Spring 2026 Preview: MAO – Investment Policy

Spring is here, bringing a fresh wave of anime series after a busy winter season. As popular shows like Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End finish their current arcs and Jujutsu Kaisen wraps up its season, there’s a lot to look forward to in April. One series, MAO, is particularly exciting for many fans, as it’s created by Rumiko Takahashi, a highly acclaimed manga artist known for classics like Urusei Yatsura, Ranma 1/2, and Inuyasha.

The Spring 2026 anime season isn’t just bringing back popular shows – it also features several exciting new releases. Notably, Hiromu Arakawa, the creator of Fullmetal Alchemist, is returning with Daemons of the Shadow Realm, and Takahashi will captivate fans once again with her distinctive art style in the dark fantasy series MAO. Based on an ongoing manga, the MAO anime is expected to be another unforgettable historical Japanese adventure, and fans are eagerly awaiting its premiere.

What is MAO About?

Time to Take a Trip to Japan’s Taisho Period

I saw this incredible story unfold about Nanoka Kiba, a girl who tragically died when she was only eight years old. But somehow, she wasn’t truly gone, and she ended up mysteriously transported back in time to Japan’s Taisho period. There, she met a man named Mao, who was haunted by a dark past and searching for whoever caused him so much suffering. They decided to team up and investigate a series of strange events happening around them. As they spent more time together, it became clear there was a deeper connection between them. Nanoka started remembering details of the accident that took her life, and Mao became fiercely protective, determined to shield her from the dangers that seemed to be everywhere.

MAO Background and Animation Studio

Studio Sunrise Is No Stranger to Rumiko Takahashi’s Works

Rumiko Takahashi is a hugely popular manga artist who began her career in the late 1970s with the series Urusei Yatsura. She’s created many beloved and iconic works, including Maison Ikkoku, Mermaid Saga, Ranma 1/2, and Inuyasha. Inuyasha especially gained a large following in the West when its anime adaptation aired on Adult Swim in 2002. Born in Niigata, Takahashi has won numerous awards and sold over 230 million copies of her manga worldwide. Her current series, MAO, which began in 2019, shares similarities with Inuyasha and is likely to attract fans of her earlier work.

Sunrise, the animation studio known for the 2000 adaptation of Inuyasha and other popular series like Love Live and Code Geass, is producing the new anime. Early trailers suggest they’ve carefully preserved the original artist’s style. Teruo Sato, who previously directed Inuyasha, Rave Master, and Mobile Suit Gundam Seed, is leading the project. The soundtrack will be composed by Shu Kanematsu, known for his work on Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End and Quintessential Quintuplets. With Sunrise at the helm, fans are eagerly anticipating the final result.

Guess the anime from the emojis.

Easy (120s)Medium (90s)Hard (60s)

animeji

Guess the anime from the emojis.

Time Left: 00:00

Title

—

Clues

—

Results

0 POINTS

—

More Games

Answers

Title

—

— Clues

—

The voice cast for the series includes:

Natsumi Kawaida as Nanoka Kiba
Yuuki Kaji (Eren Yeager, Attack on Titan) as Mao
Momoka Terasawa as Otoya
Takashi Matsuyama as Byouki
Hiro Shimono (Zenitsu Agatsuma, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba) as Hyakka
Toshiyuki Toyonaga (Yuri Katsuki, Yuri on Ice) as Kamon
Risa Shimizu as Sana
Kazuyuki Okitsu as Shiranui
Youko Hikasa (Yoh Asakura, Shaman King) as Tenko
Motoko Kumai as Funa Uozumi
Reina Ueda as Yurako

Where and When to Tune In to MAO

The anime series MAO will first air in Japan on April 4th at 11:45 PM Japan Standard Time, and is planned to have two seasons. As of right now, it’s unknown where viewers outside of Japan will be able to watch it. While Crunchyroll has announced its anime schedule for Spring 2026, MAO isn’t on the list yet, but a streaming home may be announced closer to the premiere date.

2026-03-25 14:34