Hey, everyone!

Here’s what’s going in the world of Anime today:

• Free Limited Time Access to Black Butler Manga on Manga UP! App

• Ken Wakui, Tokyo Revengers Creator, Debuts New Manga in Weekly Shonen Jump Next Week

• A Glimpse Into the Strate of the Anime Industry

• Crunchyroll Sets Premiere Date for Exclusive Demon Slayer Hashira Training Arc

• Dragon Ball's Greatest Villains Show Bond In Unique New Fanart

Meme of the Day

Free Limited Time Access to Black Butler Manga on Manga UP! App

Looking to get up to speed on Yana Toboso's Black Butler before the new Black Butler -Public School Arc- anime? Delve into the manga on Square Enix's MANGA UP! app, where the first 14 volumes are now available to read for free for a limited time. This manga portion sets the stage for the Public School Arc storyline. The complimentary access period runs from April 7th at 8:00 p.m. Pacific Time to April 16th at 7:59 p.m. Pacific Time.

The global version of the MANGA UP! app also introduces a new subscription option called VAULT PASS. Alongside the traditional sign-up method, this plan unlocks over 10,000 manga chapters that were previously accessible only through payment or wait times, all for a monthly fee of $4.99. This subscription grants access to 18 volumes of Black Butler, with future releases expected to follow.

If you're unfamiliar, here's how MANGA UP! describes Black Butler:

Set in 19th-century England, the prestigious Phantomhive manor houses a butler skilled in scholarship, culture, cuisine, and combat. Twelve-year-old Earl Ciel Phantomhive and his butler, Sebastian Michaelis, are bound by a dark covenant with extraordinary stakes. Prepare to be enthralled by their journey in the world's premier comic featuring a devilish butler!

Ken Wakui, Tokyo Revengers Creator, Launches New Manga in Weekly Shonen Jump Next Week

Transitioning from one gang altercation to the next, it was revealed today that Ken Wakui, the mastermind behind Tokyo Revengers manga, is set to introduce his latest delinquent series in Weekly Shonen Jump. The inaugural chapter of Wakui's new series, Negai no Astro, will debut in the forthcoming issue, hitting stands next Monday. This marks the beginning of a trio of fresh manga series slated to grace the magazine pages over the next three weeks. You can read more here.

A Glimpse Into the Strate of the Anime Industry

Labor issues have recently plagued many popular anime titles, causing delays. Terumi Nishii, a veteran animator and character designer recognized for her work on anime like Rurouni Kenshin, PENGUINDRUM, Jujutsu Kaisen, and JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, shared insights on the anime industry in an interview with Anime News Network.

Nishii has partnered with NAFCA (The Nippon Anime & Film Culture Association), established in 2023, to address labor challenges in the Japanese anime industry. NAFCA aims to conduct a thorough survey to understand animator difficulties, with Nishii contributing to the survey development to gather data for government proposals.

NAFCA's key initiative is creating the "Animator Skill Test" to tackle the shortage of qualified animators. Nishii underscores the importance of specialized learning, suggesting that passing this test could prompt vocational schools to improve their programs.

Long overtime hours and unrealistic quotas plague the anime industry, prompting Nishii to advocate for unionization to support workers, particularly freelancers as well.

Looking forward, Nishii anticipates increasing anime production budgets but underscores the importance of nurturing skilled talent. Initiatives like the Animator Skill Test are essential to preserving Japan's prominence in global animation. Without such efforts, Nishii fears Japan could lose its standing in anime production, which would be a significant loss for us, the fans. You can read the full interview here.

Crunchyroll Sets Premiere Date for Exclusive Demon Slayer Hashira Training Arc

Crunchyroll has announced that Demon Slayer Season 4 will exclusively premiere on its platform in North America, South America, and Europe on May 12th as part of the Spring 2024 anime lineup. Dubbed versions in various languages will follow. They've also released another trailer for the new season. Read more about it and watch the trailer here.

Dragon Ball's Greatest Villains Bond In Unique New Fanart

Artist Kidd (@wesatinthecar) introduces a unique fanart concept depicting Frieza, Cell, Buu, and the Ginyu Force transformed into nesting dolls. This creative artwork captures Dragon Ball's playful essence while paying tribute to its iconic villains.

Throughout the series, Goku has faced numerous challenges, including epic battles against these formidable foes. Kidd's imaginative designs offer a fresh and entertaining perspective on these villainous transformations, showcasing them in a way never seen before. You can see more of Kidd's work on Instagram.

Did you know?

Frieza is one of the most frequently defeated villains in Dragon Ball.

Frieza is widely regarded as one of the most menacing antagonists in the Dragon Ball universe, but not necessarily due to his battle success. Surprisingly, he has faced defeat more frequently than almost any other villain in the franchise's lore. Formidable opponents such as Goku, Future Trunks, and Toppo have overcome him in at least six instances. Nevertheless, despite his losses, Frieza continues to command fear and intimidation as a villain.

Want to support the newsletter?

An Otaku’s Commentary