Blue Box Season 2 Announced: Release Date & Manga Finale News

Fans of the Blue Box anime received exciting news at Jump Festa '26, as it was officially announced that the second season for the anime adaptation of Kōji Miura's Blue Box (Ao no Hako) manga will debut in fall 2026 on TBS. The announcement brings anticipation for the continuation of this beloved sports romance series, which has captured the hearts of viewers since its premiere. The event also revealed the first "Blue visual" for the new season, drawn by illustrator Rei Katō. This new visual provides fans with a preview of what to expect from the upcoming season, building excitement for the return of the series and its characters. The anime's first season premiered on October 3, 2024, and aired through March 27, 2025. It consisted of 25 episodes, which were broadcast over two consecutive cours (quarters of a year). The first 12 episodes aired in late 2024, followed by a brief break, with the remaining 13 episodes (Part 2) resuming on January 2, 2025. The anime debuted on television in Japan on TBS and 28 affiliated networks, and began streaming on Netflix on October 4 (Japan time), where it streamed weekly. The series is licensed by Netflix globally, making it accessible to international audiences in multiple languages. Blue Box follows the story of Taiki Inomata, a student at Eimei Academy and a member of the boys' badminton team, who has a long-standing crush on Chinatsu Kano, an older student and rising star on the girls' basketball team. The series blends intense sports competition with a grounded, slow-burn romance. The plot takes a major turn when Chinatsu's parents move abroad for work, leading her to move into Taiki's home. Under one roof, Taiki strives to balance his developing feelings with his goal of reaching the national championship alongside Chinatsu. The story beautifully balances athletic competition with emotional character development, avoiding heavy fan service and focusing instead on relatable teenage ambition, youthful emotions, and the authentic development of character relationships. The anime features a talented voice cast led by Shōya Chiba as Taiki Inomata, the determined badminton player and protagonist. Reina Ueda voices Chinatsu Kano, the basketball player who captures Taiki's heart. Other key cast members include Akari Kitō as Hina Chono, Chiaki Kobayashi as Kyo Kasahara, and Yūma Uchida as Kengo Haryū. For the English dub, which premiered on Netflix in April 2025, Zach Aguilar voices Taiki Inomata and Xanthe Huynh voices Chinatsu Kano, bringing the story to English-speaking fans worldwide. The anime is planned and produced by TMS Entertainment, with animation handled by Telecom Animation Film. The first season was directed by Yūichirō Yano, known for his work on Moyashimon and Lupin the Third: Part 5. Yūko Kakihara, known for Buddy Daddies, Cells at Work!, and Chihayafuru seasons 2-3, is in charge of series composition. Miho Tanino, known for Tower of God and Blue Thermal, designed the characters, bringing the manga's distinctive art style to life in animation. The music is composed by Takashi Omama, known for his work on Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury. The Blue Box manga has enjoyed significant success since its debut. Kōji Miura first published the story as a one-shot manga in Weekly Shonen Jump in August 2020. The magazine started the manga's serialization on April 12, 2021, and it has since become a popular series. As of December 2025, the series has reached 23 tankōbon volumes in Japan. At Jump Festa '26, the author confirmed that the story is approaching its final chapters, with a special message from Kouji Miura noting that the manga series is currently "nearing its conclusion." The manga has more than 6.2 million copies in circulation, reflecting its widespread appeal among readers. For English-speaking readers, Viz Media publishes the Blue Box manga in both print and digital formats in North America. New chapters are released simultaneously with the Japanese broadcast on the Shonen Jump website and the Manga Plus app by Shueisha, making it accessible to international fans who want to follow the story as it approaches its conclusion. While a second season was officially confirmed to be in production immediately following the Season 1 finale in March 2025, the major announcement regarding its release window took place at Jump Festa '26 on December 21, 2025. During the panel, the cast revealed that Season 2 will officially premiere in October 2026 (Fall 2026). The exact day for the premiere has not yet been specified, but it is expected to air on TBS and its 28 affiliated networks in Japan. Like the first season, it is anticipated to stream worldwide on Netflix, making it accessible to international audiences. The announcement of Season 2 in fall 2026 gives fans something to look forward to, as the series continues to explore the evolving relationship between Taiki and Chinatsu while maintaining its focus on sports competition and personal growth. With its unique blend of badminton and basketball sports action, combined with a genuine romantic storyline, Blue Box has established itself as a refreshing take on the sports anime genre. The series' ability to balance athletic competition with emotional character development has resonated with viewers, making the announcement of Season 2 a welcome development for fans eagerly awaiting the continuation of Taiki and Chinatsu's story.