Snowball Earth TV anime adaptation

It has been announced that "Snowball Earth," a manga by Yuichiro Tsujitsuji currently being serialized in "Monthly! Spirits" (Shogakukan), will be adapted into a TV anime and broadcast on Nippon TV in 2026. It will be directed by Munehisa Sakai, known for "Zombie Land Saga," and produced by Studio KAI. Assistant director will be Takeshi Iwata, with Shigeru Murakoshi in charge of series composition and Toshiya Kono in charge of character design and general animation direction.

The series is a science fiction, monster, and robot action story set on a snowy and ice-covered planet called Snowball Earth. The series began serialization in March 2021, and the latest 9th volume of the comics, released on July 30, has sold over 670,000 copies in total, making it a very popular series.

A super teaser visual was also released, depicting the eyes of the main character, Yabusame Tetsuo. Within his eyes, there is a landscape covered in snow and ice, as well as the silhouettes of buildings and monsters buried in snow. Original author Yuichiro Tsujitsugi commented, "Director Sakai, Assistant Director Iwata, and everyone else involved... they are the people who have created and released the anime that I have been so fascinated by. The anime "Snowball Earth" is being born right now in the hands of so many professionals. It has been treated with such passion and care, and I am honored and grateful every day as someone who has entrusted the manga to me, and as a fan! I truly look forward to the day when I can watch the adventures of Tetsuo and Yukio together with all the readers and new viewers!"

Director Sakai said, "I like stories that start to move. People who start to take action even in the midst of despair. Fate that starts to move. I think the reason why 'Snowball Earth' is so exciting is because the characters who start to take action and resist like that are so cool. The main character, Yabusame Tetsuo, also starts to take action, trying to break out of his shell, and this passionate story begins to move. I hope you will look forward to it!"

Assistant Director Iwata commented, "It's not easy to face people, after all. Every time this story began to move, the atmosphere on set became more and more heated. I was moved many times by the people who continued to move forward even in harsh environments. 'Snowball Earth' has become a very important film. I hope you will watch it."

Series composition writer Murakoshi said, "Though he's been called the savior, Tetsuo continues to struggle as he searches for his place in the world, and Yukio the robot continues to support him both in his private and public life. No one will be able to take their eyes off the friendship between these two characters and their way of life as they continue to search for hope in the midst of a brutal battle. Please do experience this passionate, cruel, and occasionally funny story set in the frigid cold...!"

Character designer and chief animation director Kono said, "When I read it for the first time, I was shocked and thought, 'There was a work on this scale...!' With regards to the character designs, I aimed to express the emotions and strength of the characters living in the extreme world of a snow-covered Earth. Snowball Earth is a story full of such characters! Look forward to it!"

In response to the anime adaptation, ONE, Masami Yuki, Kazuki Nakashima, Kazuhiro Fujita, and Yokusaru Shibata have all provided comments.

*Comments (titles omitted)

ONE A story of harsh survival, a cliff-edge battle, and the warmth of human body. A story of extreme cold and extreme heat, and a fast paced development that makes you curious to see what happens next...

Masami Yuki The last of their wisdom and courage to ward off the malice raining down on them! The courage of the duo Yukio and Tetsuo will bring you to tears!!

Kazuki Nakajima This is no longer just a robot manga. It's about survival, coexistence, and existence. Living through, supporting each other, and being proud of who you are. It's a story that only the current young generation could write. Can't wait for the next one!

Kazuhiro Fujita I love a hero who makes it in time! Look, Tetsuo and Yukio make it in time!! It's been a while since we last met! A big, reliable guy who fights! I'm so happy!!

Yokusaru Shibata - My favorite!! The supporting characters are so passionate!!! The main characters (heroes) are so considerate of everyone around them!! Too kind!! And by far the most passionate!!! The main characters (heroes) are Tetsuo and Yukio, this is a story of "friendship" between humans and robots that is so strong they almost fall in love!!! It's been a while since I cried!!

Gen Ishii: Who would have thought we'd be able to see that giant robot and galactic monster battle scene in an anime?! The manga is already amazing, but I can't wait to see how it turns out in an anime! Congratulations to Tsujitsugu-sensei on the anime adaptation! And congratulations to me, as a huge fan!

Kirin - Akira Kawashima A passionate friendship that can melt even the snow grows on the frozen Earth. This "Snowman" is sure to be a big hit!

Nobuyuki Sakuma Monsters, robots, human drama, and big adventures... It's a work that is full of so much stuff, yet still has so much fun in it that I'm always amazed. All of it moves! I can't stop being excited!

Yoshida Hisaki: There was a psychologist who said, "All worries are worries about human relationships," but if those worries disappear just because the Earth is about to be destroyed and we're fighting monsters with robots, that would be a lie! Heroes also save the Earth in order to save human relationships!