BEASTARS is making an unexpected television debut in Japan, as the anime’s first season is set to become the first anime ever broadcast on Animal Planet Japan.
The announcement was made through the official BEASTARS X account, revealing that the first season will begin airing on the channel this October.
BEASTARS Season 1 will premiere on October 15, 2026, at 10:00 PM JST on Animal Planet Japan.
New episodes will air every Thursday at the same time. The channel will also rebroadcast episodes at different times throughout the week.
The first episode, titled “The Full Moon Chooses Which Beasts to Illuminate,” will kick off the anime’s run on the channel.
Animal Planet Japan described the series as an animal-themed coming-of-age ensemble drama and highlighted the unusual significance of bringing an anime to the network for the first time.
The official announcement reads:
“The BEASTARS anime’s first season will be broadcast on Animal Planet! This will be the first anime broadcast on Animal Planet. Please enjoy this animal coming-of-age ensemble drama.”
What Is BEASTARS About?
Set in a world where carnivorous and herbivorous animals coexist, BEASTARS follows Legoshi, a gray wolf attending the prestigious Cherryton Academy.
Despite his intimidating size and sharp teeth, Legoshi lives quietly and keeps his carnivorous instincts under control.
That changes when a student is killed in a predation incident at the school.
As fear and suspicion spread throughout the campus, Legoshi encounters Haru, a small dwarf rabbit whose presence causes him to confront feelings he cannot easily understand.
Legoshi begins questioning whether his desire for Haru comes from love or hunger, forcing him to confront the instincts he has spent so much time suppressing.
The series explores discrimination, love, weakness, identity and hope through its animal society.
BEASTARS Has Already Completed Its Anime Story
The Animal Planet broadcast comes several years after the anime originally premiered.
The first season of BEASTARS aired for 12 episodes beginning October 10, 2019, with animation production handled by Orange.
The second season followed in January 2021, while BEASTARS Final Season was released in two parts, with the first arriving in December 2024 and the second in March 2026.
The complete anime is also available to stream on Netflix in 131 territories, including the United States and Japan.
In Japan, the first season is additionally available through services including Amazon Prime Video, d Anime Store, FOD, Hulu and U-NEXT.
BEASTARS Season 1 Cast And Staff
The first season features Chikahiro Kobayashi as Legoshi and Yuuki Ono as Louis, alongside a large ensemble cast.
Cast
- Chikahiro Kobayashi — Legoshi
- Sayaka Senbongi — Haru
- Yuuki Ono — Louis
- Atsumi Tanezaki — Juno
- Junya Enoki — Jack
- Yuma Uchida — Miguno
- Takeo Otsuka — Collot
- Naoto Kobayashi — Durham
- Yukiyoshi Shimotsuma — Voss
- Nobuhiko Okamoto — Kai
- Fukushi Ochiai — Sanu
- Takaaki Torashima — Bill
- Sayumi Watabe — Els
- Gen Muro — Dom
- Yuichi Iguchi — Kibi
- Yuko Hara — Sheila
- Ikuto Kanemasa — Aoba
- Akane Ouchi — Ellen
- Hibiku Yamamura — Mizuchi
- Sakura Ando — Legom
- Akio Otsuka — Gouhin
- Mitsuaki Hoshino — Mayor
- Ken’yuu Horiuchi — Ogma
Staff
- Director: Shinichi Matsumi
- Script: Nanami Higuchi
- Character Design: Nao Otsu
- CG Chief Director: Eiji Inomoto
- Art Director: Minami Kasuga
- Color Design: Ken Hashimoto
- Director of Photography: Shiori Furusho, Hakuryu Sai
- Editor: Junichi Uematsu
- Music: Satoru Kosaki (MONACA)
- Animation Production: Orange
BEASTARS is based on the manga by Paru Itagaki, which became one of the most acclaimed manga series of its generation and won multiple major manga awards.
Bookmark Otaku Mantra for more anime news and updates!
About BEASTARS
BEASTARS is a manga series written and illustrated by Paru Itagaki. It is set in a society inhabited by anthropomorphic animals where carnivores and herbivores live together under strict social rules.
The story follows Legoshi, a gray wolf and student at Cherryton Academy, as he navigates school life, relationships and his own carnivorous instincts following a student’s murder.
The anime adaptation is produced by Orange and consists of three seasons, with the final season completing the anime adaptation in 2026.
Source: Discovery Japan
