"Anime Week" brings you a roundup of anime news from the past week. From February 1st to 7th, news of the world championship finals of the "Gunpla Builders World Cup 13th Tournament" and the revival screening of "The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya" were some of the hot topics.
On the 1st, a special edited version of "Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans Urdr Hunt," which was released in theaters as part of the 10th anniversary project for the anime "Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans," entitled "Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans Urdr Hunt - The Journey of a Little Challenger" and a new short film, "The Wedge in the Intermission," began streaming and rental on Bandai Channel, NETFLIX, Prime Video, and other platforms.
On the 2nd, it was revealed that Mutsuha Eiko's light novel "Hello, I'm a Witch Who Was Asked to Make a Love Potion for the Person I Like" will be adapted into a TV anime in 2026.
On the 2nd, it was revealed that the TX-FF104 Alyzeus, an original MS (mobile suit) not featured in the original manga, will appear in the second chapter of the animated film "Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway's Flash" (directed by Murase Shukou), titled "Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway's Flash: Circe's Witch." It is a hastily constructed training machine built until Lane Aim's Penelope is officially deployed, and is depicted in a fierce battle with the Xi Gundam in the film.
On the 2nd, it was announced that the Gunpla model "HG 1/144 Alluzeus" (Bandai Spirits), based on the Alluzeus from "Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway's Flash: The Witch of Circe," will be released in April. The Gunpla model stands approximately 25cm tall and recreates the gimmick of transforming into flight form. By separating the external armor, it can also be transformed into the mass-produced Nu Gundam. It will cost 13,200 yen.
On the 2nd, it was announced that Nyannyan Factory's manga "Yani Neko" will be adapted into a TV anime and will begin airing on TOKYO MX and other channels from July.
On the 3rd, it was announced that the TV anime "The World's Strongest Rearguard: Newbie Explorer in the Labyrinth Country," based on a popular light novel on the novel submission site "Let's Become a Novelist," will begin airing in July. It will be directed by Takeyuki Yanase and produced by MAHO FILM.
On the 4th, it was announced that "Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway's Flash: Circe's Witch" had grossed over 1 billion yen in the five days since its release on January 30th. The number of moviegoers exceeded 600,000. The first chapter, released in June 2021, had grossed over 1 billion yen in the 10 days since its release, making it an even better start than the first chapter.
On the 4th, it was announced that the official spin-off of Nishi Osamu's manga "Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun," which is currently being serialized in "Weekly Shonen Champion" (Akita Shoten), "Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun if Episode of Mafia," will be made into a TV anime and will be broadcast on NHK General TV from January 2027.
On the 4th, it was announced that Ikeda Yuki's manga "Thunder 3," which is currently being serialized in "Monthly Shonen Magazine" (Kodansha), will be adapted into a TV anime and will begin airing in July on Fuji TV's late-night anime slot "+Ultra" and elsewhere.
On the 5th, it was announced that the original anime "Super Kaguyahime!" currently streaming on Netflix will be released in theaters. It will be released for a limited time of one week from the 20th.
On the 6th, it was announced that the popular novel "The Banished Cheat-Granting Magician Enjoys a Carefree Second Life. ~I can grant 'Enhancement Points' to not only weapons but everything, and I can cancel the effects at any time at will, but will the remaining people be okay?~ (Cheer Granting)" which originated from "Let's Become a Novelist" will be adapted into a TV anime. It will be produced by PAWORKS, the studio behind "True Tears" and "SHIROBAKO".
On the 7th, it was announced that the sixth season of the anime "Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon (DanMachi)," based on the popular light novel by Fujino Omori of GA Bunko (SB Creative), will be produced.
On the 7th, the finals of the 13th Gunpla Builders World Cup (GBWC, Gunpla World Cup), a contest to determine the world's best Gundam series Gunpla builder, were held at Gundam Base Tokyo (Koto Ward, Tokyo). The OVER-21 course was won by "Another V" (MENG YU) representing mainland China, the U-20 course by "KIRA KIRA" (haru) representing Taiwan, and the U-14 course by "FLY, SKYLARK Z GUNDAM!" (ZHOU HAOXUAN) representing mainland China.
On the 7th, a stage greeting for the revival screening of "The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya," an animated film adaptation of Nagaru Tanigawa's popular light novel series "The Haruhi Suzumiya," took place at Shinjuku Wald 9 (Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo). The "SOS Brigade," consisting of Hirano Aya (Haruhi Suzumiya), Sugita Tomokazu (Kyon), Chihara Minori (Yuki Nagato), Goto Yumiko (Mikuru Asahina), and Ono Daisuke (Ikki Koizumi), gathered at the venue. The revival screening was part of a project to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the TV anime series. Sugita gave a speech at the beginning, to which Hirano expressed his joy, saying, "Just hearing Sugita speak is so moving. 20 years ago, I never imagined we'd be able to gather again like this 20 years later. I'm so happy. I can't believe it."
