Crunchyroll Anime Expo 2022 – All Anime News

Crunchyroll has shared several updates and announcements at Anime Expo 2022, with each notable occurrence listed below alongside correlative information.

• Solo Leveling – The beloved Korean manhwa Solo Leveling, written by Chugong and illustrated by DUBU (REDICE Studio), will be adapted into an anime series by A-1 Pictures and simulcast on Crunchyroll worldwide outside of Asia. The first key visual and English teaser trailer was revealed to much excitement.

The production staff was also announced, which includes:

• • Original Work: Solo Leveling by DUBU (REDICE Studio), Chugong, h-goon
  • Director: Shunsuke Nakashige
  • Head Writer: Noboru Kimura
  • Character Designer: Tomoko Sudo
  • Music: Hiroyuki Sawano
  • Animation Studio: A-1 Pictures

Synopsis: It’s been over a decade since the sudden appearance of the “gates”—the paths that connect our world with a different dimension. Since then, certain humans have awakened to supernatural powers. We call these individuals “hunters.” Hunters make their living by using their powers to conquer dungeons inside the gates. In this world of tough customers, the low-ranked hunter Jinwoo Sung is known as “the weakest hunter of all mankind.” One day, Jinwoo gets fatally injured when he runs into high-rank double dungeons hidden within a low-rank dungeon. Just then, a mysterious quest window appears in front of him. On the verge of death, Jinwoo decides to accept the quest and starts leveling up… while the others aren’t.

The author, Chugong, shared the following statements regarding the upcoming Solo Leveling project:

“About six years ago when I was writing the very beginning of Solo Leveling, if someone had said to me, ‘The novel you wrote will become a comic,’ I bet I’d have told them to stop pulling my leg. But now, I’m told that it’ll be animated?! Seriously, stop pulling my leg!… But these days, I’m feeling excited and thrilled. Since I’m still half-doubting that this is real, I want to see Jinwoo and the other characters get animated soon and feel relieved. I’ll keep working diligently while looking forward to that day.”

The illustrator, DUBU, shared the following message:

“Solo Leveling is finally making its anime debut. It feels like only yesterday that we got the offer for the anime adaptation. I feel so overwhelmed when I think that the anime is really being created right now. This is all thanks to you fans who love and support Solo Leveling. I’m filled with gratitude. Thank you very much. Also, please support the animation production team. If this anime gives new enjoyment to the readers, I’ll be very happy.”

You can view the Solo Leveling teaser trailer below:

Season 4 of the Overlord anime will start streaming on July 5. New key art was shared alongside a narrative synopsis, both viewable below:

Synopsis: Newly crowned Ains has big plans for his Sorcerer Kingdom, but so do his enemies. Deep in the mountains of Azerlisia lie the Dwarves’ mortal enemy, a demi-human race, the Quagoa, gathered ready to invade. To make matters worse, other kingdoms conspire to overthrow the undead king! Will his vision for a utopia come to fruition? Heavy lies the crown, even for the guy with unlimited power.

Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 will be simulcasted in 2023. You can view the official trailer below:

An anime adaption for the manga written and illustrated by Fumita Yanagida, Tomo-chan Is a Girl! was announced. Further, studio Lay-duce will handle production, with simulcasting starting in January 2023.

Voice actor/actress information is listed below:

• Carol Olston is voiced by Sally Amaki in Japanese and English.
• Tomo Aizawa is voiced by Rie Takahashi in Japanese, and by Lexi Nieto in English.
• Junichiro Kubota is voiced by Kaito Ishikawa in Japanese.
• Misuzu Gundo is voiced by Rina Hidaka in Japanese.

The anime’s staff comprises the following:

• Original Work: Fumita Yanagida (Seikaisha COMICS)
• Director: Hitoshi Namba
• Assistant Director: Noriko Hashimoto
• Head Writer: Megumi Shimizu
• Character Designer: Shiori Hiraiwa
• Music: Masaru Yokoyama
• Animation Studio: Lay-duce

Both Japanese dubbed, and English dubbed trailers are respectively viewable below:

Season 2 of To Your Eternity was announced to be arriving in Fall 2022. Studio Drive was previously confirmed to be handling production for this new season, taking over Brain’s Base, who produced Season 1.

You can view the official trailer below:

The anime adaption for the manga, The Tale of Outcasts, received a new teaser visual alongside a new illustration and message from author Makoto Hoshino.

Both images are viewable below:

Saint Seiya: Knights of the Zodiac – Battle for Sanctuary will be premiering on Crunchyroll this Summer, with sub and dub versions simultaneously appearing. Further, the dubbed languages will include English, Latin American Spanish, and Brazilian Portuguese.

The anime’s key visual and official trailer are both viewable below:

In/Spectre received its world premiere Season 2 trailer. We will share that video when it is available.

The My Hero Academia Season 5 OVAs, “HLB” and “Laugh! As if you are in hell,” will debut on Crunchyroll on August 1, 2022, at 5 AM PT/ 8 AM PT. They will also both be available subbed and dubbed.

One of the most significant pieces of news was the Trigun Stampede anime reboot confirmed to be airing in 2023 and being directed by Kenji Muto. The teaser trailer features “a young Vash and his twin brother Knives, as well as Rem, who tries to send the brothers to safety. Time flies, and we see Vash, grown up to be a wanted man with a $60 billion bounty on his head.”

The Japanese voice cast comprises the following:

• Vash Stampede voiced by Yoshitsugu Matsuoka
• Knives Millions voiced by Junya Ikeda
• Young Vash voiced by Tomoyo Kurosawa
• Young Knives voiced by Yumiri Hanamori
• Rem Saverem voiced by Maaya Sakamoto

Moreover, several staff quotes were shared, viewable below:

“TRIGUN STAMPEDE. Trigun is coming. Not ‘coming back.’ It’s ‘coming.’ The typhoon that started 25 years ago never disappeared. Biding its time as a calm wind, it met with a young singularity and became a whirlwind. After an enormous amount of analysis, restructuring, renovation and amplification, it has grown into a tornado with coiled up energy that’s off the chart. Finally, the time has come. Finally, I can slam this beast on you. You will witness vividly new, yet an unmistakably recognizable Trigun. Trigun will always be Trigun, no matter how much you rework on it. Perhaps it’s because the staff understands and protects what’s at the core of this work. I’m proud of this tenacious work, if I do say so myself. Are you ready? Hang on tight, friends. Brace yourselves for Stampede.” – Yasuhiro Nightow, Author

“Rather than simply tracing the original manga that started 27 years ago, we wanted to define the meaning of creating this work as an entertainment piece in this day and age. So Nightow-sensei, producers, and I talked again and again. In the far distant future, a spaceship lands on an unexplored planet called No Man’s Land. Reminiscent of the American Old West, the residents of No Man’s Land, who are the immigrants from Earth, create a new, free world where myriads of cultures and religions coexist, with guns in their hands. While it’s a fantasy, we wanted to illustrate a world that resonates with our reality. We feel close and are drawn to the characters who do whatever they please in that world. It’ll be a super cool battle-action series where outlaws, sheriffs, and gunslingers are constantly blazing guns. And please sense the twin brothers’ clash of fate that lies underneath. It’s my directorial debut, so it might not be perfect. But I’m confident that it’s a ‘flawed-yet-attractive’ product. Please enjoy the journey of the invincible gunman Vash the Stampede, who never stops running away with no guns and no violence.” – Kenji Muto, Director

“First of all, I’m extremely honored that I am involved in this amazing project! But if I’m being honest, when Producer Waki first approached me about it, I had my doubts since I only have experience in live-action films. But he assured me that I don’t have to dwell on that, so I poured everything I have into this project. In drawing the concept art for this, I focused on paying the utmost, absolute respect for the original work. My initial thought was, ‘What am I supposed to do when the original designs are just so cool…?’ But discussing and working with Director Muto and other staff members, I did my best to represent the best Trigun we can create for this era.” – Kouji Tajima, Concept Artist

“It was back in 2017 when the proposal of TRIGUN came to me. It was before Orange’s first prime contracting series, Land of the Lustrous, aired. Personally, I started my career at MADHOUSE, so naturally I knew about Trigun. While I was there, I saw the production of the film, TRIGUN Badlands Rumble, so I knew just how big this title was. Furthermore, it was the title produced by Masao Maruyama, who I consider to be my mentor in a way. He’s a legendary producer who has supported the anime industry since its dawn, and his influence in this field of work is immeasurable. That’s why I believed that it would be meaningful for Orange to produce Trigun so that CG animation can grow even more in the next couple of decades. With any title, I’m always anxious during the production process. But that anxiety fuels my urge to explore the endless possibilities of expression. Combining every skill and knowledge we gained thus far into this project, I hope that this series will set Orange at a new starting point.” – Kiyotaka Waki, Producer, Orange

“The journey in search of the new Trigun was, as a result, a journey back to its origin. It was about remembering the excitement of hearing “Sci-Fi Western.” And there was none more loyal to the essence of the original work, the spirit of entertainment, than our director, Kenji Muto. Trigun is coming! It is as nostalgic as it is new. For seasoned fans and new fans alike, this anime will give you the appeal of the original work while exciting you with its novelty. Right now, as a fan of the original work, I’m so thrilled to be witnessing the completion of such aspirational work.” – Katsuhiro Takei, Producer, Toho

You can view the official Trigun Stampede trailer below, alongside the teaser visual:

The summer campaign for the mobile title, Princess Connect! Re: Dive, is currently underway with year two of the swimsuit character events. Additionally, a limited-time useable Makoto (Summer) will be available on July 4.

Lastly, a collaboration between Hello Kitty and Fruits Basket was announced, with merchandise arriving at BoxLunch and Hot Topic stores this August. The first piece was available for purchase at the Anime Expo venue. The type of merchandise was not specified, but it is likely some sort of apparel.