henderson's world with two established feature filmmakers, positioning the project as a bridge between internet-native horror IP and traditional studio filmmaking rather than a direct extension of the meme's DIY origins.

The Gen Z equation sitting underneath the deal is doing quiet, heavy lifting. Recent studies have shown that Gen Z has become Hollywood's most consistent audience, visiting cinemas more frequently than millennials and far outpacing Gen X and boomers in attendance. Studios are increasingly building slates around that demographic reality, and internet-native horror properties have emerged as one of the most reliable ways to reach it, offering built-in audience awareness that predates any marketing spend.

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Summary

TOHO Animation has revealed the first trailer for 'The Apothecary Diaries the Movie: The Late Consort’s Secret Treasure.'Set to premiere in theaters in Japan on December 11, 2026, the film centers on an original mystery storyline written by the series' author, Natsu Hyuga.

The first trailer for the upcoming anime film adaptation of The Apothecary Diaries has been unveiled, offering a striking preview of its expanded narrative scope. Officially titled The Apothecary Diaries the Movie: Bouhi no Hihou (The Late Consort’s Secret Treasure), the film introduces an entirely new mystery penned by series creator Natsu Hyuga, ensuring fresh intrigue beyond the original storyline.

The plot raises the stakes considerably, following Maomao and palace official Jinshi as they journey to Minanzhou - a vibrant floating water city - to return the remains of a deceased Imperial concubine to her ancestral home. The trailer also reveals a pivotal new character, Muqing, voiced by acclaimed actress Mariya Ise, a distressed youth from the ruling provincial clan who urgently seeks Maomao’s help.

The Apothecary Diaries: The Late Consort’s Secret Treasure is scheduled to premiere in Japanese theaters on December 11, 2026, marking a significant new chapter in the franchise’s growing legacy.

❁ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
『劇場版 #薬屋のひとりごと #亡妃の秘宝』
⠀ 　 2026年12月11日(金)公開決定！
ティザービジュアル解禁✨
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ ❁

〝 その謎が、隠された宝へと導く 〟

原作者 #日向夏 先生による
完全新作オリジナルストーリー🪷 pic.twitter.com/lgzIEaQQYa

— 『薬屋のひとりごと』アニメ公式 (@kusuriya_PR) July 2, 2026

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Summary

The acclaimed Spirited Away stage play announces an international world tour running from late 2026 through 2028.Directed by John Caird, the production features stops in Taipei, Tokyo, Toronto and Los Angeles.The global tour culminates in March 2028 with a return to the London Coliseum.

The acclaimed stage play adaptation of Spirited Away has announced a world tour running from 2026 to 2028. Originally debuting to massive success in Japan in 2022 before expanding to a record-breaking, award-winning engagement at the London Coliseum in 2024, the highly theatrical production is set to bring its breathtaking staging to diverse global audiences.

Since its debut, the play has been praised for its inventive staging and faithful recreation of Studio Ghibli’s visual magic. Co-adapted by Maoko Imai and helmed by Tony and Olivier Award-winning director John Caird — celebrated for his landmark work on Les Misérables — the live performance utilizes remarkable puppetry and elaborate set designs to capture the surreal wonder of Hayao Miyazaki's legendary, Oscar-winning animated feature.

The world tour is slated to begin at the National Theater in Taipei, Taiwan, running from December 16, 2026 through January 31, 2027. Following its stay in Taipei, the production will return home to Tokyo, Japan, for a limited engagement from March to May 2027 before crossing the Atlantic to Canada, where it will occupy Toronto's Princess of Wales Theatre from May 6 to August 15, 2027. The tour then makes its highly anticipated US debut at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, California, from September 2 to October 24, 2027. The multi-year international journey will culminate in March 2028, when the show returns to the UK for an encore run at the London Coliseum. For more information, head over to the stage play’s official website.

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Every sequel wants to be bigger. Almost none earn it, with the exception of Terminator 2: Judgement Day. More than three decades later, it's still the high-water mark for both the franchise and the action genre as a whole.

Part of that comes down to a single, brilliant inversion. James Cameron took Arnold Schwarzenegger's T-800 — the cold, relentless killing machine from the first film — and flipped him into the protector. It should almost feel like cheating, but instead, it deepens the story. The T-800 learning to understand humanity and slowly absorbing slang and emotion from young John Connor gives the film a heart that the original never needed, but this one couldn't survive without. By the time he gives a thumbs up before lowering into molten steel, the emotional weight has turned into something real.

Then there's Sarah Connor. Linda Hamilton's transformation from the frightened waitress of the first film into a wired, weapons-trained survivalist is one of the great character arcs in action cinema. She's paranoid, hardened, occasionally terrifying, and entirely believable. Her arc set a template that action heroines are still being measured against today.

And the T-1000. Robert Patrick's liquid-metal assassin remains one of the most unsettling antagonists ever put on screen, not because of size or strength but because of how wrong he feels. He reforms after every hit, slides through prison bars, mimics voices and faces with no effort at all. The visual effects, groundbreaking for 1991, still hold up because they were always in service of the threat rather than the spectacle. That's the difference between effects that age and effects that don't.

What elevates T2 above nearly every other action sequel ever made, though, is restraint at the script level. Cameron understood that scale only matters if you care about the people inside it. The freeway chase, the Cyberdyne raid, the steel mill finale — all of it lands because the film took the time to build Sarah, John, and the T-800 into a strange, makeshift family worth protecting. Take away the emotional architecture and you've got a very good action movie. Keep it, and you've got something that transcends the genre entirely.

It also helped that T2 arrived at the exact moment practical effects and early CGI could meet in the middle, producing a hybrid texture that still feels tactile and dangerous in a way most modern blockbusters, drowning in clean digital polish, simply don't.

Terminator 2 raised the bar for what a sequel could be: bigger, smarter, and somehow more human than the film that started it all. Many other sequels are still trying to catch up.

Terminator 2: Judgement Day is available now on Cathay Pacific‘s award-winning inflight entertainment system.

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Summary

Illumination and Universal Pictures have debuted the first teaser trailer for Not Alone, a high-concept original animated sci-fi featureTimothée Chalamet makes his animated feature debut as introverted mechanic Joe alongside Selena Gomez as astro-botanist FranThe plot balances a clumsy workplace romance with a cosmic chase involving three runaway extraterrestrials and an inept space officer

Illumination has officially launched into the cosmos, debuting the dreamy first teaser trailer for its highly anticipated original animated feature, Not Alone. Backed by Universal Pictures, the project brings together global superstars Timothée Chalamet and Selena Gomez to headline an adventurous sci-fi romantic comedy. Set to the evocative, celestial harmonies of David Bowie's classic anthem "Space Oddity," the trailer introduces a vibrant, futuristic world that seamlessly blends workplace relationship friction with adorable, family-friendly alien chaos.

The narrative tracks Joe (voiced by Timothée Chalamet), a deeply introverted and reserved rocket mechanic who prefers a quiet, solitary lifestyle. His predictable routine is permanently upended when he crosses paths with Fran (Selena Gomez), a brilliant, ambitious astro-botanist who has successfully engineered the world's first-ever plant-fueled rocket. When the pair is brought together to coordinate the revolutionary vehicle's inaugural launch, immediate romantic sparks fly—though neither scientist is particularly comfortable or adept at navigating the vulnerabilities of courtship.

Their clumsy romance becomes infinitely more complicated when three tiny, unruly, and adorable extraterrestrial fugitives—Dunk, Welly, and Shirm—unexpectedly seek refuge inside Joe's home. On an interplanetary run from a zealous yet wildly incompetent law enforcement officer named Zandro, the mischievous alien trio realizes that Fran's experimental plant-powered rocket might be their only ticket to safely escape Earth and return to their home planet. This realization quickly sweeps the awkward rocket scientists into a heartwarming intergalactic chase across the stars.

The production boasts an elite ensemble of comedic voice talent and seasoned animation veterans. The three central extraterrestrials are voiced by British comedy staples Rob Brydon (The Trip), Diane Morgan (Cunk on Earth), and Jamie Demetriou (Stath Lets Flats), with Ted Lasso breakout Brett Goldstein portraying the bumbling Officer Zandro. Academy Award winner Allison Janney and Emmy winner Lamorne Morris round out the supporting cast. Behind the lens, the project is co-directed by a powerhouse trio of trusted Illumination mainstays: Eric Guillon (Despicable Me 3), Claire Dodgson (editor of Minions), and Jonathan Del Val (The Secret Life of Pets 2), under the executive production of Illumination founder and CEO Chris Meledandri.

Co-directed by Eric Guillon, Claire Dodgson, and Jonathan Del Val, the film is officially scheduled to land in theaters on April 16, 2027

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