Screening of Saturday 16th May 2026

Screening earlier on the evening of Saturday, May 16^th 2026.

Until September JAFWA will be operating on Winter Hours – ie screening starts at ~4:15PM.

Fortunately there were not too many hiccoughs with the introduction of Winter Hours last week, and our audience enjoyed the selection of anime we introduced to the program line-up. Some decided at the last moment.
Trust me, there was a lot of sweating and swearing involved, at least on my part, trying to get the best JAFWA program. guided by the survey results. I keep feeling it could have been better but time constraints prevented putting everything in as regular items. And we should manage to add in all the lovely anime series before the next special survey. More shall be revealed this week!

As the merry month of May progresses we farewell the last two familiar regular series, as both “Frieren” and “Spy x Family” reach the end of their current season/cour, but be aware that more is planned for these beloved series

In this week’s JAFWA program we manage to have another preview item, involving hidden battles between users who contract pairs of spirits. As a side note I have been enjoying the manga in the loaner library, and I should warn you that the first few chapters involve some violence, until the protagonist has his world-view expanded.

And after some effort last week at the JAFWA committee meeting we introduce a couple more regular titles to the JAFWA program. Then a few more in the weeks to come.

As a Public Service Announcement from JAFWA we regretfully inform people with the news that the long-time fixture of Perth fandom – Tokyo Underground is being forced to close for the final time. Though Bronwyn has taken her store through many misfortunes and relocations, she has indicated that she will not be maintaining her stall at the Wanneroo Weekend Markets much longer due to health reasons. Before it is too late visit Tokyo Underground one last time, and help her empty the shop.

Anime is definitely going mainstream. Last year at the cinemas has been the “Demon Slayer” movie, followed by the “Chainsaw Man” movie, and then the “Jujitsu Kaisen” movie. This year there has been the “Zombieland Saga” movie, and a “Gundam” movie, and an unbelievably good “Scarlet”. Life is wonderful for anime fans.
What else will be showing up in cinemas? It sometimes seems that all the popular Japanese anime movies are coming.
Not to mention that Luna Leederville is putting anime films in their Monday Double Feature program and Thursday Tokyo Nights.

If you would like to showcase the anime that holds great meaning and value to you, please offer to sponsor a night of JAFWA and screen your favourites. If you don’t want to sponsor an entire night like Lindsay, Elliot and Dale did previously, there is the other scheme for our signed up members. On the night nearest your birthday, as Greg and Sally have done, you can nominate something to play during the Dinner Break (limited to 30 minutes max). You may have to help us source this material, so plan and inform us in advance please.

This year SwanCon celebrates its 50^th anniversary!

JAFWA and SwanCon go back quite far. Many early SwanCon attendees received their first dose of ‘proper’ anime through the late night screening rooms (nothing too dodgy, just pleasantly weird). When JAFWA became an incorporated body in late 1996/early 1997, the governing body of SwanCon (The Western Australian Science Fiction Foundation, or WASFF) allowed us to use their Constitutional Documents as a basis for our own.

In 1999, and again in 2006 JAFWA worked with SwanCon to raise funds and sponsor a Special Guest – Mangaka, Cosplayer, Musician and Toei Animation star Ippongi Bang. Without SwanCon’s support JAFWA would not have achieved something so special.

This year SwanCon is on from 29 May through the long weekend to 1 June, at The Pagoda Resort in Como. For those wanting to visit on the Saturday before the screening, JAFWA is a short distance away in South Perth.

Below is the draft program for the evening of Saturday May 16^th, 2026

All items in the original Japanese language with English subtitles. With assistance from a grant from and

4:15pm	Who Made Me A Princess?	Ep 2/16
4:40pm	Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End season 2	Ep 10/10	final
5:05pm	Spy x Family season 3	Ep 13/13	final
5:30pm	dinner break, with possibly interesting stuff
6:15pm	door prize drawing, and announcements
6:30pm	Witch Hat Atelier	Ep 1/?
6:55pm	Kusonoki’s Garden of Gods	Ep 3/?
7:20pm	Champignon no Majo	Ep 1/12
7:45pm	Daemons of the Shadow Realm	Ep 1	(preview)
8:10pm	Late Break
8:20pm	Re: Zero season 4	Ep 2/11	(v)
8:45pm	Roll Over and Die	Ep 2/12	(v)
9:10pm	Clevatess	Ep 3/12	(v)

Doors Open before Screening:~4:00 PM

Program Finishes:~9:45 PM

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Dates of Interest

Barring a resurgence of COVID-19 pestilence, these fannish events of interest are scheduled to happen:

• From Thursday May 14^th 2026 — Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway: The Sorcery of Nymph Circe at assorted cinemas.
• Saturday May 24^th 2026 9:40->13:30 — Collector Zone Toy & Hobby Fair at ECU Sport & Fitness Centre, Joondalup, 22/270 Joondalup Dr, Joondalup WA 6027.
• Friday May 29^th to Monday June 1^st 2026 — WA’s most venerable Sci-Fi convention Swancon 50 // Natcon 2026 hosted at The Pagoda in South Perth.
• Monday June 8^th 2026 ~6:30PM — Luna Double Feature at Luna Cinemas Leederville – “Paprika” and “Tokyo Godfathers” $17.
• Weekend June 27^th and 28^th 2026 10AM->6PM — Supanova 2026 Perth at Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre.
• Saturday July 18^th 2026 ~2PM-3:30PM — JAFWA AGM before the normal screening. All signed up members to attend.
• Saturday July 18^th 2026 ~7PM — JAFWA annual elections during the regular screening Dinner Break. Consider nominating and practice your election pitch
• Monday July 27^th 2026 ~6:30PM — Luna Double Feature at Luna Cinemas Leederville – “Spirited Away” and “Howl’s Moving Castle” $17.

Synopses

Click ‘Continue’ below to see

Who Made me a Princess? (In Japanese: Aru Hi, Ohime-sama ni Natteshimatta Ken ni Tsuite, in Korean: Eoneu Nal Gongjuga Doeeobeolyeossda, in Chinese: Mófaa Goungzhuu de Xiao Fánnao)

The story follows Athanasia de Alger Obelia, a young princess executed by her father, Claude de Alger Obelia, the cold-blooded emperor of the Obelian Empire. However, Athanasia is reincarnated as her baby-self and given a second chance at the same life. Athanasia must use all of her wit and cunning to survive in the palace and to prevent her own death.

This evening’s Episode: “papa“

Athanasia continues to steal jewels. From her predictions she knows she won’t meet Emperor Claude for four years. She wonders if Claude hates her because she didn’t inherit magic, and if Claude’s other daughter, Jennette, has magic. She overhears her maids discussing an upcoming security inspection and decides to move part of her treasure to a large building across the garden. The building turns out to be another palace and by unfortunate chance she encounters her father Claude much sooner than predicted.

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End (Sousou no Furiiren) season 2

For ten years, elf mage Frieren traveled with Himmel the hero, Heiter the priest, and Eisen the dwarf warrior as they quested to destroy the demon king. At the end of their journey, Frieren set out on her own, not quite understanding how differently time flows for her versus her human companions. Reunited after fifty years only to see them wither and die, Frieren begins to ponder the nature of connections at a time when it’s already too late to say goodbye. On the road to Ende, Frieren confronts past bonds and rising threats with her newfound party.

This Evening’s Episode: “A Beautiful Sight” finale

On the Northern Plateau, the party comes across the deepest canyon on the continent, at 3000 meters deep. Due to its width and the strong winds, the party decides to use a bridge built by a dwarf named Gehen over centuries. Frieren is surprised the bridge is not more popular, but it is quickly shown that dangerous bird monsters attack those who cross it. In another location on the Northern Plateau, Edel, Lernen, and Denken are having a meeting. As Denken moves forward towards the golden city, Lernen remarks that Denken intends to fight the greatest of the Seven Sages of Destruction, Macht of the Golden Land.

Spy x Family season 3

In order to ensure World Peace, a master spy who has to “build a family” to execute a mission, not realising that the girl he adopts as his daughter is a telepath, and the woman he agrees to be in a marriage with is a skilled assassin.

This evening’s Episode: “A World Where We Cannot Survive” finale

Fiona continues to beat Wheeler ruthlessly while calling him weak for not trusting others, unlike her, though an awakened Loid stops Fiona from killing Wheeler, as he might be useful alive in the future. They manage to escape from the SSS with the rest of WISE. Back home the confusion between Yor and Loid is cleared up, but an injured and suspicious Yuri Briar appears.

Witch Hat Atelier (Tongari Boushi no Atorie)

In a world where only witches can cast magic, they must avoid being seen by ordinary people while casting. While Coco does her chores, she daydreams of becoming a witch. When a young witch named Qifrey visits her village, Coco uncovers the “absolute secret,” becomes Qifrey’s apprentice, and begins her studies. This is the story of children who encounter despair, yet reach out toward hope.

Tonight’s Episode: “The Beginning of Magic”

Coco is a young girl who dreams on becoming a witch despite knowing only those born with magic talent can do so. One day, she watches Qifrey, a witch using magic and learns that anyone can use magic with the right tools and training, and using a magic book and ink she got from a mysterious seller, practices by herself.

Kusunoki’s Garden of Gods (Kami no Niwatsuki Kusunoki-tei)

Minato Kusunoki ends up becoming the caretaker of a newly constructed house deep in the countryside. A procession of unique and peculiar gods is drawn to the comfort of the purified Kusunoki residence, and Minato spends his days relaxing in the company of his spiritual neighbors. What else lies in store for Minato as he lives peacefully surrounded by gods.

Tonight’s Episode: “Training Wind Power in the Sacred Ground”

Seishiro visits, planning to demand Minato work for him, but Yamagami secretly sends him to a dark dimension to be killed repeatedly. The bun shop owner, Echigo, mentions Yamagami helped him when he was young, but it is a temporary blessing. The kirin visits to thank Minato for freeing him, revealing he is Kirin, the third of the Heavenly Beasts. He is surprised Minato doesn’t want a reward as he is used to selfish humans. Further misunderstandings eventuate. Meanwhile Harima discovers a temple emitting miasma.

Champignon Witch (Champignon no Majo)

Luna is a young witch who lives alone in a forest known for its poisonous mushrooms. Feared and shunned by nearby villagers for being a black witch in a kingdom ruled by white witches, Luna is believed to bring illness and death because of the poisonous mushrooms that she leaves everywhere she touches.

Tonight’s Episode: “Luna the Black Witch”

A young witch living deep in the forest occasionally visits a nearby town to sell her medicines and buy books. But her footsteps leave behind poisonous mushrooms, earning her the name “Champignon” Witch. Few people appreciate her, especially since no-one can survive her touch. Might romance be beyond her?

preview item – Daemons of the Shadow Realm (Yomi no Tsugai)

In a world where certain humans command mighty supernatural duos called Daemons, it is the birthright of “the children who sunder day and night”—twins Yuru and Asa—to rule over these powerful entities. Separated from a young age and unaware of the truth of their birth, brother and sister must fight to make their way back to each other, claim their birthright, and save the world…

Tonight’s Episode: “Asa and Yuru“

A woman gives birth to twin babies, the children are born divided day and night have the power to control daemons. Yuru trains himself to be a hunter for his remote mountain village, while his twin sister Asa lives in captivity due to village tradition. One day, the magical barrier protecting the village is suddenly shattered as a military force attacks, slaughtering many of the villagers as a young girl with supernatural powers named Gabby leads the charge to capture Yuru. Escaping, Yuru is taken to the statues of the village’s twin guardian deities, Left and Right. Using a special medallion and Yuru’s blood, the Daemons Left and Right are awoken.

Re: Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu (“Re: Life in a Different World from Zero”) season 4

Subaru Natsuki is an ordinary high school student who is lost in an alternate world, where he is rescued by a beautiful, silver-haired girl. He stays near her to return the favour, but the destiny she is burdened with is more than Subaru can imagine. Enemies attack one by one, and both of them are killed. He then finds out he has the power to rewind death, back to the time he first came to this world. But only he remembers what has happened since.

Tonight’s Episode: “Overcome Sand Time“

With Ram joining them, Subaru’s party sets off for the Auguria Dunes. After several days of traversing the desert, the group deduces that the area is under a huge spatial magic that prevents them from reaching the watchtower. Having been told by a local that birds have been spotted reaching the tower, Subaru has Ram use her clairvoyance on one, allowing them to find the way through. This is not the only challenge.

Roll Over and Die: I Will Fight for an Ordinary Life with My Love and Cursed Sword! (Omae Gotoki ga Maou ni Kateru to Omou na to Yuusha Paati o Tsuihou Sareta no de, Outo de Kimama ni Kurashitai which literally translates as ‘Banished from the Hero’s Party Because They Said ‘Don’t Think Somebody Like You Can Defeat the Demon Lord’, I Want to Live Freely in the Capital‘)

Flum Apricot is born with a unique Affinity known as “Reversal” that leaves her with zero stats across the board. However, after being prophesied by the God Origin to join the Hero’s party and defeat the Demon Lord, Flum finds herself with what seems like an impossible task. Things only get harder when the party’s renowned sage, Jean Inteige, decides to sell her into slavery instead. Flum finally learns the true meaning of her unique “Reversal” Affinity.

Tonight’s Episode: “Coincidence and Fate“

Milkit asks why Flum rescued her, to which the latter admits that it was to give herself a reason to live. Arriving at the quest location, Flum realises that Dein duped her upon encountering werewolves, one of which turns on its pack and fuses with them into a chimera with heightened stats using a weird power that twists anything that it touches. Elsewhere, Jean claimed to the other Hero’s party members that Flum left on her own. Unfortunately, without her as their emotional centre, tensions soon rise within the group.

Clevatess (Clevatess -Majuu no Ou to Akago to Shikabane no Yuusha-)

After killing a group of heroes and destroying an entire kingdom as revenge for attacking his lands, one of the Four Beast Kings, Clevatess, takes in a baby belonging to the kingdom’s royal family. He then resurrects one of the heroes, Alicia Glenfall, whom he enslaves so she can help him take care of the baby while hoping to examine humanity more closely.

Tonight’s Episode: “Hero’s Duty“

Believing Alicia to be dead, the other bandits decide to go down to investigate. Alicia’s theory is right as she has indeed survived and Klen contacts her, who tells her about Nell. Alicia suggests killing all the bandits, but Klen explains that she has to be the one to kill them before healing her. Betty the troll really does not want to attack Klen.