Southeast Asia largest J-POP culture event "Anime Festival Asia（AFA）" was held online from December 5 to December 6 as "AFA SINGAPORE 2020 ～ONLINE～". The participating guests, such as Oohashi Ayaka, Toyonaga Toshiyuki, Aoi Eir, LiSA, May'n, Yanaginagi, and others, have been announced. "Anime Festival Asia（AFA）" is an event organizer by SOZO, a group under Sony Music Entertainment (SME) that is based in Singapore. After it was held in 2008 for the first time, it became popular for its concert and various stage performances where Japanese artists are invited. "AFA SINGAPORE 2020 ～ONLINE～" was held online from December 5 until December 6, at 2 PM of Singapore Time (3 PM of Japan Time). It's free to watch. Detailed information is available on a special website.

A trailer of "The Journey," an animated feature film collaborated with Saudi Arabian animation production company Manga Productions and Toei Animation, has been released along with the 71st Berlin International Film Festival, which was held online on March 1, 2021. "The Journey" is an animated feature film collaborated with Saudi Arabia and Japan, directed by Shizuno Kobun, the director of "Case Closed: The Crimson Love Letter" and "Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters". The film is scheduled to be released in May 2021 at Vox Cinemas in the Middle East and North Africa region, and in June at T-Joy in Japan, and will be screened in 4DX for the first time as a Saudi film. ＜The following is the full text of the comments. Manga Productions CEO Bukhary Essam For many years we have grown up watching anime films. We are very happy to be able to co-create a feature film with Japan. "The Journey" is an example of how we have invested in and focused on the talents of Saudi artists. Young Saudi men and women were sent to Toei Animation's studio for training. They later joined Manga Productions and became involved in the creative production of the film. Director: Shizuno Kobun I think this is the first time a Japanese director has worked with Saudi Arabia on a film. I feel very honored to have created a film about Saudi Arabia. "The Journey" is the result of what Saudi and Japanese staff members made efforts. It is a joint work that combines both cultures in at frames, music, and everything else. [The main voice actors / actresses in the film] Furuya Toru as Aus Mitsuishi Kotono Hind Kamiya Hiroshi as Zurara Nakamura Yuichi as Nizar Nakai Kazuya as Musab Kuroda Takaya as Abraha