Sega’s bringing a whole new batch of fans to the savannas of Japari Park!
On June 20, Sega hosted a stage show at the Tokyo Game Show hosted by Sega Games Chief Strategy Officer Minoru Iwaki. During the event, the publisher announced that they will produce a video game based on Kemono Friends. As of press time, Sega hasn’t disclosed which platforms the game will appear on, though they assured viewers that new information will be revealed in December.
In addition, the publisher announced that they will host a Kemono Friends crossover event with smartphone RPG Kyoto Kotoba RPG Kotodaman. Popular animal friends like Serval, Fennec, Raccoon, Margay, Giant Panda, and Emperor Penguin will appear in the game, all of whom will be voiced by their original voice actors.
Kadokawa originally confirmed that a second season of Kemono Friends was in the works in 2017.
Kemono Friends began life as a smartphone game from publisher Nexon, which launched in March 2015. The game ended service on December 14, 2017, ahead of the anime’s January 10 première. In February, Nexon announced that, despite the anime’s popularity, the game wouldn’t return. A spokesperson softened the message later, stating that it’s “possible” for a revival of the game.
The Kemono Friends anime is based on said smartphone game. TATSUKI directed the show at Yaoyorozu, with Shigenori Tanabe (Danchi Tomoo) writing and overseeing the show’s scripts. Sgt. Frog creator Mine Yoshizaki is credited with the original character concept designs.
Crunchyroll streamed Kemono Friends as it aired in Japan. They describe the show as:
About The story takes place in Japari Park, an enormous integrated zoo built somewhere in this world. A mysterious substance found there, called “Sand Star,” causes the animals to turn into humanoid beings called “Animal Girls”! These new creatures spend every day peacefully with the zoo’s visitors… but after some time, a lost child turns up in the park. The child’s attempt to find the way home turns into a great adventure with the Animal Girls!
In September 2017, Kemono Friends anime director TATSUKI announced that he was no longer attached to the franchise. Kadokawa Dwango President Nobuo Kawakami reported that he was concerned about the incident and that discussions were going on between Dwango and Kadokawa.
On September 27, 2017, the Kemono Friends website posted a notice, which stated that Yaoyorozu “made use of the franchise without sharing information, or reaching out to all relevant parties” through the proper channels and that Yaoyorozu left production due to being unable to comply with these terms in advance.
The entire incident prompted outrage among the fan and creator communities, alike. In December, Yaoyorozu president Keiyo Fukuhara issued a statement regarding Yaoyorozu and Kadokawa’s relationship on the Kemono Friends project. Fukuhara announced that his studio was no longer attached to the project.
Source: YouTube (Sega)
Kemono Friends Gets Video Game From Sega, Smartphone RPG Crossover Also – Samantha Ferreira
