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Ani-One Asia Licenses Oshi no Ko Season 3, Sentenced to Be a Hero, Rooster Fighter Anime
posted on by Rafael Antonio Pineda
Ani-One Asia announced on Thursday that it has licensed the third season of the Oshi no Ko anime, the Sentenced to Be a Hero: The Prison Records of Penal Hero Unit 9004 anime, and the Rooster Fighter anime. Ani-One Asia will stream the first two anime in January 2026, while Rooster Fighter will stream in spring 2026.
The third season of Oshi no Ko will premiere in Japan in January 2026.
The first television anime of Aka Akasaka and Mengo Yokoyari's Oshi no Ko manga premiered in Japan in April 2023 with a 90-minute first episode. Ani-One Asia streamed the anime as it aired in Japan.
The second season premiered in July 2024 on Tokyo MX and over 29 other channels throughout Japan. Ani-One Asia streamed the anime as it aired in Japan.
Yen Press licensed the manga, and it describes the story:
Gorou is a gynecologist and idol fan who's in shock after his favorite star, Ai, announces an impromptu hiatus. Little does Gorou realize that he's about to forge a bond with her that defies all common sense! Lies are an idol's greatest weapon in this outrageous manga from Aka Akasaka (Kaguya-sama: Love is War) and Mengo Yokoyari (Scum's Wish).
The television anime of Rocket Shokai's Sentenced to Be a Hero: The Prison Records of Penal Hero Unit 9004 (Yūsha-kei ni Shosu: Chōbatsu Yūsha 9004-tai Keimu Kiroku) light novel series was originally scheduled to premiere in October, but will now debut in January 2026.
- The anime stars:
- Yōhei Azakami as Xylo Forbartz
- Mayu Iizuka as Teoritta
- Shizuka Ishigami as Patausche Kivia
- Shun Horie as Dotta Luzulas
- Shunichi Toki as Venetim Leopool
- Yōji Ueda as Noragalle Senridge
- Yoshitsugu Matsuoka as Tatsuya
- Jun Fukushima as Tsav
- Shōya Chiba as Jayce Partiract
- Yōko Hikasa as Neely
Hiroyuki Takashima (Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation episode director, The IDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls U149 OVA assistant director) is directing the anime at Studio KAI. Yoshitake Nakakōji is the assistant director, and is also credited as creature designer. Kenta Ihara (Tsukimichi -Moonlit Fantasy-, Ishura, Nukitashi the Animation) is writing and supervising the series' scripts. Takeshi Noda (DAN DA DAN sub-character designs) is designing the characters. Shunsuke Takizawa is composing the music. Nobutaka Ike is credited for worldbuilding. Kouta Sugawa is the prop designer.
Yen Press is releasing the novel series in English, and it describes the story:
Heroism—a punishment for only the worst criminals. Those sentenced to the fate of a hero are forced to fight at the front lines against the demon king's army—and if they die, they can expect to be revived and continue the battle. But when their leader, convicted of killing a goddess, meets another goddess himself, the contract they forge may be enough to change the world...
The anime of Shu Sakuratani's Rooster Fighter (Niwatori Fighter) manga will debut on television in Japan in spring 2026.
Viz Media is the representative for the anime's worldwide streaming, television broadcast, electronic sell-through (EST), home video, and merchandising outside of Japan. Hero's Inc. will manage EST, home video, and merchandising in Japan.
Viz describes the story:
Keiji is more than just an ordinary rooster—he's humanity's greatest defender! His opponents may be ten stories tall, but nothing is bigger than his stout heart and his fearsome battle cry—Kokekokko!
Daisuke Suzuki (D4DJ All Mix) is directing the anime at SANZIGEN. Hiroshi Seko (Jujutsu Kaisen, Mob Psycho 100) is in charge of the series scripts. Joseph Chou (Knights of the Zodiac: Saint Seiya) and Sola Entertainment are producing.
Source: Ani-One Asia's YouTube channel (link 2, link 3)
Disclosure: Kadokawa World Entertainment (KWE), a wholly owned subsidiary of Kadokawa Corporation, is the majority owner of Anime News Network, LLC. One or more of the companies mentioned in this article are part of the Kadokawa Group of Companies.
