MAO Anime Announced for Spring 2026 by Sunrise Studio

The dark fantasy manga MAO, created by the famous Rumiko Takahashi, will now get its TV anime. This series is planned to start in Spring 2026, and it will be airing on NHK General TV. The animation is handled by SUNRISE, which was also behind Takahashi’s past big hit Inuyasha. On July 14, fans already saw both teaser visuals and trailer shared online, which created a lot of buzz.

The anime is under the direction of Teruo Sato, and Akane Fusehara is in charge of the camera parts. Production work is done by the MAO Production Committee, with SUNRISE working again as the animation studio. Their experience in similar genres makes them a fitting choice.

A Time-Travel Adventure Between Two Eras

MAO was first started in 2019, in Weekly Shonen Sunday magazine. The main character, Nanoka, is a normal girl from the Reiwa period. But after a strange sinkhole accident happens, she suddenly finds herself in the Taisho era. There, she meets a mysterious boy named Mao. He’s strange because he has lived for 900 years and has always dealt with demons and dangerous curses. Together, they begin exploring weird cases that seem connected to both of them.

The manga has already reached 24 volumes, and it’s continuing. It also has English versions published by VIZ Media, so overseas readers can read it too. Compared to other works by Takahashi, people say this one has more mystery and a darker style, which makes it unique.

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After the Urusei Yatsura reboot finished in June 2024 and the return of Ranma 1/2 coming this October, now it’s MAO’s turn. But unlike those two, this series is not funny or light – it’s serious, and focused on curses, time travel, and strange monsters. So it’s something else.

If you liked Inuyasha or want a story with Yokai, curses, and a bit of an old-time setting, then MAO might be perfect. It’s more than just another anime; it’s like Takahashi giving us a new dark world to look at. Spring 2026 can't come faster.

Written By “Sujoy Bhowmik - India Today Gaming”