Last Friday, Warner Bros. japan Discovery’s Asia-Pacific president, James Gibbons, revealed to entertainment news outlet Variety that the company’s Japanese anime studio plans to increase its annual output to over 10 titles, a significant uptick from its previous range of five to 10 titles per year.
Gibbons emphasized the effectiveness of anime as a means to connect with the elusive 18 to 30-year-old demographic, highlighting its importance in the company’s strategy. He also noted the strong presence of anime audiences in regions such as the U.S., Europe, and Latin America.
Established in 2011, Warner Bros.Japan anime studio boasts a prolific portfolio of over 80 titles, including popular series like JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, Record of Ragnarok, and SPY x FAMILY.
Under the umbrella of Warner Bros. Discovery, Warner Bros. Japan oversees various anime properties, including Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?, Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma, and JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. Additionally, the company manages both overseas and domestic live-action adaptations of Japanese properties such as Godzilla, Rurouni Kenshin, Gintama, and Death Note.
Exciting announcements from Warner Bros. Japan include a new anime adaptation of Buronson and Tetsuo Hara’s iconic manga Fist of the North Star (Hokuto no Ken), along with the production of an original Suicide Squad ISEKAI anime in collaboration with Wit Studio, set to debut in July.
The merger of WarnerMedia with Discovery in 2021 further solidifies the company’s position in the global entertainment landscape, paving the way for expanded offerings and innovative projects in the world of anime and beyond.
About Suicide Squad Isekai Anime
Scheduled for a global premiere in 2024, the anime will feature Tomoyasu Hotei performing the opening theme song “Another World.” The star-studded cast includes Anna Nagase as Harley Quinn, Yuichiro Umehara as The Joker, Reigo Yamaguchi as Deadshot, Takehito Koyasu as Peacemaker, Jun Fukuyama as Clayface, Subaru Kimura as King Shark, Taku Yashiro as Rick Flag, Kujira as Amanda Waller, Chika Anzai as Katana, Reina Ueda as Fione, Mamiko Noto as Aldora, and Jun Fukushima as Cecil.
Under the direction of Eri Osada, known for their work on Jujutsu Kaisen and Gintama, the original anime is being crafted at Wit Studio. Scriptwriting duties are in the capable hands of Tappei Nagatsuki and Eiji Umehara, while manga artist Akira Amano lends their expertise in drafting the original character designs. Naoto Hosoda is responsible for bringing these characters to life through animation, with Kenichiro Suehiro composing the captivating music. Shinya Tsuruoka serves as the animation producer from Warner Bros. Japan, ensuring a seamless production process.
Warner Bros. describes the original anime’s story:
In the crime-ridden Gotham city, Amanda Waller, the head of A.R.G.U.S., has assembled a group of notorious criminals for a mission: Harley Quinn, Deadshot, Peacemaker, Clayface and King Shark. These DC Super-Villains are sent into an otherworldly realm that’s connected to this world through a gate. It’s a world of swords and magic where orcs rampage and dragons rule the skies—an “ISEKAI”!
Harley and others go on a rampage after arriving in ISEKAI but are captured by the Kingdom’s soldiers and sent to prison.
They only have 72 hours before the bomb on their neck explodes.
The deadline is fast approaching. After negotiations with Queen Aldora, the condition for liberation was the conquest of the hostile Imperial army.
They have no choice but to throw themselves head-first into the front line of battle.
They run; they die. They lose; they die.
With their lives on the line, can Harley Quinn and The Suicide Squad survive in ISEKAI?
Brace yourselves for the pulse-pounding saga of the elite task force known as the “Suicide Squad” as they embark on a jaw-dropping adventure! Let the party begin!
Stay tuned for more exciting anime news!
Source: ANN
