Anime NYC powered by Crunchyroll and Anime News Network have announced the launch of “Anime News Network Connect presented by Anime NYC,” an ongoing online panel series which will showcase anime premieres, in-depth interviews, and interactions with anime creators and publishers. Anime News Network Connect will debut on July 14, 2020 with the special Online Premiere of the upcoming anime Gibiate together with a Q&A with Gibiate Producer Ryō Aoki and Director Masahiko Komino.

Anime NYC is the second largest anime, manga, and Japanese pop culture convention in the United States. Run since 2017, it welcomes over 50,000 attendees, leading publishers, celebrity guests, and world premieres. This year’s Anime NYC is scheduled for November 20-22, 2020 in New York’s Javits Center.

Anime News Network is the world’s largest English-language anime news website. Since its founding in 1998, ANN has grown to become a trusted source of up-to-date news and information about the Japanese animation and manga industries for both fans and professionals alike. ANN reaches over seven million visitors each month from over 50 countries.

A collaboration between these two brands, Anime News Network Connect will offer a new way for anime fans, anime creators, and the anime industry to come together during this time of physical remoteness and social distancing. Especially with most anime conventions cancelled over the coming months, Anime News Network Connect hopes to provide fans with digital communal experiences and publishers an online space to showcase new projects. Episodes of Anime News Network Connect are currently planned across the summer and fall, with the first debuting next week.

Anime News Network Connect will launch from animenewsnetwork.com/connect on July 14, 2020 at 9:00 p.m. EDT / 6:00 p.m. PDT with an exclusive screening of the first episode of Crunchyroll Original Gibiate one day before the series debuts on Crunchyroll itself. Gibiate is a highly anticipated new anime series featuring character designs from the renowned Yoshitaka Amano of Final Fantasy and Vampire Hunter D fame as well as an all-star team, which also includes voice actor Tetsuya Kakihara and musician Sugizo. Immediately following the Online Premiere, ANN Editor at Large Mike Toole will host an exclusive interview with Gibiate Producer Ryō Aoki and Director Masahiko Komino.

The Anime News Network Connect Online Premiere of Gibiate will not be archived and is only viewable on July 14, 2020. It is also only available to audiences in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Gibiate will then stream on Crunchyroll starting on July 15, 2020 with new episodes each week.

“With so many traditional ways to come together impossible, we wanted to create a new way to make connections,” said Anime News Network Publisher Christopher Macdonald. “This is the core of Anime News Network Connect, and we hope we can help share exciting moments, create new smiles, and bring anime fans, creators, and the industry together.”

“We’re honored to launch Anime News Network Connect with the Online Premiere of Gibiate,” said Peter Tatara, Anime NYC’s Show Director. “Gibiate is one of the most anticipated anime of the summer, and we’re tremendously thankful to Crunchyroll and everyone involved in the creation of Gibiate for giving fans across the US, Canada, and Mexico this opportunity to experience its first episode together!”

Fans looking for more information on the Gibiate Premiere and Anime News Network Connect presented by Anime NYC overall should visit animenewsnetwork.com/connect, and details will be coming soon about additional episodes across the coming weeks and months.

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