STUDIO DOTOU has released a new trailer for KILLTUBE, an original anime project focused on streamers that will be featured at Anime Expo 2025 with a behind-the-scenes panel and premiere footage. The panel is scheduled for Saturday, July 5, and will include director Kazuaki Kuribayashi and animation producer Fuko Noda.
The KILLTUBE panel will take place from 12:00 PM to 12:50 PM in the JW Marriott’s Platinum Ballroom. It will include unreleased footage and a discussion of the production process, with commentary from the project’s leadership.
About KILLTUBE
Described by its creators as an “experimental ground” in the form of a theatrical anime, KILLTUBE is being led by Kazuaki Kuribayashi, who is making his debut in animation direction. Kuribayashi is known for his work in advertising and previously received the Japan Advertising Agencies Association Creator of the Year Medal.
He and the team, comprising of individuals from outside the traditional anime industry, including backgrounds in live-action film, music, and commercial production, are developing the project independently of major studio frameworks.
In 2026, Japan continues its isolation under the Edo Shogunate. Amidst strict social hierarchies, three individuals, treated as scums of society, cross paths in a prison cell destined for a fateful encounter. They join the dueling video platform “KILLTUBE” to pursue fortune and to win their freedom in a segregational world.
In an era dubbed the “Age of Great Duels,” where one can amass immense wealth simply by defeating the strong, they face discrimination from samurais and merchants seeking power and authority. As they break the limits of convention and claim victory after victory, they rise in popularity, becoming decorated celebrities of their time. However, just as they reach the height of their fame, they uncover the hidden truth behind “KILLTUBE”…
The anime aims to explore a hybrid of traditional and modern elements of Japanese culture. It previously released a pilot film in 2024, which you can watch below.
Characters
Main Trio
The three “bottom-feeder” characters:
Musashi (KILLTUBER)
“I don’t need a reason. If I say I can do it, I can.”
A wild child raised by dogs in Criminal Mountain until the age of four. He was taken in and raised by the famous samurai Manjiro in Edo. Curious and fearless, Musashi lives with the words Manjiro left behind, “Aim for the highest place in Edo.”
Kikuchiyo
“I can’t die in a place like this… I’ll drown in money instead.”
Tall, handsome, and a natural con artist with a terrifyingly quick mind. Believing that money and power are everything, he has made a decent living using unscrupulous methods despite his low status. A habitual scammer and pickpocket, he has previously conned KILLTUBERS into letting him produce their careers for some quick cash. He targets Musashi with the same scheme, planning to make a fortune, but…
Leonardo (Engineer)
“If there really is some entity that created this world, it has way too many bugs.”
An inventor who believes himself to be the reincarnation of Leonardo da Vinci. He lost his heart when his parents, who taught him invention skills, were executed for treason when he was eight. Reo has no interest in people and only wants to invent. He is also a good business partner of Kikuchiyo.
The Top 7 KILLTUBERS (K7)
The renowned streamers who dominate the social order of Edo.
#7 Naosuke (VLOG KILLTUBER)
[no info available]
#6 Zinroku (Dance KILLTUBER)
“Over here, young one. Or are you farsighted already?”
Zinroku is a descendant of a prominent kabuki family, blending traditional stage artistry with martial arts in a combat style rooted in dance. His dueling approach is frantic and expressive, embodying both showmanship and lethality. Once recognized for leading a 3,000-member orchestra in a famed duel, Zinroku’s legacy as a performer is well established. However, his position among the elite K7 is currently at risk for unknown reasons.
#5 Hokusai (Art KILLTUBER)
“Don’t worry, I’ll make a flashy coffin for you.”
An artist who believes that dueling is a form of art, focusing on how to color the fight with hues. He fights while spraying ink from a jetpack, completing his artwork with the blood splatter from the final blow. He is extremely sadistic to others and himself. The more damage he takes during a fight, the more inspiration he gets.
#4 Giemom (Jikkyo KILLTUBER)
“From here on, it’s for real! A genuine fight with no strategy guide.”
A genius inventor and heir to one of Edo’s top tech companies, Giemon’s defining trait is his love for mockery. He uses a variety of combat configurations to keep opponents off balance, including a “Horseback archery mode” that mimics FPS games and a reactive “Robot mode” that powers up depending on viewer donations. His taunting personality, paired with eccentric inventions, makes him both unpredictable and dangerous in battle.
#3 Rui (Gal KILLTUBER)
“Get outta my sight, noob lol.”
A genius who demonstrates various weapons and is constantly flooded with sponsor tie-ups. Her popular series “Top 10 Trendy Swords♡ Slashing Lots of Mobs” is a mega-hit on KILLTUBE. She has immense support from teenage girls due to her slow, laid-back speech and fashion style.
#2 Tsunayoshi (Chinju KILLTUBER)
“You live! You breathe! You waste… Oxygen!”
Believes humans should be kept as pets by animals. Although he is 28 years old, he has the mind of a six-year-old boy. His kindness is extreme, getting angry even at the sight of a flower being stepped on. In duels, he is assisted by “friendly animals” created through chimera technology passed down in his family. He himself is doped, possessing the strength of an elephant.
#1 Sagawa (Hikyaku KILLTUBER)
“If there’s a path, just go forward… If there’s no path, just go forward… If I go forward, a path will be made!!”
With replaceable gear prosthetics, Sagawa can run freely on water and walls at high speed. When serious, he can exceed 400 km/h and is said to cross the Japanese archipelago in 8 hours on foot. His catchphrase is “I can film the shot faster myself,” and he carries the camera himself, making his duel videos popular for their realism. He’s a super-fast eater, sleeper, and short sleeper.
KILLTUBE Staff (Full List)
- Executive Producer: Yusuke Watanabe
- Co-Producer: Chiharu Nagai
- Producer & Director: Kazuaki Kuribayashi
- Publicity Producer: Kayane Fujimura
- Production Managers: Hikaru Sato, Juria Akagawa
- Animation Producers: Kenichi Shimada, Fuko Noda, Taiyo Sato, Ai Kamiyama
- Animation Directors: Masato Goto, Ryoji Yamada, Bivi, maruso, Frog96, Takumi Shiga
- Character Design & Anime Director: Nike Shimaguchi
- Anime Director & VFX Supervisor: Takahiro Ota
- CG Supervisor: Yuki Mizoguchi
- Music Director: Takumi Matsuzaka
- Composer: Takao Ogi
- Scriptwriters: Takenori Tokuyama, Saeri Natsuo, Ryo Takebayashi
- Script Producer: Daisuke Noro
- Web Production Team:
- Web Producer: Shusuke Umezu
- Web Developers: Masashi Ohashi, Sho Shindo
- Web Designer: Kenjiro Nakayama
- Worldview Setting: Yusuke Ujita
- Art Director: Takuya Sekikawa
- Concept Art Director: Fujihiko Sawai
- Concept Artist: Shusei Sasaya
- Graphic Designers: Masataka Yoshida, Saki Kosaka
- Character Setting: ARuFa
- CG Department:
- CG Animation Leads: Daisuke Kaneko
- CG Effect Supervisor: Tai Komatsu
- CG Anime Supervisor: Satoshi Takeno
- CG Producers: Nao Nakatsuka, Tatsuya Furuhata
- Environment Modeling Leads: Jun Kazuse
- Technical Artist: Hiroyuki Okada
Anime Expo 2025 KILLTUBE Panel Information
- Title: KILLTUBE Panel by STUDIO DOTOU
- Date: Saturday, July 5, 2025
- Time: 12:00 PM – 12:50 PM
- Location: JW Marriott, Platinum Ballroom
- Guests: Kazuaki Kuribayashi (Director/Planning), Fuko Noda (Animation Producer)
KILLTUBE sounds kind of like TO BE HERO X but for streamers, and it’s definitely an anime to keep an eye out for.
Source: Press Release, KILLTUBE Official X & Official Website
©KILLTUBE
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