© 高橋留美子 / 小学館 / 「MAO」製作委員会
Anime adaptations of Rumiko Takahashi’s works are almost always a given, and folks have been wondering for a few years as to when MAO would get the nod. The show was previously set for a spring 2026 debut on NHK-General with the announcement in July 2025. Check out our review of the first volume of the manga.
With an April 4th, 2026, debut, it’s set as a half-year two-cour continuous run with Hulu as a simulcast partner. As the show is underway, the production in Japan has now brought out a new promo that does a recap of the first season over a few minutes in picture story form with narration. It may not be in English, but you get a good look at the character designs and the general quality, and the story progression as well.
The project has set Teruo Sato as the director, working from the scripts supervised by Yuko Kakihara. Yoshihito Hishinuma is serving as the character designer and chief animation director with animation production at Sunrise.
The Japanese cast includes:
- Yūki Kaji as Mao
- Natsumi Kawaida as Nanoka Kiba
- Hiro Shimono as Hyakka
- Toshiyuki Toyonaga as Kamon
- Momoka Terasawa as Otoya
- Kazuyuki Okitsu as Shiranui
- Motoko Kumai as Funa Uozumi
- Yōko Hikasa as Tenko
- Risa Shimizu as Sana
- Reina Ueda as Yurako
- Takashi Matsuyama as Byōki
- Takuya Satō as Hakubi
- Rie Kugimiya as Natsuno
- Katsuyuki Konishi as Daigo
- Tasuku Kaito as Soma Kagami
- Shino Shimoji as Kagari Hosho
For the first cour, the series features the opening song by Kis-My-Ft2 with “HEARTLOUD” and the ending theme song “Juai” by TRUE. For the second cour, the opening song is “Bokura ga Uwagaki suru Sekai” as performed by 20th Century, while the ending theme song is “Tayutau” as performed by Reina Ueda.
Check out the official site and Twitter.
Plot Concept: When Nanoka travels back in time to a supernatural early 20th century, she gets recruited by aloof exorcist Mao. What is the thread of fate that connects them? Together, they seek answers…and kick some demon butt along the way!
Nanoka passes through a portal into the Taisho era, where exorcist Mao reluctantly rescues her from the jaws of a grotesque yokai. When Nanoka gets back to the present, she discovers she has some new, incredible abilities. She returns to the past looking for answers, only to get caught up in Mao’s investigation of a series of gruesome murders. As her questions about herself multiply, Nanoka learns that Mao is cursed by a cat demon named Byoki—and so is his sword. If anyone but Mao attempts to wield it, they are doomed. But when Mao’s life is in jeopardy, Nanoka picks up his blade and swings!
© 高橋留美子 / 小学館 / 「MAO」製作委員会
© 高橋留美子 / 小学館 / 「MAO」製作委員会
© 高橋留美子 / 小学館 / 「MAO」製作委員会
Chris Beveridge
http://www.fandompost.com
Chris has been writing about anime, manga, movies and comics for well on twenty years now. He began AnimeOnDVD.com back in 1998 and has covered nearly every anime release that’s come out in the US ever since.
He likes to write a lot, as you can see.
