The highly anticipated television anime adaptation of Eri Ejima’s manga, Young Ladies Don’t Play Fighting Games (Tai Ari Deshita: Ojō-sama wa Kakutō Game Nante Shinai), has been delayed from its originally planned 2025 release to sometime in 2026. Kadokawa made the announcement on Monday, attributing the postponement to “schedule adjustments of the various parties involved in production.”
Details of the Delay
Fans eager for the anime’s debut will now have to wait an additional year. Kadokawa, the company behind the production, stated on Monday, September 22, 2025, that the series, which was initially set for a 2025 premiere, will now launch in 2026. The official reason provided for this schedule change is “schedule adjustments of the various parties involved in production,” suggesting a need for more time to ensure the quality and smooth progression of the anime’s development.
The anime adaptation had previously garnered excitement with the release of a teaser trailer and the announcement of its main staff and voice cast in May 2025. The delay means a longer wait for viewers to see the beloved manga brought to life on screen.
About the “Young Ladies Don’t Play Fighting Games” Anime
Young Ladies Don’t Play Fighting Games is based on Eri Ejima’s popular comedy manga, which has been serialized in Media Factory’s Monthly Comic Flapper since January 2020. The story follows young ladies at the prestigious Kuromi Girls’ Academy, an elegant institution that values refined deportment. Despite the school’s strict rules, main character Aya Mitsuki, a scholarship student with a background in fighting games, discovers that fellow elegant student Mio Yorue (nicknamed Shirayuri) harbors a secret passion for the genre. Their shared love for fighting games, particularly Street Fighter 6, forms the core of the narrative.
Key Collaborations and Production
A notable aspect of the anime is its official collaboration with Capcom’s popular fighting game, Street Fighter 6. This partnership means that the characters in the anime will be depicted playing Street Fighter 6 directly, a departure from the fictional “Iron Senpai 4” game featured in the original manga. This integration is expected to add an authentic touch for fighting game enthusiasts. New character visuals for this Street Fighter 6 collaboration are also set to be featured at Tokyo Game Show.
The anime series is being produced by Studio Diomedéa. The main staff previously announced includes Shōta Ihata (known for The Saint’s Magic Power Is Omnipotent) as director, Wataru Watari (My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU novel author) handling series composition, and Mayuko Matsumoto (Parallel World Pharmacy) as character designer. The music will be composed by Kana Hashiguchi.
Voice Cast and Characters
The main cast members revealed earlier this year include Ikumi Hasegawa as Aya Mitsuki and Kana Ichinose as Mio Yorue. Additional voice cast members include Sayaka Senbongi as Yu Inui and Shino Shimoji as Tamaki Ichinose.
The manga has already seen a live-action web drama adaptation in May 2023. Seven Seas Entertainment publishes the official English version of the manga, allowing Western readers to catch up on the story while awaiting the anime’s rescheduled release.
