T5W#360-Top 5 Anime Expo 2022 Announcements

This past weekend saw the return of the biggest Anime Convention in the US, Anime Expo.  Not only does it pack its convention hall to the brim (Seriously based on pics I’ve seen, how do people even move around?), it also is the first place you’ll hear about the latest Anime industry announcements, many of which come straight from guests from Japan itself.  This year was no different, in fact we got some first reveals, upcoming release updates and a major bombshell announcement that left the entire Anime Community with their collective jaws on the floor.  Trust me, we’ll get to that but first we need to go through the rest of the Top 5 Anime Expo 2022 Announcements.  I’m sure I’ve missed plenty of additional news so feel free to shout out about anything in the comments.

 

#5-Avengers and Ultraman Team Up

They are two of the most legendary forces in nerdom from two different sides of the world.  And in 2023, they’ll be teaming up for one of the most epic battles in their respective histories.  Announced at the Ultraman Panel at AX, 2023 will see the Marvel Universe get a visit from the heroes of Ultraman.  A preview image shows several members of The Avengers including Iron Man, Spider Man and Captain Marvel blasting away at a massive Kaiju while three different Ultramen loom over the skies in the background.  Not much is known about the actual story but the image of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes crossing paths with one of Japan’s oldest defenders is a pretty epic concept, up there with the Power Rangers joining forces with the Justice League or battling Godzilla (yes both have happened).  I’ve never been a big Ultraman fan myself but I’m a lifelong Avengers nerd so this could get me to check out more Ultraman in the lead up to it…is that new Netflix Anime any good by the way?  I did a First Impression a while back and it didn’t really catch my interest.

 
#4-More Macross (FINALLY) Comes to the US

Last year, it was announced that the long legal struggle over the US distribution rights to the Macross Franchise has been settled…and then there was a whole lot of silence until this past weekend.  Once again, RightStuf comes to the rescue and has announced all three of the major TV Sequels to the original Macross series will be released within the year and into the next.  This includes 1994’s Macross 7, 2008’s Macross Frontier, and the most recent, 2016’s Macross Delta.  It’s safe to assume that each shows subsequent plethora of Compilation and Sequel films wont be far behind (The Macross Frontier Movies are getting a special Fathom Events release later this summer).  That does leave the question about the original Super Dimension Fortress Macross series and the highly demanded feature film “Do You Remember Love?”.  And what about Macross II and Macross Plus?  God I’ve been wanting a Macross Plus Blu Ray release for years.  Well, perhaps we wont have to wait long to hear about them if the releases of these TV Series goes well.

 
#3-Trigun: Stampede Reveal Trailer

This was a pretty big announcement…and it left me and plenty of others feeling very, very uncertain.  Everyone was so shocked to learn about this just prior to Anime Expo and that one teaser image got everyone excited.  And then they dropped the first trailer at AX and…oh God why, why, WHY!!!!???? Why the hell does Anime think 3DCG style is the way of the future?  It isn’t, it really isn’t.  I haven’t done a First Impression on it but that’s one of the core problems of the new Spriggan Series on Netflix…this is turning into a rant, I’ll dial it back.  The trailer only showed a major part of the origin of twin brothers Vash the Stampede and Millions Knives before showing a lot of Vash’s new look in the present…and man what did they do to him?  It kind of reminds me of the redesign they did on Dante in DMC: Devil May Cry.  Where’s my spikey haired hero?  This is one announcement that probably didn’t go as well as the presenters hoped.  And if Vash looks iffy, then what about Wolfwood, Milly and Meryl?  Will they even be in the movie or series or whatever this project is supposed to be?  So many questions and I’ve got bad feelings about all the answers.

 
#2-Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War Arc Trailer

The return of Bleach is probably the biggest news of 2022 as fans have waited a very long time for the Anime to return and finish out the Manga storyline.  At a special Bleach panel which featured some returning English VAs like Michelle Ruff as Rukia, we got a brand new trailer that showed off pretty much the entire cast of iconic characters.  Ichigo, Rukia, Renji, Byakuya, Toshiro, the Vizoreds, anyone who was still around at the end of the first Anime will be back…but for how long?  The Thousand Year Blood War Arc is easily the darkest and most violent of the series with main characters being beaten worse than ever before and some even meeting unfortunate ends.  Naturally, it’ll fall to Ichigo to save the day again.  But damn is it good to see his fellow Soul Reapers back in Anime form after so long.  I may have fallen off Bleach ages ago but I am excited to see it grace TV screens again this October.
 

#1-Panty and Stocking are officially coming back

The entire world lost its collective mess when this dropped.  This is no longer a rumor, this is pure confirmation.  Eleven years after a cliffhanger that defines WTF…PANTY AND STOCKING ARE OFFICIALLY COMING BACK!!!!  The original series is one of the best Anime I’ve ever looked at here at the Gundam Anime Corner with hilariously gross humor, incredible action scenes and one of the coolest cast of bad ass characters.  But yeah, that cliffhanger…are they gonna answer that or are we starting fresh.  Spoiler Alert: The First Season ended with the last minute revelation that Stocking was a Demon and she cut Panty to pieces before just walking away.  Will the Anarchy Sisters reunite and make up to battle their old enemies and new Demons once again?  Whatever lies ahead, Panty and Stocking will be back to look sexy and kick ass in the lewdest possible ways soon, bring it the heck on.