Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress will celebrate the 10th anniversary of its TV broadcast in April 2026. The anime studio WIT Studio first aired the series in 2016. The show became popular for its steampunk setting and action-packed story about humans fighting zombie-like creatures called Kabane.
The official 10th Anniversary Project launched on February 13, 2026, with the theme “Kabaneri’s Ten-Year Journey”. The project will look back at the series through several commemorative events. A new anniversary visual was unveiled showing the main characters Ikoma and Mumei.
What the Anniversary Project Includes
Movie Airs on TV for First Time
Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress: The Battle of Unato will air on Fuji TV at 12:45 AM on March 6, 2026. This marks the first time the 2019 movie will appear on Japanese television. The film continues the story six months after the TV series ended.
The movie is already available on Netflix as a three-part release. It serves as a sequel to the 12-episode first season.
Special Campaign at Noitamina Cafe
A special campaign begins April 4, 2026 at the Noitamina Shop & Cafe Theater in Aqua City Odaiba. The event will feature in-store exhibits about the series. New anniversary artwork will be used for merchandise.
The cafe will serve limited collaboration menu items themed after the anime. Fans can vote for their favorite episodes to be screened during revival showings.
Radio Program Returns
The official radio show “Kabaneri Tours” will return for a limited time. The program originally streamed during the 2016 broadcast. It will play exclusively in the Noitamina Shop & Cafe Theater during the second half of the campaign.
Tasuku Hatanaka voices the main character Ikoma in the anime. He said he truly feels like he spent a long time with this work. Hatanaka expressed hope to see Ikoma and Mumei again.
Sayaka Senbongi voices Mumei, the female lead character. She commented that many people continued to bring up Kabaneri even after the show ended. What she experienced on set became her foundation for the past ten years.
Hatanaka and Senbongi married each other in real life after working together on the anime. Director Tetsuro Araki noted that watching them during recording influenced how he developed their characters.
Director’s Memories
Director Tetsuro Araki reflected on creating the series. He said it started from his small desk as a project he sent into the world hoping it would connect with people. Araki remembered checking if the word “Kabaneri” existed anywhere and celebrating when he found nothing.
Araki described the series as a treasure he intends to continue cherishing. He acknowledged that not everything in production went perfectly. However, he believes something genuine was captured in the finished work.
The director expressed joy that the content remained active for ten years thanks to wonderful colleagues and fans. The longevity exceeded his expectations.
About Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress
Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress takes place in Hinomoto, an island nation in the Far East. The story happens during the transition from early modern to modern times. Humanity fights against the Kabane, immortal monsters that spread rapidly and turn people into more monsters.
The main character Ikoma and his friend Mumei become Kabaneri after fighting off infections. Kabaneri exist as halfway points between humans and Kabane. They keep their human minds but gain superhuman abilities.
The show has similarities to Attack on Titan, which WIT Studio also worked on. Both feature humanity fighting against monster threats behind walls. However, Kabaneri has its own steampunk aesthetic with trains and industrial-era technology.
Previous Movies and Content
WIT Studio produced two compilation films in December 2016 and January 2017. These movies covered the first season with some new and enhanced scenes. Crunchyroll screened them in North American theaters in April 2017.
The sequel film The Battle of Unato premiered in 2019. Director Araki stated this was not a spinoff but a real sequel. The official website listed it as the “middle volume” suggesting more story could come.
Is a Season 2 Coming?
The 10th Anniversary Project announcement does not mention a new season or movie. The commemorative events focus on celebrating past content. There is no confirmation of new animated material being produced.
The franchise has been inactive since the 2019 movie. Many fans still want answers to questions left by the story. They wonder where the Kabane virus originated and who caused it.
Hatanaka’s comment about wanting to see Ikoma and Mumei again hints at his interest in continuing the story. However, this does not confirm any plans for production. Voice actor wishes do not guarantee new content will be made.
Why No Season 2 Yet?
Despite its popularity, Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress never received a second season. The 2016 series ran for only 12 episodes. The Battle of Unato movie in 2019 was the most recent entry.
The franchise may be dormant for now. Studios sometimes revive popular shows years later. However, no official announcements suggest this will happen for Kabaneri.
WIT Studio has worked on other major projects since 2016. The studio’s focus on new shows may have delayed any Kabaneri continuation. Financial and scheduling factors also affect whether sequels get made.
Where to Watch Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress?
Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress is available on Netflix. The streaming service has both the original 12-episode series and The Battle of Unato movie. The movie appears as three separate episodes on Netflix.
Amazon, Crunchyroll, and Funimation handled the English release of the series. These platforms may still have the show available depending on licensing agreements.
Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress Franchise
The Kabaneri franchise has stayed relatively active through merchandise and collaborations. Director Araki mentioned amusement machine collaborations that kept the content visible. However, no new anime has been produced in seven years.
A PC browser and smartphone game called Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress -Revolt- was announced in 2018. The game was meant to launch that summer. Its current status is unclear.
What the Anniversary Means
The 10th Anniversary Project shows that Kabaneri remains important to its creators. The extensive commemorative events demonstrate ongoing support. However, celebration of past work differs from commitment to new content.
Anniversary projects sometimes lead to sequel announcements later. Studios gauge fan interest through these events. Strong turnout might encourage production decisions. For now, the anniversary focuses purely on honoring what already exists.