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.

The official website for the One Piece anime began streaming a trailer video for the anime for writer Jun Esaka and artist Sayaka Suwa‘s One Piece Heroines light novel series on Tuesday. The trailer announces and previews the anime’s theme song “Blue Shining Star” by singer Aina The End.

Viz Media licensed the novels and released the second volume in English in July 2025. Viz Media describes the first novel volume:

The girls of One Piece take the helm in these exciting prose short story collections, where each chapter features a different heroine!

A collection of stand-alone prose stories that focus on fierce female characters from the world of One Piece.

Go behind the runway as style icon Nami stars in a life-changing fashion show, observe wise Robin as she helps to decipher an ancient tablet with Koala and Sabo, watch as solemn Princess Vivi receives a love letter from an unexpected admirer, and check out Ghost Princess Perona’s battle over the last bottle of wine with Zolo and Mihawk!

Maaya Sakamoto voices the character Miucha, while Takehito Koyasu voices Lubun in the anime.

Haruka Kamatani (Koisuru One Piece) is directing the anime. Takashi Kojima (Monsters: 103 Mercies Dragon Damnation) is designing the characters. Momoka Toyoda (One Piece Fan Letter) is writing the script.

The anime will premiere on July 5 at 11:15 p.m. JST (10:15 a.m. EDT) on Fuji TV with “episode: NAMI.”

The Heroines novel series was first serialized in issues of the One Piece Magazine starting in 2019, before Shueisha published the first compiled novel in Japan in June 2021. Shueisha published the second novel volume titled One Piece novel HEROINES [Colorful] in March 2024. Viz Media published the second volume on July 22.

Sources: One Piece anime’s website, Comic Natalie