Anime

See Ghost in the Shell’s Reach Across Decades at Official Exhibition

Published

1 day ago

August 14, 2026

Following the 30th anniversary of Mamoru Oshii‘s iconic anime film adaptation and closing in on the 40th anniversary of Masamune Shirow‘s original manga, Ghost in the Shell remains a stalwart sci-fi franchise. Starring Major Motoko Kusanagi, she and her colleagues at Public Security Section 9 are ever at odds with near-future technology as criminals find new ways to mask their identities, infiltrate government and corporate entities, and terrorize the populace.

The anime series spans multiple continuities, from the first movie to Ghost in the Shell Arise, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, and now the Science SARU television series, slated to premiere in July. All of this and much more was on display in a multi-room, immersive exhibition at the Tokyo NODE business space within the Toranomon Hills Station Tower in Roppongi Hills.

The 873-ft (266-m) high-rise is built atop the Tokyo Metro Roppongi Hills station. Commuters exit the station onto the ground floor of the 49-story building. At the very top is Tokyo NODE, the mixed-use exhibition space where both interactive and display exhibits centered on GitS took over from January 30 through April 5. The exhibition has since moved on (I was lucky to catch it at the tail end of its run), but it has plans to open at the Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art in Kobe this summer.

After catching my breath from the glass elevator ride up to the top floor, I was greeted by an interactive Tachikoma. I greeted the blue spider-like robot and, in his usual child-like voice, he responded in turn with a little wave of his claw.

When I was done cooing at the cute robot, I went down a dark hallway that opened up to a giant, wrap-around screen suspended from the ceiling. Wires of every color were strewn around it as circular facts were projected across it and onto the ceiling. Several feet in front was a long block-like bench, creating an amphitheater. Behind it were several touchscreen stations that provided direct input to the giant screen.

Each kiosk served as a search engine for vast amounts of data directly related to all The Ghost in the Shell anime iterations. Participants could search for specific animated scenes, characters, terminology, sci-fi objects, and more. The giant screen would then “dive” into the information point and display it on the giant screen for everyone else in the room.

After exiting the giant display room, I walked through another hallway where they displayed key art posters from the anime series. At the end of the hall, a TV aired interviews with Mamoru Oshii (Ghost in the Shell), Kenji Kamiyama ( Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex), Kazuchika Kise (Ghost in the Shell Arise), and Shinji Aramaki (Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045). Unfortunately, these interviews were not subtitled, but I’m hopeful they might be released in a subtitled format someday. Clips on the exhibition’s official Instagram account do include English subtitles.

The next room was, what I imagine, a massive undertaking and truly exemplifies how much work went into putting the exhibition together. The giant space included production material displays from every major Ghost in the Shell anime entry. Many were displayed under glass on tables or suspended from the ceiling between glass panes. The latter allowed visitors not only to see the finished animation materials but also to look at them from the back to appreciate the coloring process. In some cases, a colored cel was displayed next to its earlier genga draft.

Also on display was a plethora of background art, interactive multimedia exhibits like shirts that blurred on camera and traditional Japanese clothes reimagined from a sci-fi angle. One of the most prominent displays was a full-size robot based on the art of Hajime Sorayama. The well-known artist collaborated on this season’s The Ghost in the Shell, designing the anime logo.

20260402-181118 — The Hajime Sorayama gynoid

We closed out our immersive experience at the tie-in Tokyo NODE cafe. The expansive space (with a gorgeous view) was serving up Fuchikoma burgers with dyed buns, a Laughing Man latte, a Tachikoma drink, and Batou’s favorite beer.

Want to experience Ghost in the Shell: The Exhibition yourself? The exhibition is currently at the Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art until August 30.

Anime

Ace of Diamond Act II Second Season’s 2nd Part Previewed in Teaser – News

Published

13 minutes ago

August 15, 2026

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The staff for Ace of Diamond Act II Second Season, the sequel to the 2019-2020 anime of Yūji Terajima‘s Ace of Diamond Act II (Daiya no A Act II) manga, presented a teaser promotional video for its second cours (quarter of a year) on Saturday.

aod.jfif — Image via Ace of Diamond anime’s X/Twitter account

The main cast returned for the current season.

Hideaki Ōba (Kunon the Sorcerer Can See, I’m in Love with the Villainess, Love of Kill) is the season’s director, replacing Mitsuyuki Masuhara, at OLM (Madhouse animated Ace of Diamond Act II). Kenji Konuta is returning from the previous three anime in the franchise to oversee the series scripts. Yasukazu Shōji (Major 2nd chief animation director, Restaurant to Another World (TV 2) character designer) is the current character designer, replacing Minoru Ueda and Satoshi Tasaki. Hajime Hyakkoku is returning from Ace of Diamond Act II to compose the music.

The second part of the season will premiere in October on TV Tokyo Network (TXN) and AT-X, among other broadcasters.

The Ace of Diamond Act II Second Season anime debuted on April 5 on TV Tokyo and its affiliates, and also on AT-X. The anime is also streaming on Netflix in Japan.

Terajima launched the Ace of Diamond manga in Kodansha‘s Weekly Shōnen Magazine in 2006. He ended the manga in January 2015, and Kodansha published 47 volumes for the manga. Terajima then launched Ace of Diamond Act II in August 2015, and ended the manga in October 2022. Kodansha published 34 volumes for the sequel manga.

Mad Cave Studios’ Nakama Press imprint has licensed the manga and will release it in English in a 3-in-1 omnibus format, starting with the first omnibus volume on March 23, 2027.

Terajima’s original Ace of Diamond baseball manga inspired a television anime that premiered in 2013, and Crunchyroll streamed the 75-episode series as it aired in Japan. Ace of Diamond: Second Season premiered in April 2015, and Crunchyroll also streamed the 51-episode series as it aired.

The Ace of Diamond Act II anime premiered in April 2019 and aired for 52 episodes. Crunchyroll streamed the series as it aired in Japan.

The Ace of Diamond manga won the shōnen category of the 34th Kodansha Manga Awards in 2010. Kodansha USA Publishing began releasing the manga digitally in English in March 2017 under the title Ace of the Diamond. K MANGA is releasing the Ace of the Diamond Act II manga in English.

The manga has also inspired a series of stage plays.

Source: Ace of Diamond Act II Second Season anime’s website, Comic Natalie

Anime

The Apothecary Diaries Season 3’s Trailer Unveils October 2 Debut, More Cast, Opening Song – News

Published

19 minutes ago

August 15, 2026

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The staff for the anime based on Natsu Hyūga and Touko Shino‘s The Apothecary Diaries (Kusuriya no Hitorigoto) light novel series revealed during a special event for the series on Saturday the October 2 premiere for the anime’s third season, a new trailer, a new key visual, a new cast member, character visuals, and the opening theme song.

The trailer previews the opening “Kumo o Nukekazashimo e Watashidake” (I Am Alone, Breaking Through the Clouds Downwind) by yorushika.

Reina Ueda plays Bai Niangniang, a pale and mysterious nymph.

Character image for Bainyanyan — Image via Comic Natalie

Character visuals for season 3 of The Apothecary Diaries — Image via The Apothecary Diaries anime’s X/Twitter

Key visual for season 3 of The Apothecary Diaries — Image via The Apothecary Diaries anime’s X/Twitter

The same event also revealed character visuals for the cast of the upcoming Kusuriya no Hitorigoto: Bо̄hi no Hihо̄ (The Apothecary Diaries: The Deceased Empress’ Treasure) film, including the original characters.

Character visuals for The Apothecary Diaries film — Image via The Apothecary Diaries anime’s X/Twitter

Original character visuals for The Apothecary Diaries film — Image via The Apothecary Diaries anime’s X/Twitter

The third season will air on October 2 at 11:00 p.m. (10:00 a.m. EDT) in the “Friday Anime Night” programming block on NTV and 29 affiliated channels for its first cours (quarter of a year), and its second cours will premiere in April 2027.

The film will open in theaters on December 11 and feature a brand-new story by the original novel series’ author Natsu Hyūga.

The anime’s first season premiered in October 2023 with the first three episodes, and aired for two cours (quarters of a year). Crunchyroll streamed the anime as it aired in Japan and is also streaming an English dub.

The second anime season premiered in January 2025 on Nippon TV‘s FRIDAY ANIME NIGHT programming block, and aired for two consecutive cours. Crunchyroll is streaming the second season, and it is also streaming an English dub.

J-Novel Club publishes the novel series digitally, and it describes the story:

In the East is a land ruled by an emperor, whose consorts and serving women live in a sprawling complex known as the hougong, the rear palace. Maomao, an unassuming girl raised in an unassuming town by her apothecary father, never imagined the rear palace would have anything to do with her—until she was kidnapped and sold into service there.

Though she looks ordinary, Maomao has a quick wit, a sharp mind, and an extensive knowledge of medicine. That’s her secret, until she encounters a resident of the palace at least as perceptive as she is: the head eunuch, Jinshi. He sees through Maomao’s façade and makes her a lady-in-waiting to none other than the Emperor’s favorite consort… so she can taste the lady’s food for poison!

Hyūga began serializing the story on the “Shōsetsuka ni Narō” (Let’s Become Novelists) website in October 2011. Shufunotomo began publishing the novels in print volume with illustrations by Shino in August 2014. Nekokurage launched an ongoing manga adaptation in Square Enix‘s Monthly Big Gangan magazine in May 2017. Square Enix Manga & Books is releasing the manga adaptation in English. The company is also publishing the novels in print.

Sources: The Apothecary Diaries anime’s website, Comic Natalie

Anime

Kingdom Hearts ‘Anime’ Announced for Disney+, Kingdom Hearts IV Game Launches in Late 2027 Including Coco World – News

Published

7 hours ago

August 15, 2026

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The D23 event’s “Disney Entertainment Showcase” panel announced on Friday that an “anime” with the working title Kingdom Hearts based on Square Enix‘s game franchise is in development for release on Disney+ and The Disney Channel. The event did not reveal what studio is producing the series.

Update: Disney Games stated in an email to ANN that the anime has a working title of Kingdom Hearts instead of Kingdom Hearts The Series.

Ready for a new adventure? 💛 An original Kingdom Hearts anime series inspired by the beloved video game franchise is coming soon to @DisneyChannel and @DisneyPlus pic.twitter.com/ZJMl3LS4yr

— Disney (@Disney) August 15, 2026

Update: Deadline reported that Disney is developing the series in partnership with game creator Tetsuya Nomura and the creative team at Square Enix. Deadline also reported the series “reimagines the iconic adventure with a brand-new story that will expand on the Kingdom Hearts universe.”

The same panel also revealed that Square Enix‘s Kingdom Hearts IV game will launch in late 2027 and will include a world based on the film Coco. Actor Benjamin Bratt confirmed he will reprise his role as Ernesto de la Cruz in the game.

The game will launch simultaneously for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC via Microsoft Store, Steam, and Epic Games Store.

Disney Games had stated on Thursday that the Kingdom Hearts game series is one of nine billion-dollar game franchises for the company.

D23 will host the “Deep Dive into Kingdom Hearts” panel on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. PDT (7:30 p.m. EDT), and a livestream will be available on both the official Kingdom Hearts franchise’s YouTube channel and on The Game Awards YouTube channel.

Square Enix revealed the Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link and Kingdom Hearts IV games in April 2022, but had not revealed much information about Kingdom Hearts IV since then before releasing a new trailer in June. Square Enix canceled development on Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link in May 2025.

Square Enix had also announced in early June that it will release Kingdom Hearts Collection [I~III] — a collection of Kingdom Hearts – HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX, Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue, and Kingdom Hearts III + Re Mind (DLC) — for Switch 2, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Microsoft Store.

Square Enix released the Kingdom Hearts III game in January 2019 in Japan and the West for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The game had shipped more than 5 million copies worldwide, including digital sales, as of February 2019, and is the fastest-selling title in the history of the franchise. The “Re Mind” DLC launched in January 2020.

Square Enix‘s Kingdom Hearts Union χ [Cross] and Kingdom Hearts Dark Road smartphone games were both originally supposed to end service in May 2021, but Kingdom Hearts Union χ [Cross] released its final story in June 2021 instead and both games switched to offline mode in the same month. Both games are available in one app.

Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory, the first rhythm action game in the franchise, launched for the Switch, PS4, and Xbox One in the West and in Japan in November 2020, and was previously the only title in the series available for Switch.

The franchise also includes manga and light novel adaptations of the games. Yen Press released some of these in English.

Sources: D23’s Disney Entertainment Showcase panel (Egan Loo), Deadline (Justin Kroll)