InThis Week in Animation News, I’ll take a look at the previous week in the world of animation in order to get you caught up on everything you might have missed. It’s your one-stop shop for news regarding cartoons, anime, and animated web series. We’re talking movies, TV shows, digital shorts, and everything in between!
For the latest animation stories we’ve already covered on the site this week, take a look at the following links. Then, check out a selection of new stories below. Be sure to let us know your thoughts in the comments!
Netflix Sets New and Returning Anime Series in Anime Expo Announcement
As part of their NETFLIX ANIME panel at Anime Expo,Netflixannounced two new anime series, along with the renewal of popular seriesAggretsukofor a second season, as well as date announcements and first look images for upcoming titles in their growing anime slate, including the following:
Following the announcements, Netflix Director of Content for Japan & AnimeJohn Derderianmoderated a panel featuring key anime creatorsLeSean Thomas(Cannon Busters),Adi Shankar(Castlevania) andShinji Higuchi(Dragon Pilot). On the upcoming anime projects, Derderian noted “As Netflix has grown around the world we have been astounded by the broad reach and great depth of anime fandom. We are partnering with the best global creators to produce a diverse slate of shows that we hope will excite the boundless passion of anime fans and make Netflix a premier destination for this beloved art form.”
Take a look at the release date details, synopses and first-look images for new and returning series below!
CastlevaniaSeason 2
Returning to Netflix for a second season, Castlevania, inspired by the classic videogame series, is a dark medieval fantasy following the last surviving member of the disgraced Belmont clan, trying to save Eastern Europe from extinction at the hand of Vlad Dracula Tepes himself. Trevor Belmont, last survivor of his house, is no longer alone, and he and his misfit comrades race to find a way to save humanity from extinction at the hands of the grief-maddened Dracula and his sinister vampire war council.
CastlevaniaSeason 2 will launch on Netflix on July 27, 2025.
‘ULTRAMAN’
An action drama centered around a man possessing the spirit and DNA of the legendary hero “Ultraman” as he wears a metallic ultra suit and fights against evil.
‘Aggretsuko’ Season 2
Everyone’s favorite death metal panda is back! Retsuko will return to Netflix for Aggretsuko Season 2. Produced by Fanworks and featuring a character originally created by Sanrio, the creator of Hello Kitty, season two of Aggretsuko is coming to Netflix.
‘GODZILLA: City on the Edge of Battle’
The sequel to GODZILLA: Planet of the Monsters, this epic re-imagining of the Godzilla world in a futuristic setting pits humans and robots against the biggest Godzilla ever seen in an interplanetary struggle for survival.
Godzilla: City on the Edge of Battlewill launch on Netflix on June 09, 2025.
‘Kengan Ashura’
Kazuo Yamashita is an ordinary fifty-six year old man who one day is summoned by the chairman of his company and hired as a gladiator. He learns that these hired gladiators engage in battles called “Kengan Matches: to protect the corporate rights of the businesses they represent. Kazuo Yamashita is assigned to battle a mysterious Kengan fighter named Ohma Tokita. Both men join the “Kengan Zetsumei Tournament” with the hope of winning the spot as chairman of the Kengan Organization.
‘Dragon Pilot’
Recently stationed Air Self-Defence Force rookie Hisone Amakasu is chosen by a dragon concealed within Gifu Air Base to be his pilot.
Dragon Pilotwill launch on Netflix on July 19, 2025.
‘Cannon Busters’
The show follows the adventures and exploits of S.A.M, a high-end friendship droid who’s joined by a quirky, discarded maintenance robot and a brash, deadly fugitive. Together, the unlikely trio embarks on an unforgettable journey in a fantastic and dangerous world in search of S.A.M’s best friend, the heir to a kingdom under siege.
Cannon Busters will launch on Netflix on August 19, 2025.
VIZ Media Teases ‘My Hero Academia: Vigilantes’ in New Manga Trailer; Could an Animated Series Be on the Way?
ReadFREE chaptersof the new My Hero Academia spinoff in Shonen Jump!
In a world where 80 percent of the population has super powers, “Heroes” are chosen ones, celebrated and authorized to use their innate powers to serve society. But not everyone can earn or be given the title of Hero, and those who use their powers without society’s approval to fight evil are known by another name - Vigilantes!
Be sure to head over toVIZfor a breakdown on the new manga from artistBetten Courtand writerHideyuki Furuhashi, the spin-off of the hit seriesMy Hero AcademiabyKohei Horikoshi, as well as a bonus peek at the pages themselves!
Nickelodeon’s ‘The Loud House’ Spin-off Series ‘Los Casagrandes’ Gets 20-Episode Order
Nickelodeon recently announced it has greenlit 20 episodes ofLos Casagrandes(working title), a spinoff of animated hitThe Loud House.Los Casagrandesfollows Lincoln Loud’s friend Ronnie Anne and her extended family, the Casagrandes, living together in the big city and exploring the endless possibilities urban life has to offer. The greenlight comes on the heels of a successful premiere week ofThe Loud House, ranking as the number one show across television with Kids 2-11 and Kids 6-11 (6/25/18-6/28/18).
“Nickelodeon is proud to expand The Loud House universe by offering a new perspective on family life with Los Casagrandes,” saidChris Viscardi, Nickelodeon’s Senior Vice President of Animation Production and Development. “There’s no better time than today to tell stories about a kid growing up in a loving, multi-generational, diverse family.”
Los Casagrandesfeatures Ronnie Anne and her brother Bobby Santiago as they adjust to their new life in Great Lakes City, where they now live with their big, loving and chaotic multi-generational family, the Casagrandes. In the series, Ronnie Anne makes new friends, build stronger bonds with her relatives and explores the endless possibilities of city life. Bobby helps Grandpa Hector run the family’s corner store, and becomes familiar with the neighborhood’s quirky characters.
The Casagrandefamily was first introduced in theThe Loud Housespecial, “The Loudest Mission: Relative Chaos,” which was recently nominated for an Imagen Award. The family will continue to appear throughoutThe Loud Houseseason three, currently airing on Nickelodeon, and will be featured in a five-episode arc in season four.The Loud Housecenters on 11-year-old Lincoln Loud and his ten sisters as he gives an inside look at what it takes to survive the chaos of a huge family.
The Loud Houseis co-executive produced byMike Rubiner(KaBlam!), who will also serve as co-executive producer onLos Casagrandesalongside producerKaren Malach. Award-winning cartoonistLalo Alcaraz(Coco) will serve as a cultural consultant and consulting producer for the five-episode arc ofThe Loud Housefeaturing the Casagrandes.
Cartoon Network Greenlights ‘Elliott from Earth’ from ‘The Amazing World of Gumball’ Team
AsVarietyreports, Nickelodeon isn’t the only network ordering up a new 20-episode animated series. From the team behindThe Amazing World of GumballcomesElliott from Earth, a sci-fi sitcom centered on a human boy living on a spacecraft alongside a dinosaur and a collection of aliens gathered from all corners of the universe. The network’s announcement said, “It’s a show about finding your place in the world."
Elliott from Earthhails from creatorGuillaume Cassuto, previously a scriptwriter and composition supervisor onGumball; that show’s scriptwriting, storyboarding and editing team will bring the new series to life as well with production aiming to start in September.
Here’s what Cassuto had to say about the project:
“Elliott’s story has been in the back of my mind for a long time, and working my way through a number of different roles on ‘Gumball’ gave me a unique look into how to bring such a project to life. I’m beyond excited to have the chance to introduce Elliott to the world, and very proud to have this amazing team with me for the ride.”
Dakota Fanning and Kōichi Yamadera Join Rooster Teeth’s ‘gen:LOCK’
At Anime Expo during the Rooster Teeth Animation panel,Gray G. Haddock, Head of Rooster Teeth Animation and showrunner on Rooster Teeth’s upcoming anime-style series,gen:LOCK, announced two additions to thegen:LOCKvoice cast:Dakota Fanning(The Alienist, Twilight Saga) andKōichi Yamadera(Cowboy Bebop, Ghost in the Shell).
Ingen:LOCK, Earth’s last free society is on the losing side of a global war, and recruits a diverse team of young pilots to control the next generation of giant, weaponized robot bodies known as mecha. These daring recruits will find, however, that their newfound abilities come at no small cost. As previously announced,Michael B. Jordanwill voice the main character, Julian Chase. Fanning will voice expert mech pilot and Chase’s love interest, Miranda Worth. Yamadera-san will voice the character Kazu Iida, one of the new recruits transferring from Japan’s military forces, to fight alongside Chase in the gen:LOCK program.
gen:LOCKis the second anime-style series and third 3D animated series from Rooster Teeth Animation.RWBY, entering its sixth season this fall, is a global anime phenomenon conceived by the lateMonty Oum. Red vs. Blue is Rooster Teeth’s first 3D animated series that began as a machinima production before incorporating custom animation, and is the longest running web series of all time. Outlier Productions, Jordan’s production company, is co-producinggen:LOCKalong with Rooster Teeth.
“We’re thrilled to announce Dakota and Yamadera-san are joining the cast of gen:LOCK,” said Haddock. “Dakota brings an endearing energy and texture to Miranda that the audience is going to bond with very strongly. Yamadera-san gives Kazu a fantastic balance of attitude and strength, and as anime fans we’re doing our best not to geek out that he’s joined the cast.”
Stay tuned for more announcements about gen:LOCK.gen:LOCKwill premiere in January 2019 exclusively on Rooster Teeth, available for iOS, Android, Xbox One, Apple TV, and at RoosterTeeth.com with memberships starting at $4.99 a month.
