From ‘Ruroni Kenshin’ To ‘Fate/strange Fake’, Here Are The Highlights From Aniplex Online Fest 2022
This past weekend, Aniplex kicked off their annual Aniplex Online Festival, a virtual showcase where otakus and weebs worldwide can tune in and to catch the latest news regarding the company’s various anime productions.
And luckily for those who either didn’t catch the presentation live or just don’t have five hours to spare, we’ve got a rundown of Aniplex’s best announcements!
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Ruroni Kenshin Remake Gets First Trailer, Confirms Involvement of Nobuhiro Watsuki
The first of the major highlights of the night was Liden Films’ premiere of the first official trailer for their new anime adaptation of the classic manga Rurouni Kenshin.
His return first announced at Jump Festa 2022, Battosuai the Man Slayer is being resurrected by an all-star team serving under director Hideyo Yamamoto (Cells at Work! Code Black).
In charge of series composition is Made in Abyss and Goblin Slayer series composition/script writer Hideyuki Kurata, while well-renowned JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Part 4: Diamond is Unbreakable and Jujutsu Kaisen Chief Animator and Character Designer Niishi Terumi has been enlisted as Ruroni Kenshin’s Character Designer.
Alongside this trailer, Liden Films also unveiled a new key visual featuring main protagonists Kenshin Himura (CV: Souma Saitou – Hyouma Chirigi in Blue Lock) and Kamiya Karou (CV: Rie Takahashi – Shino Kiryuu in Kanojo mo Kanojo) standing back to back
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According to the official Rurouni Kenshin website, original series creator Nobuhiro Watsuki will be overseeing the entirety of the anime’s production, from the character design to the script and even the voice actors’ recording sessions.
Due to Watsuki’s 2017 arrest and subsequent conviction for possession of child sexual exploitation materials (CSEM), his involvement in the remake has led some fans to completely pass on checking it out.
However, others are still excited at the possibility of seeing content from the manga that didn’t make it into the original 1990s anime come to life for the first time.
Kenshin will make his return in 2023.
Ayakashi Triangle Reveals Release Date With First Trailer
This generation’s version of Ranma 1/2 (albeit far lewder), the animated adaptation of Kentaro Yabuki’s Ayakashi Triangle finally received its first trailer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZuaQ2ubMb8
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Therein, director Noriaki Akitaya’s (Persona 3 the Movie: #1 Spring of Birth) gave audiences their first look at the ninja exorcist Matsuri Kazamaki’s (CV: Shouya Chiba – Kiyotaka Ayanokouji in Welcome to the Classroom of the Elite) unexpected transformation into a woman, courtesy of the fluffy Ayakashi Shirogane (CV: Tesshou Genda – Kurt von Rudersdorf in Saga of Tanya the Evil II).
Curiously, studio CONNECT did not release an uncensored version of the trailer, nor confirm an uncensored home release of the series.
Fans familiar with Yabuki’s works know that the artist likes to push the boundaries of sexualized content (so much so that several volumes of his previous work, To Love Ru: were banned in Australia and two chapters of Ayakashi Triangle were banned overseas).
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But considering how such other explicit projects as Peter Grill and the Philosopher’s Time’s have been confirmed to be receiving uncensored releases, it’s odd that studio CONNECT has remained silent on these details regarding Ayakashi Triangle.
Regardless, the anime adaptation of Ayakashi Triangle hits the small screen in January 2023.
Mashle: Magic and Muscles Introduces Lead Voice Actor
Mashle fans in attendance at Aniplex Online Fest were in for treat, as during the event, the series received a new teaser trailer introducing both its magical production team and the voice actor who will pump the pipes of lead protagonist Mash Burnhead.
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Produced by A-1 productions, Mashle will feature director Tomoya Tanaka (Director – Visual Prison) as the head master of the magicians behind this muscular production, with Yousuke Kuroda (Series Composition, Script – My Hero Academia) lending him assistance by taking charge of the script.
Further, the teaser revealed that voice actor Chiaki Kobayashi will provide the voice of Mash.
Mash is just the latest anime lead to be voiced by Kobayashi, as his filmography includes roles as Yuuichi Katagiri in Tomodachi Game, Askeladd in Vinland Saga), and the eponymous Louis James Moriarty in Moriarty the Patriot.
Fate/strange Fake Spin-Off Receives Anime TV Special
In one of the more surprising announcements of the event, Durarara author Ryohgo Narita’s April-Fool’s-joke-turned-proper-spin-off-series Fate/strange Fake -Whispers of Dawn was confirmed to have an upcoming date with the small screen.
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The series will not only see the Holy Grail War finally make landfall in America, but also introduce a new Hero to the series.
Based on Narita’s source material light novel, many Fate fans are speculating that the man seen in the trailer is note other than Richard I, otherwise known as Richard the Lionheart.
Fate/strange Fake -Whispers of Dawn will help ring in 2023 on December 31st, airing as part of this year’s Fate Project New Year’s TV Special.
Further, Aniplex of America has confirmed that the project will receive both a same-day simulcast, as well as in-house English dubbing and subtitling.
Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai Confirms Sequel
Last, but certainly not least, Cloverworks closed out the festivities with the announcement that their animated take on Hajime Kamoshida’s Rascal Does Not Dream (Seishun Buta Yarou) would be receiving a sequel.
Cloverworks has also confirmed that the sequel project will be adapting the eighth and ninth installments – Rascal Does Not Dream of a Sister Venturing Out and Rascal Does Not Dream of a Knapsack Kid, respectively – of Kamoshida’s light novel series.
Slated to return to work on Rascal Does Not Dream’s sequel are director Souichi Masui’s (Director – Akiba Maid War ), as well as scriptwriter-slash-series composer Masahiro Yokotani (Series Composition, Script – Re: Zero franchise) and character designer Satomi Tamura (Chief Animation Director – 22/7).
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