Three years after the emotionally devastating finale of The Golden City of the Scorching Sun, Made in Abyss is officially returning with a theatrical film series. The first installment, Made in Abyss: Mezameru Shinpi (Awakening Mystery), is slated for release in 2026, continuing the dark and harrowing journey of Riko, Reg, and Nanachi deeper into the Abyss.
The announcement came in August 2025 from Kadokawa, accompanied by a teaser visual showcasing two new characters, Tepaste and Cravagli, at the adventurers’ favorite tavern, Katsuraku-tei.
Studio Kinema Citrus, responsible for all previous installments including the acclaimed first season and the brutal Dawn of the Deep Soul film, returns to handle animation. Director Masayuki Kojima is back at the helm alongside series composer Hideyuki Kurata, with character design handled by Kazuchika Kise and Yuka Kuroda.
The legendary Kevin Penkin will once again compose the soundtrack, having created the haunting and beautiful music that defined the series.
Continuing after season 2’s brutal finale
Awakening Mystery picks up directly after the events of The Golden City of the Scorching Sun, which aired from July to September 2022.
That season dropped Riko and her companions into the sixth layer of the Abyss, where they found themselves trapped in the Capital of the Unreturned, a hidden village of Narehate (transformed beings) caught in a century-long cycle of suffering and tragedy. The season explored the dark history of the Ganja Suicide Corps and introduced Faputa, the immortal princess seeking revenge for her mother’s sacrifice.
Season 2 pushed the series to its darkest and most controversial territory yet, diving deep into themes of sacrifice, survival, and the horrifying transformations required to endure the Abyss.
The finale left fans emotionally wrecked as Riko’s group survived the ordeal but at tremendous cost, with Faputa deciding to find her own purpose beyond vengeance. The new film series promises to continue this unforgiving journey as the trio ventures even deeper toward the bottom of the Abyss.
What’s next for Riko and friends
Made in Abyss, created by Akihito Tsukushi, has built a devoted fanbase since the manga debuted in 2012, thanks to its unique blend of breathtaking world-building and soul-crushing narrative.
The story follows orphan Riko, who discovers the robot boy Reg and descends into the massive Abyss searching for her legendary White Whistle mother, Lyza. What starts as an adventure anime quickly transforms into something far more haunting, exploring the price of exploration and the human cost of pushing beyond known limits.
The theatrical format marks a shift from the previous television season, though the series previously used films for Dawn of the Deep Soul to great effect. This approach allows Kinema Citrus to maintain the stunning animation quality and atmospheric horror that defines Made in Abyss, giving each scene the detail and impact it deserves.
With new characters Tepaste and Cravagli teased in the visual, fans can expect fresh mysteries and likely more heartbreak as the journey continues.
Additionally, the franchise will host its first-ever film concert event, Made in Abyss Film Concert: Deep Resonance of Melody, at Tokyo’s Nakano ZERO on February 8, 2026. Kevin Penkin himself will conduct the Heartbeat Symphony, with guest vocalists Takeshi Saito and KIHOW from MYTH&ROID performing iconic tracks like “Hanezeve Caradhina” and the series’ theme songs.
Made in Abyss: Awakening Mystery premieres in Japanese theaters sometime in 2026, with international distribution details likely to follow.
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