It’s that time of year again: cherry blossoms are falling and April Fools’ Day jokes are flying. Japan’s anime, manga, and video game industries are fun enough to partake in this tradition every year. Here are some of the highlights of 2022:
made in abyss
made in abyss‘s Prushka takes the director’s seat in a visual parody Indiana Jones movie posters
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love live!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2m93VzCi8Xg
the love live! franchise teased “Genjitsu no Yohane -Sunshine in the Mirror-“, a new anime featuring the chuunibyou-afflicted idol Yohane as a magical girl, apparently scheduled for 2023. g magazine‘s love live! Days magazine is serializing illustrations and a comic.
house of shadows
house of shadows teases a “live action movie” (with puppets) with a 7-minute preview.
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Kaguya-sama: Love is war
The series released an image of the “hidden side” for the Kaguya-sama wa Kokurasetai -Ultra Romantic- representing the Four Ramen Emperors of Tokyo.
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The angel next door pampers me rotten
She can be your angel or your devil… The series releases an alternate version of the anime’s key image showing the heroine Mahiru in her “little devil” form.
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Stuck in a dating sim: Otome game world is rough for mafias
The anime released a promotional video for high love, the fictional otome game in which the story takes place. The PV features handsome male love interests Julius Rapha Holfort, Jilk Fia Marmoria, Brad Fou Field, Chris Fia Arclight, and Greg Fou Seberg. The video also previews the voice actors. kenichi suzumura, kousuke toriumi, Shinnosuke Tachibana, kōji yusaand Nobuyuki HiyamaThe theme song for “Supreme Love Star”. The song will be released on streaming music services on April 10.
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a couple of cuckoos
The anime releases a “cat” version of its main image.
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Teasing Master Takagi
The series released a free online puzzle game, titled “Nishikata Quest Online”. By completing the game, you can re-experience the final episode of the TV anime.
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blue lane
The strategy game reinvents itself as a super robot warBattle RPG in style with a teaser video.
Explosion dream!
The musical rhythm game released a short playable spin-off game on its website that reimagines itself as a romance visual novel.
Tensei Kenja no Isekai Life
The protagonist Yuji wins another class to become the strongest, not as a sage, but as an amateur bodybuilder.
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Nekopara
neko works announces a dog version of the Catgirl-themed visual novel series, titled Inupara: the dog’s paradise. raise stars six different female dogs, each representing a popular breed. The game’s protagonist is a college student who eschews the usual social life to spend quality time with his two dogs. One day, he wakes up to find his faithful dogs transformed into little girls.
The hypothetical game opening video is streaming on Youtube and includes the theme song “Inu no Ōta” by singer Nanahira.
Don’t hurt me, my healer! & healer girl
The two healer-themed anime released a crossover image.
Masamune-kun’s Revenge
the Masamune-kun’s Revenge The anime released a comic strip jokingly announcing a “season 3”. In the illustration, Yoshino Koiwai is shown reaching for a sign that reads “Season 3 Production Confirmed,” while Aki Adagaki points, “What are you doing? Before you can announce Season 3, you have to announce Season 2!” Delete that!”