It has been announced that "Third Grade Ashibe QQ Goma-chan," the latest work in Hiromi Morishita's popular manga series "Shounen Ashibe," will be adapted into a TV anime series in spring 2026. It will be broadcast as a short anime. The manga is currently being serialized in "Manga Action" (Futabasha), and features Ashiya Ashibe, who is now in his third year of elementary school, along with Sugao and his friends, and Goma-chan. The anime will be produced by DLE, the studio behind "Secret Society Eagle Talon" and "Nohara Hiroshi's Lunch Style." A teaser visual and teaser PV featuring Ashibe and Goma-chan have been released.
"Shounen Ashibe" is a manga that depicts the daily life of a baby harbor seal named Goma-chan and his owner, a young boy named Ashiya Ashibe. The first volume, "Shounen Ashibe," began serialization in Weekly Young Jump (Shueisha) in 1988. "Grade 3 Ashibe QQ Goma-chan" began serialization in Manga Action in March 2020. The latest volume, volume 4, was released on November 13th.
Original author Morishita commented, "The readers who watched 'Shounen Ashibe' have grown up, and now they and their children can watch the manga and anime 'Third Grade Ashibe QQ Goma-chan', which makes me very happy as the author. Ashibe was in the first grade of elementary school 34 years ago, but now he's in the third grade, so please look forward to the story of Goma-chan, who has also grown up a little. Thank you for your support."
Director Yamawaki Kotaro, who is working on the animation, said, "Through my involvement in the production this time, I once again felt the difficulty of conveying the emotions of Goma-chan, who does not speak. I hope to be able to convey in an easy-to-understand manner the interactions between Goma-chan, who is curious and diligently delves into everything, and Ashibe, and the people around him who are at their mercy. I would like to make good use of the strength of DLE works, which I have been involved in for many years, and the ability to create works with a sense of tempo. I hope you will look forward to the broadcast."
Producer Kanno Ayumi said, "When the project was decided, I felt like I had received a huge, amazing present. As a huge fan of Morishita Hiromi's work, I was so overwhelmed that I wanted to tell my younger self, 'Keep moving forward in life as straight as possible!' The animation production, which began with the motto, 'Making Goma-chan as cute as possible,' will depict the everyday lives of Ashibe-kun and Goma-chan in a heartwarming way. At the same time, the entire team is putting their heart and soul into making the series, making sure not to overlook the sharp gaze on society that Morishita's works have. Please look forward to the series airing in the spring! I hope it becomes a work that is loved by everyone."
*Staff (titles omitted)
Director/Character Design: Kotaro Yamawaki ▽ Music: Kyohei Matsuno ▽ Sound Director: Kazuki Kuwabara ▽ Art Director: Mayu Murayama ▽ Producer: Ayumi Kanno ▽ Animation Production: DLE
