Social networking service provider Mixi's game and video division XFLAG Studio and animation studio Tatsunoko Production announced on Tuesday that the companies will co-produce an anime project titled Pandora to Akubi (Pandora and Yawn). The anime will premiere in Spring 2019.

The joint production will feature characters from the companies' intellectual properties. Pandora, the character on the right in the visual shown, is from XFLAG's Monster Strike smartphone game. Akubi, the character on the left, originates from Tatsunoko Production's 1969 anime series Hakushon Daimaou (The Genie Family). The anime is being billed as a "battle entertainment work for girls."

J-pop band Shiggy Jr. will perform both the opening theme "D.A.Y.S" and the ending theme "B.U.R.N."

The 52-episode Hakushon Daimaou anime series aired in 1969-1970, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary this October. The anime inspired two spin-offs: Yobarete Tobidete Akubi-chan and Akubi Girl in 2001 and 2006, respectively. A two-hour live-action special aired on Fuji TV in 2013.

XFLAG developed and published the Monster Strike role-playing game for iOS and Android platforms in 2013. An English version was released in North America the following year, but was discontinued in August 2017. The game has grossed over US$7.2 billion worldwide as of October 2018, becoming the highest earning smartphone application of all time.

The first 52-episode net anime adaptation debuted in October 2013. The second season premiered in two installments in April and October 2017. A third season began streaming last July.

The franchise also inspired two anime films: Monster Strike The Movie: Hajimari no Basho e in December 2016 and Monster Strike the Movie: Sora no Kanata in October 2018, each grossing over approximately 7.4 million yen (US$6.8 million) and 3.6 million yen (US$3.2 million), respectively.

Official site: https://dora-bi.com/
Official Twitter: @anime_dorabi

Source: PR Times

Pandora to Akubi on MAL