Spring has officially sprung, and with it, plenty of new anime series to fill the void left by the busy winter season of 2026. From The Suitor: Beyond Journey's End soon to end its second season by teasing the beloved Golden Land Arc, to Jujutsu Kaisens extended Season 3 finale also coming at the end of March, there are some pretty big shoes to fill as April approaches, and one series in particular may hold a special place in the hearts of longtime members of the community. After all, MAO was created by one of the most beloved female manga artists of all time, Rumiko Takahashi, best known for Urusei Yatsura, Ranma 1/2and Inuyasha.
While the spring 2026 anime season is full of highly anticipated series returns, there are also plenty of new releases to look forward to, with Full metal alchemist writer Hiromu Arakawa returns to the small screen with Demons from the Shadow Realm and Takahashi swoops in to win back fans' hearts with his iconic art style in the dark fantasy adventure series MAO. Inspired by the creator's ongoing manga series, the anime adaptation promises to immerse viewers in yet another memorable series set in Japan's past, and for many, it can't start soon enough.
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What is MAO about?
Time to take a trip to Japan's Taisho period
Nanoka Kiba is a middle school teacher who sadly died at the age of eight. Somehow, she is still alive in some sense, and one day she is transported to Japan's Taisho period. Here she meets the Cursed Mao, a fellow traveler searching for an evil being responsible for much of his pain. The two team up to investigate the many strange occurrences that begin to happen around them, and as they spend more time together, it becomes clear that something greater binds them together. Nanoka's memories of the accident begin to flood back, and Mao quickly becomes attached to the girl, intent on protecting her from the dangers that seem to lurk around every corner.
MAO background and animation studio
Studio Sunrise is no stranger to Rumiko Takahashi's work
Original manga author Rumiko Takahashi needs little introduction, starting her career in the late 70s with the sci-fi romantic comedy series Urusei Yatsura. She went on to write many legendary works, from Maison Ikkoku and Mermaid tale to Ranma 1/2 and Inuyashathe latter of which became a major draw for new anime fans in the West when the anime adaptation aired on Adult Swim beginning in 2002. Takahashi is known as one of Japan's best-known manga artists, with the Niigata-born creator winning several awards over the years and total sales of her work exceeding 230 million copies worldwide. MAO has been serialized in Weekly Shonen Sunday since 2019 and bears a strong resemblance to both Inuyashasomething that could prove to attract many curious viewers.
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The anime is produced by Sunrise, which was responsible for Inuyasha adaptation in 2000, and appears to have retained the original artist's unique style when looking at early trailers for the upcoming series. Teruo Sato serves as director, having also previously worked at Inuyasha as well as other early hits such as Rave master and Mobile Suit Gundam Seed. As for the series' soundtrack, Shu Kanematsu will be in charge, known for his work with The Suitor: Beyond Journey's End and Quintuplets. Having Sunrise, the studio behind other megahits like Love Live and Code Geasstake control of the customization has many fans excited about the final product.
Guess the anime from the emojis.
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Guess the anime from the emojis.
Light (120s) Medium (90s) Hard (60s)
The voice cast for the series includes:
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Natsumi Kawaida as Nanoka Kiba
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Yuuki Kaji (Eren Yeager, Attack on Titan) as Mao
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Momoka Terasawa as Otoya
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Takashi Matsuyama as Byouki
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Hiro Shimono (Zenitsu Agatsuma, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba) as Hyakka
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Toshiyuki Toyonaga (Yuri Katsuki, Yuri on the ice) as Come on
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Risa Shimizu as Heal
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Kazuyuki Okitsu as Shiranui
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Youko Hikasa (Yoh Asakura, Shaman King) as Tenko
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Motoko Kumai as Funa Uozumi
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Reina Ueda as Yurako
Where and when to set MAO
MAO will premiere in Japan on April 4 at 11:45 PM JST, and the series is scheduled to run in two cours. However, as of this writing, it is unclear where the series will be streamed internationally. Crunchyroll has released its official Spring 2026 anime lineup, but MAO is not currently listed, although it may be confirmed for the service or another provider closer to the broadcast date.
