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WEBTOON Launches AI Story Chat Service byUs Featuring Creator-Approved Webtoon IP – News

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Service allows users to create original stories by interacting with characters from creator-approved IPs



naverbyus
Image via Naver Webtoon’s website

Naver WEBTOON announced on July 1 it has launched byUs, a new AI-powered story chat service that lets users create original stories by interacting with characters from creator-approved webtoon IPs.

The service allows users to become the protagonist of their own story while chatting with webtoon characters in narratives built on official, creator-approved intellectual properties. Naver WEBTOON stated the platform is designed to preserve each series’ world and characters while offering fans an immersive storytelling experience.

byUs offers two types of content: Original Stories, which begin with an introduction based on the original webtoon before branching into new AI-driven conversations; and Fan Stories, where users can create and share their own scenarios featuring existing characters through a built-in user-generated content tool.

Additional features include AI-suggested replies, autoplay conversations, contextual image “Snapshots,” and unlockable “Special Cuts” that become available as users deepen their relationships with characters.

The service launched with the Ctrl+Alt+Resign webtoon, with Naver WEBTOON planning to expand the lineup to additional fan-favorite series. Creator Sim-mok Woo said the platform will allow readers to enjoy the webtoon’s characters and world more deeply while creating their own stories with the author’s approval.

Currently, the service is available only in Korea.

Fans can read English version of Ctrl+Alt+Resign on WEBTOON.

Naver WEBTOON released an AI chatbot titled “Character Chat” in South Korea in June 2024, and reported in April 2025 that it was contributing to increased engagement with original works. The chatbot allows users to interact with webtoon characters. The service exceeded 100 million messages as of June 2025. The service then launched in Japan on LINE Manga under the localized name “Kyara Chat” in February earlier this year.

Source: Naver WEBTOON‘s press release


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The Eternal Fool’s Words of Wisdom Anime Reveals Teaser, Cast, Staff, January 2027 Debut – News

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The staff for the TV anime of Hifumi’s The Eternal Fool’s Words of Wisdom (Yūkyū no Gusha Asley no, Kenja no Susume) novels unveiled on Sunday a teaser trailer, the cast, the staff, and the January 2027 premiere date. Crunchyroll will stream the series outside of Japan.


Toshiyuki Toyonaga plays Asley.

Cast image for Asley
Image courtesy of Bushroad Move

Yōko Hikasa plays Pochi.

Cast image for Pochi
Image courtesy of Bushroad Move

Keisuke Ōnishi (The Healer Who Was Banished From His Party, Is, in Fact, the Strongest) is directing the series at Studio Elle. Kurasumi Sunayama (Dr. Stone: Science Future, Harem in the Labyrinth of Another World) is in charge of the series scripts, and Yumiko Mizuno (The Healer Who Was Banished From His Party, Is, in Fact, the Strongest) will design the characters. Yuri Habuka (Maebashi Witches, Sushi and Beyond) is composing the music at Lantis.

Other staff announced include:

eternalfool-animekv1
Image courtesy of Bushiroad Move

J-Novel Club is releasing the novels’ manga adaptation under the title The Eternal Fool’s Words of Wisdom: A Pawsitively Fantastic Adventure, and it describes the story:

A couple thousand years of solitude would wear down any young man—that is, anyone except Asley, an eternally youthful and eternally foolish sorcerer. After all, he has man’s best friend…er, familiar, to keep him company. When his Level 100 canine companion Pochi demands that he get some fresh air for the first time in two centuries, Asley sets out to reintegrate into society and test his magic mettle. His mission? Dropping several unglamorous titles from his repertoire and restoring his good (okay, decent) name.

A brand-new world and fresh adventures await Asley after his many years of hermitage. Perhaps he’ll lend Pochi a hand to place first in the mysterious Familiar Feud. Or maybe he’ll lose all vestiges of dignity and turn tail. Whichever comes first! No matter what, Asley has great evil to fight, a big world to save, and even a little growing up to do…that is, if he can endure Pochi’s “friendly advice” along the way!

Hifumi began serializing the original story in the Shōsetsuka ni Narō website in January 2015, and ended it in September 2019. Taibundo Publishing released the first print volume in September 2015, with illustrations by Kurihito Mutō, and released the 14th and final volume in December 2019.

Fuh Araki launched the manga adaptation in Earth Star Entertainment‘s Comic Earth Star website in April 2017. Earth Star Entertainment shipped the 13th compiled book volume for the manga on February 12. J-Novel Club released the manga’s ninth volume in English on June 17. The manga is also available on the Crunchyroll Manga app.

Source: Email correspondence 

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‘Yuukyuu no Gusha Asley no, Kenja no Susume’ Reveals Main Cast, Staff, Teaser Promo, January 2027 Premiere

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The official website for the television anime adaptation of Hifumi‘s Yuukyuu no Gusha Asley no, Kenja no Susume (The Eternal Fool’s Words of Wisdom: A Pawsitively Fantastic Adventure) light novel revealed the main cast, staff, and a teaser promotional video on Sunday. The anime is scheduled to premiere in January 2027.

Voice actors Toshiyuki Toyonaga (Shiguang Dailiren) and Youko Hikasa (Shaman King (2021)) are starring as Asley and Pochi, respectively.

Staff

Director: Keisuke Oonishi (Party kara Tsuihou sareta Sono Chiyushi, Jitsu wa Saikyou ni Tsuki)

Series Composition, Script: Kurasumi Sunayama (Isekai Meikyuu de Harem wo)

Character Design: Yumiko Mizuno (Party kara Tsuihou sareta Sono Chiyushi, Jitsu wa Saikyou ni Tsuki)

Art Director: Kaya Aoki (Osake wa Fuufu ni Natte kara)

Color Design: Yuusuke Watanabe (Isekai Shoukan wa Nidome desu)

Director of Photography: Yuusaku Murakami (Yuusha ga Shinda!)

Background Art: Hiroshi Izumi (Yuusha, Yamemasu), Kaya Aoki

Sound Director: Yukio Nagasaki (Kemono Jihen)

Sound Effects: Hiromune Kurahashi (Honzuki no Gekokujou)

Sound Production: Procen Studio

Music: Yuri Habuka (Fuufu Ijou, Koibito Miman.)

Music Production: Lantis

Animation Producer: Suguru Shakagouri (Okashi na Tensei)

Animation Studio: Studio Elle

Hifumi began penning the fantasy novel on the Shousetsuka ni Narou website in January 2015. Earth Star Entertainment began publishing the novel under its Earth Star Novels imprint with illustrations by Kurihito Mutou in September 2015 and published the 14th and final volume in December 2019.

Fuu Araki began drawing a manga adaptation on Comic Earth☆Star platform in April 2017. Earth Star Entertainment published the 13th volume on February 12.

J-Novel Club licensed the manga for digital release in English in April 2024 and published the ninth volume on June 17, with the tenth volume scheduled for a September 9 release.

Teaser PV

Source: Press Release

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Former GungHo Executive Takanori Kikuchi Arrested for Alleged Embezzlement – News

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Former head of systems embezzled about 246 million yen by making fictitious business orders to self



GungHo Online Entertainment
Image via GungHo Online Entertainment

Japanese news outlet Jiji.com reported on Wednesday the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department’s Marunoichi Police arrested former GungHo Online Entertainment executive Takanori Kikuchi under suspicion of breach of trust. He is accused of embezzling company funds while working as the head of the systems division and has admitted to the charges.

GungHo Online Entertainment shared a statement following the arrest on Wednesday, revealing it had filed criminal charges against Kikuchi on October 5, but refrained from announcing the news publicly to avoid potential interference with authorities’ investigation. While Jiji.com mentioned the name of the former employee arrested, GungHo Online’s statement on Wednesday did not mention the person by name.

GungHo Online announced in August 2025 it had dismissed a former executive-level employee for embezzlement in July of that year. 

The company stated the employee had misappropriated approximately 246 million yen (about US$1.675 million) of company funds by making fictitious business orders to themselves through a work-matching service operated by a third-party company for several years. The employee, acting as the contractor, caused an outflow of about 100 million yen (about US$681,000) by improperly paying outsourcing fees to a business partner, despite no actual business. Following the initial investigation, GungHo formed an internal investigation team by two independent auditors.

The company stated on Wednesday it will continue to implement measures to prevent recurrence, including expanding internal compliance education and training, among other measures.

GungHo’s CEO, President, and Representative Director Kazuki Morishita stepped down from his positions on February 1. CFO, Director, and Executive General Manager of Finance Accounting Division Kazuya Sakai became the new CEO, President, and Representative Director on the same day. 

GungHo Online Entertainment is known for its puzzle game Puzzle & Dragons. The company hosts the Japanese server of the MMORPG Ragnarok Online. GungHo has also worked on the TEPPEN, Ninjala, and Disney Pixel RPG games.

Sources: GungHo OnlineJiji.com via Hachima Kikō


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