Manga legend Rumiko Takahashi, ofInuyashafame (among many others), is having her new manga adapted to anime, and that’s definitely good news for fans of her previous work.Takahashi’s latest manga,Mao,will be joining her many other previous works in receiving a new anime adaptation.
Takahashi is one of the most successful mangaka of all time, responsible for hits likeRanma 1/2,Urusei Yatsura, and the aforementionedInuyasha. Her latest series began serialization in Japan in May 2019, and started being translated to English in 2021. Now, six years into its run,Maois being animated.
Maotells the story of Nanoka Kiba, a young girl who had survived a terrible accident some years ago. Returning to the scene of the incident, Nanoka is transported back in time to the Taisho era (roughly the 1920s), where she meets Mao, a practitioner of magic investigating a ghostly village.
Mao is Finally Getting an Anime Adaptation
Mao is a Spiritual Successor to Inuyasha
Maowas revealed to be receiving a TV anime, animated by Sunrise, with the unveiling ofa promotional video on X (Formerly Twitter). The promo video shows images from many of Rumiko Takahashi’s other successful series before shifting focus to Nanoka, revealing aspects of her past as she travels through time.
The promo video ends revealing a 2026 release date forMao, giving fans of Takahashi something to look forward to next year. Sunrise is the studio which previously animatedInuyashaand its sequel series,Yashahime, and thus makes for an excellent choice to adapt Takahashi’s newest work.
Mao Follows Closely In Inuyasha’s Footsteps
Mao Has Many Similarities to Takashi’s Prior Work
Maois quite a bit likeInuyasha, so fans of Takahashi’s previous series are likely to findMaoto their tastes as well. Like Kagome, Nanoka is swept through time to a previous era of Japanese history, where she meets a mysterious stranger with some incredible powers. A world of fantasy opens up for Nanoka, much like Kagome.
Mao, despite his name, is not a demon, however. That doesn’t stop Nanoka from developing a crush on him, much like Inuyasha and Kagome. Mao does have some different supernatural elements to his character, though, which makes for an interesting change of pace compared toInuyasha.
TheMaoanime is set to be directed by Teruo Sato, and the eponymous character will be played by Yuki Kaji. With a second quarter 2026 release date, fans won’t have to wait too long to seeMaobrought to life, and carry onInuyasha’slegacy.
