Aniplex of America announced during its 2026 San Diego Comic-Con panel on Thursday that “Clockwork Girl,” the first story in director Yasuomi Umetsu and animation studio SHAFT‘s Virgin Punk original anime series, will be available for digital purchase in September. The panel screened a trailer of the film’s English dub.

“Clockwork Girl” opened theatrically in Japan in June 2025 at Cine Libre Ikebukuro in Tokyo and Theatre Umeda in Osaka. The film opened at #1 in the mini-theater rankings. Aniplex of America and Fathom Entertainment screened the anime in the U.S. in November that same year in both Japanese audio with English subtitles and an English dub.

Aniplex of America describes the anime:

Conditions for Receiving Bounty:

Bring the brain of a wanted criminal possessing illegal Somadea to authorities.

Whether the target is alive or dead…is irrelevant.

The year is 2099.

Humanity has advanced, overcoming all injuries and illnesses with the development of the Medical Android Technology “Somadea.” However, along with the development of Somadea, crimes misusing said technology have rapidly increased.

Somadea grants physical abilities far superior to those of normal flesh and blood, and by illegally modifying it, Somadea can be misused for criminal purposes.

To deal with these Somadea crimes, the government established the Bounty Hunter System.

Civilians registered as bounty hunters are permitted to kill illegal Somadea users designated as wanted criminals by the police. In return, they are rewarded with large amounts of bounty money.

In this unforgiving world, Ubu Kamigori makes a living hunting down criminals as a bounty hunter. But one day, when she returns home from a job, she finds the man with whom she has a sordid history waiting there – Mr. Elegance. And so, her destiny begins to unravel.

A tale woven by mechanical girls and the smell of gunpowder smoke, this suspenseful action begins!

The film’s Japanese cast members include:

Yasuomi Umetsu and studio SHAFT are credited as original creators. Umetsu (Kite, Mezzo, Girl’s High, Kiss and Cry film) is directing the anime at SHAFT, and is also designing the characters. Yūya Takahashi (Kubo Won’t Let Me Be Invisible, Lupin III: Part IV) is in charge of series composition and script. Gen’ichirou Abe (Kizumonogatari Part 1: Tekketsu film), Shinya Takahashi (Battle Angel key animation), and Maho Kando (Josee, The Tiger and the Fish 2nd key animation) are the main animators.

Sources: Aniplex of America panel at 2026 San Diego Comic-Con (Kalai Chik), Email correspondence

The official website for the television anime of  Mochimaru Sakaki‘s The World’s Strongest Witch: I’m Starting My Free Life in a World Where Only I Can See the Online Strategy Guide (Sekai Saikyō no Majo, Hajimemashita: Watashi dake “Kōryaku Site” o Mireru Sekai de Jiyū ni Ikimasu) light novel series began streaming a new promotional video for the anime on Friday. The video reveals two new cast members, as well as the October 7 television debut date for the anime.

The anime will debut on Tokyo MX, BS11, and TV Aichi on October 7, and on MBS on October 10.

The new cast members include (Note: Character name romanizations are not official):

Kana Hanazawa as Aries Tear Bluemoon, a guildmaster in the port town of Aquas

Maria Naganawa as Ruru Ru Rie, the young water dragon princess of the underwater kingdom

Previously announced cast members include:

Azusa Tachibana as protagonist Rona Hermit

Fairouz Ai as Erimina, the master of the adverturers’ guild known as the “Inferno Witch”

Honoka Inoue as Eruna, an elff princess who worries over her sick mother

Yen Press is releasing the light novels in English, and released the second volume on April 14. Yen Press describes the story:

When Lorna manifests a completely useless ability, she’s labeled an embarrassment to her family and kicked out of the house. With no money or food, she’s about to hit rock bottom. But then, she figures out how to use her supposedly worthless SSS-Rank skill, “Internet.” This cheat-level talent gives her the know-how to gather an unlimited amount of valuable items and easily acquire rare equipment. Armed with godlike knowledge, Lorna’s free to do anything she wants! If only she could figure out what “lmfao” means…

Jōji Furuta (ēlDLIVE, Double Decker! Doug & Kirill, Bad Girl) is directing the anime at the studios Bridge and Aisle. Shoji Yonemura (Pokémon Journeys: The Series, One Piece 2013-onwards, Bad Girl) is in charge of the series scripts. Yūki Morimoto (Cardfight!! Vanguard GZ, Boarding School Juliet, Bad Girl) is designing the characters.

The anime will premiere in October.

Mochimaru Sakaki began serializing the original story in the Shōsetsuka ni Narō website in May 2022. Square Enix published the first print novel volume in December 2022, with illustrations by riritto. The fifth novel volume shipped in May 2025.

Tamaki Toga launched a manga adaptation in Kodansha‘s Getsu Maga Kichi/Comic Days website in May 2023. Kodansha published the manga’s 12th compiled book volume on May 8.

Comikey publishes both Daisuke Takashima‘s manga adaptation of Sakaki’s The Strongest Swordsman Has Zero Equipment Slots novel series, as well as Namiki Tsukiyama‘s manga adaptation of Sakaki’s Final Boss Fake-out novel series in English. Square Enix also publishes both manga in English on its Manga UP! Global website.

Sources: Sekai Saikyō no Majo, Hajimemashita anime’s website, Comic Natalie

The official website for the television anime adaptation of Mochimaru Sakaki‘s Sekai Saikyou no Majo, Hajimemashita: Watashi dake “Kouryaku Site” wo Mireru Sekai de Jiyuu ni Ikimasu (The World’s Strongest Witch: I’m Starting My Free Life in a World Where Only I Can See the Online Strategy Guide) light novel unveiled a pair of additional cast and the second character promotional video on Friday.

The anime series is scheduled to premiere on October 7 at 10.00 p.m. on Tokyo MX, followed by BS11 and TV Aichi on October 8.

Voice actresses Kana Hanazawa (Yuusha Party ni Kawaii Ko ga Ita node, Kokuhaku shitemita.) and Maria Naganawa (Kobayashi-san Chi no Maid Dragon) are joining the cast as Aries and Lulu, respectively.

Jouji Furuta (Shaman King (2021), Nanatsu no Taizai: Imashime no Fukkatsu) is directing the anime at Bridge and Aisle. Shouji Yonemura (Hotel Inhumans, Kiseijuu: Sei no Kakuritsu) is handling the series composition. Yuuki Morimoto (Bad Girl, Miss Monochrome The Animation) is designing the characters.

Sakaki began penning the fantasy adventure series on both the Shousetsuka ni Narou and Kakuyomu websites simultaneously in May 2022. Square Enix began publishing the novel through its SQEX Novel imprint in December 2022, featuring illustrations by riritto. The fifth volume was published in May 2025.

Tamaki Toga began drawing a manga adaptation in Getsumaga Kichi magazine in May 2023. The 12th volume was released on May 8, with the 13th volume scheduled for an August 7 release.

Yen Press licensed the light novel in English in May 2025, and published the second volume on April 14. The third volume is scheduled to go on sale on November 10.

Character PV 2

Source: animate Times