While most people celebrate Christmas with heartwarming holiday specials and hot cocoa, the anime community has embraced a much darker tradition. For the tenth consecutive year, Japanese streaming platform ABEMA is bringing back its infamous School Days marathon, and this year’s event is set to be the longest yet.
Starting at midnight on Wednesday, December 24, 2025, ABEMA will broadcast a non-stop marathon exceeding 24 hours of content. This year’s extended programming celebrates the 20th anniversary of the original visual novel’s release by developer Overflow, making it a particularly significant event for fans of the controversial franchise.
What to expect from the marathon
The extended broadcast will feature the complete 12-episode television series along with two OVAs: the standard School Days OVA and the surprisingly lighthearted School Days OVA Special ~Magical Heart Kokoro-chan~. For those unable to tune in live or needing breaks to process the emotional rollercoaster, ABEMA confirmed the series will remain available for free streaming for one week following the initial broadcast.
The voices behind the chaos
The Japanese voice cast delivered performances that transformed this love triangle into anime infamy. The main cast includes Daisuke Hirakawa, voicing protagonist Makoto Itou. Tae Okajima brings Kotonoha Katsura to life, while Shiho Kawaragi portrays Sekai Saionji. The supporting cast features Keiko Imoto as Setsuna Kiyoura and Haruka Nagami as Otome Katou.
Why this tradition endures
Originally aired in 2007, School Days has maintained its cultural relevance through its unflinching portrayal of infidelity and toxic relationships. The series doesn’t shy away from showing the devastating consequences of its protagonist’s actions, culminating in one of anime’s most shocking endings that continues to spark discussions nearly two decades later.
This annual Christmas tradition has become something of a rite of passage for anime fans, combining holiday festivities with a viewing experience that’s anything but conventional. Whether you’re a longtime fan revisiting the chaos or a curious newcomer wondering what all the fuss is about, this 20th-anniversary marathon offers the perfect opportunity to experience the series that redefined the boundaries of romance anime.
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