4 Years Later, Crunchyroll Finally Confirms the Return of a Major Sports Anime

The exciting Summer 2026 anime season is finally here, along with the latest new series and sequels on Crunchyroll. Since it’s only the first week of July, most of the new series are still making their debut. As the largest anime streaming hub for fans, Crunchyroll will be adding dozens of series to its library and streaming new episodes weekly after the Japanese TV broadcast. However, while the Summer 2026 lineup is being introduced, fans are also looking forward to the new updates from their favorite shows that will be returning later this year. This year’s Fall 2026 lineup is just as exciting for fans, and it will mark the return of Ao Ashi with a second season.

It’s one of the most beloved Sports series, focusing on the characters as they strive towards their goal as football players. The anime initially debuted in Spring 2022 but took over four years to return with a second season. It’s based on a critically acclaimed manga written by Naohiko Ueno and illustrated by Yugo Kobayashi. While the manga has already reached its conclusion last year, the anime still has a major part of the story left to adapt. A recent announcement shared by Crunchyroll confirms that Ao Ashi Season 2 will be streaming on the platform starting October 2026. The update comes from Anime Expo 2026, which shared all kinds of major news regarding upcoming projects. The exact release date

What Is Ao Ashi About?

The story follows Ashito Aoi, who has to take on all the spotlight of his local junior high school football team. In the quiet rural town, he is known for his exceptional skills, including his unpredictable moves, which make him the sole powerhouse of the team. However, his winning streak doesn’t last for long since he loses his temper because of his opponent, resulting in immediate disqualification from the match. It’s no surprise that his team lost immediately without their star player.

However, just when Ashito was at his lowest, a youth team coach named Tatsuya Fukuda invites him to tryouts in Tokyo. Having seen the boy’s potential firsthand, Tatsuya believes Ashito has what it takes to make it big as a football player. As the story continues, Ashito begins his journey in an unfamiliar place surrounded by several talented players.

What to Expect From Ao Ashi Season 2

Airing from  Apr 9, 2022, to Sep 24, 2022, the first season released 24 episodes, covering up until Chapter 118, which was the end of the match between Tokyo Esperion Youth and Musashino. The second season will continue from that point and cover the remaining journey of the protagonist and his teammates. While the episode count hasn’t been confirmed, the entire story can’t be adapted in the second season, so we can expect more installments in the future.

The anime went through a major change after the first season since it will now be produced by TMS Entertainment, instead of Production I.G., which was initially responsible for the anime. It’s no surprise that the art style and the staff have also changed in the upcoming season. However, TMS Entertainment is one of the biggest animation studios in Japan, known for hits across various genres such as Dr. Stone and Fruits Basket, which is why there’s little to no chance of Season 2 having a disappointing adaptation.

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