2023 is shaping up to be a good year for anime fans — between new seasons of returning anime and older titles making a comeback, there’s a lot of excitement laying in wait. Leading to the seasonal spring slate in April, enthusiasts have relived the nostalgia with Trigun Stampede, revisited the criminal lifestyle in Tokyo Revengers, dived back into the world of Vinland Saga, and returned to Yokohama in the fourth season of Bungou Stray Dogs.
That’s just a small taste of what the anime landscape is offering this year, however. Here are some of the biggest announcements unveiled at the AnimeJapan 2023 event, which is being held from 25 to 28 March, that should keep the hype wave going.
Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 Details
After a couple of teases, the second season of Jujutsu Kaisen has finally gotten an official premiere date. The highly-anticipated anime will return on 6 July, with a new poster highlighting the happy days of Gojo and Toji’s friendship before everything went south. Takehito Koyasu (Dio in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure) and relative newcomer Anna Nagase were also announced as part of the new cast roster, stepping in as the voice roles for Toji and Riko respectively.
Spy x Family CODE: White Movie & Season 2 Details
The festive season is about to get a little more livelier, as the Spy x Family anime movie is heading to theatres on 22 December in Japan. Titled CODE: White, the all-new work — which received a new visual during AnimeJapan 2023 — will feature an original story supervised by original manga creator Tatsuya Endo. Additional information about the anime’s second season was announced as well, including an October release window and the return of Kazuhiro Furuhashi as director.
Blue Lock Anime Movie & Season 2 Teaser
The football fever continues to burn in Blue Lock, which is getting a second season and anime movie. A release date has yet to be set for both projects, but the website confirms six new cast members and their respective characters: Yuichi Nakamura as Ryusei Shido, Makoto Furukawa as Tabito Karasu, Kengo Kawanishi as Eita Otoya, Takuya Eguchi as Kenyu Yukimiya, Hiro Shimono as Julian Loki, and Shin’ichiro Kamio as Leonardo Luna.
Not much else is known about the feature, except that it’ll be based on the Blue Lock: Episode Nagi spinoff manga, which follows Seishiro Nagi before he enters the titular Blue Lock facility.
Trigun Stampede Season 2 Teaser
Vash the Stampede isn’t done leading the outlaw life just yet. Following the airing of its 12th and final episode in the first season, the official account for Trigun Stampede announced on Twitter that the “final phase” of the series is coming soon. The teaser didn’t reveal any other information, including a release window or story details, but it’s bound to be an action-packed treat for fans.
First Look At My Hero Academia Season 7
It’s full speed ahead for My Hero Academia. Hot on the heels of Season 6, a trailer for the seventh season dropped during the AnimeJapan event, teasing a climatic lead-up to the final phase of the series. While the 22-second reel hardly gives anything away, manga readers will likely connect the dots and prepare for the major events to come.
Romi Park, known for voicing Edward Elric in Fullmetal Alchemist and Hitsugaya Toshiro in Bleach, has also been added to the cast. She will voice the character Star and Stripe when the new season lands sometime in the near future.
New Rurouni Kenshin Anime Details
A comeback in the works, Rurouni Kenshin is set to slice its way to the small screen this July. The re-adaptation of the main manga series by Nobuhiro Watsuki, who was charged for possession of child pornography in 2017, received a new trailer and key visual during AnimeJapan 2023, which also unveiled two more cast members: Yuma Uchida as Shinomori Aoshi, and Saori Onshi as Takani Megumi.
Digimon Adventure 02 Movie Teaser
23 years after the defeat of the Digimon Emperor, more adventures await the now-grown Digidestined Children in Digimon Adventure 02. The upcoming feature will begin screening in Japan on 27 October, with a new teaser and character visuals showing protagonist Daisuke Motomiya (Davis Motomiya in English) and the crew at 20 years old.
First Look At Re: Zero Season 3
Gear up for a return to the world of Re: Zero, as the anime has been renewed for a third season titled Starting Life in Another World. Additional details, such as staff and release date, are unknown, but this should come as pleasant news for fans regardless — especially with a new, separate game slated for launch as well.
Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King 2nd Movie Trailer
Delayed from its initial 2023 premiere, Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King is now on track for a 16 June release on Netflix. The anime movie tells an original story supervised by original creator Yuuki Tabata that revolves around the former Wizard King Conrad, with a new trailer unveiled at AnimeJapan 2023 showing Asta and his friends facing off against a dangerous enemy. Expect slick visuals and thrilling fight sequences.