NBCUniversal Japan Anime Industry Panel
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I was granted the opportunity to attend the NBCUniversal Japan Anime Industry Panel, which produced a lot of different animes. A timeline that stemmed from Golden Kamuy, Serial Experiment Lain, Berserk, and over 30 years of anime under their belt. Their newest additions which were being announced which were From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman, How I Attended An- All Guys Mixer, Reincarnated as a Sword Season two along with “A Wild Last Boss Appeared” announced for the very first time within this panel. All of these series will be uploaded onto HiDive.
Here is a trailer provided by NBCUniversal Japan
First Impressions from NBCUniversal Japan Anime Industry Panel
My first impression from From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman trailer was a total culture shock. Anything is possible when the right conditions come into play. A solid anime needs an event that will shape the main character and contribute toward the final result.
Beryl Gardinant, a self-proclaimed “humble old man,” is a sword instructor at his dojo in a rural, backwater village. In his younger years, he dreamed of glory as a master swordsman, but those days are long behind him. Out of the blue, he receives a visit from a famous former pupil who brings him world-shattering news—he’s been appointed as a special instructor for the knights of the Liberion Order!
With his life now turned upside down, Beryl travels to the capital and reunites with some of his former students: elite knights, an ace wizard, and even an adventurer who’s attained the highest guild rank possible. But why do they all want his tutelage?! As far as he’s concerned, they clearly don’t need him anymore. Can Beryl live up to his new position? And will he ever get a moment’s peace away from his adoring students?!
Sources: Liam Dempsey of Crunchyroll News & Comic Natalie
Next comes How I attended an All-Guys Mixer.
My first impression of “How I Attended an All-Guys Mixer” gave me Ouran High School Host Club vibes. According to Wikipedia, a Mixer is
A singles’ event is an activity or program made available specifically to the romantically unattached, often with the underlying or explicit purpose of fostering dating or relationships among attendees.
A singles event with a cocktail party-type atmosphere is also sometimes referred to as a mixer
Once realizing what a mixer was about, this definitely was a perfect slice-of-life anime opportunity. There are definitely some surprises within the trailer that piqued my interest.
How I Attended an All-Guy’s Mixer, a romantic comedy manga by Nana Aokawa, is being adapted into a TV anime. The original How I Attended an All-Guy’s Mixer manga is serialized in Square Enix’s Gangan Online shojo manga magazine, and an English language version is also available on the MangaUp! app. The series was previously adapted into a live-action television drama that broadcast from October – December 2022 on Kansai TV and Tokyo MX. No additional details (such as the cast, the staff, or the release window) have yet been revealed for the series.
Sources: Paul Chapman of Crunchyroll News & Comic Natalie
Next comes “Reincarnated as a Sword”
Since NBCUniversal made it VERY clear that recording was prohibited within this panel, here is a trailer showing what the anime is about. I haven’t watched Reincarnated as a Sword in its entirety. My first impression was there was a lot of comedy and a unique dynamic between SwordDad and his daughter.
Reincarnated as a Sword
Known as Tensei Shitara Ken Deshita in Japan, the original Reincarnated as Sword light novels are written by Yuu Tanaka and published by Micro Magazine under their GC Novels imprint. The manga version, also written by Yuu Tanaka with illustrations by Tomowo Maruyama, is serialized in Comic Boost. Seven Seas Entertainment releases the English language versions of both the light novel and manga. HIDIVE currently streams the Reincarnated as a Sword TV anime, and describes the story:
Some isekai protagonists are reincarnated as powerful warriors or skilled wizards, but our protagonist was reborn in another life as a sentient sword! He’s taken up by Fran, a desperate girl fleeing evil-doers intent on selling her into slavery. With her new weapon’s help and guidance, she’s able to strike down her captors and secure her freedom. Together, this unconventional master-student duo embark on an epic journey to liberate those in need and exact justice on the cruel of heart.Sources: Paul Chapman of CrunchyRoll News & The Official Reincarnated as a Sword Twitter
Last but not least, A Wild Last Boss Appeared was unveiled. Originally being a fantasy light novel, there is an anime adaptation in production. I can’t wait to see the trailer for it. NBCUniversal presented a teaser of what the art style detailed. It looks amazing and I wish I knew more of what it was about. I usually don’t do light novels because anime is more of my preference when it comes to consuming content.
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The year is 2800 and Lufas Maphaahl – The Black-Winged Tyrant, Great Conqueror, and leader of the Twelve Heavenly Stars – has returned. A man wakes up in the body of his MMO character 200 years after her defeat during an player-made event in the game, Exgate Online. Now, he’s stuck in her body. But this isn’t a game, it’s real. With her reign long over, and her legacy one of fear, Lufas must journey through the world of Exgate, looking for answers, possible comrades, and all the monsters her “death” unleashed upon the world…
Sources: Liam Dempsey of CrunchyRoll News & J-Novel Club
By the end of the presentation, I gave the host at the NBCUniversal Japan Anime Industry Panel a business card since they were requesting it from members of the press who attended. Overall this panel was a great opportunity to get your feet wet and immerse yourself into something completely new or to reinforce yourself to something that you are already familiar with.
Stay tuned for more from Anime NYC 2024.
