Ranma 1/2 remake confirms its third season for October

Revitalizing an undisputed classic of Japanese animation and keeping its freshness intact year after year is a feat that few studios manage to sustain. Fortunately, the chaotic entanglements of the Saotome family are far from over. This Thursday, the official website for the new anime adaptation of the legendary martial arts comedy manga created by Rumiko Takahashi, Ranma 1/2, officially announced the production of its third season. The excellent news was accompanied by a new promotional image and a first promotional trailer, confirming that the series will begin its broadcast on Japanese television and its exclusive global distribution through Netflix during the month of October.

The production of this vibrant continuation remains steady within the facilities of the acclaimed studio MAPPA. Veteran director Konosuke Uda, who orchestrated the success of the previous two installments, returns to take the reins of this new cycle of episodes. The broadcast will follow the same successful pattern as its predecessors, airing first on the Japanese network NTV before landing on Netflix's catalog almost immediately.

The official announcement placed special emphasis on highlighting the evolution of the technical team, revealing the talented artists who will form the backbone of the animation to keep the fights fluid and the expressions hilarious:

• Yoshiko Saito and Kosuke Kawamura as Chief Animation Directors.

Both veterans return to their key positions to ensure visual consistency and the charm of the modern designs.

• Riko Kaneda and Haruki Miura as Animation Directors.

Kaneda reprises her role from the first season, while Miura joins the project contributing his valuable experience in action sequences.

• Masahiro Kurio as Lead Animator.

A fundamental pillar of studio MAPPA who returns to lead the most demanding and dynamic cuts of the episodes.

• Atsuko Ishida as Lead Animator.

A highly nostalgic and special addition, as the artist worked on the key animation for the original Ranma 1/2 television series in 1989.

• Yoshihiro Takeda as Lead Animator.

Recently recognized for his work on the sequels of The Devil Is a Part-Timer!, joining to bring fluidity to the physical comedy.

About the work

The cultural impact of Rumiko Takahashi's original manga is incalculable, completely defining the action-oriented romantic comedy genre since its conception. This ambitious animated remake has demonstrated impeccable consistency in its production schedule, successfully establishing itself as an autumn tradition. Its first installment dazzled the audience in October 2024, followed punctually by its second part on October 4, 2025. The confirmation of this third season for October 2026 reaffirms the enormous global success that the franchise has garnered in the streaming era.

With the addition of an animator from the original 1989 series to the MAPPA team, which classic showdown or absurd martial arts technique do you hope to see animated with this renewed technical fluidity this October?