Necronomico and the Cosmic Horror Show
| Necronomico and the Cosmic Horror Show | |
 Key visual | |
| ネクロノミ子のコズミックホラーショウ (Nekuronomiko no Kozumikku Horā Shō) | |
|---|---|
| Created by | Cygames |
| Anime television series | |
| Directed by | Masato Matsune |
| Written by | Makoto Uezu |
| Music by | Evan Call |
| Studio | Studio Gokumi |
| Licensed by | Crunchyroll |
| Original network | Tokyo MX, Kansai TV, CBC, RKB, BS NTV |
| Original run | July 1, 2025 – present |
| Episodes | 11 |
Necronomico and the Cosmic Horror Show (ネクロノミ子のコズミックホラーショウ, Nekuronomiko no Kozumikku Horā Shō) is an original Japanese anime television series produced by Cygames and animated by Studio Gokumi. The series premiered in July 2025.
Plot
[edit]The series follows Miko Kurono, a junior high school student who streams under the name Necronomico. She becomes involved in a virtual reality game, which she explores along with her childhood friend Mayu Mayusaka and her rival Kanna Kagurazaka.
Characters
[edit]- Miko Kurono (黒廼 ミコ, Kurono Miko)
- Voiced by: Riho Sugiyama[1]
- An influencer who talks about various topics. She aims to become more popular and go viral, and currently lives together with her close friend Mayu. After Mayu fell into a coma and upon seeing Cthulhu using Mayu's body for physical form, Miko vows to kill the Great Old Ones and bring Mayu back whatever it takes.
- Mayu Mayusaka (舞夢坂 舞由, Mayusaka Mayu)
- Voiced by: Manaka Iwami[1]
- An influencer known for her beauty, she focuses on cute things and currently lives with her close friend Miko. She falls into a coma, and her appearance is used by Cthulhu.
- Kanna Kagurasaka (神楽坂 カンナ, Kagurasaka Kanna)
- Voiced by: Nana Hazumi[1]
- A popular influencer with a tsundere personality who considers herself Miko's rival following a certain incident and mainly focuses on fashion. She also owns a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Daifuku, and later becomes friends with Miko as the series progresses. It is later revealed she had a troubled childhood where her father died and her stepfather abused her when she was 10 years old, forcing her to run away from home when she became a high schooler. After her story was exposed on the internet after the third VR game, she is forced to move in with Miko to avoid attention from her fans and haters who knew where she lived, while her SAN levels start deteriorating.
- Eita (エイタ)
- Voiced by: Reiji Kawashima[2]
- A gaming influencer and high schooler who is cheerful and considerate. He later turns out to be a egotistical psychopath favoring Hastur and the other Great Old Ones, having led Nao-kichi to be killed in the first VR game. It is revealed during the third VR game that he had killed his bully at the hospital by deliberately unplugging his life support, and after disappearing for a bit when his story is revealed online, he joins the Great Old Ones' side as the Star-Eating Warrior, Aldebaran. When he fails to stop Miko, Kanna, Kei and Seishiro from losing the fourth VR game though, he loses his right eye by Tick-Tock. Before the fifth and final VR game began, he starts raising a cultist mob in favor of Hastur.
- Seishirō Sano (佐野清司郎, Sano Seishirō)
- Voiced by: Atsushi Tamaru[2]
- A kindhearted influencer and math teacher. He has an ability to discern the truth behind people's actions.
- Tsugumi Tsukasa (つかさ つぐみ, Tsukasa Tsugumi)
- Voiced by: Hazuki Ogino[2]
- A disgraced actress who became a influencer after her scandalous corporate incident was exposed and also went bankrupt and corrupt due to family debts. She later fails the second VR game alongside Hiroshi, becoming insane as a result.
- NAO-KICHI
- Voiced by: Taichi Ichikawa[2]
- A genius manga artist who participates in the VR game as a way to find inspiration for his next manga. He later gets killed in the first VR game after he is betrayed by Eita, and goes insane as a result.
- Hiroshi Takashiro (鷹城 ヒロシ, Takashiro Hiroshi)
- Voiced by: Kyōhei Natsume[2]
- An influencer who participates in the VR game. He later fails the second VR game alongside Tsugumi, becoming insane as a result.
- Tick Tock Man (チクタクマン, Chiku Taku Man)
- Voiced by: Hiroki Yasumoto[2]
- A Great Old One and a gentlemanly trickster who oversees the futuristic VR game Kadath.
- Kei Amenomura (天叢 ケイ, Amenomura Kei)
- Voiced by: Sayumi Watabe[2]
- The assistant director of the company behind the anime's VR game, serving as the bridge between the game master and the participants. She later participates in the games with Miko and the others.
- Cthulhu (クトゥルフ, Kuturufu)
- Voiced by: Manaka Iwami[3]
- A Great Old One who uses Mayu's appearance as a host, drawing Miko to vow vengeance for using Mayu's body while she is in a coma.
- Hastur (ハスター, Hasutā)
- Voiced by: Kazuyuki Okitsu[3]
- A Great Old One and a ruthless producer who values viewing numbers above streamers' wellbeing.
- Ghatanothoa (ガタノソア, Gatanosoa)
- Voiced by: Katsuyuki Konishi[3]
- A Great Old One who is a sadist who loves to quote lines from famous books.
- Cthugha (グア, Gua)
- Voiced by: Ayasa Itō[3]
- A Great Old One, who also happens to have a big appetite.
- Zhar (ツァール, Tsāru)
- Voiced by: Herself[3]
- A Great Old One who accompanies Hastur alongside Lloigor.
- Lloigor (ロイガー, Roigā)
- Voiced by: Herself[3]
- A Great Old One who accompanies Hastur alongside Zhar.
- Hunter Joe (ハンターJOE, Hantā Jō)
- Voiced by: Hiroaki Hirata[4]
- A mysterious person from the Vatican who is aware of the Great Old Ones' return.
Production and release
[edit]The series is produced by Cygames and animated by Studio Gokumi. It is directed by Masato Matsune and features series composition by Makoto Uezu based on his story concepts, character designs by Hiroshi Kosuga based on Jiro Suzuki's original designs, and music composed by Evan Call.[1][5] The series premiered on July 1, 2025, on Tokyo MX and other networks.[2][6] The opening theme song is "Kakushō-ron" (確証論; "Theory of Confirmation"), performed by the VTuber Ryushen, while the ending theme song is "PANDORA feat. Noa (from Colorful Peach)" (PANDORA feat. のあ (from カラフルピーチ)) performed by Vell.[3][7] Crunchyroll is streaming the series.[8]
Episodes
[edit]| No. | Title [9][10] | Directed by [9] | Written by [9] | Storyboarded by [9] | Original release date [11] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "[No Spoilers!] Let's Play the Old Ones' Demo [Cthulhu]" Transliteration: "【Shoken】Jashin Gēmu Taikenban Yattemita【Kuturufu】" (Japanese: 【初見】邪神ゲーム体験版やってみた【クトゥルフ】) | Yūsuke Tomita | Makoto Uezu | Masato Matsune & Kunihiro Mori | July 1, 2025 |
| 2 | "[SAN Check] Small Streamers Collab! [Great Old Ones]" Transliteration: "【Shōkido】Jaku Raibā de Atsumattemita【Kyū Shihai-sha】" (Japanese: 【正気度】弱ライバーで集まってみた【旧支配者】) | Ryoma Kawakami | Makoto Uezu | Yū Nobuta | July 8, 2025 |
| 3 | "[PvE] Just Another Day at the Old Ones' Academy [Shoggoth]" Transliteration: "【PvE】Tanoshii Jashin Gakuen【Shogosu】" (Japanese: 【PvE】たのしい邪神学園【ショゴス】) | Masanori Miyata | Makoto Uezu | Satoshi Shimizu | July 15, 2025 |
| 4 | "[Puzzle Game] Welcome to Hotel Reversal [Escape Room]" Transliteration: "【Nazotoki】Hoteru Ribāsaru e Yōkoso【Dasshutsu Gēmu】" (Japanese: 【謎解き】ホテルリバーサルへようこそ【脱出ゲーム】) | Ryoma Kawakami | Yasuko Aoki | Yū Nobuta | July 22, 2025 |
| 5 | "[Up and Down] Is Humanity Quiz a Kusoge? [Stole 1 Mil]" Transliteration: "【Appu Daun】 Kuizu Ningensei wa Hontō ni Kusogē ka? 【Yokodori Hyakuman】" (Japanese: 【アップダウン】クイズ人間性は本当にクソゲーか？【横取り100万】) | Hisashi Isogawa | Makoto Uezu | Hisashi Isogawa | July 29, 2025 |
| 6 | "[Foodie] Summoned for a Day with the Old Ones [Ancient City]" Transliteration: "【Gurume】 Ichinichi Fukkatsu Shita Jashin ni Yobidasarete Mita 【Koto】" (Japanese: 【グルメ】一日復活した邪神に呼び出されてみた【古都】) | Yūsuke Tomita | Makoto Uezu | Yūsuke Tomita | August 5, 2025 |
| 7 | "[Old Awakening] Kyoto Tower Defense [Cthugha]" Transliteration: "【Jashin Kakusei】Kessen! Kyōto Tawā Difensu【Kutogua】" (Japanese: 【邪神覚醒】決戦！京都タワーディフェンス【クトゥグア】) | Masanori Miyata | Masato Matsune | Satoshi Shimizu | August 12, 2025 |
| 8 | "[Putting Out Fires] Miko and Kanna's TV Shot! [Top Cultist]" Transliteration: "【Hikeshi】 Miko to Kanna de Terebi Shutsuen Shite Mita【Kyōso】" (Japanese: 【火消し】ミコとカンナでテレビ出演してみた【教祖】) | Hisashi Isogawa | Makoto Uezu | Yū Nobuta | August 19, 2025 |
| 9 | "[Finals] Crying Out Family in the Mountains of Madness [Hastur]" Transliteration: "【Kesshōsen】 Kyōki Sanmyaku nite, Kazokuai o Sakebu【Hasutā】" (Japanese: 【決勝戦】狂気山脈にて、家族愛を叫ぶ【ハスター】) | Ryoma Kawakami | Yasuko Aoki | Hiroyuki Hashimoto | August 26, 2025 |
| 10 | "[Raising Sim] I Made Me, and It's Got My Heart Thumping [Ghatanothoa]" Transliteration: "【Ikusei】Jibun Mēkā de Tokimeite Mita【Gatanosoa】" (Japanese: 【育成】自分メーカーでときめいてみた【ガタノソア】) | Hodaka Kuramoto | Yasuko Aoki | Shinpei Nagai | September 2, 2025 |
| 11 | "[R'lyeh] Return from the Unlighted Chambers [Cthulhu]" Transliteration: "【Rurue】Mumyō no Keibō kara no Kikan【Kuturufu】" (Japanese: 【ルルイエ】無明の閨房からの帰還【クトゥルフ】) | Hisashi Isogawa | Makoto Uezu | Hideki Tonokatsu | September 9, 2025 |
| 12 | "[The End?] The Call of Necronomico [Fin?]" Transliteration: "【Shū?】Nekuronomiko no Yobigoe 【Kan?】" (Japanese: 【終？】ネクロノミ子の呼び声【完？】) | Ryoma Kawakami | Makoto Uezu | Yū Nobuta | September 16, 2025 |
Reception
[edit]AI subtitling controversy
[edit]Anime News Network noted that the series' official English subtitles had numerous translation errors, and in one line of the German subtitle script, it contained the phrase "ChatGPT said:" prefixing the dialogue, suggesting that ChatGPT had been used to produce the subtitles.[12][13] Rebecca Silverman criticized the use of ChatGPT in the subtitling, describing the result as "nowhere near acceptable for a professional product".[14] Crunchyroll responded on July 3, 2025, saying that the use of AI for the subtitles violated agreements with the third-party vendor who had supplied them, and that they were working to resolve the issue.[15][16]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d CygamesオリジナルTVアニメ「ネクロノミ子のコズミックホラーショウ」が2025年放送. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. December 12, 2024. Archived from the original on December 12, 2024. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Antonio Pineda, Rafael (March 23, 2025). "Necronomico and the Cosmic Horror Show Original Anime's Video Reveals More Cast, Staff, July TV Premiere". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on March 23, 2025. Retrieved March 23, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g Cayanan, Joanna (June 1, 2025). "Necronomico and the Cosmic Horror Show Anime's Video Reveals More Cast, Theme Songs, July 1 Debut". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on June 1, 2025. Retrieved June 1, 2025.
- ^ TVアニメ「ネクロノミ子のコズミックホラーショウ」公式 [@Necronomico_PR] (July 29, 2025). ◢◤キャラクター情報解禁！◢◤ ハンターJOE（CV:#平田広明） https://anime-necronomico.help/character/detail/?id=9 バチカン怪異局日本支部調査官。無愛想でデジタル機器に疎いが、独自の調査で邪神復活を察知した。富士そばによく出没する。ドーベルマンとカラスをお供に連れている。#ネクロノミ子 (Tweet) (in Japanese). Retrieved August 26, 2025 – via Twitter.
- ^ Cayanan, Joanna (December 12, 2024). "Cygames Reveals Original TV Anime Necronomico and the Cosmic Horror Show Slated for 2025 Debut". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on December 12, 2024. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
- ^ "「ネクロノミ子のコズミックホラーショウ」は7月放送開始、川島零士ら7人追加出演". コミックナタリー (in Japanese). ナターシャ. March 23, 2025. Archived from the original on March 23, 2025. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
- ^ "「ネクロノミ子」に興津和幸、小西克幸、伊藤彩沙ら出演 ビジュアル＆PV公開". コミックナタリー (in Japanese). ナターシャ. June 1, 2025. Archived from the original on June 1, 2025. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
- ^ Mateo, Alex (June 18, 2025). "Crunchyroll Announces Release Schedule for Summer 2025 Season". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on June 18, 2025. Retrieved June 18, 2025.
- ^ a b c d "STORY | Terebi Anime「Nekuronomiko no Kozumikku Horā Shō」Koshiki Saito" STORY | TVアニメ「ネクロノミ子のコズミックホラーショウ」公式サイト [STORY | TV Anime「Necronomico and the Cosmic Horror Show」Official Site]. anime-necronomico.help (in Japanese). Retrieved July 1, 2025.
- ^ "Watch Necronomico and the Cosmic Horror Show". Crunchyroll. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
- ^ "ON AIR | Terebi Anime「Nekuronomiko no Kozumikku Horā Shō」Koshiki Saito" ON AIR | TVアニメ「ネクロノミ子のコズミックホラーショウ」公式サイト [ON AIR | TV Anime「Necronomico and the Cosmic Horror Show」Official Site]. anime-necronomico.help (in Japanese). Archived from the original on March 23, 2025. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
- ^ Loo, Egan (July 1, 2025). "Crunchyroll's German Necronomico and the Cosmic Horror Show Subtitles Lists 'ChatGPT'". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on July 1, 2025. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
- ^ Pulliam-Moore, Charles (July 2, 2025). "Crunchyroll ran embarrassingly bad ChatGPT subtitles on its new anime series". The Verge. Archived from the original on July 2, 2025. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
- ^ "The Summer 2025 Anime Preview Guide - Necronomico and the Cosmic Horror Show". Anime News Network. July 1, 2025. Archived from the original on July 1, 2025. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
- ^ "Crunchyroll blames third-party vendor for AI subtitle mess". Engadget. July 3, 2025. Archived from the original on July 5, 2025. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
- ^ "Crunchyroll Says Anime's ChatGPT Subtitling Came From Third-Party Vendor, Goes Against Its Policies - Aftermath". Aftermath. July 3, 2025. Archived from the original on July 4, 2025. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
External links
[edit]- Official website (in Japanese)
- Necronomico and the Cosmic Horror Show (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
