Ever since we first laid eyes on Studio4°C and Kenichiro Akimoto’s animated version of Hiroshi Sakurazaka’s iconic time-loop novel, we’ve been dying to see more. From its sumptuous colors to its truly outlandish sci-fi aesthetic (especially in stark contrast to the more down-to-earth approach taken in Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt’s cult classic Edge of tomorrow), and thanks to its unique new perspective, the new All you need is to kill has quickly become one of our most anticipated films. And now we know when it will happen – and it continues to look remarkable.
Warner Bros. Japan has released a new trailer confirming that the anime adaptation will hit Japanese cinemas early next year, and while we still don’t really know when to expect it in the West (it just premiered in the US last weekend at New York Comic Con), at least we can treat ourselves to seeing even more of this film in action.
The new trailer focuses a little less on the vibes (although they’re still really impeccable) and more on introducing the time loop story premise. Unlike Sakurazaka’s book and the 2014 live-action film, the new All you need is to kill does not center its perspective on Keiji (voiced here by Dan Da Dan And Demon Slayerby Natsuki Hanae, fictionalized as Cage in the 2014 film), but rather about Rita Vrataski (Ai Mikami), a young soldier on the front lines of humanity’s war against monstrous alien invaders.
When Rita and Keiji both discover that they are linked by a shared awareness of the time loop – starting the same day over and over again every time Rita dies – they attempt to uncover the cause of their dilemma, honing their combat skills through endless loops along the way.
For those who have read the novel, you will know Edge of tomorrow made some changes to the original climax – and it seems that, even with a shift in perspective from Keiji to Rita, the new anime will stick much closer to the book. But no matter where this version of All you need is to kill going, we’re going to have a mind-blowing time every time it comes out of Japan.
All you need is to kill releases in Japanese theaters on January 9, 2026.
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