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Netflix Sets Five New Anime Titles, Unveils First Looks At ‘Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness’, ‘Yasuke’, More

Patrick Hipes
·9 min read

Netflix unpacked a swath of news during its Netflix Anime Festival 2020 livestream Tuesday out of Japan, setting five new anime projects and providing updates on 11 other series in various stages of production at the streamer’s bustling Tokyo headquarters.

The new original projects — continuation Rilakkuma’s Theme Park Adventure, manga-based Thermae Romae Novae, High-Rise Invasion and Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan, and The Way of the Househusband — were unveiled along with updates on 11 others previously announced including anime series based on franchises including Resident Evil, Transformers and Pacific Rim, Yasuke featuring the voice of Lakieth Stanfield, and the continuation of the manga tale Baki Hanma.

“In just four short years since launching our creative team in Tokyo, Netflix has expanded the reach and overall audience of anime – a category conventionally seen as niche,” Taiki Sakurai, Netflix’s Chief Producer, Anime, during the event. “Given the success of shows such as Seven Deadly Sins and Baki, we are excited now more than ever to challenge ourselves to expand our aspirational anime programming for fans around the world.”

Below are Netflix’s descriptions of the new projects, followed by updates on the lasted on series in the works:

NEW SERIES

Rilakkuma’s Theme Park Adventure
(Date TBA)

The production of the new series of Rilakkuma has been produced in stop-motion animation following the success of Rilakkuma and Kaoru. The series depicts an active day of incidents and meetings that take place when Rilakkuma, Korilakkuma, Kiiroitori, and Kaoru go play in an amusement park that is about to close. Director: Masahito Kobayashi, dwarf. Written by: Takashi Sumita & Makoto Ueda, Europe Kikaku. Animation production: dwarf studios, TYO Inc. Production: San-X Co., Ltd. Cast: Mikako Tabe (Kaoru).

Thermae Romae Novae
(Date TBA)

The very popular manga by Yamazaki Mari has been brought back to life in the present day in a new way (“Novae” means “new” in Latin). Based on the manga, new episodes created by Mari Yamazaki will also appear. Lucius, a bath designer in the Roman Empire, accidentally slips back in time to present day Japan and learns about Japanese bath culture in this comedy. Original manga: Mari Yamazaki. Animation production: NAZ

High-Rise Invasion
(Coming in 2021)

Based on the manga by Miura Tsuina (Ajin) and Takahiro Oba (Box!), this is an unpredictable and frightening survival story set in high-rise buildings that don’t reach the ground. The protagonist, Yuri, decides to survive in order to destroy this illogical world and kill the enemy wearing the “mask,” but what will she do? Original story: Tsuina Miura. Manga: Takahiro Oba. Director: Masahiro Takata. Series composition: Toko Machida. Character design, animation director: Yoichi Ueda. Music: tatsuo, Yoichi Sakai. Animation production: ZERO-G. Cast: Haruka Shiraishi, Shiki Aoki, Akira Sekine, Junya Enoki, Yuichiro Umehara.

Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan
(Coming in 2021)

This series consists of four strange episodes that Kishibe Rohan, the manga artist from JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Diamond is Unbreakable, saw and heard in a destination he visited to collect material for the manga. Based on a story by Hirohiko Araki and Shueisha Jump Comics. Director: Toshiyuki Kato. Character Designer: Shunichi Ishimoto. Animation production: david production. Cast: Takahiro Sakurai.

The Way of the Househusband
(Coming in 2021)

The most evil yakuza, Tatsu, is a legend in the underworld. He chose to walk away from the yakuza to become a full-time househusband! Based on a story by Kosuke Oono. Director: Chiaki Kon (Nodame Cantabile, Pretty Guardian, Sailor Moon Eternal the Movie) Series composition: Susumu Yamakawa. Production Studio: J.C.STAFF. Cast: Kenjiro Tsuda.

UPDATES ON UPCOMING TITLES

Netflix also updated fans on 11 upcoming anime titles previously announced.

Eden
(May 2021; cast announcement)

A completely new story from director Irie Yasuhiro and the creators of the world, this sci-fi fantasy follows Sarah, a girl raised by two robots, as she confronts the world. Director: Yasuhiro Irie. Character Design: Toshihiro Kawamoto. Writer: Kimiko Ueno. Concept Design: Christophe Ferreira. Background art director: Clover Xie. Music: Kevin Penkin. Producer: Justin Leach. Animation Production: Qubic Pictures and CGCG.

Cast: Marika Kono, Kentaro Ito, Kyoko Hikami, Koichi Yamadera

Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness
(2021; first-look debut)

Known as the gold standard of survival horror games with over 100 million units from the game series shipped worldwide, Resident Evil has now been transformed into a Netflix original CG anime series. Three years after 2017’s CG film “Resident Evil: Vendetta,” technology has further evolved, creating the groundwork for a new series in unprecedented full 3DCG animation. Original Work/Production/Supervision: Capcom Co., Ltd. Full 3DCG animation production: Quebico. Production: TMS Entertainment.

Vampire In The Garden
(2021; first-look debut)

Once upon a time, there was a world where vampires and humans lived together in “Paradise”. This is the story of a young girl, Momo, and the vampire queen, Fine, who traveled in search of “Paradise.” This is a completely new work by WIT STUDIO, well-known for “Attack on Titan” and talented creators. Director: Ryotaro Makihara. Assistant Director: Hiroyuki Tanaka. Character design & animation director: Tetsuya Nishio. Art director: Shunichiro Yoshihara. Animation Production: WIT STUDIO.

Yasuke
(2021; character design debut)

In a war-torn feudal Japan filled with mechs and magic, the greatest ronin never known, Yasuke, struggles to maintain a peaceful existence after a past life of violence. But when a local village becomes the center of social upheaval between warring daimyo, Yasuke must take up his sword and transport a mysterious child who is the target of dark forces and bloodthirsty warlords. The story of Yasuke, the first African samurai who actually served the legendary Oda Nobunaga, will be released to the world. Director, dreator, executive producer: LeSean Thomas. Character design: Takeshi Koike. Music & executive producer: Flying Lotus. Animation production: MAPPA. Cast: Lakieth Stanfield.

Godzilla Singular Point
(2021; teaser art)

This series features a brand new staff and original story which depicts the young geniuses Mei Kamino, a female researcher, and Yun Arikawa, a male engineer, as they take on an unprecedented threat with their companions. Director: Atsushi
Takahashi. Series composition & writer: Toh Enjoe. Character design: Kazue Kato. Kaiju design: Eiji Yamamori. Music: Kan Sawada. Animation Production: bones, Orange.

Pacific Rim: The Black
(2021; first-look debut)

There was a time when Kaiju rose from the Pacific Rim only to encounter gigantic robots, Jaegers, built to fight them back. That time has passed. Now, Australia has been overrun by Kaiju, forcing the evacuation of an entire continent. Left behind, teenage siblings Taylor and Hayley embark on a desperate search for their missing parents, teaching themselves to pilot a battered, long-abandoned Jaeger to help in their quest and give them even the slightest hope of surviving. Co-showrunners: Craig Kyle and Greg Johnson. Production company: Legendary Entertainment. Animation Production: Polygon Pictures

Transformers: War for the Cybertron Trilogy
(TBA; poster art N/A)

The War For Cybertron continues with the second chapter, EARTHRISE! With the Allspark gone, Megatron is forced to confront the harsh reality that his Decepticons are trapped on a dying Cybertron while also fighting off the persistent threat of Elita-1 and her Autobots. Meanwhile, lost in the darkest reaches of space, Optimus Prime and his team embark on a desperate mission that will push them to the breaking point as they travel to uncharted new worlds to face spacefaring mercenaries, enigmatic figures from long ago and even their own creators…the Quintessons. Creator: F.J. DeSanto, Matt Murray. Production Company: Hasbro, Rooster Teeth. Animation Production: Polygon Pictures.

Trese
(2021; first-look debut)

Set in Manila where the mythical creatures of Philippine folklore live in hiding amongst humans, Alexandra Trese finds herself going head to head with a criminal underworld composed of malevolent supernatural beings. Creator: Budjette Tan and KaJO Baldisimo. Executive producer: Jay Oliva. Producer: Shanty Harmayn, Tanya Yuson. Animation production: BASE Entertainment.

B: The Beginning Succession
(2021; first-look debut)

After Keith and Koku solved the incidents successfully, the world has regained its composure. In the months since then, Keith returns to the RIS to conduct his own investigation, and Koku is living a peaceful life with Yuna. They are visited by Kirisame, who was once supposed to have broken up with Kurou in death at the Faura Blanca Institute. Original: Kazuto Nakazawa, Production I.G. Supervising Director: Kazuto Nakazawa. Director: Itsuro Kawasaki. Series Composition: Kazuto Nakazawa, Katsunari Ishida. Character Design: Kazuto Nakazawa, Akane Yano, Hideoki Kusama. Animation Production: Production I.G. Cast: Yuki Kaji, Hiroaki Hirata, Asami Seto, Satomi Sato.

Baki Hanma
(2021; special illustration by Keisuke Itagaki)

The story finally unfolds into a full-blooded clash between Baki Hanma and his father, Yujiro Hanma, who is known as the “strongest creature on earth.” The climax of the Baki universe, which depicted the “strongest parent-child brawl in history of the world” in the original manga, has been adapted into the long-awaited anime! Original manga: Keisuke Itagaki. Animation production: TMS Entertainment. Cast: Nobunaga Shimazaki.

Spriggan
(2021; teaser PV debut)

The legendary manga that took the world by storm in the 1990s has been vividly brought to this animated series by utilizing 2D drawings and 3DCG. The legacy of an outstanding civilization that once existed on this planet is said to still be hidden in various parts of the world. The military of major powers has intervened in the excavation and research of this mysterious and powerful heritage, and has begun battling over it. At the same time, an organization called “Spriggan” is working to seal up this ancient civilization. This is a high speed action series featuring battles over ancient relics! Based on a story by Hiroshi Takashige and Ryoji Minagawa, Shogakukan. Director: Hiroshi Kobayashi. Series composition and writer: Hiroshi Seko. Character design: Shuhei Handa. Animation production: david production.

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