Kakao’s Piccoma online manga and novel service announced on Sunday the end of the main story in Japanese and the television anime adaptation of writer Gwon Gyeoeul and artist SUOL‘s Villains Are Destined to Die (Akuyaku no Ending wa Shi nomi in Japanese) Korean webtoon.

The Tapas service describes the story:

This game’s got me obsessed! It’s like it’s taken over my life… wait—HARD MODE ACTIVATED. No-no-no-no-no! It has literally taken me and thrown me into the part of Penelope Eckhart. Love is easy as the heroine, but as the hated villain, I’m trying very hard not to die… at the hands of my brothers… the prince… a fork… every possible ending is death! This world is stacked against me, but can my wits and insider game knowledge score the affection of these male characters? Or the reset button???

Originally adapted from a web novel by Gwon Gyeoeul, Villains Are Destined to Die is part of the popular reincarnated-villainess romance fantasy genre and later became one of the Kakao Page platform’s most-read webcomics in South Korea. The original novel has surpassed 1.7 million views and 145,000 likes, while the webtoon recorded over 14.8 million views and 1.5 million likes. 

Originally launched in 2020, the webtoon concluded its main story in chapter 214 on Kakao Page in South Korea in July, and the staff plans to return for a spinoff after taking a break. The English version is currently available on Tapas. Update: The main story ended in English on August 13.

Piccoma publishes the webtoon and also the novel by Gwon Gyeoeul in Japan. Kadokawa published the webtoon’s first compiled book volume in March 2022, and will release the 12th volume on November 17.

The franchise has also expanded into English print through Ize Press. The company is releasing the novel series in five volumes across print, eBook, and audio formats, and will release the fourth volume on September 15.

The webtoon adaptation remains one of Ize Press’ best-selling titles to date, underscoring the property’s strong international fanbase and ongoing momentum across formats. Ize Press will release the ninth volume on August 18.

Sources: PR Times, Comic Natalie

The official website for the live-action film of Ryō Nakama‘s High School Family: Kokosei Kazoku (Kōkōsei Kazoku) manga announced seven more cast members for the film on Thursday.

The newly announced cast members are (top row, left to right):

(second row, left to right):

Viz Media and MANGA Plus are both publishing the series in English digitally, and MANGA Plus describes the story:

Spring is in the air, and Kotaro is about to begin his first year of high school. He’s full of hope and anticipation of a wonderful life at his new school, only to have his dreams crushed by…his family?! Isobe Isobee Monogatari ~ Ukiyo wa Tsuraiyo creator Ryō Nakama‘s latest series combines family and school life gags, making it feel familiar but also fresh and new. This new genre of comedy will be sure to make the grade!

The film stars (left to right in visual right):

Tôichirô Rutô (live-action Violence Action, G Men, Ossan’s Love) is directing the film based on a script by Europe Kikaku‘s Makoto Ueda (The Tatami Galaxy, Night is Short, Walk On Girl, Penguin Highway).

The film will open in Japan on January 8, a delay from the film’s originally planned fall 2026 opening.

Nakama launched the manga in Shueisha‘s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine in September 2020 and ended the series in Weekly Shonen Jump in February 2023.  Shueisha published the11th and final volume in July 2023. Viz Media is also publishing the manga in compiled volume form digitally.

Nakama previously published the Isobe Isobee Monogatari ~Ukiyo wa Tsurai yo~ manga in Weekly Shonen Jump from October 2013 to October 2017. The manga inspired two net anime series and a stage play.

Sources: High School Family: Kokosei Kazoku live-action film’s website, Comic Natalie

Toei Animation turned 70 on July 31, and the animation studio released a special video to celebrate the anniversary. The video offers a retrospective on Toei Animation‘s history and works, decade by decade:

Toei Animation also opened a 70th anniversary website with a comprehensive history of the studio’s productions and a message from its president Katsuhiro Takagi:

We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the countless pioneers and employees, whose daily efforts, have made this possible, and above all, to our many fans and all stakeholders for their warm support. Without forgetting our gratitude for the past 70 years, we will treat this milestone as a steppingstone toward our 100th anniversary, renew our resolve, and continue to take on new challenges so we can deliver anime to people all over the world.

Toei Animation officially began operating under that name on July 31, 1956. The studio’s first feature-length animation production was The White Snake film in 1958, and Its second was the 1959 film Magic Boy. The studio then animated its first TV production, 1963’s Ōkami Shōnen Ken. Since then, it has worked on several popular anime series including the Gegege no Kitarō franchise, the Dragon Ball franchise, One Piece, the Precure franchise, the Mazinger Z franchise, Cutie Honey, the Galaxy Express 999 franchise, Fist of the North Star, Sailor Moon, Slam Dunk, Ojamajo Doremi, the Digimon franchise, and the Saint Seiya franchise. Toei Animation‘s most recent production is this year’s Star Detective Precure! TV series.

Sources: Toei Animation‘s X/Twitter account, Toei Animation‘s YouTube channel, Toei Animation 70th Anniversary’s website via Comic Natalie