The AnimeJapan 2024 was held between March 23 and 24. This is one of the major events in the anime industry, where new animes are usually announced, information about some already announced ones is presented, and in general, we get a glimpse of what is to come in the industry. For that reason, it is important to pay attention to what happens there, and since it is impossible to cover everything, here we talk about the most important announcements that took place during this intense weekend.
To start, Netflix had a lot to bring to the table, as the American company seems determined to become the epicenter of anime in the West. That’s why they have announced the latest season of BEASTARS, the popular series by author Paru Itagaki. Divided into two parts, fans have been waiting for the adaptation of this third and final season since its release outside of Japan in July 2021
Also from Netflix, but not from Paru, but from Keisuke, his father, comes a new anime of the most powerful fighters on Netflix and probably in the world. Because they announced that on June 6th, the Baki Hanma vs. Kengan Ashura crossover will premiere on the platform, a crossover of the two (more or less) realistic fighting animes most popular on the platform. Something that, from its trailer, promises to be an incredible festival of violence.
The latest big announcement from the platform was a project that we already knew about: Gundam: Requiem For Vengeance. A new Gundam production, this time not exactly anime, directed by Erasmus Brosdau and with animation by Sunrise and Safe House, entirely produced with Unreal Engine 5. While, visually, it seems quite different from what Gundam usually offers us, next autumn we will know the result of this peculiar western vision of one of the most Japanese series in history.
Outside of the US platform, the ads are not so short. One of the most anticipated is the announcement of The Spice & Wolf: merchant meets the wise wolf, a new adaptation of Spice and Wolf, the novel series written by Isuna Hasekura and illustrated by Ju Ayakura. Divided into two parts, it will begin airing on April 1st on Japanese national television. And although it has not yet been confirmed for broadcast outside of Japan, it is expected that one of the major streaming services, such as Crunchyroll or Netflix, will embrace it.
Another series that is coming back, for which we have a date, but not when or how it will be released outside of Japan, is Pokémon. Because the new arc of Pokémon Horizons: The Series, which will include the Four Heavenly Kings of Paldea, will begin airing on April 12th. Considering that the series debuted worldwide on March 7th, we still have a long time to go before we see this season outside of Japan.
Crunchyroll, even if they didn’t have any big announcements to make during AnimeJapan, decided it was a good time to offer something that everyone was waiting for. A sneak peek at the second season of Tower of God, which recently announced its first video game. Although it only lasts a few seconds, the second season of the series will air next July, and perhaps this will be enough to ease the wait for its fans.
Another big announcement is the second season of Oshi no Ko. Adapting the arc from the Tokyo Blade theater play, it will delve into one of the most intense arcs of the manga, as shown in the first teaser they have released. Furthermore, it will premiere on April 12th, and although it has not yet been confirmed for platforms outside of Japan, it is expected to be available on one of the two major ones. Even with all the controversy that surrounded its first season.
Talking about past big hits, Bocchi the Rock! will be back much sooner than we expected. Although not in the way we wanted. Because two compilation movies of the series have been announced, which will be released respectively on June 7th and August 9th in Japan. While it is doubtful that we will get to see them outside the land of the rising sun, given the success the series achieved, we cannot rule out the possibility of them reaching us after all.
But probably the biggest announcement of the whole weekend was the confirmation of the return of the Monogatari franchise. Confirming that the Monogatari Series Off & Monster Season anime will begin with Orokamonogatari, showing a trailer and the return of key personnel from the original staff, it is announced for 2024, but without a specific date. This makes us look forward to this year’s anime, which seems to be loaded with great series to follow closely.
