2024 has been another eventful year for anime and manga lovers, bringing a whirlwind of announcements and happenings across the vibrant community. From marriages and tragic passings to remarkable box office successes and exciting new series, the year has not been short on news. Here’s your quick roundup of the standout moments from the anime and manga world, as chosen by ORICON NEWS.
January kicked off with big news as popular voice actors Yuma Uchida and Rina Hidaka announced their marriage on New Year's Day. This unexpected union delighted fans across the globe. Also making headlines was the passing of Hina Aishihara, the creator of the manga "Sexy Tanaka-san," which shocked many within the industry. Another notable event was the much-anticipated reveal of visuals featuring "Gundam SEED" character Athrun Zala enjoying time at Dotonbori, with promotional images highlighting local characters from all 47 prefectures of Japan. The month also saw the end of the iconic series "Captain Tsubasa," with creator Yoichi Takahashi admitting to feeling the effects of aging after 43 years.
Moving to February, the cinematic universe of Gundam achieved remarkable success with its latest film, breaking box office records set 42 years prior, establishing itself as the highest-grossing installment of the series.
The following month, March, brought devastating news with the death of renowned manga artist Akira Toriyama at the age of 68. Fans mourned not only his passing but the loss of TARAKO, the voice behind the beloved character from "Chibi Maruko-chan." Another highlight was the surprising news surrounding the character Aura from the series "Sousou no Frieren," who garnered second place in popular voting; her voice actress Sayaka Taketatsu expressed her astonishment at this recognition. This month also saw tributes for the late artist Mutsumi Iinuma from various companies.
April ushered in new beginnings as the author of "Tokyo Revengers" debuted his first new serialized work at Jump. Fans also noticed the buzz surrounding the character Ran from "Detective Conan," whose popularity surged after being featured prominently in McDonald's promotional materials. Conversely, voice actress Minase Iino took to her official social media to report potential hacking, indicating she may have been compromised.
May proved to be another dramatic month. Stars Kazuya Takahashi and Marie Iitoyo's marriage sent ripples through the entertainment world, leading to discussions around the term "JoJo marriage" due to their involvement with the series "Kishibe Rohan." Old controversies resurfaced as voice actor Toru Furuya publicly apologized following reports about his four-and-a-half-year affair, which included troubling allegations like violence and coercion of pregnancy termination. Meanwhile, fans eagerly awaited the continuation of the "Magical Girl Precure!" series set to return next January, marking the franchise’s first late-night broadcast. Another major announcement was the adaptation of the manga "Hana Zakari no Kimitachi e" for its inaugural anime series.
June saw excitement build with news of completely new anime titled "Ranma 1/2" being created. This month also brought grief with the passing of voice actress Eiko Masuyama, known for her role as Fujiko Mine from "Lupin III," at the age of 89. Voice actor Taiki Matsuno also passed away, leading "Yu-Gi-Oh!" to express heartfelt condolences.
July highlighted more amazing announcements, with the adaptation of "Demon Slayer: Mugen Castle" being confirmed for release as a trilogy of films. Also, the beloved series "Hell Teacher Nube" is slated for new anime content set to debut in 2025. "Magic Knight Rayearth" fans were thrilled with news of new production coming after 27 years.
A tumultuous August began when beloved voice actor Atsuko Tanaka passed away at 61, known for her role as Motoko Kusanagi from "Ghost in the Shell." The decade-spanning series "My Hero Academia" concluded after ten long years, signifying the end of another era. Another vocal change occurred when actress Akiko Yajima announced her name change to Aki Uechi, formerly known for voicing Shinnosuke from "Crayon Shin-chan."
September continued the trend of endings with the conclusion of "Jujutsu Kaisen" after six and a half years. Meanwhile, the film "Wonderful Precure!" showcased the powerful character role held by Yuichi Nakamura.
October marked some challenges, particularly with confusion arising around the voice change for "Dragon Ball DAIMA." The production company Aoni Production claimed they would be implementing AI voices inspired by legendary performers like Masako Nozawa, leaving the community divided on the move.
November brought surprising revelations, including the exploration of Kindaichi’s marriage to Miyuki and their new child. Fans were also thrilled at the announcement of the new "Precure" series to be titled "Kimi to Idol Precure!"
Lastly, December ended the year with more developments, including the character Frankie from "One Piece" undergoing voice actor changes and the emotional reflection on topics such as pet deaths presented candidly through Precure storytelling. The manga world buzzed with revelations about potential endings for "Hunter x Hunter," as creator Yoshihiro Togashi hinted at alternate conclusions should he pass away.
Regardless of the good news or somber moments, 2024 has undoubtedly shaped and shocked the world of anime and manga, alongside active discussions concerning future adaptations, memorials, and community events. Fans remain eager for what’s next.
