Anime film project Collar X Malice -deep cover- will be premiering in theaters on May 26 this year, according to an update made to the official website over the weekend (translated by Anime News Network). A film project in two parts, the second part is set to arrive in cinemas a month later on June 23.
Based on the 2016 otome visual novel Collar X Malice from Japanese developer Idea Factory, the Collar X Malice -deep cover- film project was first announced in September last year. The films will be distributed by Avex Pictures within Japan. It is currently unknown if or through which service an international release will be arranged.
The duology of films will be animated by Studio DEEN, who have previously adapted such visual novels as Type-Moon's Fate/Stay Night and 07th Expansion's Higurashi When They Cry into the anime medium. The film's theme song, NingenxShikakku, will be performed by Japanese visual kei rock band Kizu. The voice cast of the original Collar x Malice otome visual novel will be returning to reprise their roles, with actress Kaede Hondo lending her talent to the previously-unvoiced protagonist Ichika Hoshino.
The films will also feature an original character: the suave-seeming Mitsuru Sowa, designed exclusively for the project by Collar X Malice character designer and promotional artist Mai Hanamura. Mitsuru Sowa will be voiced by Katsuyuki Konishi, best known for having portrayed Tengen Uzui in the Demon Slayer anime, although others may recognize him as Jonathan Joestar from the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood anime film.
Although an adaptation of the otome visual novel by Idea Factory, the Collar X Malice -deep cover- film project will tell a story not previously seen in the game, or in the 2020 sequel, Collar X Malice Unlimited. With an original character and a never-before-seen scenario, it seems the CollarxMalice -deep cover- films will come bearing not just fanservice for longtime Collar X Malicers, but a whole new mystery box filled to bursting with surprises and twists.
Collar X Malice and its sequel are currently available in English thanks to localization efforts from the team at Aksys Games. The first game can be downloaded digitally via both the Nintendo Switch eShop and the PlayStation Vita store. At the time of writing, the sequel remains a Nintendo Switch exclusive.