The highly anticipated sixth season of the anime “Kingdom” is set to premiere in October 2025 on NHK General TV, and fans are getting their first taste of what’s to come! The official trailer has dropped, revealing the theme song artists and offering a glimpse into the intense battles that await.
Theme Song Artists Announced
The opening theme, “Ikite, Sansan,” will be performed by the renowned music unit Ikimono Gakari, while the ending theme, “Houkou” (Howl), will be sung by the talented singer-songwriter Sora Tomonari.
Ikimono Gakari’s Powerful Opening: “Ikite, Sansan”
Ikimono Gakari reflected on their journey since debuting in 2006—the same year Kingdom began serialization—and expressed deep gratitude. They commented, “Kingdom began serialization in 2006, and Ikimono Gakari also debuted in 2006. Just like the main characters Shin and Sei, Kingdom has soared powerfully and has become a work known throughout Japan. We have always watched with admiration and excitement as the series grew to become as big as a great general, and we, Ikimono Gakari, are honored to be able to take part in this wave in the form of the anime theme song. We also remembered the conversations we had with Hara-sensei, who is a good friend of ours, since our debut. We have created a hymn to living life to the fullest.” The track’s stirring lyrics can already be heard in the new trailer, matching Shin’s resolve to carry forward the hopes of fallen comrades.
Sora Tomonari’s Intense Ending: “Houkou” (Howl)
Sora Tomonari shared his approach to crafting a battlefield-inspired anthem. Tomonari stated, “The battles in Kingdom are truly a clash of beliefs. In order to express that heat, we recorded everything from the sounds of armour rustling, to the shouts and roars from scratch. The lyrics are filled with elements that evoke the historical background and world of the story. We have created a powerful song that brings to mind the image of roars reverberating and large armies charging through. Please feel the sounds of battle resonating in your heart along with the sixth series. I am truly honored to have been in charge of the ending theme.” The artist emphasized how honored he feels to contribute to the series’ legacy with an emotionally resonant ending.
First Official Trailer and Teaser Visual
Along with the theme song announcements, a new teaser visual and the first official trailer were also unveiled. The trailer showcases protagonist Shin charging into an all-out war between Qin and Zhao, wielding the legendary glaive passed down by General Ouki. The teaser visual depicts Shin bravely wielding Ouki’s spear, ready to face the challenges ahead.
Story and Characters
“Kingdom” is a historical manga series written and illustrated by Yasuhisa Hara. The story is set during China’s Warring States period (475–221 BCE) and centers on Xin (Shin), a war orphan aiming to become a general under Ying Zheng (Ei Sei), the future First Emperor of China.
Season 6 sees Shin, now a seasoned warrior, taking up Ouki’s glaive to lead the Hi Shin Unit into battle against Zhao. Ouki, a legendary general feared across China, bestowed the weapon to Shin before dying in a duel with Houken—entrusting him with the dream of becoming a “great general under the heavens.”
Returning cast members include Jun Fukuyama as Ying Zheng, Masakazu Morita as Li Xin, and Rie Kugimiya as He Liao Diao. Kenichi Imaizumi is returning to direct the series for Season 6.
Staff
The staff for Kingdom Season 6 includes:
- Director: Kenichi Imaizumi
- Series Composition: Noboru Takagi
- Character Design: Hisashi Abe
- Art Director: Junichi Higashi
- Color Design: Miyuki Abe
- Director of Photography: Hiroki Takano
- 3DCG Production: Dandelion Animation Studio
- Editing: Keisuke Yanagi
- Music: KOHTA YAMAMOTO / Hiroyuki Sawano
- Music Production: Avex Pictures
- Sound Director: Kazuzou Hamano
- Sound Production: Jinnan Studio
- Animation Production: Studio Pierrot / Studio Signpost
Popularity
Serialized since 2006 in Weekly Young Jump (Shueisha), Kingdom has achieved over 110 million manga copies in circulation. The anime has aired through five seasons, and has inspired four live-action film adaptations as of 2024. In February 2025, Viz Media announced that it had licensed the manga. Kingdom was the recipient of the 17th Osamu Tezuka Cultural prize.
