It may be June, but we’re already dreaming of a white Christmas – Showdown that is, as the latest trailer for the anime adaptation of Ken Wakui’s Tokyo Revengers manga has confirmed both the official premiere date for the series’ take on the Christmas Showdown Arc and debuted Draken’s new voice actor.
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Released by animation studio Liden Films on June 18th, the trailer starts with off with the series’ main protagonist, time leaper and Tokyo Majin Gang first division captain Takemichi Hanagaki, (CV: Yuuki Shin, Natsuo Todoroki, My Hero Academia) talking to his friend and the leader Mikey (CV: Yuu Hayashi, Ino Takuma, Jujutsu Kaisen) about an incident occurring in Shibuya, exclaiming “Mikey-kun what’s wrong? Shibuya only now?! I’ll hurry up!”
The trailer then turns to first division vice captain Kazatora Hanemiya (CV: Shunichi Toki, Allocer Schneider, Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun), who chimes in, “Shibuya is a bit of a mess but I guess there’s nothing we can do about it.”
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Next, we’re presented with a bit of banter between third division captain Haruki “Pachin” Hayashida (CV: Subaru Kimura, Kamen Rider Vice, Kamen Rider Revice) and Ryohei Hayashi (CV: Yukihiro Nozuyama, Takuma Nagitsuji, Gundam Breaker Battlogue).
Hayashi begins by asking Pachin “Which way is Shibuya?”, to which his leader responds “I’m stupid what do I know?”. He then finds he feels better about himself as, in his words, “Pachin’s brain is a bit smaller.”
Next up is second division commander Takahashi Mitsuya (CV: Yoshitsugu Matsuoka, Teruki Hanazawa, Mob Psycho 100), who declares, “Let’s meet in Shibuya this year, Got it!”
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Mitsuya is then followed by first division vice captain Chifuyu Matsuno (CV: Shou Karino, Fran, Ascendance of a Bookworm), who is seen alerting first division captain Keisuke Baji (CV: Masaaki Mizunaka, Kakeru Ryūen, Classroom of the Elite) to the situation brewing in Shibuya:
Baji himself, who is very excited for the showdown that is about to go down in Shibuya:
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And Vice Leader Ken “Drakken” Ryuji as he reminds Mikey to not be late for the upcoming rumble.
Notably, this trailer marks the debut of Masaya Fukunishi (Gege, Kikai Sentai Zenkaiger) as Draken’s new voice actor, replacing previous VA Tatsuhisa Suzuki (Ban, The Seven Deadly Sins series) in the role.
This move was made in light of the announcement by Suzuki that he would be taking an extended hiatus from all industry activities after an alleged scandalous extramarital affair between the him and a female work associate was made public.
Suzuki is married to pop star LiSA, who is best known for performing the iconic opening theme song for Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba.
The trailer ends its montage of Tokyo Majin Gang members with Mikey himself declaring, “Wait, let’s face it like Haichiko” – a reference to the Japanese cultural icon of loyalty – and proceeding to ask his team, “Are you ready?”
Finally, the trailer ends on a shot of a new key visual, which alongside an image of the Tokyo Majin Gang can be sitting on the snow-covered steps of a church, revealed the season’s official premiere date of January 2023.
Are you excited for the Christmas Showdown? Let us know your thoughts in the comments down below and on social media!