Rumiko Takahashi, the creator of popular anime like Inuyasha and Ranma 1/2, is back with a new series! To celebrate Shogakukan publisher’s 100th anniversary, many of Takahashi’s works are being revisited, and now her latest creation will be adapted into an anime premiering this April.
The anime Mao was originally scheduled to premiere in April as part of the Spring 2026 season, and now has a confirmed release date of April 4th in Japan. To mark this announcement and the upcoming premiere, new details about the voice cast have been revealed, along with a fresh trailer and poster for the series. You can find a sneak peek at the anime in motion below.
Rumiko Takahashi’s Mao Confirms Release Date
The anime Mao is scheduled to premiere on April 4th, 2026, as part of the Spring anime season. Currently, it’s unclear where fans outside of Japan will be able to stream the show. The first season will consist of two consecutive parts (or ‘cours’) without a break, meaning new episodes will air from April through June 2026. Kis-My-Ft2 will perform the opening theme song, titled “HEARTLOUD,” and TRUE will perform the ending theme, titled “Juai.”
Teruo Sato, known for directing the anime Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon (a sequel to Inuyasha), will direct Mao at studio Sunrise. Yuko Kakihara is in charge of the scripts, Yoshihito Hishinuma is designing the characters, Kazuhiro Nii is handling the editing, and Shu Kanematsu will compose the music. Recent updates also revealed more members of the voice cast.
Mao Anime Reveals Voice Cast
The voice cast for the upcoming anime adaptation of Mao continues to grow! Joining Yuki Kaji (Mao), Natsumi Kawaida (Nanoka Kiba), Hiro Shimono (Hyakka), and Toshiyuki Toyonaga (Kamon) are Momoka Terasawa (Otoya), Kazuyuki Okitsu (Shiranui), Motoko Kumai (Funa Uozumi), Yoko Hikasa (Tenko), Risa Shimizu (Sana), Reina Ueda (Yurako), and Takashi Matsuyama (Byok). Considering the popularity of the creator, Takahashi, this anime is expected to be a major hit.
Viz Media will be releasing the original Mao manga in English, giving fans a chance to read the story before the anime comes out. They describe it as follows: “Nanoka travels back in time to the early 1900s, where she meets a mysterious exorcist named Mao. They’re connected by a strange fate, and together they work to uncover the truth while battling demons!” However, there’s no official news yet on when the anime will be released.
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2026-03-02 23:15