One of the most critically acclaimed isekai/dark adventure franchises of the past decade is set to return to the big screen. Made in Abyss: Awakening Mystery, the first part in a new film series that continues the main story of the franchise, has just released an official trailer, revealing a new cast of characters and confirming a Japanese theatrical release date of 23/10/2026.
Plot: go down to the 7th floor with Riko, Reg, Nanachi and Faputa
Direct continuation of the events of Made in Abyss: The Golden City of the Scorching Sun, Awakening Mystery follows four familiar characters, Riko, Reg, Nanachi and Faputa, on their journey to the 7th level of the Abyss, an area more dangerous and mysterious than any place they have ever been to before. Kinema Citrus continues to be responsible for animation production, maintaining the seamless image quality that has made the series famous. Director Masayuki Kojima Return to the director's chair, with the screenwriter Hideyuki Kurata and character design by Yuka Kuroda and Kazuchika Kise (Production I.G) undertakes.
New cast: Tepasté and Cravali
The new trailer introduces two completely new characters: Tepaste, voiced by Sumire Morohoshi, and Cravali, voiced by Takanori Hoshino. Cravali is an adventurer known as the Black Whistle, renowned for his exceptional solo exploration skills, while Tepasté was once a member of his expedition before they were separated, a plot detail that promises to offer new insights into the hidden dangers in the depths of the Abyss.
"Chain of the Abyss" soundtrack by Kevin Penkin and Mori Calliope
Composer Kevin Penkin, who has been involved with the music of Made in Abyss since the early days and is considered one of the elements that create the series' unique atmosphere, continues to compose the theme soundtrack titled "Chain of the Abyss", featuring singer and VTuber Mori Calliope. This collaboration continues a notable tradition for the brand: earlier this year, the concert Made in Abyss Film Concert: Deep Echoes of Resonance was held in Tokyo with a live symphony orchestra conducted by Penkin himself, and the main voice actors Miyu Tomita (Riko), Mariya Ise (Reg) and Shiori Izawa (Nanachi).
- Theater release date (Japan): 23/10/2026
- Position within the brand: Part 1 of a new movie series, continuing The Golden City of the Scorching Sun
- Production studio: Kinema Citrus
- Director: Masayuki Kojima
- Soundtrack: "Chain of the Abyss", Kevin Penkin ft. Mori Calliope
- New cast: Tepasté (Sumire Morohoshi), Cravali (Takanori Hoshino)
- Original work: manga by Akihito Tsukushi, published on Web Comic Gamma, more than 22 million copies in circulation
Why Made in Abyss is still a special phenomenon
Made in Abyss is renowned for its haunting contrast between its bright, cute, childlike adventure-style visuals and the extremely dark, brutal content beneath the surface-a formula that has made the series a phenomenon far beyond the conventional isekai/exploration genre. By shifting to a movie series format instead of a television anime season, Awakening Mystery shows the production team's desire to invest in the highest level of depth and visual quality for the next phase of the story, a phase considered even darker and more dangerous than any previous arc as the characters venture deeper into the heart of the Abyss.
