Fans of the historical epic “Kingdom” anime series can rejoice, as a sixth season has been officially announced and is set to premiere in October 2025. The news, unveiled through the anime’s official website and social media channels on April 17, 2025, confirmed the continuation of the acclaimed adaptation of Yasuhisa Hara’s popular manga. A teaser visual accompanied the announcement, featuring the tagline “The Inheritor of Qi Wang’s Spear,” hinting at the pivotal role of protagonist Shin in the upcoming conflict.
The Continuation of the Qin-Zhao War
The sixth season of “Kingdom” is poised to dive deeper into the intense, all-out war between the Qin and Zhao armies. This eagerly awaited installment will adapt the Western Zhao Invasion arc, marking a significant phase in the ongoing conflict. Viewers can expect to see main character Xin (Shin) wield Wang Yi’s legendary spear on the battlefield, signifying his growth and readiness for increased responsibility and power.
Production Details and Returning Staff
The animated series will continue to be produced by Studio Pierrot and Studio Signpost, the same studios that handled previous seasons, ensuring continuity in animation quality and style. Kenichi Imaizumi will return to direct the series, with Noboru Takagi overseeing the series composition, Hisashi Abe responsible for character designs, and Hiroyuki Sawano and Kohta Yamamoto composing the music.
The main voice cast is also expected to reprise their roles, including Masakazu Morita as Shin (Li Xin), Jun Fukuyama as Ying Zheng, and Rie Kugimiya as He Liao Diao. Additionally, new cast members have been announced for characters appearing in the sixth series, including Taito Ban as Shunsui Itsuki, Tochi Hiroki as Zhao Ga Long, Tezuka Hideaki as Ma Nanji, Mano Kyosuke as Kyoun, and Fujinuma Taketo as Danto.
Broadcast and Streaming Information
The sixth season is scheduled to be broadcast on NHK General TV in Japan, with its premiere set for October 4th at 12:10 a.m. While international streaming details have not been officially disclosed at the time of the announcement, fans anticipate that Crunchyroll will continue to stream the series, having done so for previous seasons.
“Kingdom” Manga’s Enduring Legacy
The “Kingdom” anime is based on Yasuhisa Hara’s acclaimed historical manga, which began serialization in Shueisha’s Weekly Young Jump magazine in January 2006. The manga provides a fictionalized account of China’s Warring States period (475–221 BCE), following the journey of the war orphan Xin as he strives to become the greatest general and unify China alongside Ying Zheng, who later becomes the First Emperor.
The series boasts an impressive circulation of over 110 million copies as of December 2024, making it one of the best-selling manga series of all time. The manga was also honored with the Grand Prize of the Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize in 2013.
The anime adaptation first premiered in 2012, with subsequent seasons airing in 2013, 2020-2021, 2022, and the most recent fifth season concluding in March 2024. The relatively short gap between the fifth and upcoming sixth season highlights the continued popularity and demand for the series. In addition to the anime, the “Kingdom” franchise has also inspired four live-action film adaptations, released between 2019 and 2024.
