The official YouTube channel for Takara Tomy‘s PuniRunes toyline began streaming a promotional video on Saturday for the fourth season of its anime series, titled PuniRunes Puni 4.

The staff also announced on the female comedy duo Ganbareruya will voice the new characters Sanrun and Tsukurun in the series. The duo are also serving as “cheer captains” for the new seasons.

The new season will debut on TV Tokyo and its affiliates on October 4 at 9:15 a.m. The new season’s story is set in “Puni School.” 

The anime’s third season debuted in July 2025.

The first season ran on TV Tokyo and TV Osaka from October 2022 to March 2023. The second season then debuted in October 2024.

Spin Master began streaming the anime on YouTube in September 2024. Spin Master is releasing the toy line in the United States.

Unlike other digital pets that you can raise, the PuniRunes toys also have a hole where you can put your finger to “pet” the soft creature inside. The anime follows the daily life of PuniRunes — mysterious creatures who love to be coddled — and Yuka, a fourth-grade girl who loves soft, squishy things. (Puni-puni is the Japanese onomatopoeic term for soft and squishy.)

Kunihiko Yuyama (Fairy Princess Minky Momo, Pokémon) served as chief director of the first season, and Kentaro Yamaguchi directed at OLM Digital. Gigaemon Ichikawa (Chikasugi Idol Akae-chan, The Fruit of Evolution: Before I Knew It, My Life Had It Made, A Galaxy Next Door) was in charge of the series scripts, while Sayuri Ichiishi (Pokémon, Tamagotchi!) designed the characters. Nanahira performed the theme song “Puni Puni PuniRunes Punix Version.”

Sources: PuniRunes Puni anime’s website, PR Times, Comic Natalie

A website opened on Saturday to announce that Roji‘s Ao to Midori (Ao and Midori) boys-love manga is getting a live-action television series that will debut on October 5.

The series will star Naoya Kusakawa as Midori Yamamura and Hidekazu Chinen as Ao Hayama.

Nao Nomura (live-action Ayaka is in Love with Hiroko series), Hitomi Kitagawa, and Saki Michimoto are directing the series. Ayumi Shimo (live-action Ayaka is in Love with Hiroko series) is penning the scripts.

The series will air on BS Asahi starting on October 5 at 11:24 p.m., and will air on TV Kanagawa on October 5 at 11:30 p.m. The series will also air on HBC, RKB Mainichi Broadcasting, and CBC TV starting on October 8. The series will stream online first on Lemino starting on October 5 at 10:00 a.m., and will stream on TVer after the BS Asahi broadcasts.

The manga centers on the titular characters Ao and Midori. Ao excels at both sports and academics at his high school, but is so innocent his nickname at school is “baby.” Midori is in love with Ao, but due to various issues he is unable to be honest, and the two have a “mutual unrequited love.” During their high school years, they are both imprisoned by the framework of “normalcy” and are unable to convey their feelings for each other. Throughout the next eight years, as they move on from high school and become working adults, they slowly deepen their relationship.

France Shoin published the first volume in August 2023, and Printemps Shuppan published the second volume on May 28.

Roji‘s Countdown to Yes boys-love manga previously inspired a live-action television series that debuted in January. Animate International publishes the manga in English and also publishes Roji‘s All About My Two Dads manga in English.

Sources: Ao to Midori live-action show’s website, Comic Natalie