Magic Knight Rayearth Returns to TV After Three Decades

CLAMP's nineties fantasy series is back on television starting tonight. The new Magic Knight Rayearth anime premieres October 7, 2026, at 11:45 p.m. on TV Asahi's IMAnimation W programming block, according to MyAnimeList. The remake will air for two consecutive cours.

Broadcast details were announced during a stage event at the Kyoto International Manga Anime Fair, where the Magic Knight Rayearth production team also released a second promotional video. That video introduced the latest cast additions and previewed both the opening and ending theme songs, according to Uncrowned Addiction. The announcement itself did not include international streaming details, but GoSuent later reported that Crunchyroll will stream the series as it airs.

The cast and the creative team

The Magic Knight Rayearth remake first came into focus at AnimeJapan, where a Red Stage presentation revealed the main cast, staff, a teaser promotional video, and a key visual, MyAnimeList reported. A world premiere panel at Anime Expo followed with additional cast members, a second key visual, and a full promotional video.

MyAnimeList reported the three leads: Ayane Sakura voices Hikaru Shidou, Rie Takahashi voices Fuu Hououji, and Rumi Ookubo voices Umi Ryuuzaki. Saori Hayami plays Princess Emeraude, Yuuki Ono plays Zagato, and Mika Kikuchi voices Mokona. The earlier announcements also named Yuuki Kaji as Clef, Emiri Katou as Presea, and Yoshitsugu Matsuoka as Ferio.

The newest additions came with the second promotional video: Mamiko Noto as Alcyone, Ayumu Murase as Ascot, Hitomi Ueda as Caldina, and Hiroki Yasumoto as Lafarga, according to Uncrowned Addiction.

Yui Umemoto directs the series at E&H Production, with Takayuki Sano as assistant director. Shigeru Murakoshi handles series composition, Satomi Watanabe designs the characters and serves as chief animation director, and Hiroki Mutaguchi handles Mashin design and mechanical direction, MyAnimeList reported. Kazumaru Andou is the art director and Shuuhei Abe directs the sound. The music comes from Yuki Kajiura, Takumi Ozawa, and Shiho Terada; Kajiura previously scored Puella Magi Madoka Magica. Seong-Hu Park serves as creative producer, and TMS Entertainment, Kodansha, and TV Asahi produce the series.

Singer-songwriter Toaka performs the opening theme, "Otome no Tsurugi," and Yurina Kawaguchi performs the ending theme, "Hoshiakari." Toaka previously contributed music to Suzume no Tojimari, Uncrowned Addiction reported, and the second promotional video previews portions of both songs.

The story CLAMP first told in the nineties

Magic Knight Rayearth follows Hikaru, Umi, and Fuu, three schoolgirls who meet at Tokyo Tower and are pulled into the magical world of Cephiro. Guru Clef tells them they are the legendary Magic Knights summoned by Princess Emeraude, and that they must rescue the princess from the high priest Zagato and revive the mysterious Rune Gods. The weaponsmith Presea arms them for the journey, and Clef grants the three girls armor and magic before sending them on their way, according to the synopsis published by Uncrowned Addiction.

CLAMP serialized the original manga in Kodansha's Nakayoshi magazine from November 1993 to February 1995, with a sequel running through March 1996, MyAnimeList reported. English readers met the series through Tokyopop in 1997, then Dark Horse Comics in 2009, and most recently Kodansha USA, which released two hardcover box sets in 2019.

The first television anime aired in 1994 and ran for forty-nine episodes. The remake was announced in 2024 during the thirtieth anniversary celebration of that original series, GoSuent reported.

A crowded premiere night

October 7 is a crowded premiere date, with second seasons of The Detective Is Already Dead, Sasaki and Peeps, and A Returner's Magic Should Be Special all debuting the same day, according to ComicBook's fall schedule roundup. Magic Knight Rayearth arrives in that lineup as a full remake rather than another sequel. Crunchyroll's fall slate also includes the second season of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, which arrives October 20.

Fans who followed Gachiakuta's jump to Toonami or the Apothecary Diaries season three debut have watched fall premieres become appointment viewing. With Yuki Kajiura composing the score, a deep voice cast, and two full cours ordered from the start, Magic Knight Rayearth enters that conversation tonight.