Welcome back, hunters and heroes!
We have officially crossed the threshold into the final month of 2025. As the year winds down, the anime industry is doing anything but slowing down. The transition from late November into the first week of December has been absolutely packed with headline-grabbing announcements, massive physical media drops for collectors, and premiere dates that are already setting up 2026 to be a powerhouse year.
Whether you are a collector looking to fill your shelf with the latest Blu-rays, a manga reader mourning the end of a favorite series, or a seasonal watcher keeping up with the Fall 2025 simulcasts, this week had something for you.
🌍 The Big Headlines: Global Announcements & Premieres
The news cycle between November 30 and December 7 was dominated by future-proofing, with studios revealing what we will be watching in January and beyond.
1. The Return of World Trigger
Perhaps the most buzzing news of the week is the revelation regarding the World Trigger reboot project. While details are still trickling in, the announcement alone has reignited the fanbase. World Trigger has always been a strategic masterpiece in the shonen genre, and a “reboot project” suggests a fresh, high-budget take is on the horizon. This was a major talking point in the ANN newsroom updates this week.
2. Ranma 1/2 Season 2 Adds Star Power
The modernization of the classic Rumiko Takahashi series continues to impress. It was officially announced that the legendary voice actor Jun Fukuyama (known for Code Geass and Persona 5) has joined the cast of Ranma 1/2 Season 2. Casting news of this caliber usually hints at the introduction of a pivotal, charismatic character, raising the stakes for the upcoming season.
3. January 2026 Premiere Dates Locked In
As we look toward the Winter 2026 season, several key dates were confirmed this week:
- Hell Mode: The highly anticipated adaptation is set to debut on January 9.
- Oedo Fire Slayer -The Legend of Phoenix-: This title dropped its first promotional video, revealing staff, cast, and a confirmed premiere date of January 11.
- Tamon’s B-Side: Fans were treated to a second trailer this week, confirming a streaming debut for New Year's Day, January 1, 2026.
4. Franchise Expansions & Movie News
- Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway: The mystery juggernaut continues to roll. A new promotional video and key visual were unveiled, keeping the hype train moving for the franchise.
- Zombie Land Saga Film: International release dates are finally solidifying, with the film set to hit theaters in Taiwan on December 24, making for a very idol-filled Christmas eve.
- Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Season 2: In a massive win for Southeast Asian fans, Muse Asia officially announced they have licensed the second season of this beloved fantasy masterpiece.
📺 The Streaming Report: What We Watched
While we wait for new shows, the Fall 2025 simulcast season is firing on all cylinders. Here is what dominated the screens this week.
The "Egghead Arc" Continues
For One Piece fans, the weekend of December 7 was momentous. Episode 1152, titled “Her Father and Mother's Legacy! Bonney's Nika Punch,” aired at 9:00 AM IST (and corresponding global times). The episode continued the emotional and action-packed climax of the Egghead Arc. The animation quality for this arc has been consistently high, and this episode’s focus on Bonney’s heritage was a tear-jerker for many.
Crunchyroll & HIDIVE Updates
The Fall 2025 simulcast lineup remains strong. This week saw new episodes for:
- Case Closed (Detective Conan)
- Dragon Raja II
- Gachiakuta (The gritty art style continues to be a fan favorite)
- Solo Camping for One Person (The ultimate “comfy” show of the season)
On the HIDIVE front, the platform made waves at Anime Frontier by announcing the acquisition of Chained Soldier Season 2 and the English dub premiere for Dusk Beyond the End of the World, ensuring their subscriber base stays locked in for the coming months.
💿 The Collector’s Vault: Physical Media Releases
If you love owning your anime, the period between Nov 30 and Dec 6 was dangerous for your bank account. Both North American and Japanese markets saw significant drops.
North American Shelves
Distributors in North America cleared the decks for the holiday shopping season. We saw a mix of heavy hitters and cult favorites hitting Blu-ray and DVD:
- Dandadan (Season 1, Part 1): This was arguably the biggest release of the week. With the anime's explosion in popularity, the physical release is a must-have for collectors.
- Delicious in Dungeon (Part 1): Trigger’s fantasy cooking adventure finally hit shelves.
- The Eminence in Shadow (Season 2, Part 2): Shadow Garden completists can finally finish their Season 2 collection.
Japanese Imports
Over in Japan, the release schedule was just as aggressive, specifically around December 3:
- Limited Editions: Collectors saw the release of I May Be a Guild Receptionist, But I'll Solo Any Boss to Clock Out on Time (Vol 5) and Ruri Rocks (Vol 3).
- Dandadan Vol 7: The Japanese home video release schedule is keeping pace with the manga's popularity.
- Music/Media: A special maxi-single with DVD for Kasahara Hiroko and Black Flame also launched, catering to the audiophile segment of the fandom.
📚 Manga & Light Novels: The Printed Word
New Releases & Schedules
Around December 4, publishers released the comprehensive schedule for the remainder of December 2025. This list included massive drops for My Hero Academia, Jujutsu Kaisen, and Chainsaw Man. These aren't just books; they are global bestsellers, and their release usually signals a rush at bookstores worldwide.
Endings and Beginnings
- The End of an Era: We said goodbye to Luna Knight and the Candy Box Creations 1-shot series, both of which concluded their runs this week.
- New Blood: It’s not all sad news. Toriko Chiya (creator of Tokyo Alice) launched a brand new manga series. Additionally, on December 12 (announced this week), Tow Ubukata and Hikaru Tanaka will launch Anastasia of the Blood Pact, a title that already sounds like it has “anime adaptation” written all over it.
- Novel News: That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime fans have a long wait but a bright future, with a side story series announced for 2026.
🎟️ The Event Horizon: Conventions, Cafes & Pop-Ups
Anime isn't just something we watch; it's somewhere we go. From Tokyo to London to Southern California, the IRL (In Real Life) scene was buzzing.
1. Global Activations
- Southern California Scene: The first week of December saw a flurry of fan meetups and conventions across Southern California, continuing the region's reputation as a western hub for anime culture.
- London Calling: Bandai Namco expanded its global footprint by opening a pop-up experience in Hamleys, London. For UK fans, this is a major opportunity to grab official merchandise without paying import fees.
- Tokyo Highlights:
- Gintama Class 3-Z: The collaboration event at Namjatown in Ikebukuro wrapped up its run on November 30. Fans who made it in time enjoyed themed mini-games, exclusive food, and rare merchandise.
- Awards Season: The AACA 2025 gala was held on December 4, where the stop-motion series My Melody & Kuromi took home the prestigious Best Animation award, proving that Sanrio's charm is timeless.
2. Industry Power Move: Kadokawa Acquires Sozo
In a massive business development that will impact Southeast Asia, Japanese publishing giant Kadokawa announced the acquisition of Sozo.
- Why this matters: Sozo is the organizer behind Anime Festival Asia (AFA), one of the largest J-culture events in the region. This acquisition signals Kadokawa's intent to directly control and supercharge the convention experience in Asia.
🇮🇳 The India Spotlight: The "Desi" Otaku Report
The Indian market is currently one of the most aggressive battlegrounds for anime streaming, and this week (Nov 30–Dec 7) proved it with a massive push for regional accessibility.
1. The Dub Revolution (Hindi, Tamil, Telugu)
Crunchyroll is doubling down on localization. The platform launched a slate of regional dubs this week that is arguably the most diverse we’ve seen yet:
- Spy x Family Season 3: The Hindi dub premiered on November 30, with Tamil and Telugu dubs following shortly after on December 14.
- One-Punch Man Season 3: In a massive win for regional fans, Tamil and Telugu dubs were dated for December 22.
- Campfire Cooking in Another World (Season 2): Accessibility for this cozy isekai expanded with Tamil and Telugu dubs dropping on December 3.
- Ongoing Simuldubs: Hindi audiences are currently enjoying simulcasts for My Status as an Assassin Obviously Exceeds the Hero's and A Wild Last Boss Appeared!.
2. Theatrical & Streaming News
- Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution Film: Anticipation is at a fever pitch. The release date for India was updated to December 12, as spotted via listings on “District by Zomato”.
- Goodbye, Don Glees!: In a surprising move to court new fans, this anime film began streaming for free on YouTube in India during this period, lowering the barrier of entry for high-quality anime films.
- The Shinkai Collection: Crunchyroll announced that all eight Makoto Shinkai films (including hits like Your Name and Weathering With You) will be available exclusively in India starting December 2025.
3. TV Broadcasts: The Old Guard
While streaming grows, traditional TV remains a powerhouse in India:
- Sony YAY: Continues to air Mobile Suit Gundam at 11:00 PM, bringing mecha action to late-night slots.
- Disney Channel: Aired the Doraemon New Movie premiere on November 14, with reruns continuing to dominate the 6:30 PM slot.
- Nostalgia Watch: One Punch Man Season 1 saw airtime on November 22 at 10:00 PM, leading into the current Season 3 hype.
4. Community Buzz
Social media platforms like Anime Source India and Anime News India were lit up this week regarding the Code Geass franchise. The reveal of the new anime (Code Geass Hoshi Oi no Aspar) and the manga adaptation by Tomofumi Ogasawara (Dec 7) generated significant discussion, proving the Lelouch fanbase remains dormant but dangerous in the region.
🔮 Looking Ahead: What’s Next?
As we close out the week of December 7, all eyes turn to the mid-month releases.
- Watch out for: The Indian theatrical release of the Jujutsu Kaisen film on Dec 12.
- Stream it: Campfire Cooking dubs are now live.
- Read it: New Chainsaw Man and JJK volumes are hitting shelves now.
That wraps up this week’s massive Otaku Almanac! Whether you are in Tokyo, Los Angeles, or Mumbai, it’s a great time to be an anime fan.
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