A new anime adaptation is on the way, and fans of classic manga have a big reason to celebrate. Rumiko Takahashi, one of the most respected and beloved manga creators in Japan, is bringing her latest work, MAO, to the television screen. The announcement was officially made on July 13, 2025, and the anime will premiere on NHK General TV in Japan in spring 2026. This new project is being developed by Sunrise, the same studio that previously adapted Takahashi’s famous series Inuyasha, which makes the return even more exciting.
MAO is a supernatural adventure series that has captured the attention of readers since it began serialization in Weekly Shōnen Sunday back in May 2019. The story takes place across two time periods. It follows a modern-day schoolgirl named Nanoka Kiba who, after surviving a strange and mysterious accident, finds herself transported to Japan’s Taishō era.
There, she meets a mysterious man named Mao. Mao is not an ordinary person—he is an onmyoji, a kind of Japanese spiritual exorcist, and he’s been alive for nearly 900 years. Together, the two become partners in solving spiritual mysteries and facing off against powerful curses, including the one that has kept Mao alive for centuries.
MAO Franchise (Credits: Rumiko Takahashi)
Rumiko Takahashi’s MAO Manga Gets TV Anime Adaptation by Sunrise in Spring 2026
The manga has been a steady success for several years, and as of May 2025, it has reached 24 volumes in Japan. In North America, the manga is being published by Viz Media. The English translation has helped the story gain a worldwide audience, and the announcement of the anime has only increased its popularity.
The new anime marks an important milestone in Rumiko Takahashi’s long career. With MAO now being animated, every major series she published in Weekly Shōnen Sunday has received an anime adaptation. This includes earlier hits like Urusei Yatsura, Ranma ½, Inuyasha, and RIN-NE. Many fans see this as a crowning achievement in her creative journey, and it shows how her stories continue to resonate with both old and new audiences.
Sunrise, the studio behind the Inuyasha anime, is handling the animation of MAO. This has generated excitement, as the studio is known for its high-quality production and strong storytelling. The animation team is led by director Teruo Sato, who previously worked on Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon, the sequel to Inuyasha. Other key members of the production staff include Yūko Kakihara, who is in charge of series composition, and Yoshihito Hishinuma, who is handling both character design and chief animation direction. The art direction is being handled by Hiroshi Katō and Izumi Hoki, while the music is being composed by Shū Kanematsu. This talented group promises to deliver an anime that will stay true to the spirit of the original manga.
All of Rumiko Takahashi’s Major Works Now Animated as MAO Joins the Lineup
In addition to the announcement, the main voice cast for the anime has also been revealed. Yūki Kaji will voice the lead character Mao. Kaji is well-known for his work in popular anime such as Attack on Titan, and fans are excited to hear his take on the powerful and mysterious exorcist. Natsumi Kawaida has been cast as Nanoka, the girl from the modern era who becomes Mao’s companion. The cast also includes Hiro Shimono as Hyakka, Mao’s former senior apprentice who has the ability to control fire, and Toshiyuki Toyonaga as Kamon, a wealthy onmyoji who uses wood-based powers.
With such a talented cast and production team, expectations are high for this anime adaptation. The story of MAO blends mystery, fantasy, and emotional depth. It explores the bond between Mao and Nanoka as they face dangers from both the past and the spirit world. The setting of early 20th-century Japan adds a unique atmosphere, and the supernatural elements keep the tension high. Fans of Takahashi’s earlier works will likely enjoy the mix of action and heartfelt storytelling that has become her signature style.
MAO Franchise (Credits: Rumiko Takahashi)
Rumiko Takahashi herself expressed her excitement for the anime. In a short message shared during the announcement, she thanked the staff and said the anime turned out exactly as she had hoped. She praised the cast and encouraged everyone to watch it when it airs. Her involvement and support give fans even more confidence that the adaptation will stay true to the heart of the original manga.
Supernatural Time-Travel Manga MAO Set for Anime Debut on NHK in 2026
The anime is set to begin airing in spring 2026, most likely around April, and it will be broadcast on NHK General TV in Japan. As of now, no streaming platforms or international releases have been announced, but given the popularity of Takahashi’s works, it is likely that global streaming services will pick it up soon after.
This new adaptation is also part of a larger wave of renewed interest in Takahashi’s work. Urusei Yatsura received a new anime reboot in 2022, and a new season of Ranma ½ is also scheduled to begin airing in October 2025. With MAO joining the list, fans can now enjoy fresh anime versions of all of her major series.
For fans of supernatural stories, time travel, and emotional character relationships, MAO is shaping up to be one of the most exciting anime to look forward to in 2026. With beautiful animation, a strong voice cast, and the creative touch of one of Japan’s greatest manga artists, it promises to be a memorable experience for both longtime fans and new viewers alike.
It is truly tragic to have lost such an eminent personality who brought change and set out a legacy for people coming after her, Glenda Jackson is a name to beckon. She left this earth on the 15th of June, 2023, just a few days ago; the memory of her and her passing is still fresh in our minds as we go on to discuss the actual impact of her in terms of monetary gains and also the roles she played. Fun fact, her roles did not just include ones in the movies!
Born on the 9th of May, 1936, to two hard-working individuals from humble beginnings, Jackson pushed through all the difficulties in her way solely based on her talent and abilities. Glenda Jackson was born in Birkenhead, England , to her mother, Nellie, who worked as a cleaning lady in a bar, and her father, Harry, who worked as a bricklayer. Just after Glenda Jackson’s birth, they had to move and change their living locations almost twice after finally settling in Wirral. She has three younger sisters too, but not much is known about them.
Young Glenda Jackson (source: Pinterest)
Glenda’s first acting experience came from a play she performed at the Townswomen’s Guild drama club, and from there, she went on to understand where her inclinations might lie. She went on to do so many great things, which may be the sixteen-year-old Glenda working in a Chemist’s shop hadn’t known. She knew, though, that working in a shop was not where she saw herself; she soon earned herself a full scholarship at the RADA abbreviation for Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 1955.
That is where it all started. She just had a natural talent for acting, but things did not come easy; after learning at RADA, she still had to find acting jobs for herself. Her first job was working in the play ‘Doctor in the House in 1957. After that followed a period where Glenda Jackson did not have any acting jobs, but she was determined to get something for herself. In 1963 and Glenda made her first film debut with a kitchen soap drama called ‘This Sporting Life’ followed by many theatre jobs and being an actor and manager too at times.
Her breakthrough came with the movie ‘Women in Love’ in 1969, which directed the spotlight right at her and got her very first Academy Award for Best Actress. Glenda played many powerful roles and many that would have likely been stigmatized by society then and now too, but her spirited attitude to do whatever it took for her role gained her much-deserved fame.
In 1992 she took a long break from acting, lasting twenty-five years. During this time, she decided to take up political roles and won a seat in the House of Commons, and also the junior transport minister at a point. After which, she came back to act in different series and films from 2015-2023.
This whole and fulfilling journey cannot be counted by only her monetary assets, but they are an accumulation of the love and adoration the world holds for her. So, let us take a look at her net worth.
Glenda Jackson’s Net Worth
This amazing actress, who has won two Academy Awards, has a mindboggling net worth of $5 Million. This net worth of Glenda Jackson is an accumulation of all the achievements she has had throughout the journey of her life, in her acting career and her political career too, which she decided to quit in 2015. She is known for her work in movies and television shows such as, ‘A Touch of Class’, ‘Elizabeth R’, ‘Sunday Bloody Sunday’ and ‘Morecambe and Wise Show’.
Glenda Jackson started her career working in theatre acts, and she has been famous for many of those, including a play called ‘The US’ of 1966, a play protesting against the Vietnam War, along with the role of Leir she played in the play of William Shakespeare’s play ‘King Lear’. This role of hers made people fall in love with her all over again and reiterated the belief that Gleda Jackson was indeed a natural actor, as even after 25 years away from acting, her skills were still sharp.
Her income is known to have mainly been generated from her work in the acting field, earning about $72 Hundred from her work in the play ‘Women in Love’ showcased in the year 1969, $1 Million from her work in the movie ‘House Calls’ that released in the year 1978 and something around $20,000 from her work in the movie ‘A Touch of Class’. Her yearly earnings were known to be somewhere between $5,00,000 to $1 Million. Before her death, Jackson had completed working on a movie by the name ‘The Great Escaper’, which is set to be released soon! This is the movie starring Glenda Jackson and Sir Michael Caine .
An old picture of Glenda with her ex-husband and son (Source: Getty Images)
Glenda Jackson owns a house in Blackheath, London, where she died, being surrounded by her family. Not much is known about her properties and assets, but it is sure she had a full life with achievements and no regrets having always followed her heart in making decisions.
She is survived by her son, Daniel Jackson Hodges, who she had along with her ex-husband Roy Hodges who she married in the year 1958 and got divorced in 1976. Roy Hodges was also a famous actor who died in 2017, about six years before Glenda Jackson. She lived in Blackheath with her son, his wife, and her grandchildren.
Major roles played by Glenda Jackson
- Women In Love (Release Date: 09/1969)
Women In Love is a movie directed by Ken Russell that was released in the year of 1969. Glenda Jackson played the role of Gudrun Brangwen in the movie, which got her many awards, including an Academy Award for Best Actress, and many critically claimed appreciations. The movie is based on a book by D.H. Lawrence, which talks about the lives of two sisters, Ursula and Gudrun Brangwen. There are many things that are being discussed in the movie, love styles and whatnot, this movie choice was definitely a bold decision for Jackson, but she was awarded for her brave choice too.
A scene from Women In Love (Source: YouTube)
- Elizabeth Is Missing (Release Date: 08/12/2019)
‘Elizabeth is Missing’ is a television series that premiered in the year 2019. This is one of the much more recent works Jackson and another role she is deeply appreciated for and has won awards like the Broadcasting Press Guild Award for Best Actress, British Academy Television Award for Best Actress again, and an Emmy Award too! Even after years in this field and after a huge break, Glenda Jackson knew the work that was suited for her and had the absolute charisma to make any role special. Jackson can be seen on screen, playing the role of Maud Horsham in the movie. Maud is a character suffering from Alzheimer’s and is trying to find out about her missing friend Elizabeth.
Elizabeth Is Missing (Source: STV Studios)
There is a gaping hole left in many people’s hearts because of the death of this wonderful eighty-seven-year-old actor. Her place in the world of cinema, especially British cinema and theatre, cannot be replaced by anyone, and sadly, it is Glenda Jackson who is missing this time and will forever be.
