The popular anime Kaguya-sama: Love Is War is set to return with a brand new TV special. Officially announced on June 22, 2025, the special is titled Kaguya-sama: Love Is War – The Stairway to Adulthood ( Kaguya-sama wa Kokurasetai: Otona e no Kaidan). Here’s everything we know so far about this exciting new project.
What We Know So Far
- Title: Kaguya-sama: Love Is War – The Stairway to Adulthood
- Type: New TV anime special
- Studio: A-1 Pictures (same studio that animated all three seasons)
- Based on: The manga series by Aka Akasaka
- Setting: Picks up after the events of the movie Kaguya-sama: Love Is War – The First Kiss That Never Ends
- Release Date: To be announced
Where the Story Left Off
For those who need a refresher, Kaguya-sama: Love Is War follows the story of Miyuki Shirogane and Kaguya Shinomiya, two brilliant and prideful students at Shuchiin Academy. They are both deeply in love with each other, but neither wants to be the first to confess, leading to hilarious and elaborate schemes to make the other person admit their feelings.
The anime adaptation consists of three seasons and a movie:
- Season 1: Aired in 2019
- Season 2: Aired in 2020
- Season 3: Aired in 2022
- Movie: Kaguya-sama: Love Is War – The First Kiss That Never Ends, premiered in December 2022
The movie, The First Kiss That Never Ends, adapted a significant portion of the manga, and it seemed like a natural conclusion to the anime series. However, with plenty of material still unadapted from the manga, fans have been hoping for more content.
What to Expect
The Stairway to Adulthood suggests a focus on the characters’ growth and development as they navigate the complexities of love and relationships.
Production Details
A-1 Pictures, the studio behind the previous three seasons and the movie, is animating the new special. While there’s no confirmation yet if the staff will remain the same, it’s expected that many of the key members will return.
About the Manga
Kaguya-sama: Love Is War is a Japanese romantic comedy manga series written and illustrated by Aka Akasaka. It was first serialized in Shueisha’s Miracle Jump magazine from May 2015 to January 2016 before moving to Weekly Young Jump in March 2016, where it continued until November 2022. The manga has been a massive success, with over 22 million copies in circulation by December 2022.
Other Adaptations
The series has also inspired a live-action film adaptation, which premiered in September 2019, and a sequel in August 2021, featuring Sho Hirano as Miyuki Shirogane and Kanna Hashimoto as Kaguya Shinomiya.
