DMM.com LLC has officially announced that acclaimed voice actor Shunsuke Takeuchi will portray the adult version of the infamous hitman Jūzō Ōgami in the upcoming anime adaptation of KILL BLUE. Set for release in 2026, the series adapts Tadatoshi Fujimaki’s (Kuroko’s Basketball, ROBOT × LASERBEAM) hit manga and promises a thrilling blend of high-stakes action and coming-of-age drama.
Shunsuke Takeuchi
Speaking about his role, Takeuchi expressed both excitement and humor about bringing the character to life:
“Jūzō has the mind of an adult but the body of a child, so at first I thought I might need to do some detective work—but it seems that’s not the case! What a relief! I’ve often been told I seem a bit older than my age, so I feel a certain kinship with this character. All of the characters in KILL BLUE are incredibly expressive, and I’m excited to pop in from time to time and watch over their energetic interactions. Please look forward to KILL BLUE! ”
– via press release
Takeuchi’s impressive portfolio includes standout roles such as Producer in The Idolmaster Cinderella Girls, Alexander Yamato in King of Prism, Jūza Hyōdo in A3!, and Revolver in Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS. Known for his commanding voice and nuanced performances, he’s expected to bring both gravitas and emotional depth to Ōgami’s complex duality as a hardened assassin turned teenager.
A legendary assassin at 39. Starting over… as a middle schooler.
Jūzō Ōgami, a notorious hitman with a flawless record, collapses after being stung by a mysterious wasp. When he awakens, the once-feared 39-year-old finds himself in the body of a 13-year-old boy. Ordered by his boss to infiltrate a middle school, Jūzō must now balance an unexpected student life with the deadly world he thought he left behind. As new enemies emerge, the question remains — can Jūzō reclaim his original body, or will his second chance at life be cut short?
Anime Expo 2025 hosted a special SANDA panel and world premiere event featuring Paru Itagaki’s newest series, SANDA, the unconventional Santa Claus action story from the creator of BEASTARS. The panel took place on July 4, 2025, in Los Angeles, treating fans to exclusive first looks and insights into the upcoming anime adaptation.
With a packed room buzzing with anticipation, BEASTARS creator Paru Itagaki unveiled the world’s first look at her latest creation—SANDA, a wild holiday-infused action mystery that blends Santa Claus lore, social satire, and school mayhem into one unforgettably absurd adventure. The Anime Expo panel delivered more than just a screening: it gave fans a deep-dive into the making of the anime, never-before-seen visuals, heartfelt commentary from the creators, and even an exclusive themed souvenir. And yes, Paru Itagaki wore the chicken mask.
About SANDA
Set in a dystopian near-future Japan where children are protected to the point of imprisonment and birthrates have plummeted, SANDA follows a mild-mannered boy named Kazushige Sanda—until he discovers he may be the heir to an ancient Santa Claus lineage. What unfolds from there is part superhero origin story, part social commentary, and all kinds of chaotic.
The manga originally ran for 16 volumes, finishing in 2024. The anime adaptation, produced by the ever-stylish Science SARU, is set to premiere October 3, 2025.
Panel Highlights: Premiere, Guests, and Santa-Fueled Chaos
The Anime Expo panel kicked off with a full screening of Episode 1, making it the official world premiere of the SANDA anime. Roaring laughter, scattered gasps, and some of the most engaged audience reactions we’ve seen all AX weekend.
Following the screening, attendees were treated to a live talk session featuring:
Paru Itagaki (creator of SANDA, in her signature chicken mask)
Tomohisa Shimoyama (director, YUREI DECO)
Kōhei Sakita (producer, Science SARU)
Together, the trio offered insight into the creative process behind the show—everything from designing explosive Santa transformations to capturing Itagaki’s signature mix of humor and emotional depth.
“It’s completely ridiculous,” Itagaki joked, “but that’s kind of the point.”
Director Shimoyama revealed that nailing the tone was the biggest challenge, SANDA had to be funny without undercutting its mystery, and heartfelt without losing its absurdity.
“We approached Santa not just as a myth,” Shimoyama explained, “but as a symbol of lost wonder—and also as a total unit in a red suit.”
From the Panel: The Cast
During the panel, fans were also introduced to the anime’s main voice cast, Ayumu Murase as Kazushige Sanda, Hiroki Tōchi as Santa Claus featuring Umeka Shōji, Anna Nagase, Yūki Shin and Misato Matsuoka in undisclosed roles.
The series is scripted by Kimiko Ueno (known for Space Dandy), with character designs by Masamichi Ishiyama, and music by Tomoyuki Tanaka. Science SARU’s animation style—equal parts kinetic and offbeat—suits SANDA’s unpredictable tone.
If you thought a Santa-themed anime would be tame, think again. The world of SANDA is packed with dark satire, sci-fi overtones, and commentary on Japan’s social systems, particularly the pressure on youth and declining birthrate. But at its heart, it’s still a coming-of-age story gifted wrapped with a tinsel bow.
In one of the most talked-about sequences from the premiere, Sanda’s slim, meak body undergoes a Hulk-like transformation into a buff, Alpha bearded Santa—complete with dramatic sakuga overtones, blaring jingle bells, and enough flexing to break the sleigh.
And yet, amid all the madness, there’s sincerity. The panel made it clear that this isn’t just parody: SANDA is about identity, responsibility, and the idea of growing up in a world that treats children like porcelain.
Manga English Release
During the panel, it was announced that SANDA will be published in English by Titan Manga, starting with Volume 1 on September 2, 2025, followed by Volume 2 on November 18, 2025. Pre-orders are open, and AX attendees were encouraged to dive into the manga for deeper context and character arcs.
Itagaki noted that while she’s not involved in every episode of the anime, she’s thrilled to see the anime team “taking her weird little story and running wild with it.”
Panel Swag
Attendees of the panel didn’t leave empty-handed—they received an exclusive SANDA-themed tenugui towel featuring art from the series and the show’s logo.
During the fan Q&A, one bold attendee asked if there were any BEASTARS Easter eggs hidden in the anime. Itagaki, under the mask, simply said:
“Let’s just say… they share DNA. Literally? You’ll have to watch to find out.”
“Santa Claus Is Coming to Town”
The SANDA panel proves Paru Itagaki is still one of the most original minds in manga today. With its absurd and fun premise, slick animation, and genuine emotional undercurrents, SANDA is shaping up to be the surprise hit of Fall 2025. Whether you’re a BEASTARS devotee, a holiday chaos connoisseur, or just someone who thinks Santa should have six-pack abs, SANDA is the anime gift you didn’t know you needed.
Catch it when it premieres October 3, 2025. And don’t forget to read the manga!
For more interviews and coverage from Anime Expo 2025, follow The Kitsune Network.
Übel Blatt, a brand new fantasy anime based on SQUARE ENIX comic of the same, is set to debut on January 11, 2025, exclusively on Prime Video worldwide. This dark fantasy series will release new episodes weekly at 1:30 a.m. JST. If you’re a fan of dark fantasy, action-packed, gripping tales, this might be your next favorite anime.
The ultimate in dark fantasy is finally becoming an anime! In 3968 AD, to stop the invasion from Wischtech, Land of Shadows, the Emperor had equipped fourteen young souls with lances and sent them on a mission. It was believed that three lost their lives on the journey, four had betrayed the Emperor and joined the enemy, so they were eliminated. But this was actually due to a betrayal by the other seven who wanted all the glory for themselves. After their return to the Empire, they were given the title of the Seven Heroes. They had gained the respect of the people and rose to statuses of glory. Meanwhile, the others were deprived of their distinguished military service and labeled the Traitorous Lances.
One swordsman named Ascheriit managed to survive by consuming fairy flesh. He retained the physical appearance of a young man, changed his name to Köinzell and twenty years later, he begins his journey to get revenge against the Seven Heroes!
Based on “Übel Blatt II: The Knights of the Deceased King“ written and illustrated by Etorouji Shiono and Published by SQUARE ENIX, serialized in “Monthly BIG GANGAN”. A sequel manga titled Übel Blatt II: Shiseru Ō no Kishidan began serialization in Monthly Big Gangan in February 2024.
Cast and Music The anime features a talented voice cast, including:
Toshiki Masuda as Wied, Hitomi Ueda as Altea, and Yui Kanari as Aht, with more cast members yet to be reviled. Music for the series is being composed by Shun Narita, with powerful theme songs adding to the atmosphere,
Toshiki Masuda as WiedHitomi Ueda as AlteaYui Kanari as AhtGARNiDELiAHina Tachibana
Opening Theme: “Zainin” Performed by the popular duo GARNiDELiA. Ending Theme: “Stella” Sung by Hina Tachibana, who also voices the character Peepi.
Global Premiere Events
Fans will have the chance to see Übel Blatt early at several exclusive screenings:
The World Premiere will take place on November 29, 2024, at Anime Festival Asia (AFA) in Singapore. This event includes a special panel featuring Yuya Hirose (voice of Köinzell) and Producer Yuki Watanabe from Pony Canyon. South Korea Screenings: December 6–7, 2024, at the Anime x Game Festival. Japan Premiere: December 15, 2024, in Tokyo. These events will give audiences a first look at the anime and a chance to hear from its cast and creators.
Watch the Trailer
The newly released trailer, You can watch it here.
Mark your calendars for January 11, 2025, and prepare to dive into the gripping world of Übel Blatt! For more information and updates on the series, visit the official site here.
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Sorairo Utility is generating buzz ahead of its premiere in January 2025, with the release of its second trailer! The story follows Minami Aoba, a high school girl who feels lost and without a clear passion or purpose in life. That is, until she stumbles upon golf.
The trailer showcases Minami’s journey as she discovers golf—starting as an absolute beginner—while developing a friendship with Haruka Akane, a gifted young golfer, and Ayaka Hoshimi, an ambitious aspiring influencer. But Sorairo Utility isn’t your average sports anime; it’s mixed with a slice of life tone. Everyday moments that shape these characters’ lives, from shopping for golf gear to relaxing in a sauna, giving audiences a warm and relatable glimpse into their world.
The series have partnered with some big names in the Japanese golf industry, including Yamaha, Mizuno, Dunlop Sports Marketing, and Victoria Co., their gear visible throughout the series, to bring an authentic feel to the series and official merchandise. Yamaha’s INPRES DRIVESTAR utility club and Mizuno’s JPX923 irons are some of the products showcased in the trailer.
Its ending theme, “Horizon,” written and performed by singer-songwriter Moeka Yahagi. Yahagi, known for her diverse voice and lyrical talent, has penned the song specifically for the anime, aiming to capture the emotional warmth of the story, serving as a message to the characters and, in a way,
I am so happy to be in charge of the ending theme song for “Sorairo Utility”. This is my first time writing a song specifically for a project, so I felt a bit nervous, but I hope this song conveys the warmth of the work even more. Please give it lots of love!
– Moeka Yahagi via press release
The talented voice cast includes Miyu Takagi as Minami Aoba, Yurina Amami as Haruka Akane, and Ayasa Goto as Ayaka Hoshimi. The series is directed by Kengo Saito, with Yu Sato writing the series composition and screenplay. Yostar Pictures is handling the animation production, promising beautiful visuals.
The anime series is based on Yostar Pictures’ first original work of the same name, which was initially a short film broadcast in 2021,
Whether you’re a golf fan or someone looking for an inspiring story about self-discovery, Sorairo Utility is shaping up to be a must-watch. Stay tuned for more updates as we count down to its January 2025 debut!
Mecha-Ude: Mechanical Armsheld its world premiere at this year’s Anime Expo. Mecha-Ude: Mechanical Arms is a new science-fiction action-adventure anime and manga that explores the world of sentient mechanical beings called Mecha-Ude and the people who wield them! Originally created by independent animator & director Okamoto and produced by Fukuoka-based TriF Studio in 2016.
Animator and director, Okamoto created the series in 2016 with a Kickstarter, which raised over $67,000, more than twice its $25,000 goal. A pilot episode, produced by TriF Studio through the Kickstarter, became an instant hit and in 2018, got an English dub.
In 2022 the series was picked up for a full anime adaptation, produced by TriF Studio and Pony Canyon. At this year’s Anime Expo, episode 1 premiered with new exclusive footage, not previously seen in the pilot. The Mecha-Ude anime series is slated for 2024, exact release date is currently TBA. To learn more on the series and its Japanese cast and crew visit the official Mecha Ude website.
Anime Synopsis
One day, Amatsuga Hikaru, a junior high school student living in Kitakagami City, meets the mysterious “Ude”-shaped mechanical life form Alma. Alma attempts to bind to Hikaru’s body in order to obtain energy from him, but fails. To his surprise, it binds to the hoodie that Hikaru was wearing. Meanwhile, the “Kagami Group,” a large corporation that plans to enslave the Mecha-Udes and turn them into weapons, is in pursuit of Alma. ARMS, an organization working to save and free the Mecha-Udes, also searches for Alma. Hikaru, unable to abandon the weakened Alma, puts on the hoodie that Alma has bonded with and gets caught up in the great events unfolding among the Mecha-Ude users…
INTERVIEW WITH OKAMOTO
At Anime Expo I had the opportunity to interview Mecha-Ude animator and director, Okamoto about her journey and experience creating the world of Mecha-Ude,
Animator and Director, Okamoto
Krystal: Can speak about the origins of MECHA-UDE? Okamoto: I’m a huge fan of Shounen manga and one day I just decided I wanted to draw a robot, but drawing a full-size body robot was too hard. So I decided I would try just to draw an arm. K: Enhance the subtitle “Mecha arms“ O: Correct. Yes. K: So you’re not only the creator of the stories, but also the director for the Anime series, are some elements within the anime, that you emphasizes for the audience members? O: The story is very much about the characters. I hope that people will see, like, pay attention to how they develop and how they move. K:It has been roughly serve years, between the kickstarter in 2016 and now, what are some things that changed in the series? O: When the pilot episode was made, a fuller story was already created, like a bigger story that we were hoping to work on later. So basically not much has changed. I’m brushing up on stuff in the past few years, but that’s about it.
K: How would you describe the anime series to encourage people to read the Manga, or watch the anime series? O: All of the mecha-udes are also their own characters, and they’re very unique, so they’re very appealing as well. They’re part of the series and just as important as the human characters, that’s one of the selling points. K: What can you tell me about the main character? O: Hikaru was a pretty dull, mundane character with nothing special going on until he meets “Alma”, the Mecha Ude, he meets, and then they’ll have adventures and he’ll also be able to grow as a character. The story’s going to be about their partnership and how they grow together as characters in the series.
THE MANGA
Additionally, eManga publishing company Azuki, celebrated the launch of the latest exclusive manga series, Mecha-Ude: Mechanical Arms by Yoshino Koyoka and TriF based on Okamoto’s creation. The manga adaptation is now available only on Azuki with new chapters every Wednesday!
Manga Synopsis
A brand-new manga series based on the anime by Okamoto and TriF! Kita-Kagami City is a pretty normal town… except that some people have gotten their hands on Mecha-Ude: powerful, sentient mechanical beings attached to the limbs of their hosts. When middle school kid Hikaru accidentally activates Alma, a mysterious Mecha-Ude with no memory of his past, he forms an unlikely connection with the talking arm. But where did Alma come from? And why are shadowy secret organizations and corporate assassins with deadly Mecha-Ude of their own suddenly chasing Hikaru down, hell-bent on stealing Alma? Hikaru and Alma must learn to work together to uncover the truth behind Alma’s identity and prevent him from ending up in the wrong hands (or on the wrong arm)!
Start reading for free with advertisements today, or upgrade to Premium and access the full catalog for just $4.99 a month. A 14-day free trial and discounted annual plan are also available. Most titles are available worldwide (except Japan). Stay up to date on the latest announcements by following Azuki at twitter.com/ReadAzuki, facebook.com/ReadAzuki, and instagram.com/readazuki.
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