Magic Knight Rayearth (Magic Knight Rayearth) 2026 begins airing in Japan at 23:45 on October 7, 2026 and has been confirmed for two consecutive cours. It is a new anime adaptation of CLAMP's manga, retelling the journey of Hikaru, Umi and Fuu in the world of Cephiro. Crunchyroll has announced simulcasts outside Japan from October 7, though the exact time shown may vary by region.
Schedule and platforms
- TV Asahi: 23:45 every Wednesday, starting October 7, in the IMAnimation W block.
- Format: two consecutive cours; the exact number of episodes has not been published on the official schedule.
- Streaming in Japan: rolling out in sequence from 00:15 on October 8 on ABEMA, Prime Video, Hulu, U-NEXT and several other services.
- International: Crunchyroll has added the series to its Fall 2026 simulcast lineup.
The story for newcomers
During a field trip to Tokyo Tower, three schoolgirls, Hikaru Shidou, Umi Ryuuzaki and Fuu Hououji, are suddenly summoned to Cephiro. Princess Emeraude, who uses her prayers to maintain the order of the world, is being held captive, and Cephiro is sliding into crisis. The three girls must become the legendary Magic Knights to save the princess and find their way home.
The premise sounds like a modern isekai, but the original manga debuted in 1993 and blends three genres: fantasy adventure, magical girl and giant robot. Power in Cephiro is tied to will, so the characters' emotional growth is directly linked to their magic and their ability to pilot the Mashin.
How does the 2026 version differ from the 1994 anime?
This is not a resolution upgrade of the old series. The 2026 version has new designs, animation, staff and cast, and Crunchyroll describes it as a retelling of the classic story. Because it has not aired yet, it is too early to say how closely it follows the manga or what changes it makes in the second half; viewers should treat detailed comparisons for now as speculation.
The three lead roles are played by Ayane Sakura (Hikaru), Rumi Okubo (Umi) and Rie Takahashi (Fuu). Yui Miura directs, Shigeru Murakoshi handles series composition and Satomi Watanabe designs the characters. The music team includes Yuki Kajiura, Takumi Ozawa and Shiho Terada, a notable choice for a work that mixes epic scale with coming-of-age emotion.
Do you need to watch the old version first?
No. The new version starts over from the meeting at Tokyo Tower, so newcomers can jump straight in. The 1994 version is still worth watching if you want to compare the adaptations and see the style of 1990s TV anime, but it is not required to understand the 2026 series. With two consecutive cours, the new version has enough room to introduce Cephiro, the three heroines and the Mashin system before moving on to the major turning points.
Official sources: Magic Knight Rayearth Anime, broadcast schedule and Crunchyroll Fall 2026. Information checked on September 30, 2026.
