The Japanese arm of the Canadian romance publisher Harlequin Enterprises announced on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday that its monthly Harlequin Original magazine has ended its publication with this year’s July issue, which shipped on June 11. The company will continue to publish titles under the Harlequin Comic label in print and digital.

The company has been publishing the magazine since January 2008 as its first monthly publication, when it first launched under the title Monthly HQ Comic. The magazine has published titles such as the Shakunetsu no Ō to Utsukushiki Tōbōsha manga adaptation of Abby Green’s A Christmas Bride for the King novel.

Harlequin has launched multiple other manga magazines — such as Monthly Harlequin (later just Harlequin), Bessatsu Harlequin, Zōkan Harlequin, Harlequin darling!, and the Harlequin Comics Magazine app for iOS devices — since 2008.

Digital reading platform Comixology added Harlequin Romance manga titles to its Comixology Unlimited subscription service in 2017.

Harlequin Enterprises’ Japanese branch, Harlequin K. K., has been publishing manga adaptations of Harlequin stories since 1998 in a partnership with Ohzora Publishing. SoftBank Creative took over digital distribution in 2008. 

Dark Horse Comics began releasing some of the manga in print in English in 2005, though Harlequin took over distribution the following year. Harlequin and SoftBank Creative have distributed Harlequin’s manga titles digitally in English on several platforms, including Amazon and Digital Manga Publishing‘s emanga.com website.

Source: Harlequin’s X/Twitter account

TV Asahi announced its new short anime programming block “PicoAni” on Monday, and revealed its lineup of titles, including Koupen-chan, Sirotan, Pop Pap Polters, Momomo! Ninimo, and Josemaru.

Koupen-chan, the short television anime based on Rurutea‘s illustrations of the character of the same name, is currently airing on TV Asahi every Sunday at 8:00 a.m. JST. The anime debuted in April 2025. The anime stars Ayaka Saitō as Koupen-chan/Enaga Yokoshima-san, Sachi Kokuryū as Grown-up Penguin-san, Junji Majima as Adelie-san, and Kazuya Ichijō as “Willing-to-teach type” Polar Bear-san. Kyō Yatate (Bananya) is directing the anime at Lesprit. Rurutea originally debuted Koupen-chan on social media in 2017, and the character now has a variety of merchandise.

“PicoAni” also revealed that it will include the previously announced television anime of Creative Yoko‘s Sirotan seal mascot, and it announced the October debut. The anime will air every Saturday at 4:29 p.m. JST (Kanto local). Aoi Yūki stars as the white seal Sirotan. The voice actress previously voiced the character in a short animation on the Sirotan TV YouTube channel. Arisa Okada is directing the television series at Lesprit, and Sei Yoshitsuki is overseeing and writing the series scripts. TV Asahi and Shinei Animation are producing the series. Creative Yoko designed the mascot character in August 1999.The Japan Anniversary Association declared in 2019 August 8 as Sirotan Day.

“PicoAni” will also run the Pop Pap Polters miniature anime starting in October, every Saturday at 10 a.m. JST (Kanto local). MOZU STUDIOS is credited for the original work and animation production. Mozu is directing the anime, Yuuka is the art director, and Shinei Animation is credited for planning and production.

Pinkfong and TV Asahi‘s collaborative 3DCG short anime production Momomo! Ninimo will debut on “PicoAni” in January 2027 and will air every Saturday at 10:00 a.m. JST (Kanto local). The anime centers on the clumsy and adorable orange cat named Nini, who dislikes cucumbers.

The television anime of creator Inochi-ya’s Josemaru character will also debut on “PicoAni” in January 2027 and will air every Sunday at 10:00 a.m. JST (Kanto local). Inochi-ya is also directing the anime at Animi. Josemaru is a 0-year-old dog plush toy character designed based on the concept of “a tiny creature living in reality.”

Sources: PicoAni website, Comic Natalie

Fox Corporation and Roku, Inc. announced on Monday that they have entered into a definitive agreement for Fox to acquire Roku for US$160.00 per share, in a combination of cash (US$96.00 per share) and FOX Class A common stock (0.9693 shares), for about US$22 billion in enterprise value. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2027.

Through the acquisition, the companies aim to increase scale and reach, expand their position in high growth of connected television, create a more powerful streaming platform. and enhance their long-term growth profile.

Upon closing, existing FOX shareholders are expected to own approximately 73% of the combined company and Roku shareholders owning approximately 27%. The Boards of Directors of both companies have unanimously approved the transaction.

Roku Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Anthony Wood will have a role at the combined company and will join the FOX Board of Directors following the transaction’s closing.

The RokuChannel service streams various anime. The Roku platform, Roku streaming players, and Roku-made televisions also allow users to stream from other platforms such as Crunchyroll onto their device.

Fox acquired the Tubi streaming service in 2020 for approximately US$440 million.

Sources: Fox, Variety (Todd Spangler), The Hollywood Reporter (Georg Szalai, Etan Vlessing)