In attendance at Anime NYC this weekend, streaming platform HIDIVE confirmed a set of eight anime and anime film acquisitions for the Winter 2023 season and beyond, all of which will either roll out on their streaming platform, or enjoy their theatrical debut sometime next year. For those being streamed, I would expect them all to be exclusive to the HIDIVE platform, before a potential home video release through Sentai.
You can read more about each of these below:
Acquisitions for HIDIVE’s Winter 2023 Anime Season
Spy Classroom
Conflict-ravaged nations now deploy covert operatives instead of missiles. Lily is recruited into spy-training… but her practical skills are absolutely abysmal. Desperate to pass, she leaps at the chance to join the mysterious “Tomoshibi” team. Too bad the team is filled with even more hopeless spies. Together they must conquer the Impassible Mission and best their genius instructor, but the true purpose behind their classroom is more harrowing than they can imagine… Based on the spy thriller light novel series written by Takemachi and illustrated by Tomari.
Spy Classroom is directed by Keiichiro Kawaguchi, written by Shinichi Inotsume, and produced by studio feel.
Kubo Won’t Let Me Be Invisible
Junta Shiraishi has just one goal: to experience youth to the fullest! But this is easier said than done. Junta is so socially invisible that people at school would swear he skipped class even when he’s sitting right behind them. Everything changes when Junta meets Nagisa Kubo. She’s the only person who pays Junta any attention, and her constant teasing is sure to turn Junta’s quiet life upside down because Kubo won’t let him be invisible! Based on the seinen rom-com manga series by Nene Yukimori and serialized in Shueisha’s Weekly Young Jump since October 2019.
Kubo Won’t Let Me Be Invisible is directed by Kazuomi Koga, written by Yūya Takahashi, and produced by Pine Jam.
My Life as Inukai-san’s Dog
They say every dog has his day. That’s especially true for our protagonist, who was just turned into a dog and now lives every day under the care of his crush, Inukai-san! She happily dotes on her new companion, and while he wants to return to human form someday, there’s something wonderful about being cared for by the person he loves. Enjoy life through the eyes of a dog in My Life as Inukai-san’s Dog! Based on the shonen ecchi rom-com manga series by Itsutsuse and originally serialized in Kodansha’s Magazine Pocket.
My Life as Inukai-san’s Dog is directed by Takashi Andō and produced by Quad.
Endo and Kobayashi Live! The Latest on Tsundere Villainess Lieselotte
Endo and Kobayashi just decided to play A Magical Romance, an otome game featuring a devious villainess named Lieselotte. Kobayashi thinks Lieselotte is a traditionally dastardly villain but Endo insists Lieselotte is just misunderstood. The pair bicker and argue about Lieselotte’s character and motivations. But little do they know that Lieselotte’s in-game fiancé can hear their every word, and their colorful chatter will lead him down a completely different path than his character is supposed to tread! Based upon a fantasy light novel series written by Suzu Enoshima and illustrated by Eihi.
Endo and Kobayashi Live! The Latest on Tsundere Villainess Lieselotte is directed by Fumihiro Yoshimura, written by Tomoko Konparu, and produced by Tezuka Productions.
Tsurune – The Linking Shot – (Second Season)
Protagonist Minato Narumiya has reignited his passion for kyudo, the Japanese martial art of archery. Along with his friends in the school kyudo club, he returns for an all-new second season and feature-length film of Kyoto Animation’s beloved Tsurune. Based on the three volume sports light novel series Tsurune -Kazemai High School Archery Club- written by Kotoko Ayano and illustrated by Chinatsu Morimoto. The first novel won a Special Judge Award in the Kyoto Animation Award competition in 2016 and was published by Kyoto Animation later that same year in December.
Tsurune – The Linking Shot – (Second Season) is directed by Takuya Yamamura and produced by Kyoto Animation. The 13-episode first season premiered on October 22, 2018.
Coming to HIDIVE Later in 2023
The Dangers in My Heart
Fascinated by murder and all things macabre, Kyotaro daydreams of acting out his twisted fantasies on his unsuspecting classmates — but an encounter with Anna Yamada, the gorgeous class idol, lights a spark in the darkness of his heart. It’s a classic tale of an antisocial boy falling for a popular girl, but neither are who they appear to be at first glance. Will Kyotaro and Anna defy their expectations of each other — and of themselves? Based on the shonen rom-com slice of life manga series by Norio Sakurai and serialized in Akita Shoten’s Manga Cross.
The production staff of The Dangers in My Heart has not been revealed.
Oshi no Ko
When a pregnant young starlet appears in Dr. Gorou Amemiya’s countryside medical clinic, he takes it upon himself to safely (and secretly) deliver Ai Hoshino’s child. But on the eve of her delivery, he is slain by Ai’s deluded stalker — and subsequently reborn as Ai’s child, Aquamarine Hoshino! The dark underbelly of the entertainment industry threatens to dull the shine of his favorite star. Can he help his new mother rise to the top? And what will he do when disaster strikes? Based on the seinen drama manga series by Aka Akasaka and serialized in Shueisha’s Weekly Young Jump.
Oshi no Ko is directed by Daisuke Hiramaki, written by Jin Tanaka, and produced by Doga Kobo.
Coming to Cinemas in 2023
Tsurune The Movie – The First Shot –
Protagonist Minato Narumiya has reignited his passion for kyudo, the Japanese martial art of archery. Along with his friends in the school kyudo club, he returns for an all-new second season and feature-length film of Kyoto Animation’s beloved Tsurune. Based on the three volume sports light novel series Tsurune -Kazemai High School Archery Club- written by Kotoko Ayano and illustrated by Chinatsu Morimoto. The first novel won a Special Judge Award in the Kyoto Animation Award competition in 2016 and was published by Kyoto Animation later that same year in December.
Tsurune The Movie – The First Shot – (AKA Gekijouban Tsurune -Hajimari no Issha) was written and directed by Takuya Yamamura and produced by Kyoto Animation. The movie premiered in Japan on August 19, 2022. Runtime: 120 minutes.
