Disney+ promoted a new double-length The Simpsons episode with a parody of the American movie poster for the late Satoshi Kon‘s 2006 anime film Paprika on Wednesday. The poster for “The Simpsons Extreme Makeover: Homer Edition” episode features a silhouette of Marge Simpson and several scenes from the episodes filling out the silhouette. The Paprika poster similarly features a silhouette of the titular character with scenes from the film.

While the episode’s poster visual parodies Paprika‘s poster, the episode itself only loosely shares the same theme of dreams.

“The Simpsons Extreme Makeover: Homer Edition” began streaming exclusively on Disney+ last Wednesday.

This is not the first time The Simpsons has parodied anime and other Japanese entertainment. In the annual Halloween episode “Treehouse of Horror XXV” of 2014, the title family appeared as tributes to the Attack on Titan, Naruto, Pokémon, Bleach, One Piece, and Spirited Away anime. In “Treehouse of Horror XXVI” the following year, Homer Simpson paid tribute to Japanese monster icon Godzilla in the short “Homerzilla.” DR MOVIE animated an ambitious parody of Death Note in “Treehouse of Horror XXXIII.” The South Korean studio had previously collaborated on the production of Madhouse‘s actual Death Note anime.

Following 21st Century Fox’s’ acquisition by Disney in 2019 and the launch of the Disney+ streaming service, The Simpsons has had several streaming-only episodes and shorts parodying a handful of film and television franchises. Parodies include Disney’s properties, such as its animated films, the Star Wars franchise, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Sources: Disney+‘s X/Twitter account and YouTube channel, Sony Pictures Entertainment‘s YouTube channel

The staff of the anime adaptation of Fukufuku‘s The Strongest Man, Born From Misfortune (Fuun kara no Saikyō Otoko) light novel series revealed a teaser image, four staff members, and 2027 debut on Tuesday.

Shōya Chiba will star in the anime and also perform the anime’s image song “Luck Out.” Chiba wrote the lyrics.

Shigetaka Ikeda (Future Card Buddyfight) is directing the anime. Aki Mizuki (Sylvanian Families: Mini Story) is in charge of series composition and the screenplay. Yumiko Hara (Welcome to Demon School, Iruma-kun) and Yūki Osada are designing the characters. East Fish Studio is in charge of animation production.

ASMIK Ace describes the anime:

Stand and fight –

After a life defined by misfortune, Siegbert is reincarnated in another world as a “lucky one” blessed with extraordinary talent.

Surrounded by a warm and loving family, he spends his days in happiness – until fate begins to shift.

“I’ll grow stronger, so I’ll never lose anyone again.”

So begins an isekai fantasy about a boy who will rise to become the strongest.

Fukufuku began serializing the story in the Shōsetsuka ni Narō website in November 2020, where it is still ongoing. Starts Publishing released the first print volume of the story in March 2022, with illustrations by Zun Nakabayashi. The fourth novel volume shipped in March 2025.

Nakabayashi launched the manga adaptation of the novels in Starts Publishing‘s Comic Glast online manga magazine on the publisher’s Novemba website in October 2021. Starts Publishing will release the manga’s ninth compiled book volume on March 27. The franchise overall has over 1.5 million copies in circulation.

MangaPlaza is releasing the manga digitally in English under the title The Strongest Man, Born From Misfortune.

Source: Email correspondence

CTW Inc. revealed on Monday the gameplay video for Shakugan no Shana: Blaze Edge, its browser game based on Yashichiro Takahashi‘s Shakugan no Shana light novel series. The video reveals new voice lines for the character Shana, who is voiced by Rie Kugimiya.

The game is free-to-play with in-app purchases, and will be available in Japanese, English, Traditional Chinese, and Korean.

Viz Media describes the light novel series’ story:

Invaders from the Crimson Realm have come to Earth looking for something called the Power of Existence. Whoever possesses this profound power will control the very quintessence of reality. To the rescue comes an enigmatic young girl with fire blazing in her eyes. She may be cute and petite, but she’s endowed with enough preternatural strength to save the entire universe. Plus, she’s got a really big sword!

Takahashi launched the light novel series in 2002 with illustrations by The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya illustrator Noizi Itō. Takahashi published the 22nd and last of the main novels in 2011, the Shakugan no Shana SIII short story collection book in 2012, and the final fan guidebook in 2013. Viz published two novels for the series in 2007.

Shakugan no Shana SIV launched in November 2023 as the first new volume in the franchise since Shakugan no Shana SIII in 2012. Dengeki Bunko editor and producer Kazuma Miki confirmed the new volume was the fourth Shakugan no Shana S short story collection. Previously, Kadokawa‘s Dengeki Bunko Magazine published a new story for the franchise, its first in four years, in August 2017.

The novels inspired three television anime series. The first series premiered in 2005. Shakugan no Shana Second, the second series, premiered in 2007. The Shakugan no Shana III (Final) anime series aired in 2011 and adapted the novel series’ ending.

Source: Press release

Disclosure: Kadokawa World Entertainment (KWE), a wholly owned subsidiary of Kadokawa Corporation, is the majority owner of Anime News Network, LLC. One or more of the companies mentioned in this article are part of the Kadokawa Group of Companies.