Hey, Everybody!

Here’s what’s going on in the world of anime today:

• JJK wins big at the 2024 Anime Awards. 

• One Piece Restaurant opens in Florida. 

• KessCo to Release One Piece & Digimon Tabletop Games 

Jujutsu Kaisen Dominates the 2024 Anime Awards

The 8th annual Crunchyroll Anime Awards took place in Tokyo over the weekend. To no one's surprise, "Jujutsu Kaisen" Season 2 walked away with a whopping 11 honors, including the top anime prize of the year. 

The series won trophies for Best Director (Shota Goshozono), Best Action, Best Character Design, Best Cinematography, Best Ending and Opening Sequences, Best Supporting Character (Satoru Gojo), and three voice Actor awards. The series also took home the Anime of the Year award. 

JJK Fans were unsurprised and took no time to celebrate the show's win:  

“JJK domination They said it would flop. They said CSM, Vinalnd saga or AOT would surpass it.💀,😭 How's it feel now?” @noah_skye9 

However, not everyone was thrilled with JJK’s dominance, with many fans feeling slighted that the award seemed to be based on popularity and not the quality of the anime: 

“Watching the #AnimeAwards and JJK won Best Opening Sequence over Oshi No Ko. That’s bs man! 🔥” @luismathis 

“the way im becoming a jjk hater watching the anime awards rn #AnimeAwards” @ariasaturo 

“We should have gate kept better, it was better when you had to hide the fact that you liked anime.” @Jager_Bombz

Demon Slayer's Swordsmith Village arc also won several awards, and Chainsaw Man was recognized as the best new anime of the year. You can view a complete list of winners here and watch a replay of the 2024 Anime Awards broadcast, which will be available to stream on Crunchyroll's official YouTube and Twitch channels. 

New One Piece Restaurant

As folks get ready to travel for the upcoming breaks, One Piece fans visiting South Florida can add a new destination to their trip. The Thousand Sunny, a fully One Piece-themed restaurant, opened last month in Pinecrest, Florida (a Miami suburb), making it the third anime-inspired restaurant in the state. 

The Thousand Sunny has various options. Inspired by the show, the restaurant features hot pot, bao buns, Boba Teas, spicy ramen, and even "Sanji's Secret Menu." Guests seem to love the restaurant so far, with plenty of reels and TikTok reviews available online. To view the menu and location details, visit their Instagram page (they don't have a website yet).

One Piece & Digimon Tabletop Games Coming Soon

Los Angeles-based game company KessCo recently announced that it has entered into a licensing deal with Toei Animation to create new games for their One Piece and Digimon franchises. This deal comes on the 25th anniversary of both wildly popular franchises. "Having the opportunity to create play experiences for One Piece and Digimon is a dream come true," shares Alex Kessler, CEO of KessCo. "We are dedicated to finding the joys in life through play, whether it be outdoors, at the beach, or in our living rooms. Coming together to just play is the ultimate goal, and bringing our favorite anime licenses into these experiences is a natural blending of two worlds that are incredibly meaningful to us." 

The company plans to release tabletop games based on the franchises and a collection of "outdoor spring/summer toys" between 2024 and 2025. However, it's clear that they are prioritizing the One Piece game, as fans can sign up for updates on its release on their website now, though there is no information on what type of tabletop game it will be. Based on the other games they've produced, both games will likely target younger players or families.

New Releases This Week

A new week means new releases! Here are a couple to look out for: 

Yes, Pokémon is still a thing and its going into its 26th season. The animated series debuts this week, with the release of Pokémon Horizons: The Series, alternatively titled Pocket Monsters: Liko and Roy's Departure in Japan. Instead of the beloved Ash Ketchum as the lead, this new installment will showcase two new trainers, Liko and Roy. 

In the new series, Liko and Roy join forces with the Rising Volt Tacklers, a team of adventurers venturing through the Pokémon world and exploring diverse regions, including the recently introduced Paldea region. However, the Explorers, a mysterious organization, pursue them relentlessly with their sights set on Liko's pendant for unknown reasons. 

Release date: March 7, 2024 

The beloved idol anime Ensemble Stars! finally returns after it made its debut four years ago and left fans wanting more. The latest iteration, Ensemble Stars!! Tsuioku Selection Checkmate, draws inspiration from the game Checkmate. It continues to follow the daily adventures of Trickstar as they, with Anzu's assistance, strive to bring revolutionary changes to the academy. 

Release date: March 10, 2024 

An Otaku’s Commentary