Jump Festa 2024: Unveiling Exciting Collaborations and DVD Announcements

Dark Gathering, an enthralling horror anime that premiered in 2023, has mesmerized viewers with its innovative combination of body horror, deities, and malevolent spirits. Created by OLM Studios, the series features a unique and distinctive color scheme that truly makes it stand out. It has swiftly garnered praise and secured its place as a cherished gem in the horror anime genre.

With 23 episodes already unveiled, the much-anticipated final episode is set to premiere on December 17, 2023. This anime is adapted from the manga of the same name, penned and illustrated by Kenichi Kondo, and can be read on Viz Media's official website.

Jump Festa 2024: Dark Gathering anime Blu-Ray release

The anime image of Yoyoi Hozuki from Dark Gathering, produced by OLM Team Matsuda, captivated audiences as they celebrated the success of the standout horror anime of 2023 at the highly anticipated stage at Jump Festa 2024 on December 17, 2023. The event showcased prominent voice actors Nobunaga Shimazaki (Keitaro Gentoga), Rina Kawaguchi (Ai Kamiyo), and Yu Sasahara (Yayoi Hozuki), seamlessly blending performance and discussion through an interview and stage play.

The interview segment, which coincided with an anime recap, explored the actors' insights on the most chilling scenes, providing fans with a unique behind-the-scenes look. The event also highlighted the promotion of Volume 14 of the Dark Gathering manga and the unveiling of the anime's Blu-ray DVD release. Additionally, fans were thrilled to hear about a collaboration involving a concept room in a hotel inspired by the anime.

Yayoi as shown in the anime (Image via OLM Team Matsuda)

Despite the celebrations, fans were left disheartened by the lack of any news about a potential second season. The official information that has been released, devoid of any mention of a season 2, indicates that such an announcement is unlikely to come in the near future.

Eiko Hozuki as shown in the anime (Image via OLM Team Matsuda)

Final Thoughts

The anime has been released on Crunchyroll, Netflix, and HIDIVE and has mesmerized audiences with its 23 episodes since it premiered on July 10 (pre-screening on July 7). The main character is Keitaro Gentoga, a teenager with the ability to see ghosts, who reluctantly gets involved with the supernatural. Yayoi Hozuki, an intelligent girl determined to capture Japan's most terrifying ghosts, enters the scene. As their partnership unfolds, Keitaro's friend Eiko Hozuki joins in, creating a blend of horror, comedy, and adventure.

Keitaro, Yayoi, and Eiko are featured in the anime (Image via OLM Team Matsuda). Dark Gathering stands out as one of the season's hidden treasures among the countless popular anime releases. Its captivating mix of horror, comedy, and adventure, along with its compelling characters and unique storyline, sets it apart as a standout in the anime world—a must-see for fans in search of a well-crafted, immersive horror experience.

Editor's P/S

As a passionate fan of the horror anime genre, I was thrilled to learn about the exciting collaborations and DVD announcements for Dark Gathering at Jump Festa 2024. The series has captivated me with its unique blend of body horror, divine entities, and malevolent spirits, and I can't wait to see what these new collaborations will bring. The concept room in a hotel inspired by the anime is a particularly intriguing idea, and I can imagine it being a truly immersive experience for fans.

While I am disappointed that there has been no news about a potential second season, I understand that these decisions are often complex and based on various factors. Nevertheless, I remain hopeful that the success of the first season and the positive reception from fans will encourage the creators to continue the story. Dark Gathering has proven itself to be a standout in the horror anime genre, and I believe it deserves a second season to further explore its captivating world and characters.