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Show Notes
0:00: Justin and Helen decide to talk about the news that’s popped up instead of what they’ve been up to as they have many licenses and an anime season to talk about! Starting with Alphapolis acquiring a CG studio, which suggests they’re trying to ramp up their anime production line.
News
3:50: The World’s End Harem: Fantasia manga is back after a lengthy hiatus, and it’ll also be released weekly until the manga ends; meanwhile one series that returned — Kai-Hen Wizards — will go back on hiatus after it returned not too long ago.
6:12: My Unique Skill Makes Me OP even at Level 1 will go on hiatus due to artist Mawata’s health issues; Yūgo Kobayashi’s preparing for the new series that he will launch in Shogakukan’s Weekly Big Comic Spirits magazine, so Fermat no Ryōri is going on a temporary hiatus after its 26th chapter; and Kazue Katō announced that her Blue Exorcist manga is going on hiatus as she prepares the manga’s final chapter — this will also involve some changes in her environment.
8:15: There are two anime that Doga Kobo’s involved in that were planned to come out this year. Well, one’s getting moved to 2027 (Roshidere S2) as Inept Villainess will not air in Spring, it’ll instead air in Summer.
10:35: Terminator Zero Season 1 happened and was watched, but not watched enough, as showrunner Mattson Tomlin announced there will be no more seasons of the anime; The talent agency Intention announced that voice actor Kenichi Suzumura is going on hiatus to recover from adjustment disorder.
Licenses
12:23: Yen Press decided to announce they licensed this many titles last week:
- Yuji Iwahara’s Clevatess: The King of Dark Beasts, the Baby, and the Undead Hero
- Rin Minato’s Hand in Hand with Mu-chan: Lessons from My Autistic Daughter
- Yūshi Ukai, BanzaiKotobukiDaienkai, & necometal’s Playing Death Games to Put Food on the Table manga
- Kiyomi Sugishita’s Deep-Sea Aquarium Magmell
- Yukiaki Kurando & Sōsō Sakakibara’s Then Shall I Kill in Your Stead?
- Yuki Azuma’s The Blood-Crawling Princess of a Ruined Country
- Mamoru Hosoda’s Scarlet (Yen On)
- Nikita Kitagawa’s My Yandere Girlfriend Hiding in the Dungeon Kills Me Over and Over Again (Yen On)
- Shina Inoguchi’s Don’t Confuse Me, Yamori-kun
- Haruichi & FromSoftware, Inc’s Elden Ring: Distant Tales Between
- Risako Natade & Toshiko Machida’s The Demon Bride: “I Love You” Are Frightening Words
- Petos & Kōji Megumi’s Golden Man
- A collector’s edition of Tsukumizu’s Girls’ Last Tour
17:31: J-Novel Club also had a lot to announce for whatever reason, which also includes titles in print:
- The light novel & manga of Hanmenkyoushi’s Starting on Hard Mode: God Levels, Got Problems
- Yuu Tanaka, Watarinica, & Llo’s The Accursed Chef and His Pair of Furry Foodies manga
- Yuki Kashirome & icchi’s Fired? But I Maintain All the Software!
- Mary=Doe & Kuga Huna’s Proud to Be the Villainess: If My Doom Can Be Her Happily Ever After, So Be It!
- Byakushi & Falmaro’s Reborn to Reign: Imposing My Rules with My Mastery of Magic
- Satou & Hitakiyuu’s The Path of an S-Rank Adventurer: From Deadweight to Weapon Master
- Sty & Tumeki’s Return of the Corpse King: Reining in My Cringe Secret Society
- Ryou Yuuki & Nakamura’s The Reincarnated Mastermind: Sundering Fate with Magic Swords
- Tama Masaki & Kureta’s Miss Medic’s Diary at War
- Hachigatsumori & Nat.’s Unsung Epics of the Hero’s Journey
- Kazuki Minamoto’s All Eyes on Nekoyashiki-kun! Notice Me, Not My Characters (J-Novel Knight)
- J-Novel Heart imprint Adachi & Kyozip’s Sister Mafioso: O God, Let This Lie Stand
- Yuji Yuji, Roharu Kai, & Nami Hidaka’s The 100th Time’s the Charm She Was Executed 99 Times, So How Did She Unlock “Super Love” Mode! manga (Print)
- Fuyu Aoki, Yuyu Kouhara, & Minori Aritani’s Safe & Sound in the Arms of an Elite Knight manga (Print)
- The light novel and manga of Tadashi Kubou’s The Water Magician light novel & manga (Print)
- Gabihime & Reine Kuwashima’s The Young Lady Is the Substitute Harvest Goddess in print
- Will re-release Fuminori Teshima & COMTA’s An Archdemon’s Dilemma: How to Love Your Elf Bride as an Omnibus Edition
22:39: Kodansha had some additions to their Kodansha Print Club line, but interestingly enough one of the titles is new:
- Shikiso Utsuzawa, Mokuba Matsu, & Pukyunosuke’s Because I, the True Saint, was Banished, that Country is Done For!
- Kana Nakatsuki’s Don’t Tempt Me, VP!
- Akamaru Enomoto’s I Have a Crush at Work
- Akiko Higashimura’s Tokyo Tarareba Girls Returns
- Kazuto Mihara’s The World Is Dancing
- Satoshi Morie’s Killing Line
- Miko Senri’s A Kiss with a Cat (will be released as 2-in-1 omnibuses)
- Ayumu Nagisa’s Omega of the Divine (was never released by Kodansha in the US)
24:13: Seven Seas had a Yuri day, and announced the following titles:
- Kon Fukaumi’s A Love Yet to Bloom
- Masakazu Ishiguro’s Sleeping Idiot
- Puebro’s A Couple Drifting in the Wind
- Inori & Hanagata’s I’m in Love with the Villainess: Come on and Notice Me Already (Airship)
- Teren Mikami’s There’s No Freaking Way I’ll be Your Lover! Unless… Short Stories (Art by Eku Takeshima) & There’s No Freaking Way I’ll be Your Lover! Unless… Spin-off Collection (Art by Musshu)
26:14: TOKYOPOP finally made time to announce they’ve licensed the following:
- Neko Kiirono’s Nagi & Hayasaki
- Natsuwo Ichikawa’s Beneath the Fallen Camellia Blooms
- Sai Asai’s 300 New Days With You
- Ishiko’s The Devil’s in the Lunch Deals
- Odayaka & Comic Room’s Sanctuary Princess
- Rokakoen’s Ugly Girls
- Macho Tako’s Ghoul Work, Kurose
- Kappe Hoshi’s Better the Devil You Know Than the Devil You Don’t Know
- Tomo Kitaoka’s Chibon Kaburi: The Masked God
- Kororiyo’s 365 Days with the Yokai
- Nashi’s Six
- Ryō Koshino’s Dr. Ashura
27:40: Hanashi Media announced too many titles as well, but they’re at least distinct since most of their announcements have long names:
- Shizuru Minazuki & Yamakawa’s A Journey Through Another World: Raising Kids While Adventuring
- Umee & Kawaku’s The Disfavored Prince is a Genius Alchemist: All I Want is to Spoil My Little Siblings
- take4 & Hinaco Hino’s It Was Supposed to Be My Second Life, but It Turned Out to Be My Third So I’ll Change History with Knowledge and Reform
- Cancellara & Riv’s Reincarnated as a Poor Farmer: Building a Castle Brick by Brick
- Yо̄suke Akano & hakusai’s Reincarnated Onmyoji: Powered by the King of Hell I Refuse to Return to Hell
- Masanobu Serizawa & Kyou Kitazawa’s The Vampire and the Chocolatier: A Genius Alchemist’s Sweet Obsession
- Rerux & Ryūta Fuse’s I Was Banished from the Royal Capital So I’m Building the Ultimate Golems with My Hero Disciples
- Yuyushita Sasuga & Tamagonokimi’s The Guy Who Thought He Was the Hero Used the Real Hero as a Stepping Stone and Won
- Mesopo Tamia & Carimarica’s A Dumped Villainess Married Me, a Lazy Villain Noble—and We Became the Ultimate Power Couple
- Torisuke & nyanya’s I Was Reborn as a Refugee Girl, So I’m Working Toward Citizenship from Scratch
- Takumi Yanai & Kurojishi’s GATE: Thus the JSDF Fought There!
32:14: More manga have been announced for Abrams Comicarts‘ Kana imprint, which includes a new Inio Asano title; New publisher Crossed Hearts licensed for their new Yuri imprint TaaRO’s Borrowing Your Textbook 175160; MANGA Plus added a couple new series to their service, which includes a new Karuho Shiina work; Ichiha Hiiragi & Nagi Ōkawa’s Playing the Vixen to Find Happiness is now on K MANGA; Nobuko Takekawa’s Yuko, the Ghost in My Room is now on MANGA Up.
36:06: And in final licensing news, Helen and Justin remark over 2018 Captain Tsubasa getting released…in DVD format!
Streaming News
39:41: Whatever the Kodansha-Disney deal was supposed to mean, Justin at least doesn’t know since the newest Ghost in the Shell anime will be streamed on Prime this summer; Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc will stream on Crunchyroll this Spring but Justin of course will make this about Demon Slayer; And not surprisingly, things don’t get cheaper, they get more expensive so Crunchyroll upping the subscription price for all tiers is not a shock.
44:43: GKIDS acquired the North American theatrical rights to Shōji Kawamori’s original animation film Labyrinth and it will be in theaters for two days in May; The 76th Berlin International Film Festival is screening a 4K restoration of Ninja Scroll; and Oceanveil continues branching out from what they’re usually known for, and now has Haigakura & Scum’s Wish on their service.
Main Topic: Winter Anime 2026 First Impressions
48:04: Justin and Helen discuss a very packed Winter Anime season, which means you should find a lot to like, whether it’s sequels (Frieren S2, Jujutsu Kaisen S3) to thoughtful and dense shows (Journal With Witch) or hilarious romcoms (Tamon’s B-Side, You and I Are Polar Opposites). Just don’t do what Justin’s doing and watch objectively bad anime because you liked the original source (Roll Over and Die at 53:03, Tune in to the Midnight Heart at 1:07:47).
Weird News
1:57:24: The year of reviving old material continues, as now Chie Shinohara’s Red River is getting an anime adaptation, so once again Justin implores everyone to let their dreams be dreams and put out in the universe what you want to become an anime!
2:03:51: You wouldn’t think a collaboration between artists would generate any controversy, but if it involves China and My Hero Academia, then yes, there will be controversy; if you like spicy foods and Hatsune Miku, Thailand’s got something for you; And finally, Mamoru Oshii has too much time on his hands since he’s logged way too many hours on Fallout, why would he share this with anyone (meanwhile Justin reveals how many hours he’s logged into Fire Emblem: Three Houses)