The Ultimate Anime and Game Industry April Fool's Round-Up

On April 1st, 2016, as the clock struck twelve, the anime and game industry in Japan began one of its hottest battle of the year - the showdown for the best April Fool's prank. From odd collaborations to peculiar new products, the outlandish announcements that came one after another gave everyone a good laugh. Some companies released visuals or special sites, while others made an entire game out of the prank. We've scraped the internet high and low for the most awesome jokes of 2016!

New Releases
Some of the announcements actually seem pretty plausible...so don't be fooled! Here are some of the funny "new releases" announced on April Fool's 2016!

Haikyuu!! unveiled the poster for a new movie in which the rival is Koro-sensei from Assassination Classroom!

エイプリルフールまとめに「「ハイキュー！！スピンオフ映画化ヒナガラス～大いなる挑戦～」「ハルノオトグラノーラ」「ドローンタクシー」「新・ドラミの日本誕生」を追加 https://t.co/xqLMgsdoCT">https://t.co/xqLMgsdoCT https://t.co/ecWYPCRjBm">pic.twitter.com/ecWYPCRjBm

— GIGAZINE(ギガジン) (@gigazine) https://twitter.com/gigazine/status/715870991814144004">April 1, 2016

Yet another "new" Digimon movie...(the latest Digimon tri. movie actually opened on March 12th)

スカモンアドベンチャーtri.新章ビジュアル解禁！！！スカモン…エテモン…史上最大のバトルが、今始まる！！！　https://twitter.com/hashtag/digimon?src=hash">#digimon https://twitter.com/hashtag/%E3%83%87%E3%82%B8%E3%83%A2%E3%83%B3?src=hash">#デジモン　https://t.co/sGVzzzr7yU">https://t.co/sGVzzzr7yU https://t.co/tB3PIk7YQo">pic.twitter.com/tB3PIk7YQo

— 3.12劇場上映デジモンtri. (@Digi_advntr15th) https://twitter.com/Digi_advntr15th/status/715560694591016961">March 31, 2016

Kuroko no Basket released a chick-y version of the PV on their homepage!

『黒子のバスケ』ではなく、『ひよこのバスケ』♡

エイプリルフール最高♡♡ https://t.co/U3On5IB9Uv">pic.twitter.com/U3On5IB9Uv

— CHI-SE✩ (@chise_love1220) https://twitter.com/chise_love1220/status/715575300269023232">March 31, 2016

もう誰かやってるかもしれないけど…
黒バス公式ひよこのバスケ(エイプリルフール版)とOP比較画像作りました😌🙌✨！！ https://t.co/931E7j5iuz">pic.twitter.com/931E7j5iuz

— なっちィは永久黄瀬クラスタ︎︎︎︎☺︎ (@9284993) https://twitter.com/9284993/status/715873820742057984">April 1, 2016

Gamemaker Rejet announces a new game that has characters from all their previous games...

Kamigami no Asobi is now a cooking game...

【新作アプリ情報】「ときめき☆お肉パラダイス」
ここは肉料理のみを取り扱うレストラン。
全宇宙の肉料理レシピを覚えて、肉料理界の頂点を目指せ！https://t.co/imhf8c6EqQ">https://t.co/imhf8c6EqQ https://twitter.com/hashtag/kamiaso?src=hash">#kamiaso https://twitter.com/hashtag/aprilfool?src=hash">#aprilfool https://t.co/YZQHnuWuru">pic.twitter.com/YZQHnuWuru

— 神々の悪戯 オフィシャルツイッター (@kami_aso) https://twitter.com/kami_aso/status/715826247176167425">April 1, 2016

The SHOW BY ROCK!! girls are quitting band to become magical girls!

ぷるぷる♪劇場版「魔法少女プラズマジカ」が2016年69月69日全国ロードショー決定ですぞ！先行前売り特典で【シアンちゃんのおリボン】が貰えちゃぅょ(・ω<)☆?→ https://t.co/bBYsd2Xx9W">https://t.co/bBYsd2Xx9W https://twitter.com/hashtag/SB69A?src=hash">#SB69A https://t.co/OOCfhDczsg">pic.twitter.com/OOCfhDczsg

— SHOW BY ROCK!!公式SB69 (@SHOWBYROCK) https://twitter.com/SHOWBYROCK/status/715554512614723584">March 31, 2016

Tayutama2 pulled a mean one and fooled fans who thought the popular game would really be turned into an anime - their poster was too real!

アニメ化（大嘘）本気出しすぎて草https://twitter.com/hashtag/%E3%82%BF%E3%83%A6%E3%82%BF%E3%83%9E%EF%BC%92?src=hash">#タユタマ２ https://t.co/VSwUhmyH7K">pic.twitter.com/VSwUhmyH7K

— ましろボイス待機龍@あんかけ治安介入部隊 (@Ousuki_Ryu) https://twitter.com/Ousuki_Ryu/status/715556014469165057">March 31, 2016

Girls' idol game Aikatsu comes back with a male idol group!

本日4/1、フォトカツ！に「男子ユニット」が登場しました！

魔夜先生やエンシエロ先生、らいちくんなど、男子ユニットをつくっちゃおう☆ https://twitter.com/hashtag/%E3%83%95%E3%82%A9%E3%83%88%E3%82%AB%E3%83%84?src=hash">#フォトカツ https://twitter.com/hashtag/%E3%82%A2%E3%82%A4%E3%82%AB%E3%83%84?src=hash">#アイカツ

▼公式サイトも更新
→https://t.co/7C2GCXWlAL">https://t.co/7C2GCXWlAL https://t.co/fPQVR0uBmu">pic.twitter.com/fPQVR0uBmu

— アイカツ！フォトonステージ！！公式 (@aikatsu_photo) https://twitter.com/aikatsu_photo/status/715705273759899648">April 1, 2016

Gakuen Handsome releases "nipple trading can badges" that cost over US$300 and are completely sold out.

新商品『学園ハンサム トレーディング乳首缶バッジ』本日よりハンサムストアに登場です！ https://t.co/GUlH52HM4x">https://t.co/GUlH52HM4x https://t.co/e47UXxVcfU">pic.twitter.com/e47UXxVcfU

— 東ペ@学園ハンサム公式 (@t_penet) https://twitter.com/t_penet/status/715689283906965504">March 31, 2016

Meanwhile, our friends at Good Smile Company and Crypton reveals the new "Nendrone Miku" which flies (we wouldn't mind having this in reality though!)

新商品発表ぐま！：フィギュアを大空へ羽ばたかせたい…そんな夢のような商品「ねんどろーん」誕生！→ https://t.co/JWybJAdjNy">https://t.co/JWybJAdjNy https://twitter.com/hashtag/goodsmile?src=hash">#goodsmile https://t.co/Y0jeg7bcSw">pic.twitter.com/Y0jeg7bcSw

— ぐま子（おしらせがかり） (@GSC_GUMA) https://twitter.com/GSC_GUMA/status/715554510379159552">2016年3月31日

Crossovers and Transformations

Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu, which just finished its run, swapped protagonist with upcoming anime Sakamoto Desuga? / Haven't You Heard? I'm Sakamoto - and they fit perfectly!

TVアニメ「菊比古ですが？」いよいよ4/1(金)最終回オンエア…！えっ！？菊比古が学ラン！？https://t.co/le5b9Y8YNw">https://t.co/le5b9Y8YNwhttps://twitter.com/hashtag/%E8%90%BD%E8%AA%9E%E5%BF%83%E4%B8%AD?src=hash">#落語心中 https://twitter.com/hashtag/%E5%9D%82%E6%9C%AC%E3%81%A7%E3%81%99%E3%81%8C?src=hash">#坂本ですが https://t.co/nduGWwUjEL">pic.twitter.com/nduGWwUjEL

— アニメ「昭和元禄落語心中」 (@rakugoshinju) https://twitter.com/rakugoshinju/status/715554528234332161">March 31, 2016

「昭和元禄坂本心中」いよいよ4月よりTVアニメ化！？え、、坂本君が落語してる！！？？https://t.co/SJD8D6HjUw">https://t.co/SJD8D6HjUwhttps://twitter.com/hashtag/%E5%9D%82%E6%9C%AC%E3%81%A7%E3%81%99%E3%81%8C?src=hash">#坂本ですが https://twitter.com/hashtag/%E8%90%BD%E8%AA%9E%E5%BF%83%E4%B8%AD?src=hash">#落語心中 https://t.co/Nnc2p8QffI">pic.twitter.com/Nnc2p8QffI

— 『坂本ですが？』アニメ公式 (@sakamoto_anime) https://twitter.com/sakamoto_anime/status/715554637479186432">March 31, 2016

Creator sharing community site pixiv had a new "Like" button that went out of its way to cheer you on...

https://t.co/a1EiUARhUk">pic.twitter.com/a1EiUARhUk

— :Radianth: (@_Fruitify) https://twitter.com/_Fruitify/status/715564081969635330">March 31, 2016

Meanwhile, toymaker Takara TOMY Arts has a new executive board of babies to "stay young".

タカラトミーくっそwwwwwwww https://t.co/mJj7KkQsZB">pic.twitter.com/mJj7KkQsZB

— えーみ (@hatsudaeimi) https://twitter.com/hatsudaeimi/status/715556324470235136">March 31, 2016

We also learned that the main characters of the anime Sekkou Boys actually exist...

僕たち……実は石膏です。 https://twitter.com/hashtag/%E3%82%A8%E3%82%A4%E3%83%97%E3%83%AA%E3%83%AB%E3%83%95%E3%83%BC%E3%83%AB?src=hash">#エイプリルフール https://t.co/cvMfpFm3YY">pic.twitter.com/cvMfpFm3YY

— 石膏ボーイズ【世界初の石膏像アイドル】 (@sekkoboys) https://twitter.com/sekkoboys/status/715696590237732865">April 1, 2016

Starmyu goes from High School Star Musical to Office Workers Star Musical!

スタミュ ！！！！！

洋と和ってことなのかな？
那雪はパティシエかな？可愛い！
星社員 wwwww https://t.co/1IiD9QBrqm">pic.twitter.com/1IiD9QBrqm

— マル 【 フォロワー整理中 】 (@maru5___) https://twitter.com/maru5___/status/715600134994677760">March 31, 2016

Gamemaker Nitro+Chiral shows us how their games would look like a few hundred years ago...

キラル公式クソかよwwwwwwwww腹痛いwww https://t.co/M0klz2C6lv">pic.twitter.com/M0klz2C6lv

— 和葉 (@kazuha_117) https://twitter.com/kazuha_117/status/715565406748958720">March 31, 2016

The Matsu
What April's Fool is completely this year without some Osomatsu-san parody?

The official Osomatsu-san site turned back time and reversed back to the original Osomatsu-kun upon which the new anime was based on.

おそ松サイトがエープリル仕様でかわゆすである https://t.co/moncA1DSQm">pic.twitter.com/moncA1DSQm

— ･゜ﾟ･:.｡.:*。’16 (@myu8836) https://twitter.com/myu8836/status/715730494449541120">April 1, 2016

Osokyuu-san was announced on the official Tokyuu Train Line Twitter account, stating that the sextuplets are now the Tokyuu personality. With the number of Osomatsu-san collaborations happening everywhere, we can't tell if this is fake anymore...

【ついに6つ子に仕事がきた！？】
東急電鉄の路線と松野家6つ子がコラボ！6つ子による路線エリアリポート、スペシャルムービーとコンテンツが盛り沢山！https://t.co/yS4jVRIsV1">https://t.co/yS4jVRIsV1
あなたは、何急推し！？https://twitter.com/hashtag/%E3%81%8A%E3%81%9D%E6%80%A5%E3%81%95%E3%82%93?src=hash">#おそ急さんhttps://t.co/pFPlJ3TMSe">https://t.co/pFPlJ3TMSe

— おそ急（電鉄）さん@東急電鉄公式 (@Tokyu_lines) https://twitter.com/Tokyu_lines/status/715742988048044032">April 1, 2016

TYPE-MOON also pulled an Osomatsu and turned Saber and friends from the Fate series into the familiar art style...

Best Effort
While most companies stop at a new poster or a special website, some of these pranksters took it very seriously and made their April Fool's joke into a game!

Shounen Jump started recruiting for Kaiba Corporation, a company from the legendary manga series Yu-Gi-Oh.

Highly popular mobile game Ensemble Stars turned into "Ensemble Stardust" and featured the teachers in the game as the main characters - complete with an actual special event in which the teachers are playable characters!

【あんスタ】あんさんぶるスターダスト！エイプリルフールネタにあんスタ勢感動！！【先生】 - https://t.co/Mi3HZVe1pD">https://t.co/Mi3HZVe1pD https://t.co/8yloxa8cyi">pic.twitter.com/8yloxa8cyi

— あんスタJAPAN (@ansuta_japan) https://twitter.com/ansuta_japan/status/715561074855059456">March 31, 2016

In BLEACH Brave Souls, the characters all turned into Kon!

4/1はエイプリルフール!【BLEACH-Brave Souls-】ではコンをフィーチャーしたエイプリルフール仕様に♪今すぐログインして1日だけのお祭り騒ぎを見逃すな！ https://t.co/nyIb7OOZiC">https://t.co/nyIb7OOZiC https://twitter.com/hashtag/%E3%83%96%E3%83%AC%E3%82%BD%E3%83%AB?src=hash">#ブレソル https://t.co/slxWc0aC8X">pic.twitter.com/slxWc0aC8X

— BLEACH Brave Souls公式 (@Bleach_BS) https://twitter.com/Bleach_BS/status/715559379643211776">March 31, 2016

エイプリルフールの主役『コン』が大活躍するイベント【コンの青春目覚めし姿!?】が開催中！今日のコンは一味違う…!?さらに抽選報酬で★4【朽木ルキア】が手に入ることもあるぞ！ https://t.co/nyIb7P6AHc">https://t.co/nyIb7P6AHc https://twitter.com/hashtag/%E3%83%96%E3%83%AC%E3%82%BD%E3%83%AB?src=hash">#ブレソル https://t.co/943VbV0JRO">pic.twitter.com/943VbV0JRO

— BLEACH Brave Souls公式 (@Bleach_BS) https://twitter.com/Bleach_BS/status/715751829288652802">April 1, 2016

We hope you had fun this April Fool's Day because we sure did!

This is a Tokyo Otaku Mode original article