Anime Buzz

After years of intermittent updates and anxious anticipation from fans worldwide, Yoshihiro Togashi’s landmark series Hunter x Hunter is set to return to Weekly Shonen Jump on June 29. The announcement brings long-awaited momentum to the series — from new serialized chapters to an upcoming compiled volume and expanding multimedia projects — marking one of the biggest manga comebacks of recent years. Image via Viz Media's website Hunter x Hunter Returns: What the June 29 Resumption Means The announcement that Hunter x Hunter will resume serialization on June 29 signals a significant shift in how the series will be distributed. After a hiatus beginning in January 2023 due to Togashi’s health, the editorial team decided to move away from a strict weekly schedule in favor of a more flexible approach that accommodates the author’s well-being while keeping the story moving forward. This return isn't just a single chapter drop — it coincides with plans for a ne...

Oshi no Ko Season 3’s episode 9 (“Greed and Passion”) is a transitional entry that threads industry exposé with the series’ quieter supernatural beats. With graduation season as a backdrop and the cast rearranging around Aqua’s latest maneuvers, the episode largely functions as connective tissue—setting up a high-stakes film project, teasing a crucial casting showdown, and delivering a sparse but tantalizing glimpse of the show’s occult throughline. The result is an episode that builds anticipation effectively, even if it occasionally feels like puzzle pieces shoved together ahead of next week’s payoff. © 赤坂アカ×横槍メンゴ/集英社・【推しの子】製作委員会 Episode Overview: Plot and Pacing The episode opens on an unexpected pair of minor players—Director Gotanda and Producer Kaburagi—dressed in ill-fitting formalwear while shopping around a risky cinematic idea: a film based on the real-life tragedy of an idol murdered by someone in the industry. That conceit immediately for...

Jun Mochizuki’s dark, labyrinthine world of Pandora Hearts is returning to the stage. PandoraHearts Retrace Ⅱ -madness of lost memory- has been announced as the second stage musical adaptation of the beloved manga, bringing new music, returning creative talent, and the promise of a deeper dive into the series’ twisted fate-and-memory themes. Whether you’re a longtime fan of Mochizuki’s storytelling or new to the franchise, this stage revival promises to reimagine the Abyss with theatrical flair. PandoraHearts Retrace Ⅱ — What we know so far The new musical, titled PandoraHearts Retrace Ⅱ -madness of lost memory-, will play in Tokyo from October 2–12 and in Kobe from October 16–18. The production reunites several staff and cast members from the first stage adaptation: Akira Yamazaki returns as director and scriptwriter, Ako Takahashi is on lyric duties, and composer Harumi Fuuki provides the musical score. Kazan Yokoyama reprises the role of Oz Vessalius, anchoring the production w...

Episode 10 of The Darwin Incident shifts gears from world-building and ideology-heavy detours back into taut, suspense-driven storytelling. This installment tightens the screws on Lucy’s abduction plot while unfolding a series of devastating surprises that change the status quo. It’s an episode that benefits from focused direction and action-first animation, even if the series’ recurring sociological curiosities continue to peek through the cracks. ©うめざわしゅん・講談社／「ダーウィン事変」製作委員会 Episode 10 — A Return to Thriller Momentum The Darwin Incident finds its strongest stride when it leans into thriller mechanics, and episode 10 demonstrates that clearly. The narrative momentum centers on Lucy’s kidnapping and the overlapping layers of deception orchestrated by antagonists with hidden agendas. While prior episodes have sometimes been weighed down by heavy-handed sociological asides, this entry keeps the pressure up through suspense, well-timed reveals, and a tighter focus o...

The darkly comic fantasy Kizetsu Yūsha to Ansatsu Hime has become one of the most talked-about shōnen properties in recent years. With a deceptively simple premise — a painfully shy, overpowered hero named Toto who struggles to form a party — the series flips standard RPG tropes by centering on betrayal, satire, and awkward-romantic tension when three beautiful women join his party with a secret plan to assassinate him. Below we break down the manga's premise, characters, publication history, themes, and what to expect from the anime adaptation that expanded the series' audience. Series Overview: A Shy Hero and a Deadly Secret Kizetsu Yūsha to Ansatsu Hime follows Toto, a hero whose strength is unquestionable yet whose social skills are painfully underdeveloped. The main hook is straightforward but effective: Ciel, Anemone, and Gore — three alluring women who present themselves as potential party members — are actually assassins tasked with killing Toto. The clash between ...

Titan Manga’s recent acquisition slate delivers a potent mix of steampunk swashbuckling, underdog fantasy, and post-apocalyptic mecha horror — three debut volumes that promise to widen the tastes of Western readers this season. Below we break down what makes Huck the Air Pirate and the Princess of Steam, The Regalia of the Underdog, and BABY titles to watch, detail release and pre-order information, and explain why each series deserves shelf space for fans of action, character-driven drama, and imaginative worldbuilding. Huck the Air Pirate and the Princess of Steam — Steampunk High Seas in the Sky Cover not final Image courtesy of Titan Manga © Tomonori Inoue What to expect: Huck the Air Pirate and the Princess of Steam (Kūzoku Huck to Jōki no Hime) drops readers into a Mist Industrial Revolution where the Age of the Air reshapes society. The premise centers on Huck, a rebellious sky pirate leading a ragtag crew across open blue skies in search of treasure, thril...

This week’s release roundup (June 16–18, 2026) brings a stacked mix of Blu-ray box sets, collector’s editions, manga volumes, light novels, audiobooks and a few notable games — perfect for collectors and casual fans alike. Below I’ve sorted the highlights by format and added quick buying pointers so you can grab what matters most without missing the limited editions or omnibus drops. Anime Blu-ray & Home Video Highlights Physical collectors get a lot to choose from this week. Standouts include complete series and film releases across major labels, with several limited or special editions to watch for. Must-watch / Must-buy Assassination Classroom: The Complete Series (BD) — Crunchyroll’s complete set is an essential for fans who missed collecting the series at release; expect a full-episode package and extras. (Released June 16, suggested US$89.98.) Berserk: The Golden Age Arc – Memorial Edition (BD) — A premium package for one of the most enduring dark-fantasy saga...

Episodes 6 and 7 of Frieren: Beyond Journey's End (Season 2) dig deeper than the immediate carnage of demon-hunts to ask a deceptively simple question: what makes someone a “good person”? Through the contrasting perspectives of Genau and Stark, these episodes offer a meditation on conscience, small acts of kindness, and whether empathy must be felt to be meaningful. Character Study: Genau and Stark — Two Sides of the Same Coin The emotional core of these episodes lies in the pairing of Genau and Stark. Both men are convinced they fall short of being morally good, yet for opposite reasons. Genau judges himself harshly for his emotional detachment. He does not easily form attachments, and his steadiness under fire convinces him that he can never equal the sacrifice-driven compassion of his former partner. The memory of a man who gave his life to save a child becomes the metric by which Genau measures himself—and he finds himself lacking. But the narrative quietly undermines...

Viz Media has added a chilling new suspense series to its English lineup: Kiss Me with Your Face (Kimi no Kao de Boku ni Kiss shite), written by Yukiaki Kurando and illustrated by WOOMA. Launched in Japan on June 15, 2026 in Akita Shoten’s Bessatsu Shōnen Champion, the manga is now available as a simulpub on Viz Media’s site — starting with the first chapter available to read for free. This post breaks down what the series is about, who’s behind it, where to read the English simulpub, and why thrill-seeking manga readers should add this to their watchlist. Image via Viz Media's X/Twitter account © YUKIAKI KURANDO / WOOMA (AKITA SHOTEN) 2026 Quick Overview: What Is Kiss Me with Your Face? Kiss Me with Your Face is a suspense-driven shōnen manga that pits a top-ranked student named Shikimi against an unsettling threat: an envious classmate capable of taking over his body. The premise promises psychological tension, identity-based horror, and social-stakes drama — element...

Big news for manga fans: Strike Tanaka, creator of Servamp, is launching a brand-new series titled 「オダロク」 (OdaRoku) in the May issue of Jump SQ., which goes on sale April 3, 2026. The serialized debut is billed as an “異能怪盗活劇” — a supernatural phantom-thief action story — and it marks Tanaka’s return to a major magazine after years building a devoted following. ([jumpsq.shueisha.co.jp](https://jumpsq.shueisha.co.jp/sq/yokoku.html)) 来月4月3日(金)発売の５月号より、新連載『オダロク』が始まります！ ジャンプSQ.という新天地にて、また新たな気持ちで頑張ります。 異能怪盗活劇🪭 どうぞよろしくお願いします！ 本日発売のSQ４月号にも予告カットが載ってます📚 pic.twitter.com/IErfPlFdhI — 田中ストライク (@tanaka_strike) March 3, 2026 What we know so far about OdaRoku Details released by Jump SQ.'s official next-issue preview confirm OdaRoku will open the magazine’s May special issue (on sale April 3). The editorial blurb teases a “phantom-thief” setup wrapped in supernatural powers and action — a premise that suits Tanaka’s flair for character-driven urban fantasy and offbeat supernatural hoo...

Image courtesy of Viz Media © 2006 by Yasuhisa Hara/SHUEISHA Inc. Celebrating two decades of one of the most ambitious historical epics in manga, Yasuhisa Hara’s Kingdom marks its 20th anniversary with a special commemorative release: Kingdom Magazine, arriving August 19. Packed with exclusive artwork, a poster, the results of the third character popularity poll, and an in-depth interview with Hara himself, this anniversary issue is designed as both a fan tribute and a deep-dive retrospective into the series that redefined large-scale military storytelling in manga. What to expect inside Kingdom Magazine New cover art and collectible poster The centerpiece of this special edition is new cover art by Yasuhisa Hara, created specifically to commemorate the 20-year milestone. Readers will also receive a poster featuring the same artwork — a perfect collectible for longtime fans and newcomers who want a visually striking entry point into the series’ scope and tone. Thir...

Wash It All Away episode 10 leans into quiet character moments and gentle interpersonal beats, delivering one particularly warm second half while the episode’s first act feels more like connective tissue. With Kinme at the center, this installment doubles down on the cozy, slice-of-life sensibility that has made the series easy to root for, even when the pace slows and scenes play out with minimal conflict. © Mitsuru Hattori/SQUARE ENIX,Kinishite Committee. Episode 10 recap: a quiet structure with a satisfying payoff The episode splits neatly into two halves. The first half focuses on Kinme at home, running through household chores—most notably stain removal—and exchanging light conversation with Asami and the ever-adorable Nairo. These scenes are calm and well-scored, relying on a twinkling soundtrack to emphasize everyday warmth. They serve primarily as atmosphere and character flavor rather than plot advancement. The second half, however, is where the episo...

I Want You To Make a Disgusted Face and Show Me Your Underwear (often shortened informally to Disgusted Look) is a short-form POV adult anime that trades long runtimes for a sharp, specific conceit: archetypal anime women — maids, idols, nurses, streamers — are coaxed into exposing themselves while giving the viewer a look of absolute contempt. Across six brisk episodes per season, this series uses its constraint to deliver pointed jokes, textured vocal performances, and a subtle cultural commentary beneath the obvious erotic premise. Promotional art for the series — six short POV vignettes that flip the usual expectations. Premise and Structure This anime adapts a series of illustrations by artist 40Hara into six-minute POV episodes that follow the same dramatic pattern: a warm, flirtatious setup between the viewer (protagonist) and an archetypal female character, followed by a request to see her underwear, and then an abrupt tonal switch as she treats the viewer like a...

MAPPA’s 15th Anniversary livestream brought a big reveal for anime fans: the studio is adapting usagi’s manga Jimoto Saikō! (Hometown is the Best!) into an anime that will stream worldwide on Netflix. The announcement teased the tone with aiko’s song “milk,” and confirmed a core production team that promises MAPPA’s signature polish. Below we break down everything announced so far, what makes the manga distinctive, and what to expect from the adaptation. Image via Jimoto Saiko anime's website ©usagi／彩図社・MAPPA MAPPA Announces Jimoto Saikō! Anime — The Big Picture The MAPPA 15th Anniversary Lineup Reveal livestream confirmed an anime adaptation of Jimoto Saikō!, with global streaming on Netflix. The short announcement highlighted the series’ dark-yet-grounded setting and introduced the main creative staff. MAPPA’s involvement and the Netflix distribution immediately position the adaptation as a high-profile title to watch for both d...