Crunchyroll Confirms Aoashi Season 2 Is Only 4 Months Away

After more than four years of waiting, Aoashi is finally preparing for its long-awaited anime comeback. During Anime Expo 2026, Crunchyroll officially confirmed that Aoashi Season 2 will begin streaming in October 2026, putting the return of one of anime’s most acclaimed sports series just four months away. The announcement finally gives fans a concrete release window after years of silence.

The reveal, via a press release, was one of the biggest sports anime announcements at Anime Expo, where producer Junichi Katsutani of Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions presented the world’s first footage from the new season. Alongside a brand-new key visual, attendees also received an in-depth look at how the sequel is being produced, demonstrating that the staff is placing an even greater emphasis on realism than before.

Anime Expo Finally Delivers Aoashi’s Long-Awaited Return

Anime Expo’s “AOASHI — Changing the Game of Sports Anime” panel offered far more than a simple release announcement. Hosted by Gigguk and Jay D. Legend, the event featured producer Junichi Katsutani, who walked fans through the development of Season 2 before unveiling an exclusive preview and an unfinished scene from the upcoming episodes, drawing a lot of positive reactions from the packed audience.

Katsutani confirmed that Season 2 is actively in production and will stream worldwide on Crunchyroll beginning in October 2026. The panel also introduced a new promotional visual and launched the series’ official English-language X account, giving international fans a dedicated source for future updates as the premiere approaches.

One of the presentation’s highlights explored how Aoashi recreates authentic soccer on screen. Using footage from Episode 3 of Season 2, Katsutani demonstrated the production process, beginning with tactical player formations based on Yugo Kobayashi’s manga, followed by motion-capture sessions, CG layout work, camera planning, and the completed animation that viewers will ultimately see.

Season 2 Builds on One of Anime’s Most Realistic Sports Series

Teaser visual for Aoashi season 2 — Aoashi-Season-2-Teaser-Visual

According to Katsutani, authenticity is still the production team’s highest priority. Beyond motion capture and computer graphics, Season 2 focuses heavily on match pacing and sound design to recreate the atmosphere of watching a professional soccer game while still delivering the dramatic intensity expected from an anime adaptation.

The new season continues Ashito Aoi’s journey after Season 1’s 24-episode run concluded in September 2022. The original anime adapted roughly the first 118 chapters of Yugo Kobayashi’s manga, ending after Tokyo City Esperion Youth’s match against Musashino. Season 2 will continue Ashito’s tactical development as he learns to maximize his extraordinary “Eagle Eye” vision within Esperion’s elite academy.

2 Years Later, Solo Leveling Anime Announces Return

After nearly two years of waiting, fans finally have official confirmation that the Solo Leveling anime franchise is returning with a new movie.

Season 2 also marks a significant production change. While Production I.G animated the first season, TMS Entertainment now takes over the Aoashi adaptation. Director Kazuki Yokoyama leads the new staff alongside series composer Masahiro Yokotani and composer Masaru Yokoyama. Much of the original Japanese voice cast returns, including Kouki Osuzu as Ashito Aoi and Chikahiro Kobayashi as coach Tatsuya Fukuda.

With all 40 volumes of Yugo Kobayashi’s manga now complete, the anime still has a substantial portion of the story left to adapt beyond the upcoming season. Although Crunchyroll has yet to announce an exact October premiere date or episode count, the confirmation alone ends one of sports anime’s longest waits. After four years away from television, Aoashi is finally stepping back onto the pitch, and its next match is now just months from kickoff.