Moyoco Anno’s beloved shojo manga, Sugar Sugar Rune, is set to receive new anime adaptations, as confirmed by Studio Khara at Japan Expo 2025 in Paris. The announcement includes a special 20th-anniversary short film and a full-fledged anime series, both utilizing 3DCG animation.
A Return to the Magical World
The news comes two decades after the original anime adaptation of Sugar Sugar Rune first aired in July 2005. Moyoco Anno’s magical girl manga, which was serialized in Nakayoshi magazine from September 2003 to May 2007, captivated readers with the story of Chocolat Meilleure and Vanilla Mieux, two young witches competing to become the queen of the Magical World by collecting “hearts” from human boys. The manga was compiled into eight volumes and notably won the 29th Kodansha Manga Award in the children’s manga category in 2005.
The original anime series, produced by Studio Pierrot, ran for 51 episodes on TV Tokyo from July 2, 2005, to June 24, 2006. Its enduring popularity has led to this latest resurgence.
The Anniversary Short: ‘SUGAR SUGAR RUNE Les deux sorcières’
To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Sugar Sugar Rune manga, Studio Khara has produced an original 3DCG animated short film titled SUGAR SUGAR RUNE Les deux sorcières. This short serves as a prequel to the original manga, exploring Chocolat and Vanilla’s departure from the Magical World—an aspect not delved into in the original work. Directed by Yusuke Matsui, known for his work as a CG animator on Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time, the short film was unveiled at Japan Expo 2025. The creation of this short involved close supervision from Moyoco Anno herself, ensuring a deep collaboration to flesh out the characters’ backstories.
A Full-Fledged Anime Adaptation on the Horizon
Beyond the celebratory short, Studio Khara has also officially green-lit and announced the production of a new, full-fledged anime adaptation of the Sugar Sugar Rune manga. This larger project is expected to utilize similar 3DCG animation as seen in the prequel short, bringing a fresh visual style to the beloved narrative. The involvement of Studio Khara, renowned for their work on the Evangelion series, has generated considerable excitement among fans.
This new production signifies a renewed interest in the enchanting world of Sugar Sugar Rune, promising to introduce the story to a new generation of viewers while delighting long-time fans with updated animation and a comprehensive adaptation of Moyoco Anno’s original narrative.
