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Hidive announced that it will be the streaming home of season 2 of the anime adaptation of Call of the Night. There’s no exact air date for the show yet. It only noted it will be a part of the company’s July 2025 lineup. The first season is immediately available via the service. 

We first learned season 2 of Call of the Night would appear in March 2024, which was about two years after the first season of the anime launched. The manga ended in January 2024 in Japan, and Viz Media will release volume 20 in English on June 10, 2025. It follows a teenager named Ko who hopes to become a vampire by falling in love with one named Nazuna. Over the course of the series, we start to see how the growth of both him and his relationship with her affects his abilities, as well as how the two of them relate to other humans and vampires. 

A new teaser trailer is already available, and it features English subtitles to hint at what’s to come for the duo.

Here's the key art for the new season:

Hidive also confirmed that Call of the Night will be a part of its lineup for Anime Expo 2025. It will hold a on July 5, 2025, which will include part of the second episode of the second season.

The Call of the Night manga is available now, the first season of the anime is on Hidive, and the second will debut in July 2025.

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The Vampire Hunter D OVA is going to appear in movie theaters in April 2025 as part of a promotion to celebrate the novel, manga, and anime. This adaptation first launched in 1985 in Japan. Showings will air on three days, and tickets are now available through the official Iconic site.

In this OVA, D is enlisted to aid Doris in helping defeat the vampire Count Lee. She’s been bitten and, in so doing, became his target. The hope is that by fighting back, she and everyone threatened by the Count’s existence can be saved.

In of showings, it seems that there might only be one per day at each location taking part. Showings will only take place on April 9, 2025, April 10, 2025, and April 13, 2025. It appears to be about $15 per ticket, though this may vary depending on your location. 

To go along with the Vampire Hunter D OVA showings in movie theaters, there’s a new trailer that highlights the characters and art with clips from the anime.

There 40th anniversary of the series is also being celebrated in Japan. Pre-orders are open for a remastered Blu-ray release. That will launch on March 26, 2025. An extended trailer from Avex showing how that will look is available online.

The Vampire Hunter D OVA will appear in movie theaters in the US between April 9-13, 2025. The novels still appear in Japan, with one of the most recent ones launching there in 2025. 

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Shonen is one of the most popular anime genres for a reason. The frequent battles and tons of action usually result in some of the most thrilling series around. When it comes to the most recent Summer 2024 anime season, these are the best shonen and shonen-like action series we highly suggest you check out right now.

Best Shonen Summer 2024 Anime Series: Shy Season 2 2e4z4c

This underrated superhero action series is back for a second season. Those looking for a series somewhat different in style from My Hero Academia should check this one out. The main character has such a compelling personality, being shy as the name states. Her growth throughout the series is a neat bonus alongside the excellent action. You can check out the second season on Crunchyroll.

Fairy Tail: 100 Years Quest 5b2xx

Fairy Tail is one of the most popular shonen anime series of all time and it is finally back with a direct sequel. Those who appreciated the earlier parts of the original anime and the laidback vibes will likely enjoy this return to form. It focuses on its core characters and their seemingly impossible guild quest, along with some intriguing new characters and villains.

I Parry Everything 1r6422

So far, I have recommended a couple of returning shows. For those of you looking for the best brand new shonen anime series in the Summer 2024 season, this is the one for you. I Parry Everything isn’t an Isekai, simply taking place in a fantasy world. It follows Noor, a guy who has a tragic backstory and wishes to become an adventurer, except he has no affinity for any skills whatsoever.

Well, except parrying, of course. If you are a FromSoftware fan, you might enjoy this hilarious but action-packed series with solid animation. The world-building and characters are quite nice, plus it strikes the right balance between lighthearted moments and more tearjerker sequences. I expect this one to become one of the most popular new series from this season.

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During Anime Expo 2024, I had the chance to attend the Oshi no Ko Season 2 premiere and check out the first two episodes of it. Since the first season is up there with one of my favorite shows of all time, I certainly was looking forward to this new story arc. Unfortunately, it disappointed due to its awkward pacing, even though the animation was flashy.

Oshi no Ko Season 2 picks up after the end of the first season. Aqua Hoshino is looking to a theatre troupe to find out more about Ai. The first episode starts off strong, showing off a glimpse of the stage play the troupe is putting on. The gorgeous introductions to each of the characters in the production really impressed me, thanks to the excellent animation and effects.

This beautiful introduction feels as if you are actually watching the real stage play in action. The whole sequence works so well because of that. But the strong start eventually makes way for a step back in time to examine Aqua, Akane, and the other stars in the lead-up to the big day. This transition felt like it worked, and I enjoyed meeting all of the new characters in the troupe.

As you might expect, there is plenty of drama between the leads, the director, and even the writers. The mix of drama and brilliant voice acting from the Japanese cast kept me engaged throughout the entire first episode. While this story arc certainly feels like a slight diversion from the core plot of the riveting series, it starts out as an entertaining one nonetheless.

Overall, I would say I enjoyed the first episode, even though it lacked the shock value and star power of the original Season 1 feature-length premiere. The real problem I have with Oshi no Ko Season 2 wasn’t present at this point. The issues I had popped up when the second episode began at the event. Instead of continuing on from the light twist at the end of the first episode, episode two went unnecessarily further back in time.

The second episode spends way too much time focusing on Aqua and the others first ing the theatre troupe. Considering I already saw them rehearsing and spending time together in the first episode, this felt somewhat unnecessary. In fact, I would argue it almost feels like the second episode should’ve been the first one because of this timeline shift.

Watching these two episodes back-to-back completely killed the goodwill the first episode of this stage play arc introduced. I had no interest in going back in time and seeing the mostly unnecessary exposition leading up to the production. The only slight saving grace of the second episode comes from the focus on the lead writer of the stage play. His moments were surprisingly emotional and evoked some sympathy.

However, I didn’t need an entire flashback episode to provide those scenes. They could certainly work without going back in time. Overall, I feel like the first and second episodes would better swapped. Perhaps if you don’t binge these episodes it will be a bit better to watch. For now, though, I look forward to the third episode and, hopefully, better pacing that sticks to moving the story forward rather than backward.

Oshi no Ko Season 2 is streaming right now via HIDIVE. Yen Press handles the manga outside of Japan.

The post Oshi no Ko Season 2 Starts Out Flashy and Awkward appeared first on Siliconera.

HIDIVE has announced that the English versioin of Oshi no Ko season 2 will appear on its platform on July 3, 2024. You’ll be able to start watching it from 8:00 AM PDT/11:00 AM EDT.

This is the same date that the second season will start airing in Japan. So you’ll be able to watch it right when it broadcasts for the originating country as well. Granted, we always knew that HIDIVE would be releasing the second season in English. It confirmed back in March 2024 that it would do so, along with the key visual of everyone preparing for the Tokyo Blade stage play.

Those with even a ing interest in Japanese media probably knew of Oshi no Ko, between its recognizable character designs and memorable opening song. “Idol” by Yoasobi was everywhere, breaking streaming records on Oricon and racking up millions of views no matter the language.

The story of Oshi no Ko follows Aqua and Ruby, the twin children of top idol Hoshino Ai. In reality, they are the reincarnations of people who’d been fans of Ai until their untimely deaths. After a mysterious culprit kills Ai, the two of them enter the entertainment industry in order to investigate.

Oshi no Ko is available for streaming via HIDIVE and season 2 will start airing from July 3, 2024.

The post Oshi no Ko Season 2 Airs in English in July 2024 appeared first on Siliconera.

HIDIVE announced one of its first Summer 2024 anime series, and it is Plus-Sized Elf. It will be the exclusive service to stream the show, which is being created by Elias. 

For those unfamiliar, Plus-Sized Elf is about a physical therapist named Naoe Tomoatsu who finds himself working with multiple women from supernatural, otherworldly species. After meeting Elfuda, an elf who loves junk food like french fries so much that she overdid and needs to lose weight so she can return home, Naoe finds himself with other clients like Kuroeda and Oga. All three of the heroines appear in the key art for the series, alongside Naoe. The first trailer for the series first showed up in April 2024. 

While HIDIVE didn’t announce a release date for the Plus-Sized Elf anime, the official announcement for Japan pinned its release down to July 2024. The initial reveal also confirmed that Takahide Ishii will play Naoe, Ayase Ito will be Elfuda, Rena Hasegawa will be Kuroeda, and Ayaka Fukuhara will be Oga.

The Plus-Sized Elf anime adaptation will be streaming on HIDIVE in Summer 2024. The manga is available in English outside Japan via Seven Seas Entertainment, and it is currently running in Japan.

The post HIDIVE Picks Up Plus-Sized Elf Anime  appeared first on Siliconera.

HIDIVE confirmed that once Oshi no Ko season 2 begins airing in Japan in July 2024, it will also appear in English on the streaming service. People in countries like Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States will be able to watch it.

HIDIVE also shared the season 2 visual for Oshi no Ko ahead of its Japanese and English debut. There’s no text on it. Aqua Hoshino is front and center, with characters like Kana Arima and Akane Kurokawa behind him. It highlights everyone preparing for the Tokyo Blade stage play, which is a major part of the plot starting in volume 5 of the manga. 

A new teaser also appeared in Japan that showed people in the show alongside the characters they’ll play in Tokyo Blade. Akane plays the antagonist Sayahime alongside Aqua as Touki and Sakuya Kamoshida as Monme. Meanwhile, Taiki Himekawa is the lead Blade, with Kana as his ally Tsurugi and Melt Narushima as Kizami. 

Oshi no Ko season 1 is streaming on HIDIVE now. Season 2 will begin airing worldwide in July 2024. Volume 5 of Oshi no Ko is available now, and Yen Press will release volume 6 on May 21, 2024. 

The post Oshi no Ko Season 2 Will Be in English on HIDIVE in July appeared first on Siliconera.

The first season of the Oshi no Ko anime adaptation is done and, as anyone who also followed the manga may know, it proceeded a little differently. Namely, the pacing was a bit different. Basically the first volume was covered in its first episode. But considering the nature of the medium and the focus of this telling, it feels appropriate and like it benefits this version of the story.

Editor’s Note: There are spoilers for first episode of the Oshi no Ko anime adaptation, however there are no exact spoilers for any other episodes. j5a3h

[caption id="attachment_971412" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via Sentai Filmworks[/caption]

The most obvious design decision comes from the fact that the entirety of Ai’s portion of the story and all of Aqua and Ruby’s early life is reduced to a single episode in the Oshi no Ko anime adaptation. It basically speedruns through its early story. As the first volume of the manga was basically dedicated to Ai and the twins’ early life, the pacing set a different sort of tone. The start of the series ended up being more about Ai and establishing her. Here’s the choice means this is about Aqua and Ruby instead. The second episode picks up right as Aqua and Ruby are high schoolers. She’s desperate to attempt to become an idol like Ai. Aqua is still trying to find Ai’s killer by making his way through the entertainment industry. Right from the start, the viewer is drawn to the two of them, rather than their mother.

This choice also means that some of the focus is pulled away from Aqua. In the early parts of the manga, it can feel at times as though he is the main character, and Ruby is a ing lead. Because of the adaptation’s decision to speed things up a bit, it also makes things a bit more fair. We’re seeing her journey to become an idol proceed at a faster pace. Due to the way things proceeded in the manga, it felt like Aqua got a jump start on his goals first due to his working with Director Taishi Gotanda, getting the job on Sweet Today, and being cast in the reality dating show. In a way, I feel it helps benefit the story. It allows us to better compare what we know about her mother Ai and watch her rise a little more swiftly. The nature of a manga means you have the luxury of more time to build things up, while an anime needs to adjust its pacing to for the wealth of information and the audience’s attention.

[caption id="attachment_971413" align="alignnone" width="1200"] image via Sentai Filmworks[/caption]

The Oshi no Ko anime’s pacing doesn’t just benefit Aqua and Ruby, however. It works in Kana, Akane, and Mem-cho’s favor as well. For the first two volumes of the manga, Kana is the only other “younger” character of note, though she and the other two play larger roles in the story. This means in the first season we already get to see Kana’s dedication and what she went through in her journey to remain a relevant star, the sacrifices Mem-cho made to attempt to get attention, and the struggles Akane deals with from harassment. It allows for a more well-rounded view at the entertainment industry, even if some of the manga’s details are lost, for the sake of a show that covers more bases.

It’s an approach that works for the anime adaptation of Oshi no Ko for many reasons. Aqua and Ruby are the focal points, after all, as is their journey to become famous. While the manga’s tone is able to prioritize certain characters at certain times to allow the reader to build relationships with them, the anime feels designed to showcase the twin and their personal and professional journey. As such, the decisions to focus on certain elements and omit extra attention from others ensures their current affairs and connections to other characters are at the forefront. Aqua and Ruby are important in every telling in Oshi no Ko, it just makes sure it happens faster and the division of attention feels a little more equal early on.

The first season of the Oshi no Ko anime is streaming on HIDIVE, and the second will appear there as well. Yen Press is handling the localization of the manga.

Related: Where to Watch Oshi no Ko Anime on We Got This Covered

The post Oshi no Ko Anime Prioritizes Aqua and Ruby appeared first on Siliconera.

HIDIVE announced some of its new anime series at Anime Expo 2023. Some of them are returning series. For example, season 2 of Oshi no Ko, Spy Classroom, and The Dangers in My Heart are all confirmed. There are no exact dates for any of their debuts yet. Ragna Crimson will also come to the streaming service, with its premiere set for September 30, 2023. Level 1 Demon Lord and One Room Hero and The Dreaming Boy is a Realist will show up on July 3, 2023. As for dubs, The Dangers in My Heart and KAIJI: Ultimate Survivor ones are on the way.

A few teaser trailers appeared in the announcements for some of the shows. First, here's the one for The Dangers in My Heart season 2.

#HIDIVENEWS: The Dangers in My Heart Season 2 coming soon to HIDIVE! pic.twitter.com/jFtcbbBqpN

— HIDIVE (@HIDIVEofficial) July 2, 2023

Next is one for Ragna Crimson.

Ragna is ready to hunt all dragons of the world after experiencing an unfortunate future. Along the way, he meets an ally, Crimson. Will they win the battle or watch the world burn down? ⚔

Watch Ragna Crimson beginning September 30 only on HIDIVE! pic.twitter.com/QLLSh3pPFo

— HIDIVE (@HIDIVEofficial) July 2, 2023

Back when Oshi no Ko season 2 was announced, there was already a teaser trailer and video for an soundtrack with B-Komachi songs.

The post New HIDIVE Anime Includes Oshi no Ko and Spy Classroom Season 2 appeared first on Siliconera.

HIDIVE announced its Anime Expo 2023 plans, and it involves the North American premiere of five series. In one case, there’s the launch of both the original Japanese version with subtitles and the English dub. People who attend will get to see The Eminence in Shadow’s second season with English subs and dubs. Dark Gathering, Helck, Level 1 Demon Lord and One Room Hero, and The Most Heretical Last Boss Queen: From Villainess to Savior debuts will also appear.

Here’s the full schedule of what HIDIVE anime series will show up at Anime Expo 2023 and when. In the cases of Dark Gathering and Helck, both the first and second episodes will be shown instead of just the first one. All showings are taking place at the LA Convention Center except for Helck’s, which will be at the JW Marriott Platinum Ballroom.

• July 1, 2023 at 12:15pm PT: The Eminence in Shadow season 2 episode 1 subtitled at the LA Convention Center Main Events Hall.
• July 1, 2023 at 1:30pm PT: Helck episodes 1-2 at JW Marriott Platinum Ballroom
• July 1, 2023 at 5:30pm PT: Level 1 Demon Lord and One Room Hero  episode one at LA Convention Center Room 403
• July 2, 2023 at 12pm PT: The Most Heretical Last Boss Queen: From Villainess to Savior episode 1 at LA Convention Center Room 403
• July 2, 2023 at 8:30pm PT: Dark Gathering episode 1-2
• July 4, 2023 at 11am PT: The Eminence in Shadow season 2 episode 1 dubbed at the LA Convention Center Petree Hall.

HIDIVE will also have a booth at the event. It will be open July 1-4, 2023. People can find it in the South Lobby at SF13. People who visit can learn more about its series. There will also be giveaways. The announcement mentioned posters and trial subscription codes for the streaming service.

Anime Expo 2023 will run July 1-4, 2023 at the LA Convention Center in Los Angeles, California.

The post HIDIVE Anime Expo 2023 Schedule Involves 5 Anime Premieres appeared first on Siliconera.

The Oshi no Ko anime’s English dub is about to debut next week, and HIDIVE revealed all of its voice actors. On May 24, 2023, we will see both the English dub of episode one and the English simulcast of episode 7. The seventh episode will air at 8am PT/11am ET. After that, the English version of the first episode will appear at 9am PT/12pm ET.

Here’s the full list of English voice actors who will appear in the Oshi no Ko anime dub.

• Ai Hoshino: Donna Bella Litton
• Aqua (as a child): Chaney Moore
• Aqua (as a teenager): Jack Stansbury
• Gorou: Jeremy Gee
• Ichigo: Brandon Hearnsberger
• Kana: Natalie Rial
• Miyako: Christina Kelly
• Ruby (as a teenager and child): Alyssa Marek
• Sarina: Savanna Menzel
• Taishi: Ty Mahany

Some of the English voice actors already began sharing their thoughts about their roles on Twitter. For example, Aqua voice actor Stansbury and Kana actress Natalie Rial both spoke up about their performances.

Oshi no Ko is streaming on HIDIVE. Yen Press handles the English localization of the manga. The anime’s first Blu-ray and DVD volume will release in Japan on June 28, 2023. There's no news yet about a physical release of the anime outside Japan.

The post Oshi no Ko Anime’s English Dub Announced, Voice Actors Revealed appeared first on Siliconera.

Entertainment company AMC Networks acquired Sentai Holdings. Sentai Holdings is the parent company of Sentai Filmworks, a U.S. anime distributor and owner of the HIDIVE streaming service. It also owns the Anime Network cable video service and Sentai Studios, a localization and dubbing studio that services Sentai Filmworks-licensed properties. The move was finalized on January 5, 2022 and announced the same day, according to a report in The Hollywood Reporter.

AMC Networks (not to be confused with the cinema chain AMC Theatres) is itself a major entertainment company, holding the U.S. rights for services like BBC America, IFC, SundanceTV, WE tv, and Shudder. It also owns the cable channel AMC, the home channel of series like The Walking Dead, Mad Men, and Breaking Bad.

The move signals AMC's intent to add Sentai and HIDIVE's catalog of anime series and films to its stable. Japanese anime has become a field for entertainment companies to target as they compete for audiences. Companies like Netflix , Amazon, have bought exclusive rights to anime series, as well as co-produced original content for their own catalogs. Other companies with a foot in the anime space have also consolidated, such as with Sony's full acquisition of Crunchyroll.

As a streaming service, HIDIVE has distinguished itself by carrying older and more niche series in addition to seasonal offerings. Shows like Legend of the Galactic Heroes, Joshiraku, Girls und Panzer, and Made in Abyss call HIDIVE home in the U.S.

Neither Sentai nor AMC elaborated on their immediate plans following the acquisition, nor did they disclose the financial of the deal.

Sentai Filmworks-licensed anime are available streaming on HIDIVE and for sale in digital and physical outlets.

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