Tag Archives: production ig

Crunchyroll releases a sneak peak at HAIKYU!! The Dumpster Battle

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Crunchyroll is setting the stage by spiking a sneak peek of HAIKYU!! The Dumpster Battle. The newly released clip introduces the players on rival teams Nekoma and Karasuno and their coaches, but also shows legendary Coach Ikkei Ikai in a hospital bed rooting for his grandson, the new coach on his former team!

The film, distributed by Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures Entertainment, opens today, May 31, across the United States and Canada. It is available in Japanese with English subtitles and dubbed in English. 

Shoyo Hinata joins Karasuno High’s volleyball club to be like his idol, a former Karasuno player known as the “Little Giant.” But, Hinata soon finds that he must team up with his middle school nemesis, Tobio Kageyama. Their clashing styles turn into a surprising weapon, but can they beat their rival Nekoma High in the highly anticipated “Dumpster Battle,” the long-awaited ultimate showdown between two opposing underdog teams?

Based on the original Weekly Shonen Jump manga series from Haruichi Furudate, HAIKYU!! is a slice-of-life sports anime revolving around Shoyo Hinata’s love of volleyball. Inspired by a small-statured player known as the “Little Giant,” Hinata creates a team in his last year of middle school. His team is unfortunately matched up against “King of the Court” Tobio Kageyama’s team in their first tournament, inevitably losing. 

After the crushing defeat, Hinata vows to surpass Kageyama. Entering high school, he joins the volleyball team only to find that Tobio has also joined, making his once rival his new teammate. The anime series HAIKYU!! is produced by TOHO animation.

Credits: Directed and screenplay by Susumu Mitsunaka. Original story by Haruichi Furudate. Produced by Production I.G. Run time: 85 minutes.

NYCC 2023: Kaiju No. 8 will premiere in Spring 2024 from Crunchyroll

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At New York Comic Con, Crunchyroll confirmed Kaiju No. 8 would be coming to its streaming service in Spring 2024, subtitled and dubbed, exclusively in more than 200 countries and territories, simulcast weekly after its broadcast in Japan.

The highly anticipated anime series is centered around a group of characters living in a world where giant monsters (or kaiju) attack humanity and the creatures’ destructive aftermath. Kaiju is a Japanese term that is commonly associated with television, movies, and books involving giant monsters (usually depicted attacking major cities and battling the military or other monsters), which has been a science fiction mainstay in the media for decades.

Kaiju No. 8 is animated by Production I.G, with kaiju artwork and design supervision by Studio Khara. The anime is adapted from the original manga created by Naoya Matsumoto.

During the Crunchyroll Industry Panel at New York Comic Con, a special message from Naoya Matsumoto was shared:

Hello from Japan to everyone attending New York Comic-Con. I’m the author of Kaiju No. 8, Naoya Matsumoto. It’s a story about someone struggling in a harsh world without ever giving up, in the hopes of leading people into an even slightly brighter future. To anyone dealing with the complexities of reality that reads this manga, I hope it can help make your future a little brighter, too.

Next year when Kaiju No. 8 begins to air in America and worldwide, I’ll be looking forward to seeing your reactions. I hope you’re looking forward to it, too!

Kaiju No. 8 Official Synopsis:

In a world plagued by threatening creatures known as Kaiju, Kafka Hibino aspired to enlist in the Japan Defense Force to defeat them.

“Let’s wipe out the Kaiiju together.”

Kafka pledged to his childhood friend, Mina Ashiro. Over time, life circumstances forced them to go their separate ways and caused him to abandon his lifelong ambition.

He found himself employed by Monster Sweeper, Inc., a professional cleaning company that specializes in cleaning up the aftermath of Kaiju battles. Meanwhile, Mina Ashiro is now the Captain of the Defense Force’s 3rd Division. As it stands, he is currently unworthy of fighting Kaiju alongside her.

At work, Kafka crosses paths with the highly motivated Reno Ichikawa. Reno’s undying determination to join the Defense Force leaves no room for failure. His perseverance reawakens Kafka’s ambition of standing next to Mina as they protect humanity from Kaiju together.

A dream frozen by time, thawed by a burning promise.

Japanese voice cast and characters:

  • Masaya Fukunishi as Kafka Hibino / Kaiju No. 8
  • Wataru Katoh as Reno Ichikawa
  • Asami Seto as Mina Ashiro
  • TBA as Kikoru Shinomiya
  • TBA as Hoshino

Get a Look at Star Wars: Visions

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Seven Japanese anime studios bring their unique talent and perspective to Star Wars: Visions, a collection of animated Original Short Films, streaming September 22 on Disney+.

The anime studios revealed were Kamikaze Douga, Geno Studio (Twin Engine), Studio Colorido (Twin Engine), Trigger, Kinema Citrus, Science Saru, and Production IG. Each studio will use its signature animation and storytelling styles to realize its own visions of the galaxy far, far away.

Lucasfilm’s Jacqui Lopez (Executive Producer), James Waugh (Executive Producer), Josh Rimes (Executive Producer), and Qubic Pictures’ Justin Leach (Co-Executive Producer) and Kanako Shirasaki (Producer) were on hand at the event to reveal each studio and give fans a special look at the environment and concept art as they debuted the title and first details of each short.

  • Kamikaze Douga – The Duel
  • Geno Studio (Twin Engine) – Lop and Ochō
  • Studio Colorido (Twin Engine) – Tatooine Rhapsody
  • Trigger – The Twins
  • Trigger – The Elder
  • Kinema Citrus – The Village Bride
  • Science Saru – Akakiri
  • Science Saru – T0-B1
  • Production IG – The Ninth Jedi

As a first formal venture into anime, each Star Wars: Visions short bears a unique Japanese sensibility, which in many ways aligns with the tone and spirit of Star Wars storytelling. From the beginning, stories told in the Star Wars galaxy have counted Japanese mythology and the films of Akira Kurosawa among their many influences, and these new visions will further explore that cultural heritage through the unique animation style and perspective of each anime studio.