© CHOCOLATE Inc. STUDIO DOTOU has unveiled a new brief 28-second trailer for its forthcoming anime film KILLTUBE, in anticipation of its world premiere panel at this year’s Anime Expo. The anime feature film is projected to debut globally in Spring 2026.
🔥KILLTUBE at AX 2025!🔥
We’re so excited to finally share our project with you all! pic.twitter.com/jrbbanYxqk— KILLTUBE global (@KILLTUBEgl) June 21, 2025
A world premiere scene from the film will be showcased at Anime Expo during a panel on July 5, 2025, at the JW Platinum from 12:00 PM PST to 12:50 PM PST. The panel will include special guests director Kazuaki Kuribayashi (Kizumonogatari film trilogy web production assistant) and animation producer Fuko Noda. Kuribayashi will also disclose behind-the-scenes insights and the story behind KILLTUBE’s development during the event.
Japanese production company CHOCOLATE Inc. released a 1-minute pilot of KILLTUBE last April, when they also confirmed the production of the film.
VFX studio Kassen and artist collective Wachajack are recognized as co-creators of the film.
The entire production team for the film encompasses:
- • Scriptwriters: Saeri Natsuo, Ryo Takemura, Takenori Tokuyama
- • World View Setting: Yusuke Ujita
- • Technical Direction: CAVIAR’s Takumi Shiga, Masato Goto, Bivi, Frog96, Marusou
- • Character Design/Technical Direction: Nike Shimaguchi
- • Technical Direction/VFX Supervisor: Kassen’s Takahiro Ota
- • Music Director: Matsuza Katakumi
- • Music Composition: Takao Ogi
- • Concept Art Director: Wachajack’s Fujihiko Sawai
- • Concept Artist: Shusei Sasaya
- • Character Settings: ARuFa
- • Graphic Designer: Masataka Yoshida
- • Art Director: Takuya Sekikawa
- • CG Lead Animator: StudioNoco’s Daisuke Kaneko
- • CG Supervisor: Yūki Mizoguchi
- • CG Animation Supervisor: MontBlanc Pictures’s Satoshi Takeno
- • Background Modeling Supervisor: Barehand’s Jun Kazuse
- • CG Effects Supervisor: Tai Komatsu
- • Technical Artist: Hiroyuki Okada
- • CG Producer: Nanao Nakatsuka
KILLTUBE will mark CHOCOLATE Inc’s inaugural anime film production as part of its “108 Experiments” initiative to innovate the ways to “create works, present them, and generate revenue to support original stories.” The company previously contributed to the production and promotion of the Dark Gathering anime series, as well as organizing the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba’s Total Concentration exhibition. The film is reported to have a budget of 1 billion yen (US$6.8 million).
The official synopsis of the film, according to CHOCOLATE Inc., states:
In 2026, Japan remains isolated under the Edo Shogunate. Amid rigid social hierarchies, three individuals, regarded as outcasts, unexpectedly meet in a prison cell which leads to a fateful encounter. They engage with the dueling video platform “KILLTUBE” to seek wealth and gain freedom in a divided society.
Set in an era called the “Age of Great Duels,” where immense wealth can be acquired by defeating formidable opponents, they endure prejudice from samurais and merchants vying for power and influence. As they shatter the boundaries of convention and achieve victory after victory, they ascend in fame, becoming celebrated icons of their era.
However, just as they reach the apex of their fame, they unearth the concealed reality behind “KILLTUBE”…
Sources: press release, Anime News Network
