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Crunchyroll Adds Kagewani Monster Suspense Anime

Media distribution service Crunchyroll announced on Friday that it will stream the Kagewani monster suspense series of anime shorts. Crunchyroll began streaming the first episode on Friday at 9:00 p.m. EDT. New episodes will be available on Fridays at 11:50 a.m. ET. Crunchyroll is streaming the series worldwide outside of Asia.

The series stars Tomokazu Sugita (Gintama's Gintoki, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya's Kyon) as biologist Sōsuke Banba. Ryōtarō Okiayu (Toriko's titular character, Fruits Basket's Shigure) co-stars as the pharmaceutical agent Masaki Kimura. Other cast members include Mai Aizawa, Yukinori Okuhata, Yûsuke Handa, Fumiya Kosugi, and Yukiko Morishita.

The "new form of panic suspense animation" begins when mysterious monsters called "UMA" suddenly appear in the present day and attack humans. The scientist Sōsuke Banba pursues the truth with the keyword "Kagewani" (literally, shadow crocodile).

Tomoya Takashima (Yamishibai: Japanese Ghost Stories) created the series and is directing it at the studio Tomovies. Hiromu Kumamoto (Yamishibai: Japanese Ghost Stories) is writing the scripts. Ami Fujikawa and Ryōma Hori are designing the characters, and Shunsaku Matsurida is designing the monsters. Tsutomu Nagae is the executive producer, and Kentarō Iwakiri is producing. M.S.S. Project performs the anime's theme song "Arrival of Fear."

Crunchyroll also announced on Friday that it has added the English dub of the entire A Lull in the Sea television anime series. The stream is available for members in the U.S. and Canada. Free members can watch up to episode 6, and premium members can watch the entire series.

NIS America released the 26-episode series on Blu-ray Disc on June 30, and then released the series on DVD in two sets on July 14.

NIS America describes the story:

Long ago, humans lived in the sea. However, some humans defied the Sea God and moved to the land, creating the division that now exists between Shioshishio, the Sea Village, and Oshiooshi, the village of the land. Now, four middle school students from the Sea Village, Manaka Mukaido, Hikari Sakishima, Chisaki Hiradaira, and Kaname Isaki must attend Mihama Middle School on the surface. While getting used to their new lives, these four and their new friend from the surface, Tsumugu Kihara, learn how true bonds of love and friendship can overcome any separation.

The series premiered in Japan in 2013. Crunchyroll streamed the anime as it airs in Japan, and Hulu is also now streaming the anime.