Anime

Studio Khara Toasts Its 20th Birthday with Original Rei Art – Interest

Published

4 hours ago

May 19, 2026

Founder Hideaki Anno: Studio began “with just the president, one employee, & one advisor in a small office in a multi-tenant building”

Studio Khara posted an original illustration by board director (and anime director) Kazuya Tsurumaki for the anime studio’s 20th anniversary on Sunday. The illustration features Evangelion character Rei Ayanami with a well-deserved drink and the caption “20th Anniversary.” (20 is the legal age for drinking in Japan.)

studio-khara-20th-anniversary-illustration — Image via www.khara.co.jp

Along with the new art, Studio Khara posted a message by its founder and president (and a legendary anime director in his own right), Hideaki Anno. Anno noted, “What began as a company with just the president, one employee, and one advisor in a small office in a multi-tenant building in Nishi-Shinjuku has grown into a company that owns its own studio, has produced numerous works, and continues to create new ones to this day,” he continues. Anno finishes his statement thanking fans and supporters saying, “We will continue working hard towards our 25th and 30th anniversaries.”

Studio Khara was established by Anno on May 17, 2006. Since its creation the studio has produced Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone, Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance, Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo, Evangelion: 3.0+1.0: Thrice Upon A Time, and Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX, among others. The studio is currently working on an untitled Space Battleship Yamato film and new Evangelion project.

Sources: Studio Khara‘s website

Anime

Tubi TV Licenses Yokoso Scooby-Doo! Anime by OLM – News

Published

5 hours ago

May 19, 2026

qasimgillani

Tubi TV announced on Monday that it has licensed Yokoso Scooby-Doo!, a new anime in the Scooby-Doo mystery comedy franchise. Warner Bros. Animation is producing the anime, with OLM (Pokémon) animating the project. Itsurō Kawasaki (Baban Baban Ban Vampire, Cardfight!! Vanguard 2018, The Foolish Angel Dances with the Devil) is directing the series, and Francisco Paredes is its co-producer.

Frank Welker voices Scooby-Doo, and Matthew Lillard voices Shaggy.

Tubi TV describes the story:

While visiting Japan on the ultimate foodie adventure, Scooby-Doo and Shaggy unwittingly unleash hundreds of mythical monsters that are causing trouble across the country. With the help of Scooby’s uncle, Daisuke-Doo, along with new friends — magical girl Yume and gadget whiz Takumi — the group embarks on an all-new mystery filled with monster chasing and fun chaos.

Warner Bros. Animation previously announced a series at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in 2024 with the title Go-Go Mystery Machine, then slated to air on Cartoon Network. The series has a similar premise, and the below promotional poster visual.

gogomysterymachine — Image via Animation World Network

Warner Bros. announced at an event in Brazil in November 2025 that it is producing Scooby-Doo! Gokko, which it described as a short anime premiering in 2027. The shorts will be based on the Scooby-Doo mystery comedy franchise, and will center on the characters Scooby and Shaggy. Warner Bros. has not confirmed which studio is animating Scooby-Doo! Gokko.

Scooby-Doo! Gokko is similar to Warner Bros. Japan‘s Tom & Jerry Gokko short anime based on the Tom & Jerry franchise. Warner Bros. Japan premiered the anime in November 2022, and currently releases one short episode a month. Japan-based Fanworks (Aggretsuko) is in charge of animation production, and Studio Nanahoshi (Kuromi’s Pretty Journey ~Hachamecha! Multiverse Dasshutsu!~, Freedom) is credited for animation production assistance.

Sources: Animation Magazine (Mercedes Milligan), Deadline (Rosy Cordero)

Anime

‘You, Fireworks, and Our Promise’ Anime Film’s Trailer Unveils More Cast & Staff, Theme Song – News

Published

7 hours ago

May 19, 2026

qasimgillani

The staff for the anime film of Kaori Mado‘s You, Fireworks, and Our Promise (Kimi to Hanabi to Yakusoku to or Kimi-Hana for short) novel series presented its full trailer and a key visual on Tuesday. The trailer announces more cast and staff members, and it also announces and previews the theme song “Kienai Hanabi” (Eternal Fireworks) by the idol group timelesz.

Key visual for You, Fireworks, and Our Promise — Image via You, Fireworks, and Our Promise film’s X/Twitter

Rie Takahashi plays the “mysterious girl” Haru.

Cast image for Haru — Image via Comic Natalie

Natsuko Yokosawa plays Makoto’s mother Yukari Natsume.

Cast image for Makoto's mother — Image via Comic Natalie

The newly announced staff members include Toshiharu Mizutani as art director, Shiho Kuriki as color key artist, Shinji Saitō as compositing director of photography, Takeshi Takadera as sound director, and Arisa Okehazama as musical composer.

The coming-of-age romance is set during the Nagaoka Festival Grand Fireworks Show, one of Japan’s three major fireworks shows that draws several hundred thousand visitors to Niigata Prefecture every year. What connects Makoto (a Tokyo high school boy without social skills or self-confidence) and Aki (a popular high school girl and class president with beauty and talent) is a drawing of a fireworks display. At the mercy of the drawing’s mystery and fate itself, the two have to make a choice in a limited amount of time.

Shōri Satō of the idol group timelesz plays the protagonist Makoto Natsume, and actress Nanoka Hara (Suzume, live-action Oshi no Ko, Mieruko-chan) plays the heroine Aki Hayama.

Kei Suzuki (City Hunter The Movie: Angel Dust assistant director, Tower of God: Return of the Prince) is directing the film at Synergy SP and The Answer Studio, and Kōhei Mori wrote the screenplay. Yūji Watanabe (Flag guest character designer, animation director) designed the characters, Michihiko Umezawa (The Dangers in My Heart, A Couple of Cuckoos) planned and produced the project with Shinei Animation. The other staff members include:

The film will open in theaters on July 17.

The 79th Cannes International Film Festival previewed the film as part of the “Tokyo International Film Festival’s Goes to Cannes” event on May 15.

Shogakukan‘s Gagaga Bunko imprint published the novel with illustrations by Akamoku (The Girl Who Wants to Be a Hero and the Girl Who Ought to Be a Hero) on December 18, 2025.

The film is receiving a manga adaptation.

Sources: You, Fireworks, and Our Promise film’s X/Twitter account, Comic Natalie

Anime

Final Fantasy XI MMORPG Celebrates 24th Anniversary with Animated Short – Interest

Published

7 hours ago

May 19, 2026

qasimgillani

Relive the 1st MMO Final Fantasy game in animated form!

The Final Fantasy franchise celebrated the 24th anniversary of the series’ first MMORPG, Final Fantasy XI with a new animated short. The game’s official X (formerly Twitter) account previewed the animated short on Friday with the caption, “Celebrating 24 years of FFXI!” Animation filmmaker Wakaboku created the short, titled “Our Adventure Never Ends.”

The one-minute video features music by Square Enix composer Naoshi Mizuta and follows a party of Final Fantasy XI players as they explore the world of Vana’diel and battle monsters. The video also highlights the races and the jobs seen within the game.

Final Fantasy XI debuted on May 16, 2002, for PlayStation 2. The game later got releases for PC in November 2002 and Xbox 360 in April 2006. Since Final Fantasy XI’s release, the game has had five major expansions. The latest expansion, “Seekers of Adoulin,” launched in 2013. The latest story “The Voracious Resurgence” debuted in 2020, and its final chapter launched in May 2023.

The series’ second MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV launched for PC in September 2010. The latest expansion “Dawntrail,” which launched in July 2024, feautres an Alliance Raid series based on Final Fantasy XI.

Sources: Final Fantasy XI game’s X/Twitter account and YouTube channel