MAPPA’s next big hit looks simultaneously adorable and unhinged

As the dust settles following MAPPA’s 15th anniversary showcase last Friday, anime fans are still steeped in anticipation after a stacked set of announcements from one of the industry’s biggest studios. New looks at returning series, like Chainsaw Man: Assassin’s Arc and Jujutsu Kaisen season 4, as well as fresh partnerships with Netflix, like Beat & Motion and Ranma ½ Remake, bring a full slate of projects designed to keep the studio firmly in the spotlight.

But among all the reveals, one series looks more wildly unpredictable and supremely engaging than the rest. At first glance, Jimoto Saiko appears to be your average, cute-girls-doing-cute-things comedy anime — right up until the teaser transitions to gang activity, hard drug use, violence, and a hometown so chaotic it feels closer to a crime drama than a slice-of-life series. The contrast is so extreme that reactions online ranged from confusion to instant obsession, with many viewers admitting they had no idea what they had just watched but were suddenly enthralled by its wacky premise.

For anyone who might have missed MAPPA’s anniversary presentation, or simply doesn’t know what in the world Jimoto Saiko is supposed to be all about, here’s everything you need to know about the anime that’s already becoming one of the studio’s most talked-about upcoming releases.

What is Jimoto Saiko?

Much like Smoking Behind the Supermarket With You, Jimoto Saiko started life as a webcomic posted by creator Usagi on X (formerly Twitter) in 2021 before it was picked up for publication by Saizusha. What began as a social media comic eventually grew into a commercially published manga series, with multiple collected volumes released in Japan. Unfortunately, the series has not received an official English release in print or digital formats.

The phrase “Jimoto Saiko!” (地元最高) in Japanese roughly translates to “My hometown is the best!” which is why the series name is stylized with an exclamation mark. As its title suggests, the story centers on the young, unfailingly optimistic Chanel-chan and her friends, a group of girls who are fiercely devoted to their hometown despite its seedy underbelly. No matter how bizarre or dangerous the events surrounding the group become, the girls remain convinced that their hometown is the greatest place on Earth.

Image: MAPPA/Netflix

The story’s odd contrast is largely what made it stand out in the first place in the first place. The artwork leans heavily into cute, shoujo-like character designs and everyday-life comedy, while the setting’s layer of intense criminality feels like a powder keg waiting to explode. Netflix and MAPPA describe it as a “sparkling outlaw manga,” which may be the most accurate way to summarize a series that constantly swings between adorable and deeply unhinged. Think Snow on the Bluff meets The Power Puff Girls if you want a visual metaphor.

The announcement teaser released during MAPPA’s livestream event has already generated plenty of attention online thanks to that same tonal whiplash. What begins as a seemingly wholesome slice-of-life setup quickly spirals into something out of a Quentin Tarantino film, leaving many viewers comparing it to cult anime oddities, like Please Tell Me! Galko-chan and Tantei Opera Milky Holmes, while wondering how far MAPPA plans to push the raunchy material.

When is the Jimoto Saiko release date?

Image: MAPPA/Netflix

MAPPA officially announced the adaptation during its 15th anniversary lineup presentation, confirming that the series will stream exclusively on Netflix worldwide. The anime is part of the studio’s expanding, multi-billion dollar strategic partnership with the streaming giant, which was announced earlier this year.

A specific premiere date for Jimoto Saiko has yet to be unveiled, but Polygon has reached out for further clarification and will update this post if we get clarification. MAPPA’s initial teaser and key visuals for the project only confirm that the anime is currently in production and doesn’t provide an official release date. It’s highly likely the anime will be released sometime in 2027 alongside many of the other projects announced at the same time, or early 2028.

The series is being helmed by a relative newcomer in Tokio Igarashi, who cut his teeth on projects like Attack on Titan: The Final Season, Chainsaw Man, and Jujutsu Kaisen as episode director, storyboard artist, and in various other roles. Jimoto Saiko marks his first project as the main series director, while character designs will be handled by Rio Konishi, MAPPA’s in-house compositing and photography expert who is also stepping into the role for the first time. The teaser also features the song “Milk” by Japanese singer-songwriter Aiko, who is reportedly a fan of the original manga.

Until MAPPA reveals more information about the series, Jimoto Saiko remains one of the biggest wildcards on the studio’s upcoming slate. And if the first teaser is any indication, it may end up being the strangest anime the studio has announced in years.