Rumiko Takahashi’s ‘Mao’ Sets Hulu, Disney+ Premiere
Viz Media Secures Streaming Rights for Rumiko Takahashi’s “Mao”
Viz Media has recently acquired the North American and select international streaming rights for the anime adaptation of Rumiko Takahashi’s “Mao.” The series is set to debut on April 4 on Hulu in the U.S. and on Disney+ in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Latin America. Simultaneously, the show will premiere on NHK General TV in Japan, with Hulu Japan streaming it the following day.
The anime adaptation, produced by Sunrise and announced by Bandai Namco Filmworks last July, is part of the celebration of publisher Shogakukan’s centenary. Takahashi introduced “Mao” in Shogakukan’s Weekly Shōnen Sunday in May 2019, and the manga has since accumulated 27 volumes as of February 2026. Viz Media, the English-language North American manga licensee since 2021, began releasing simultaneous English chapters alongside the Japanese publication in May 2023.
“Mao” is a dark supernatural fantasy that spans two eras, following Nanoka Kiba, a junior high student who is transported back to Japan’s Taisho period after revisiting a shopping arcade where she survived a mysterious childhood accident. There, she meets Mao, an enigmatic onmyoji mystic who has been under a curse for nine centuries. Their alliance is formed as they confront the dark forces intertwined with their destinies.
Rumiko Takahashi is a highly acclaimed figure in the manga industry, known for works like “Urusei Yatsura,” “Ranma ½,” “Maison Ikkoku,” and “Inuyasha.” She has received the Shogakukan Manga Award twice and is an Eisner Award Hall of Fame inductee. The series is directed by Teruo Sato, with key credits including series composition by Yuko Kakihara and character design by Yoshihito Hishinuma.
The opening theme “Heartloud” is performed by boy band Kis-My-Ft2, while True sings the ending theme “Juai” (Cursed Love). The series features voice talents such as Yuki Kaji as Mao and Natsumi Kawaida as Nanoka Kiba.
Viz Media’s rights cover various platforms including TV, home video, electronic sell-through, and video-on-demand in North America, Latin America, and Australia/New Zealand. Fans can look forward to immersing themselves in the captivating world of “Mao” as it makes its highly anticipated debut on streaming services.
