Voice actor Kentarō Itō is taking an indefinite hiatus after undergoing emergency surgery for a brain hemorrhage. His agency, Mausu Promotion, said Itō became ill at home and was taken to a hospital, where doctors identified the hemorrhage and performed surgery the same day. The agency says his life is not in danger and that his post-operative recovery is progressing well, but he will focus on rehabilitation for the time being.


Itō is currently credited as Renji Abarai in BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War - The Calamity, which is airing its final cour, and is also known for roles including Shiraishi in Golden Kamuy, Chōji in Naruto, and Tadokoro in Yowamushi Pedal. BLEACH’s official cast page continues to list Itō as Renji, and no recasting, production delay, or other change to the series has been announced.


Mausu Promotion has not given a timetable for Itō’s return to work, saying it will provide another update when more is known. Until then, any effect on future recording sessions or other ongoing productions remains unclear.

September 9 has officially been designated “Attack on Titan Day” in Japan, commemorating the date Hajime Isayama’s manga began serialization in the inaugural issue of Bessatsu Shonen Magazine on September 9, 2009. The designation was formally recognized by the Japan Anniversary Association, with Kodansha and the official Attack on Titan portal announcing several projects to mark the occasion.


Beginning at midnight JST on September 9, the first 99 chapters of Attack on Titan will be available free through Kodansha’s Magazine Pocket app for 99 hours. New commemorative merchandise will also go on sale through Magazine Shop, including items featuring newly drawn artwork by Isayama depicting Eren, Levi, and Erwin in formal attire.


A special livestream is scheduled for September 9 at 9:30 p.m. JST featuring Yuki Kaji, Yui Ishikawa, and Hiro Shimono, the Japanese voices of Eren, Mikasa, and Connie. The franchise says the broadcast will include additional Attack on Titan information, with viewing details to be announced through its official social media accounts. A separate Attack on Titan themed café is also running in Shinjuku from September 3 through October 12, adding to the franchise activity surrounding the anniversary period.

Pokémon is returning to theaters with Pokémon: Wild Card, a new feature-length animated film scheduled to begin releasing worldwide in 2027. Announced during the closing ceremony of the 2026 Pokémon World Championships, the movie takes an unusual direction for the franchise by centering its story on the Pokémon Trading Card Game rather than the traditional journey of Pokémon Trainers.


The story follows an aspiring Pokémon TCG player and his partner Mimikyu as he works toward becoming a champion. CloverWorks will handle animation production, with STORY inc. planning and producing the film. Katsuhiko Kitada is directing, while Akemi Hayashi is serving as character designer. A teaser and visual released with the announcement offer the first look at the card-playing protagonist and Mimikyu.


Wild Card will be the first new feature-length Pokémon animated movie in roughly seven years, following Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle, which premiered in Japan in December 2020. Exact release dates and regional theatrical schedules have not yet been announced.

Watch the teaser here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3I6ECqP4Tc

The television anime adaptation of Demunyan and Daisuki Tansan’s FX Fighter Kurumi-chan will premiere in Japan on October 1, 2026. The series begins on AT-X at 9:30 p.m. JST, with broadcasts also scheduled for TOKYO MX, BS11, and Kansai TV. d Anime Store will receive the earliest streaming release, with additional Japanese services to follow.


A new main trailer also previews the opening theme, “FX Fighter Kurumi-chan,” performed in character by Kurumi Fukuga, voiced by Aina Suzuki. Suzuki will additionally perform the ending theme, “$・¥・€.” The anime is being produced by Passione, with Yuki Ogawa directing, Kenta Ihara handling series composition and scripts, and Kazuyuki Ueda serving as character designer.


The series follows college student Kurumi as she enters foreign-exchange trading in an attempt to recover the 20 million yen her late mother lost through FX. No international streaming platform or overseas release plan has been announced.


Watch the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rxIZ3z0S4s

The television anime adaptation of Muchimaro’s Even the Student Council Has Its Holes! will premiere in Japan on October 3, 2026. Aniplex confirmed the date alongside the first main promotional video, which previews the opening theme, “Kaze no Naka wa Hashirukkyanai!” by Sangatsu no Phantasia. The series will air on TOKYO MX, BS11, Gunma TV, and Tochigi TV beginning at 12:30 a.m. JST.


Passione is producing the adaptation, with Naoyuki Tatsuwa directing, Ryo Imamura handling character designs and chief animation direction, and Masahiro Yokotani overseeing series composition and scripts. The comedy follows Ume Mizunoe, a student who joins his school’s eccentric student council in hopes of improving his academic record. The manga won the print category of the 2023 Next Manga Awards and has surpassed 2.7 million copies in circulation.


Seven Seas has licensed the manga in English through its Ghost Ship imprint, with the first volume scheduled for release in 2026. International streaming plans for the anime have not yet been announced.


What the teaser trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSePdGrgYLA