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Anime production companies Crunchyroll and Aniplex have announced a major new venture to plan and produce new "high-quality" anime for Crunchyroll's streaming service.

On March 17, Aniplex and Crunchyroll announced the joint establishment of Hayate Inc., an anime production and planning company for titles that will stream on Crunchyroll. The company will comprise employees from Aniplex and Crunchyroll and will be led by Masanori Miyake (Aniplex Managing Executive Officer) as chairperson and CEO, and Leo Watanabe, who will be Hayate's president and COO.

Image via Sony Music

"Anime, which has a wide variety of stories, characters and expressions, is becoming more and more popular as entertainment content globally due to the recent spread of streaming services. Hayate will create high-quality works for the world by combining the production know-how that Aniplex has cultivated over the years through partnerships with a wide range of creators and studios with Crunchyroll's strength in deep...

Ahead of a January 6, 2025 broadcast in Japan, the official accounts for the My Happy Marriage anime today unveiled a creditless version of Season 2's ending song sequence, which features "Tsukikage Okuri" by Kashitaro Ito. My Happy Marriage Season 2 Ending Video Related: My Happy Marriage Season 2 Anime Premieres on January 6, 2025 Based on the light novels by Akumi Agitogi and Tsukiho Tsukioka, the My Happy Marriage anime is directed by Takehiro Kubota ( ID: Invaded assistant director) at studio Kinema Citrus, starring Kaito Ishikawa (Junichiro in Tomo-chan Is a Girl! ) as Kiyoka Kudo and Reina Ueda (Kanao in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba ) as Miyo Saimori. Yen Press publishes an official English version of the series and describes the story: Is This Marriage A Blessing? Or A Curse? ​Born talentless to a noble family famous for their supernatural abilities, Miyo Saimori is forced into an existence of servitude by her abusive stepmother. When...

Following a fan event in Japan, the official accounts for the My Happy Marriage anime today revealed that Season 2 will air on Japanese television from January 6, 2025 at 22:30 Jst . A brand-new key visual was also unveiled, along with a commercial that previews the sequel series' opening song, "Shiawase na Yakusoku." by Riria. Kashitaro Ito performs "Tsukikage Okuri" for the ending song, and Haruka Tomatsu joins the cast as Kaoruko Jinnochi. My Happy Marriage Season 2 Commercial My Happy Marriage Season 2 Key Visual Related: My Happy Marriage Anime Unveils Moon-Viewing Visual Based on the light novels by Akumi Agitogi and Tsukiho Tsukioka, the My Happy Marriage anime is directed by Takehiro Kubota ( ID: Invaded assistant director) at studio Kinema Citrus, starring Kaito Ishikawa (Junichiro in Tomo-chan Is a Girl! ) as Kiyoka Kudo and Reina Ueda (Kanao in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba ) as Miyo Saimori. Yen Press publishes an official English...

To commemorate "Good Couple Day" today in Japan, the official accounts for My Happy Marriage unveiled a new 'moon-viewing' visual, depicting Kiyoka and Miyo taking in the night air, mochi and each other. Season 2 of the anime is scheduled to begin airing in January 2025 . Related: My Happy Marriage Anime Unveils Tanabata Illustration Based on the light novels by Akumi Agitogi and Tsukiho Tsukioka, the My Happy Marriage anime is directed by Takehiro Kubota ( ID: Invaded assistant director) at studio Kinema Citrus, starring Kaito Ishikawa (Junichiro in Tomo-chan Is a Girl! ) as Kiyoka Kudo and Reina Ueda (Kanao in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba ) as Miyo Saimori. A second season is currently in production. Yen Press publishes an official English version of the series and describes the story: Is This Marriage A Blessing? Or A Curse? ​Born talentless to a noble family famous for their supernatural abilities, Miyo Saimori is...

Quick Links How Does Tomo-chan Is A Girl! Hold Up As An Anime? Tomo-chan Is A Girl!s Exclusive Content Is A Must-Have For Any Fan Tomo-chan Is A Girl!s Limited Edition Boxset Is One Of The Best Purchases An Anime Fan Can Make

Tomo-chan Is a Girl! is an anime romcom from 2023 about awkward tomboy Tomo Aizawa and her efforts to get her childhood friend and crush, Junichiro, to see her as a girl and recognize her feelings for him. The series didnt leave a major impact during its short run, but it was fun to watch, regardless, especially for those waiting years for the manga to receive an adaptation.

Tomo-chan is one of the best anime romcoms in recent years a person can watch, and fans can now watch it not just on Crunchyroll, but on physical media, as well. Crunchyroll recently released Tomo-chan on Blu-ray and DVD,...

In celebration of Tanabata yesterday in Japan, the official accounts for the My Happy Marriage anime series released a brand-new illustration depicting Miyo and Kiyotaka enjoying the occasion under the stars. Tanabata Illustration Related: My Happy Marriage Anime Reimagines Kiyoka and Miyo in Children's Day Illustration Based on the light novels by Akumi Agitogi and Tsukiho Tsukioka, the My Happy Marriage anime is directed by Takehiro Kubota ( ID: Invaded assistant director) at studio Kinema Citrus, starring Kaito Ishikawa (Junichiro in Tomo-chan Is a Girl! ) as Kiyoka Kudo and Reina Ueda (Kanao in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba ) as Miyo Saimori. A second season is currently in production. Yen Press publishes an official English version of the series and describes the story: Is This Marriage A Blessing? Or A Curse? ​Born talentless to a noble family famous for their supernatural abilities, Miyo Saimori is forced into an existence of servitude by her abusive stepmother.

Aniplex launched the pilot episode today of Aniplex After Hours on their official YouTube channel, in a new series that seeks to go behind the scenes of Aniplex series and talk with the creatives behind your favorite anime. Sally Amaki, who voiced Carol Olston in Tomo-chan Is a Girl! , hosts the new show. The first episode features producer Sota Furuhashi, a producer for Mashle: Magic And Muscles and Solo Leveling , to talk about how he got into the anime industry, how he balanced the original Korean aspects of the Solo Leveling story, why the "Bling-Bang-Bang-Born" from Mashle Season 2 became so popular, and more! You can watch the first episode below. The first episode also includes a special look at the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba 5th anniversary event held in Japan, with Aleks Le (voice of Zenitsu) and Abby Trott (voice of Nezuko) checking out the event. After learning about each of the series,...

They met as adults for a political marriage, but for Children's Day this year, the story of Kiyoka and Miyo is rewritten in a new illustration from the official My Happy Marriage Twitter account commemorating the Japanese holiday. Children's Day illustration Related: Oshi no Ko Anime Enjoys a Picnic in Children's Day Visual Based on the light novels by Akumi Agitogi and Tsukiho Tsukioka, the My Happy Marriage anime is directed by Takehiro Kubota ( ID: Invaded assistant director) at studio Kinema Citrus, starring Kaito Ishikawa (Junichiro in Tomo-chan Is a Girl! ) as Kiyoka Kudo and Reina Ueda (Kanao in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba ) as Miyo Saimori. A second season is currently in production. Yen Press publishes an official English version of the series and describes the story: Is This Marriage A Blessing? Or A Curse? ​Born talentless to a noble family famous for their supernatural abilities, Miyo Saimori...

Crunchyroll's July 2024 home video slate is upon us, and there's a lot to look forward to in the near future. Two big limited edition releases— Bofuri: I Don't Want to Get Hurt, So I'll Max Out My Defense Season 2 and Tomo-chan Is a Girl! —lead the charge along with Vinland Saga Season 2 Part 1 , Bungo Stray Dogs Season 4 and more, and everything is available to pre-order through the Crunchyroll Store today. Take a look below at the full list of home video releases for July 2024, and let us know what you'll be adding to your collection. Crunchyroll July 2024 Home Video Releases Bungo Stray Dogs Season 4 (Blu-ray) Kicked out of his orphanage and on the verge of starving to death, Nakajima Atsushi meets some strange men. One of them, Dazai Osamu, is a suicidal man attempting to drown himself in broad daylight. The other, bespectacled Kunikida Doppo, nervously stands by flipping through a notepad.

The Crunchyroll Anime Awards will be hosted live from Tokyo on March 2, 2024, and promises to be a bigger spectacle than ever before. Sally Amaki is excited about hosting the event, and a series she was involved with is a part of this year's nominees. Sally Amaki reflects on her experience voicing Carol in Tomo-Chan is a Girl! and how she was able to connect the character to her won experiences as an idol.

Ahead of the Crunchyroll Anime Awards on March 2, a massive celebration of all things anime featuring guests and presenters from every corner of the industry, we spoke with one of the event's hosts, Sally Amaki, on her experiences returning to the event for a second year, as well as what it's like to work as both a Japanese and English voice actress on series such as Tomo-Chan is a Girl!, and how she's been influenced by her time working as an idol.

The Anime Awards aims to celebrate the best that anime has to offer and this includes our beloved dubs. The performance of English VAs helps spread certain titles to wider audiences and can even serve as a way to give already established fans another fresh go-round with a series they love. Related: Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2024: Your Ultimate Guide In the end, helping people discover new titles while sharing the joy of old ones is what makes the anime community so special. With that, let’s run down the six nominees for Best Voice Artist Performance - English in the 2024 Anime Awards. Abby Trott as Nezuko Kamado Series: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Swordsmith Village Arc Even if you’ve never watched Demon Slayer , you may know Abby Trott’s voice, especially if you’re a Super Smash Bros. fan. She has an extensive resume, with her performance as...

Living in Shibuya as a young person can be as rewarding creatively as it can be tough. Following a group of girls in the city, the original TV anime series Jellyfish Can't Swim in the Night , from the mind of Jelee and character drafts by popman3580, released its main trailer today revealing more characters that live on the suburban Tokyo streets as well the theme tunes that we’ll hear. The additional cast for Jellyfish Can't Swim in the Night include: Miiko voiced by Sumire Uesaka (Lum in Urusei Yatsura (2022) ) Melo Seto voiced by Miho Okasaki (Rimuru in That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime ) Momoko Yanagi voiced by Yukina Shuto (Mahiru Mizuhara in World’s End Harem ) Akari Suzumura voiced by Sally Amaki (Carol Olston in Tomo-chan Is a Girl! ) As heard in the trailer, KanoeRana will be performing the opening theme song “Irodori” with Tsurushima Anna performing the...

Crunchyroll has released their lineup of romance anime series for February 2024, offering a variety of older classics and newer releases. The list includes popular titles like Ouran High School Host Club, Fruits Basket, Kaguya-sama: Love Is War, and Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai. These romantic series will be available for streaming on Crunchyroll for free with ads throughout the month of February.

Love is in the air at Crunchyroll this February. The streaming platform has released its list of romance anime series available for free all month long. The list contains a great deal of variety, covering many different subgenres within romance anime. From older classics to newer popular series, Crunchyroll's February 2024 anime lineup truly offers something for every kind of anime fan.

This extensive lineup of romantic series is perfect for getting into the loving spirit as Valentine's Day rapidly approaches. Some classic series included in...

Romance anime has the power to make the audience feel warm, fuzzy, heartbroken, and excited all at once. The genre has been dominating the anime scene forever, and the abundance of romance titles dropping annually is proof of its unchallenged popularity. The year 2023 also succumbed to the supremacy of love stories of different kinds, from high school dramas to pretend love between an undercover agent and a ruthless assassin. The secret to the romance genre’s everlasting impact on the anime community is its ability to adapt to current trends.

Anime series like Tomo-Chan Is A Girl!, My Happy Marriage, and more were instrumental in rising above the stereotypes and addressing several social issues disguised in impressive character development and well-crafted stories. Through these stories, the fans get to meet the cutest anime couples that would make one believe, and fortunately, 2023 has its fair share of good couples.

Yor & Loid...

Winter 2024 will have a lineup of highly anticipated romance anime that is sure to wow viewers. A Sign of Affection is a visually mesmerizing romance anime about a deaf college student finding love and acceptance. Tales of Wedding Rings offers a unique twist on the high school romance genre, with wedding bells and a harem situation.

Romance forever remains one of the most loved and popular anime genres of all time. 2023 had plenty of memorable love stories to tell the fans. There was no lack of high school romances, but most of them stood out because of their unique plot and ability to challenge clichés like Tomo-Chan Is A Girl! and The Angel Next Door. Historical love sagas also had their due time in the spotlight, such as Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke’s Mansion and My Happy Marriage.

It’s safe to say that 2023 had an impressive romance...

Many great anime in 2023 were underrated and didn't receive the attention they deserved due to factors like bad timing and overshadowing by bigger hits. Tomo-chan Is a Girl! had an excellently written couple, but its anime adaptation was viewed as old-fashioned compared to others and fell to the wayside. Ragna Crimson's incredible action and artwork were not captured in its anime adaptation, leading it to be seen as just another average fantasy anime.

2023 is coming to a close, and it was an all-around great year for anime. Old favorites like Attack on Titan and Jujutsu Kaisen returned to much fanfare, and new anime like Oshi no Ko, Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead, and The Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess and the Genius Young Lady all became some of the biggest hits of their respective seasons.

Plenty of anime in 2023 gained a lot of attention from fans and critics alike,...

Netflix will stream the upcoming adaptation of Rising Impact, the first serialized manga by Nakaba Suzuki, the author of Seven Deadly Sins. While Rising Impact is a sports story about golf, it showcases Suzuki's signature elements such as Arthurian references and short, young protagonists. Netflix's support of the project has resulted in high-quality animation, and the anime aims to cater to both Seven Deadly Sins fans and viewers interested in golf anime.

Streaming service Netflix has announced that it will stream the upcoming adaptation of Rising Impact. While the manga is written by Nakaba Suzuki of Seven Deadly Sins fame, the older manga is a sports story about golf. The anime will have two seasons, which will respectively premiere in June and August 2024

With Netflix already streaming both Seven Deadly Sins and its sequel Four Knights of the Apocalypse, it seems it wanted even more of the manga author's works,...

Japanese anime series are often based on a pre-existing manga or light novel series, with a few exceptions. Usually, an anime replicates the original black-and-white manga series or improves it. They can provide heartfelt voice acting, thrilling music, and impressive visuals to increase immersion. From time to time, however, the anime falls short.

Some series, long or short, simply cannot capture the source material's spirit; this could be for various reasons. Perhaps the budget is too limited (cheapening the animation), the visual style changes too much, or the original story's material is shortened and rearranged in ways that upset fans. It's possible the anime simply doesn't cover enough of the manga and ends up feeling like an extended trailer or preview instead.

Updated on September 4th, 2023, by Louis Kemner: More manga series than ever have an anime adaptation. Often, an anime adaptation will do the original manga justice, but other times,...

Summer 2023 is having a good run, with popular titles like Jujutsu Kaisen making a mammoth return with its critically acclaimed Season 2. Even though action shows like Hell's Paradise, Trigun Stampede, and Mashle: Magic And Muscles have ruled the charts for most of 2023, the romance genre isn't far behind. Hit rom-coms like My Love Story With Yamada-kun at Lv999, The Angel Next Door, Tomo-Chan Is A Girl!, and more have won the audience's approval. Luckily, the summer 2023 lineup is not short of romantic stories, but a particular historical romance has caught the viewers' attention.

Adapted from the Japanese light novel series of the same name, My Happy Marriage is set in the 19th-century Meiji Restoration era. It's a time when having supernatural abilities is considered a privilege, and families with the most powerful abilities establish their monopoly. In this selfish and power-hungry world, a young girl named Miyo is subjected to...

A strong female lead is one of the most important aspects of a successful anime, especially rom-coms. Romance anime depend on a solid plot and commendable character development to counter the lack of action and thrill. However, romantic female protagonists were commonly reduced to dull love interests with zero charm and character. Luckily, the anime industry has caught on to the fact that a successful romance anime needs an anime girl who can steal the spotlight.

Recent popular romance anime like Tomo-chan Is A Girl!, Romantic Killer, My Dress-Up Darling, More Than A Married Couple, and more have portrayed phenomenal female leads who wowed the audience immediately. This year’s spring season lineup has several romantic titles, and it’s a relief that almost all of them are being led by amazing female characters. Among these beautiful ladies, three stand out as the top contenders for the best romance anime...

The Winter 2023 season was a slow one for some anime fans. The returning series didn't do much to satisfy longtime fans, nor did many new series draw anyone in. This isn't to say that there was nothing good about the season. It's just that most of it felt tepid and sleepy. This lukewarm winter serves runs in sharp contrast to the following season.

Spring 2023 has been a stellar season for anime fans. It's full of great series, old and new. All of them are exciting, engaging, and leave audiences wanting more. The stimulation this season's anime brings is unlike anything fans have felt in a long time. It generates a brilliant burst of energy that feels like a proper kickoff for the new year.

Related: What Is the Third Eye – And Why Do So Many Anime Characters Have One?

What Good Anime Came Out in Spring 2023?

Part of the problem...

Every rom-com anime fan dreams of seeing their favorite couple end up together. 2023 has been a jackpot for hopeless romantics, with amazing love stories entering the scene one after the other. From recent hits like Tomo-Chan Is A Girl! to ongoing success like My Love Story With Yamada-kun at Lv999, there's no stopping the romance genre. Within these heartfelt stories, some couples have left their mark more than others.

Bother winter and spring 2023 seasons have brought with them an entertaining variety of rom-coms. Whether it's an introvert's journey to find love in the office or a fresh take on childhood-friends-to-lovers, there are all kinds of cute anime couples for everyone. So, here are some of the best anime couples of 2023 who are ruling the audience's hearts.

Related: How Does Netflix’s New Kimi Ni Todoke Live-Action Adaptation Compare to the Original?

Tomo and Junichirou Is Everyone's Favorite Duo

Tomo-Chan Is A Girl!

This year has been jam-packed with all different sorts of romance anime, but Insomniacs After School may be the most original of the bunch. In stark contrast to the decrease in romance titles in the past couple of years, 2023 has seen multiple smash hits that fall under the romance umbrella. With so many different takes on love and relationships, it can be hard for a story about high school romance to stand out in the crowd. Insomniacs After School, however, has had no issues making a name for itself.

Insomniacs After School is Hi-Dive's big Spring romance title, and it's gotten fans talking all over the internet. At first glance, this series might not seem like anything new and exciting. After all, the high school and astronomy club settings have been used countless times before. But after just the first episode, it becomes obvious that Insomniacs After School is...

Spring is finally here, which means that it’s the perfect time to dive into the world of shojo anime on Crunchyroll. With the turn of the season, multiple shojo anime have made their debut on Crunchyroll for the first time, showing that it’s going to be a great season for romance fans. But one anime that released on the first day of April is promising to stand out among the crowd.

My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999 just started airing on Crunchyroll, and it already promises a new take on the classic shojo story. This is coming after strong romance comedy series like Tomo-chan Is a Girl! which featured a unique love story despite being set in the classic shojo setting of high school. Even against such strong anime from earlier seasons, this series refuses to be overlooked. The anime starts with a breakup under funny circumstances,...

Warning: Contains Spoilers from Tomo-Chan Is a GirlCrunchyroll's newest romantic comedy, Tomo-Chan Is a Girl!, is actually a perfect watch for anime fans in the Trans community because of its clever underlying themes. There have been many anime that brilliantly explore the LGBTQ+ experience. Shows such as Yuri on Ice, Wandering Son, Ranma 1/2 and even Sailor Moon give fans a glimpse into the lives of others whether they directly explore members of the community or feature experiences that connect with LGBTQ+ viewers.

Tomo-Chan Is a Girl! is a series that follows Tomo, a tomboy who has developed a crush on her childhood friend Jun. Unfortunately, he doesn't see her as a girl. The two have been friends for so long that he automatically views her as "one of the guys." Each episode follows Tomo's misadventures as she works with her friends Misuzu and Carol to get Jun to finally see her true feelings.

Warning: Spoilers for Tomo-Chan Is A Girl!Tomo-Chan Is A Girl!, the most popular rom-com on Crunchyroll, is steering clear from a formula that many other series in the genre pander to - but with a twist that gets uncharacteristically dark.

Long before the end of season one, Kousuke Misaki eventually hooks up with his love interest Carol Olston in Tomo-Chan Is A Girl! episode 9. Since Kousuke hadn't been acting fast enough, Carol first tries to make him jealous by flirting with Tomo Aizawa's Junichirou "Jun" Kubota. When that fails, Tomo's oldest friend and chronic schemer Misuzu Gundou suggests that Carol make herself more vulnerable to Kousuke as her lack of vulnerability is what has been holding Kousuke back from getting serious with her. To Misuzu's horror, Carol has a mental breakdown as a result.

Related: Sailor Moon's Attacks Were Never As Repetitive, & One Moment Proves it

Tomo-Chan's...

The newly released anime series, Tomo-chan is a Girl! is a seinen story that provides lots of laughs with a stand-out main character. Tomo Aizawa is in love with her best friend, but he treats her like one of the guys. This tomboy is looking for love and struggles with who she is and how she presents herself, leading to numerous funny scenarios playing out.

Tomo-chan is a Girl! is based on the manga of the same name, created by Fumita Yanagida. Spanning eight volumes, the series is published by Kodansha. It was serialized from 2015 to 2019. Now, the seinen manga series has been adapted into an anime that has debuted on Crunchyroll. It is produced by Lay-duce, Inc., a Japanese animation company that has worked on Classroom Crisis, Magi: Adventure of Sinbad, and Fate/Grand Order: First Order, among other anime series, films, and OVAs.

Related: Best Anime Heroines of...