After several Winter 23 shows have been delayed, another Aniplex anime, Saint Cecilia and Pastor Lawrence, got hit with a delay, moving its premiere back by a season.
Much like the other delayed shows of the season, Saint Cecilia’s postponed premiere was blamed on rising COVID-19 infections.
Though fans have become wary of this explanation and many believe that this isn’t wholly the case.
Aniplex Winter 23 Delays
Winter 23 featured a couple of interesting shows from Aniplex, including NieR: Automata Ver1.1a and Ayakashi Triangle.
While the initial episodes of both shows aired with no issues, delays were soon announced for them.
The first to suffer this fate is Nier Automata, which entered an indefinite hiatus period following the third episode’s premiere.
According to the statement from the production staff, a rise in COVID-19 cases was to blame.
Shortly after the Nier delay, it was announced that Ayakashi Triangle was also getting delayed.
This time, Episode 5 and beyond will get broadcast at an unspecified date. Again, COVID was blamed for the hiatus.
There is some validity in the COVID-19 explanation given the large wave of cases in China back in late December to January. Though many fans believed that mismanagement within Aniplex is to blame.
After the delays, interviews of ex-Aniplex staff, including an anime series director, resurfaced online.
According to these interviews, Aniplex is said to be juggling too many projects, enough that many studios can’t keep up.
If that is indeed the case, it seems that the situation has not improved enough, given that another Aniplex-produced title is affected.
READ MORE: Why Are So Many Anime Getting Delayed?
Saint Cecilia and Pastor Lawrence Delayed to Summer 23
Saint Cecilia and Pastor Lawrence is a fantasy rom-com anime that was highlighted during Aniplex Online Fest 2022 back in September.
Originally, the series was set to premiere in April as part of the stacked Spring 23 anime lineup.
Now though, it was announced that Saint Cecilia’s premiere will be delayed to Summer 2023, meaning fans of the manga will have to wait a while longer to see the series in anime form.
Saint Cecilia and Pastor Lawrence’s delay was announced via the show’s official website and Twitter account.
In the staff’s statement, it was mentioned that the spread of COVID-19 has affected the show’s production.
Given the recent delays along with this latest one, it’s likely that Aniplex’s ongoing and upcoming titles will once again be at the forefront of anime discussions online.
Discover the latest anime news and info by following us on Twitter @epicstreamanime.
READ NEXT: The Best Manga That Don’t Have an Anime (Yet)
Sources: Saint Cecilia and Pastor Lawrence website, Twitter
Explore new topics and discover content that's right for you!