The energy that producer Goshi Yoshida had for this panel was absolutely perfect. This man came running out of the back, looped around the panel room, and ran down the center aisle, high-fiving everybody in the audience. It was honestly great, and based on what was covered at the Otakon 2026 panel, that might be the right amount of energy going into this new season of Ascendance of a Bookworm: Adopted Daughter of an Archduke. What started as a show about creating books in a world where they are seen as a rarity now looks like it is turning into something much bigger and more bombastic. That was the main driving force of this panel, highlighting the updated scale and bigger things to look forward to for this beloved series.

Voice actress Yuka Iguchi then took charge by explaining what it was like recording for the protagonist, Rozemyne, whom she explains is one of the cutest characters she has ever played. She gets to work alongside the likes of Yasushi Ōhama (Ferdinand) and Kazuhiko Inoue (Sylvester), who are legendary actors in the industry. They bring such great energy, and she even explained that some actors have their own little routines that they do both before and after sessions. In fact, the actors have aclimated to the role so well that the director, Yoshiaki Iwasaki, said he doesn’t need to give any additional input; everyone is just that in love with their work on this show. It also helps that the original creator for the series, Miya Kazuki, is present during the recording sessions, which can make things very nerve-wracking.

According to Iwasaki, Kazuki is very clear about the vision that he wants presented on screen. They want to make sure that the animation staff is showcasing the world as authentically as possible. Sometimes, what they want to see specifically isn’t exactly in the written text of the original light novel, and that can make things difficult. However, there are a lot of discussions that are had to make sure that the scale of this world is fully realized—especially as battles begin to get more intense. In fact, the staff was kind enough to show a special promotional video featuring cuts from future episodes, which featured Sylvester working with Rozemyne, her developing her magic, and going into battle to take on the lord of the winter (who looks like a giant white tiger). Iguchi even pointed out that some of her favorite scenes to record were ones where Rozemyne was getting ready for combat—and that there’s a scene she remembers covering from the audio drama that she’s excited to see realized in the anime involving Ferdinand.

It looks like one thing the staff was very excited about regarding this upcoming season is the way that multiple characters will be showcased. The staff seemed to be self-aware about how popular some of them are and look forward to seeing how fans will react to certain interactions. In fact, Iguchi made it clear that most of the staff have read the light novels to be intimately involved with the material as if it were a requirement to work on the show at all. They even teased that there might finally be more explicit romantic developments in the show after so much time was spent on more platonic or familial displays of love.

Finally, the panel ended with a fun collaboration video featuring Ascendance of a Bookworm and Witch Hat Atelier. There didn’t seem to be any new animation here, but the way the promotional video was cut did really emphasize how much writing for magic plays a part in both shows—and it was able to happen because both of the authors are actually good friends in real life. It just goes to show that this series is still performing strong with its fans and other creators. There look to be plenty of reasons to be excited for what’s to come.

Watashi-tachi no Koto wa Nanto Yobeba manga launched on Sunday

Class-action lawsuit alleges that TCPI was negligent in training former engineering director Ben Tsai

A woman under the anonymous name Jane Doe has sued The Pokémon Company International (TCPI), claiming that its former engineering director Ben Tsai has allegedly hidden cameras in various public bathrooms, including one in the company’s U.S. office in Bellevue, WA. The class-action lawsuit alleges that 45-year-old Tsai violated Washington’s antidiscrimination law by secretly recording women and children, and accuses him of recording with the purpose of distribution. It also alleges that TCPI was negligent in training Tsai and making efforts to control his actions or protect the plaintiff.

Tsai, who has not been with TCPI since January, was reportedly charged with first-degree voyeurism in January after allegedly hiding a video camera in a Starbucks bathroom in Kirkland, followed by more charges of dealing and possessing sexually explicit depictions of minors. The charges indicate that he had also recorded videos using hidden cameras in bathrooms in a Safeway store and his own home. In addition, the Kirkland Police Department had discovered that he had hundreds of videos with adult nudity and child sexual abuse material.

The lawsuit seeks to represent to all women and girls who have used the bathroom at the The Pokémon Company International‘s Bellevue office from 2017 through July 25, 2026.

Tsai’s attorney Bradley Barshis has stated, “My client has entered and will enter pleas of not guilty to all charges.”

TCPI manages the Pokémon franchise‘s brand management, licensing, marketing, the trading card game, the anime, home entertainment, and the official website outside of Asia. In February, the company entered into an agreement to acquire distributor and category manager Excell Brands, the largest United States distributor of Pokémon TCG (Trading Card Game). TCPI acquired card printing company Millennium Print Group in April 2022. The Pokémon Company International became the publisher and distributor of the TCG in 2003.

Sources: IGN (Tom Phillips), The Seattle Times (Mirandah Davis-Powell), TMZ