It’s that time of year again, where lies in April either give you a good laugh or make you cry your eyes out. Here are some of the many mischievous pranks pulled across the anime industry and adjacent on April 1 this year!
Entries are sorted alphabetically by franchise.
A3!
Actor administration app A3! added additional A’s for an amusing April antic.
Welcome to A8!, or Act! Addict! Actors! Appare! All! mAinichi! hAtaraku! mAn!
Ć¢ge
Game company Ć¢ge announced a new project, combining Uma Musume, Princess Connect! Re:Dive, and Genshin Impact into a single game.
The official website linked below provides story details, character designs, and more.
Ascendance of a Bookworm
Ascendance of a Bookworm author Miya Kazuki announced a new series centered on Benno titled Ascendance of a Merchant, adding that it would be a tragic romance novel and a Hollywood film adaptation was in the works.
AZUR LANE
AZUR LANE came sailing in with a badass poster announcing a new OVA, but it doesn’t quite hold water.
BanG Dream!
Rhythm game BanG Dream! Girls Band Party announced that the Wakamiya family would be embarking on a unifying conquest, which includes in-game features.
Bottom-tier Character Tomozaki
Saitama prefecture mascot Kobaton has levelled up into main character status in Sai-tier Character Kobaton. The anime is set to air in April 20021.
Bungo Stray Dogs
The official Bungo Stray Dogs Twitter account released a new entry in their annual Bungo Youth Graffiti series, which depicts characters back at school.
Burning Kabaddi
Kabaddi, originally from the Indian subcontinent, joins the diverse ranks of sports adapted into anime. And to celebrate that history, the official Burning Kabaddi Twitter account and website changed their language to Hindi.
Cinderella Nine
The official Cinderella Nine Twitter account wishes Japanese baseball player Masumi Kuwata a very happy birthday.
DanMachi – MEMORIA FREESE
Mobile RPG game DanMachi – MEMORIA FREESE is changing its format to a shoot-em-up titled Ais Wars.
Date A Live
Kicking off the gender-bender trend this year, Date A Live unveiled a new project titled Date A Live: Girl’s Side, featuring male versions of the main female cast. All four are voiced by Nobunaga Shimazaki (who plays Shidou in the anime) in an attached character video.
Deadpool Samurai
The latest chapter of Shonen Jump+ manga Deadpool Samurai featured a cameo from My Hero Academia‘s All Might.
You can find him here on the final page.
The Detective Is Already Dead
The official The Detective Is Already Dead Twitter account announced the series first spin-off, My Classmates Can’t Stand It Anymore, with the furthest release date of the whole bunch: November 25, 202100.
Dragon Ball Legends
Vegeta serves up takoyaki (a different kind of ball) in a new in-game event for Dragon Ball Legends, which includes dress-up, cooking, rankings, and more.
Dragon Ball Z Dokkan Battle
Dragon Ball Z Dokkan Battle had their own game to play with a new zombie mode titled “Dokkan of the Dead.”
Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai
Move aside Dai, it’s Deroline’s turn in the spotlight as he heads out on a grand adventure of his own.
Ensemble Stars!
If you thought Avengers: Endgame was the biggest cinematic crossover in history, wait until you watch the trailer for Ensemble Stars!‘s Gundam-inspired story.
Fate/Grand Order
A whole new mobile game titled Fate/Freedom Order ~My and Your Unite War~ was released.
Granblue Fantasy
After teasing it for weeks, mobile RPG Granblue Fantasy unveiled a birthday collaboration with Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo.
Higurashi: When They Cry
It’s all plushies and rainbows for the residents of Hinamizawa, who get to enjoy a Sanrio crossover in Puroland.
Satoko’s sleazebag uncle Teppei took over the Higurashi Mei mobile game before being swifting cancelled.
The IDOLM@STER Million Live! Theater Days
Rhythm game The IDOLM@STER Million Live! Theater Days released a playable fighting mini-game, made in collaboration with the Tekken Project team.
Is the Order a Rabbit?
Is your order one of the seven deadly sins? ~Enter the link to find out~
Key
Visual novel studio Key revealed a complete crossover story of their works, including Rewrite, Clannad, Little Busters!, Air, and Kanon.
KonoSuba: God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World!
Everyone’s favorite explosion mage took over the KonoSuba: Fantastic Days! app with an in-game event and eyepatch Twitter giveaway.
Jujutsu Kaisen
Do you struggle to focus on work or find time for yourself to relax? You can solve all these problems with your own special-grade cursed object if you pre-order Gokumon, the freshest item on Jujuten.
Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear
Yuna and Fina transform from ursine into bovine with Ushi Ushi Ushi Cow.
Kuroko’s Basketball
Kuroko got lost chasing after Tetsuya 2 and found himself in the world of Alice in Wonderland
Liar Liar
Liar Liar, a romantic comedy light novel series about mind games, unveiled an anime adaptationā¦ legitimately. The announcement Tweet below reads, “It’s a day for lies, but this isn’t a one.”
Love Live!
The Love Live! franchise gave each of its idol groups some mischievous love this year:
For Aqours, a playable game that pits members against invading aliens.
For Nijigasaki, an introduction to all the members as cats (Nyangasaki).
And finally, a Crayon Shin-chan collab event for all in Love Live! School Idol Festival.
Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid
A live-action drama adaptation of Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid was announced, starring enka singer Sachiko Kobayashi as the titular Kobayashi.
NieR Replicant ver. 1.22474487139…
A new trailer for the upcoming NieR:Automata prequel reimagines the game as a slow-life RPG, showing off the many side activities players can engage in.
One Piece
April 1 is Usopp’s birthday, so the One Piece Twitter account let him narrate a preview of this week’s episode.
The Quintessential Quintuplets
TBS unveiled a new website for a gender-bent version of the series, starring Fuko Uesugi and the Nakano quintupletsāIchiro, Niki, Mitsunari, Yotsunobu, and Itsuo.
Pui Pui Molcar
Thanks to Japanese automobile manufacturer Daihatsu, you too can ride in a life-size guinea pig car.
Tech company Sanko also got in on the Pui Pui Molcar action, announcing their own version titled Hoka Hoka Gohan Molcar (“Gohan Moru” (to serve food) vs. “Morumotto” (guinea pig)).
Revue Starlight
The official Revue Starlight Twitter account announced that they would be adding a 1000x speed mode called Flash Revue to the game.
Re:Zero ā Starting Life in Another World: Lost in Memories
Re:Zero ā Starting Life in Another World: Lost in Memories players were greeted with special lines from characters on the game’s home screen.
Example below:
Subaru: I’m serious, today’s my birthday!
Rem: I lied when I said I liked him.
Shonen Jump+
A crossover mobile game titled Yurutto Jump+ All Stars was announced, featuring pixel-art versions of characters from Spy x Family, Kaiju No. 8, Jigokuraku, and Summertime Render.
Sleepy Princess in the Demon Castle
The captor become the captee in a newly-announced a Sleepy Princess in the Demon Castle film, slated to release between February 29 and February 31, 2022.
SK8 the Infinity
The official Sk8 the Infinity Twitter account was taken over and (rightfully) rebranded as a Cherry blossom fan account.
Show By Rock!!
Mobile rhythm game Show By Rock!! unveiled a new spin-off game titled Show By Cook!! Fes A Live.
Super Cub
The official Honda Twitter account commemorated the upcoming premiere of Super Cub by revealing a company secretāhow Honda Super Cubs are grown.
Suppose a Kid from the Last Dungeon Boonies moved to a starter town?
Due to popular demand, Suppose a Kid from the Last Dungeon Boonies moved to a starter town? will be distributed in the Kingdom of Azami. The official website and Twitter account were updated accordingly.
Taimanin RPG
Action RPG Taimanin received a Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba-style makeover.
Thunderbolt Fantasy
Right on the heels of season 3’s release, Altria Pendragon (Saber) is set to join the Thunderbolt Fantasy universe in a Fate/Grand Order collaboration film.
Uma Musume Pretty Derby
Multimedia franchise Uma Musume unveiled Carrot-Hamburg steak cushion item, calling it the peak of modern design. And yes, there is a real campaign to win it.
Uta no Prince Sama
UtaPri launched the Metamorphose cosmetics line, as advertised by gender-bent versions of the franchise’s idols.
Voice Actors
A handful of anime voice actors also joined in on the fun.
Junichi Suwabe (Aizawa in My Hero Academia):
“Right, I’m going bed.”
“… or am I? lol”
Mariya Ise (Killua in Hunter x Hunter (2011)):
“This is Shrimp Ise.”
…
“By the way, I’m allergic to shrimp.”
Ayaka Asai (Mio Naruse in The Testament of Sister New Devil):
“My name is Ayanosuke Asai, Ayaka Asai’s 10th personalityāŖ”
World Trigger
World Trigger revealed a third installment in its “Working Adult” spin-off series, this time centered on Seiji Mizunuma from the Personnel Department.
ZOMBIE LAND SAGA
The official ZOMBIE LAND SAGA Twitter account published a 4-panel comic by A Crocodile Who Will Die in 100 Days‘ Yuuki Kikuchi, titled A Zombie Who Dies on Day One.
Which was your favorite April Fool’s prank? Share this post and let us know! And stay tuned to Funimation for even more amazing anime headed your way, this season and beyond.
