The highly anticipated original anime series, Dusk Beyond the End of the World, officially premiered in late September and early October 2025, marking a significant entry into the Fall 2025 anime season. Produced by renowned studio P.A. Works, the series began its broadcast with a special Episode 0 on September 25, followed by its first official episode on October 2, and continues to release new episodes weekly, taking audiences into a distant, war-ravaged future.
Unveiling a World Transformed: Plot and Themes
Dusk Beyond the End of the World, known in Japanese as Towa no Yugure (lit. ‘Twilight of Eternity’), plunges viewers into a complex narrative 200 years after a devastating apocalypse. The story centers on Akira Himegami, a high school student who awakens from cryogenic sleep to find a drastically altered world. Prior to his slumber, Akira confessed his feelings to his foster sister, Towasa Omaki, an AI developer, before both were victims of an assassination attempt.
Upon his awakening, Akira discovers a new global organization called OWEL, which now controls society and endeavors to regulate pre-apocalyptic technology. He is rescued by an android named Yugure, who strikingly resembles Towasa and promptly proposes marriage, a concept that has been replaced by a system called “Elsie” (or “LC”) in this new era. Believing Towasa to still be alive, Akira embarks on a quest to find her, with Yugure joining him on this perilous journey.
The series explores profound themes of love, relationships between humans and artificial intelligence, and the enduring nature of human emotion in a world transformed by technology and conflict. It delves into how society adapts to evolving AI and examines the beauty and brutality of emotions when conventional norms are redefined.
Creative Minds Behind the Series
Dusk Beyond the End of the World is an original anime project from Project FT, produced by P.A. Works as part of their 25th-anniversary celebration. Naokatsu Tsuda, known for his work on JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, serves as both the director and the series composer, meticulously crafting the narrative.
The original character designs were conceived by manga artist Midori Tayama, with Yoshiko Saitou adapting them for animation. The compelling musical score is composed by Masahiro Tokuda. The opening theme song, “Platform,” is performed by Uru, while the ending theme, “Two Of Us,” is performed by Hana Hope.
Key voice cast members include:
- Shūichirō Umeda as Akira Himegami
- Yui Ishikawa as Yugure
- Ai Kayano as Towasa Omaki
- Satoshi Tsuruoka as Caniss
- Takehito Koyasu as Marlum
- Yutaka Nakano as Urus
- Mariya Ise as Seshat
Release Schedule and Where to Watch
Dusk Beyond the End of the World airs weekly, with new episodes releasing on Thursdays. The series premiered with Episode 0 on September 25, 2025, followed by Episode 1 on October 2, 2025. Subsequent episodes are scheduled as follows:
- Episode 2: October 9, 2025
- Episode 3: October 16, 2025
- Episode 4: October 23, 2025
- Episode 5: October 30, 2025
- Episode 6: November 6, 2025
- Episode 7: November 13, 2025
- Episode 8: November 20, 2025
- Episode 9: November 27, 2025
- Episode 10: December 4, 2025
- Episode 11: December 11, 2025
- Episode 12: December 18, 2025
New episodes premiere in Japan during the Super Animeism Turbo programming block on MBS, TBS, and other JNN affiliate channels. Outside of Japan, HIDIVE holds the exclusive streaming rights, making new episodes available with English subtitles shortly after their Japanese broadcast. The series is expected to run for at least 13 episodes this season.
Fans in various time zones can catch new episodes at the following approximate times on Thursdays:
- Pacific Daylight Time (PDT): 8:56 a.m.
- Eastern Daylight Time (EDT): 11:56 a.m.
- Greenwich Mean Time (GMT): 3:56 p.m.
- Central Europe Summer Time (CEST): 5:26 p.m.
- India Standard Time (IST): 8:56 p.m.
Initial Reception
Early reactions to Dusk Beyond the End of the World have been mixed, according to some reports. Critics have lauded the animation quality, praising P.A. Works for its strong visuals. However, some viewers have raised questions regarding the show’s handling of certain themes, leading to a split among fans. While some appreciate the mystery and world-building, others find the dystopian elements too overt. Despite these varied opinions, many fans are drawn to the emotional storytelling and the burgeoning relationship between Akira and Yugure.
