Shogakukan announced on Friday that Hinasho’s manga series SHION will be adapted into a net anime, scheduled to debut on YouTube. The dedicated YouTube channel is slated to launch fully on December 1, featuring the first installment of the anime.
The Rise of SHION to Web Anime
The new net anime adaptation marks a significant step for Hinasho’s burgeoning manga. An “original net animation” (ONA), or web anime, refers to animation content released directly onto the internet, a format that has gained increasing prominence with the growth of streaming platforms. While ONAs were historically shorter, many full-length series are now produced exclusively for online distribution.
BitStar Anime, a brand under the influencer marketing company Bitstar Inc., is involved in the production of the SHION net anime. This collaboration points to a strategic approach in leveraging digital platforms for content dissemination and audience engagement.
Manga Background and Story
Hinasho’s SHION manga first launched earlier this year in Shogakukan’s Monthly Coro Coro Comics magazine. The manga’s inaugural volume was published by Shogakukan on the same day as the anime announcement, Friday, November 28, 2025. Readers can also access the manga via the Weekly Coro Coro website.
The series centers around a character named Shion Hiiragi. While specific plot details for the net anime are yet to be fully revealed, the manga’s categorization provides some insight into its themes, listing elements such as a “Blue-Haired Protagonist,” “Bodyguard/s,” “Gun/s,” “Hitman/s,” and “Kodomo” (children’s manga). These descriptors suggest a potential blend of action, mystery, and character-driven storytelling aimed at a younger demographic, or featuring youthful protagonists in mature scenarios.
The Growing Trend of Net Anime
The decision to release SHION as a net anime reflects a broader industry trend. Original net animations have become a popular and effective way to reach global audiences directly, bypassing traditional television broadcasting. Pioneers like Makoto Shinkai utilized the internet for short animated films in the late 1990s, and with improved broadband capabilities in the early 2000s, web series began to emerge. Today, major streaming services actively license full anime series for exclusive online release, demonstrating the format’s capacity for comprehensive storytelling. This direct-to-internet approach allows for greater flexibility in content, length, and scheduling, often catering to niche audiences more effectively.
