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Funimation Unveils Full SimulDub Premiere Lineup


Check your subscriptions and prepare the popcorn! Funimation is ready to open the floodgates on the season.

Earlier today, Funimation unveiled the première schedule for their SimulDub lineup. The full lineup (so far) is as follows:

  • Junji Ito Collection: 1/20/2018
  • Katana Maidens: Toji no Miko: 1/21/2018
  • Pop Team Epic: 1/22/2018
  • Touken Ranbu: Hanamaru 2: 1/23/2018
  • Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card: 1/24/2018
  • Citrus: 1/25/2018
  • Basilisk: The Ouka Ninja Scrolls: 1/27/2018
  • Hakata Tonkotsu Ramens: 1/27/2018
  • Death March to The Parallel World Rhapsody: 1/28/2018
  • Karakai Jōzu no Takagi-san: 1/28/2018
  • Dagashi Kashi 2: 1/29/2018
  • Hakyū Hōshin Engi: 1/30/2018
  • Overlord Season 2: 1/30/2018
  • The Silver Guardian 2: 1/31/2018
  • DARLING in the FRANXX: 2/1/2018

All premieres will go live at 3:00PM Central (4:00PM Eastern, 1:00PM Pacific).

Junji Ito Collection

Junji Ito Collection is based on horror master Junji Ito’s stories. Shinobu Tagashira (Diabolik Lovers) is directing the project and producing the character designs at Studio Deen, with Kaoru Sawada taking charge of series composition. Hozumi Gōda (Akame ga KILL!, Higurashi no Naku Koro ni) will serve as sound director, while Yuuki Hayashi scores the soundtrack.

Funimation describes the show as:

The works of one of the most famous Japanese horror manga artists, Junji Ito, finally gets animated! This will be an omnibus animation where each episode will star different protagonists such as the famous Tomie, Soichi, and Fuchi!

Katana Maidens ~ Toji No Miko

Katana Maidens ~ Toji no Miko is an original project by Studio Gokumi. Koudai Kakimoto (Cyborg 009: Call of Justice) was tapped to direct the show, while Yuuko Yahiro (Attack on Titan: Junior High, Diabolik Lovers) provides character designs. Tatsuya Takahashi (Eromanga Sensei, Pandora in the Crimson Shell: Ghost Urn) is in charge of series composition.

Pop Team Epic

Pop Team Epic is based on Bkub Okawa’s manga of the same name. The team of Aoi Umeki and Jun Aoki (Oshiruko – The Summertime Mischief) are directing the project at Kamikaze Douga. Aoki will also handle series composition duties, while Kotaro Sudo (Ajin – Demi-Human, Seitokai Yakuindomo) fills the dual role of planner and producer.

Funimation describes the show as:

They’re crude, rude, and a little…cute? Get ready for the bizarre comedy antics of the small and tall Popuko and Pipimi!

Touken Ranbu – Hanamaru 2

Touken Ranbu – Hanamaru is based on DMM’s Tōken Ranbu online browser-based video game. Takashi Naoya (Luck & Logic) directed the show’s first season at Doga Kobo, with Junichiro Taniguchi providing character designs. Pierre Sugiura (Barakamon, Bottom Biting Bug) was in charge of series composition and writing the show’s scripts.

The first season aired in the Fall 2016 broadcast period. Crunchyroll streamed the show as it aired, while Funimation produced a SimulDub.

Funimation describes the title as:

In the year 2205, the past becomes threatened by the historical revisionists who seek to change it. Protecting history becomes the task of a boisterous band of swords that are brought to life, including the glamorous Kashu Kiyomitsu and the kindly Yamatonokami Yasusada. Beyond their battles, these legendary swords from different eras lead charming daily lives.

Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card

The series, which adapts the recent “Clear Card Chapter” of the Cardcaptor Sakura manga, will be directed by Morio Asaka (Cardcaptor Sakura, My Love Story!!, Chihayafuru) at Madhouse. Kunihiko Hamada (Chihayafuru, NANA) is providing character designs for the project, while Nanase Ohkawa (Magic Knight Rayearth 2, Blood-C) takes charge of series composition.

Funimation describes the show as:

The power of the Clow is back with a new adventure for the Cardcaptor! After sealing the last of the Clow Cards, Sakura Kinomoto is ready to face her newest challenge—junior high. But just when she settles into a normal routine, a strange dream changes everything. The cards are blank, rendered powerless, and a cloaked figure grants her a new key of magic. What lies behind this mysterious power?

Citrus

Citrus is based on Saburouta’s manga of the same name. Takeo Takahashi (Rokka: Braves of the Six Flowers , Spice and Wolf) is directing the project at Passione, with Izuro Ijuuin filling the dual role of character designer and chief animation director. Naoki Hayashi is in charge of series composition.

Funimation describes the show as:

Yuzu Aihara loves fashion, friends, and having fun! But when her mom remarries and she’s forced to transfer schools, this fashionable teen’s sweet life turns sour. On her first day, she makes enemies with the beautiful student council president, Mei, who also winds up being her brand-new stepsister. But nothing can prepare Yuzu for a surprise kiss from this girl who supposedly hates her!

Basilisk: The Ouka Ninja Scrolls

Junji Nishimura (Ranma ½, Zenki) was tapped to direct Basilisk: The Ouka Ninja Scrolls at Seven Arcs Pictures, with Takao Maki (Laughing Under the Clouds) providing character designs. Shinsuke Onishi (Night Raid 1931, The Third: The Girl with the Blue Eye) is in charge of series composition for the project.

The series is based on Futaroh Yamada’s Ōka Ninpōchō Basilisk Shinshō (Ōka Ninja Scrolls Basilisk New Chapter) novel, which is a direct sequel to the original Kōga Ninpōchō (Kouga Ninja Scrolls). The book is set ten years after the events of the original Kouga Ninja Scrolls, in the year 1626.

Hakata Tonkotsu Ramens

Hakata Tonkotsu Ramens is based on Chiaki Kisaki and Hako Ichiiro’s light novel of the same name. Kenji Yasuda (Macross Delta, Shugo Chara!) is directing the series at Satelight, with Hidenori Inoue providing character designs. Shogo Yasukawa (Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma, Terraformars) is in charge of series composition.

Funimation describes the series as:

Crime reaches new heights in the seedy underworld of Fukuoka—a city home to very sinister professions. Among those who kill, torture, and seek revenge as a means of living, a so-called “killer of professional killers” is becoming more than just an urban legend. Private detective Banba is on the case, but when he uncovers a dark conspiracy, it may be the one curveball he can’t hit.

Death March to The Parallel World Rhapsody

Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody is based on Hiro Ainana and illustrator shri’s light novel series of the same name. Shin Oonuma (Baka & Test: Summon the Beasts, Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya) is directing the project at Silver Link, with Shoko Takimoto (Armed Girl’s Machiavellism, Senran Kagura: Estival Versus – Festival Eve Full of Swimsuits) providing character designs. Kento Shimoyama (Bleach, Servant × Service) is in charge of series composition.

Crunchyroll describes the show as:

“Satou,” aka Ichiro Suzuki is a programmer in the middle of a death march. He was supposed to be taking a nap but somehow wakes up in another world… What lies before him is what looks like the menu screen of the game he was working before his nap. He’s at a complete beginner stage at level 1. However, he had the option to “explore the whole map,” which was just implemented to help out new players and three “Meteor Showers” which could level a whole map. Suddenly, a whole group of lizardmen appear in front of him. In order to survive, Satou uses Meteor Shower, his level jumped to 310 and he became extremely wealthy. Whether it be dream or reality, Satou’s journey was now beginning.

Karakai Jozu no Takagi-san

Karakai Jozu no Takagi-san is based on Sōichirō Yamamoto’s manga of the same name. Hiroaki Akagi (Hina Logic – from Luck & Logic) will direct the show at Shin-Ei Animation, with Aya Takano (Himouto! Umaru-chan, Polar Bear’s Cafe) providing character designs. Michiko Yokote (Cute High Earth Defense Club LOVE!, Genshiken) is in charge of series composition for the project.

Crunchyroll is also streaming Karakai Jozu no Takagi-san as part of their Winter simulcast lineup. They describe the title as:

“I swear I’m going to tease and embarrass Takagi-san today!”

Nishikata, a middle-schooler, keeps getting teased by the girl who sits next to him in class, Takagi-san.

He tries every day to get back at her, but will he ever succeed? Takagi-san and Nishikata’s youthful teasing battle starts now!

Dagashi Kashi 2

Satoshi Kuwabara (Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal, Dr. Pinoko no Mori no Bōken) will direct Dagashi Kashi 2 at Tezuka Productions, with Nana Miura (Young Black Jack) providing character designs. Mayumi Morita is in charge of series composition for the project.

Crunchyroll is also streaming Dagashi Kashi 2 as a simulcast. They describe the series as:

In the second season of Dagashi Kashi, the story follows Kokonotsu, who does not want to inherit his family’s rural candy store as his father wishes. A girl named Hotaru, who’s crazy about small-time candy stores, appears at the store and repeatedly visits in order to convince him to take it over.

Hakyu Hoshin Engi

Hakyū Hoshin Engi is based on Ryu Fujisaki’s Hoshin Engi (Soul Hunter) manga. The show will be helmed by Masahiro Aizawa at C-Station, with Yoshimitsu Yamashita (Blade of the Immortal, Samurai Flamenco) providing character designs. Natsuko Takahashi (Yuyushiki, Fantastic Detective Labyrinth) is in charge of series composition for the project.

Funimation describes the show as:

The Hoshin Project: a mission to seal away the evil immortals that infest the world. After his clan is wiped out by a beautiful fox demon, young Taikobo is suddenly in charge of this project. Burdened with this destiny, Taikobo finds himself with quandary: how do you destroy demons when it was a demon that trained you? It’s a battle to find the truth and who to trust, all while saving the world.

Overlord Season 2

Naoyuki Itou is returning to direct Overlord‘s second season at Madhouse, with Yukie Sugawara back in charge of series composition. Character designer Takahiro Yoshimatsu (Desert PunkTrigun) will be joined by Satoshi Tasaki (No Game, No Life Zero, Rideback) this time around.

Funimation describes the title as:

After a veteran player refuses to log out of a popular MMORPG, the NPC’s begin to develop minds of their own—and he decides to rule them.

The Silver Guardian 2

Haoling Li is taking the reins as chief director and writer for The Silver Guardian 2. Ken Ando (Ar Tonelico OVA) took the director’s chair on the project at Emon Animation Company, while Yoshiaki Tsubata (Phantom ~Requiem for the Phantom~, Souten no Ken) returns as character designer.

Minako Seki (Kingdom, Black Clover) is scoring the show’s soundtrack. Studio BLADE is listed as providing animation assistance.

Funimation describes the series as:

Secretly in love with Riku Rei, the most popular girl of his school, Riku Suigin is forced to dive in “Grave Buster”, the new virtual game where Riku Rei has been kidnapped.

To save her, he will have the support of the beautiful Twin Star and in addition to that he has inherited a 10 billion of yen charged device by his grandfather Ruki Yuuki.

Suigin will have to become the last Guardian who protects the Tomb from the Raiders in order to save Riku Rei and solve the mysteries of Grave Buster.

DARLING in the FRANXX

DARLING in the FRANXX is a co-production between Trigger and A-1 Pictures. The series is slated to hit Japanese TV in January 2018.

Atsushi Nishigori (THE IDOLM@STER) is directing the project, with Masayoshi Tanaka (anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day, High School of the Dead) providing character designs. The team of Atsushi Nishigori and Naotaka Hayashi will collaborate on series composition.

Funimation describes the show as:

In a desolate future, children are kept away from the outside world, away from the open sky. Locked away in Mistilteinn, aka “the birdcage,” they live only to pilot giant mechs known as FranXX. Hiro was once a prodigy but after falling behind, he’s become unnecessary. After all, not piloting a FranXX is the same as not existing. But everything changes when he meets Zero Two, the girl with horns.

Source: Funimation Blog

About the author

Samantha Ferreira

Samantha Ferreira is Anime Herald’s founder and editor-in-chief. A Rhode Island native, Samantha has been an anime fan since 1992, and an active member of the anime press since 2002, when she began working as a reviewer for Anime Dream. She launched Anime Herald in 2010, and continues to oversee its operations to this day. Outside of journalism, Samantha actively studies the history of the North American anime fandom and industry, with a particular focus on the 2000s anime boom and bust. She’s a huge fan of all things Sakura Wars, and maintains series fansite Combat Revue Review when she has free time available. When not in the Anime Herald Discord, Samantha can typically be found on Bluesky.

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