Fans of the beloved picture book series Pan Dorobou have a new reason to celebrate: the mischievous bread thief and his friends are making their first-ever cover appearance on the limited edition of Monthly The Television’s December 2026 issue, complete with a lemon in hand. The special edition hits shelves on October 23, 2026, priced at 990 yen (tax included), and arrives just as the anime adaptation is set to begin broadcasting on NHK ETV in October.
Pan Dorobou, created by Shibata Keiko, has sold over 6 million copies in the series. The story follows an endearing but sneaky thief who is always searching for delicious bread. Directed by Kyogoku Takaharu at Shin-Ei Animation, the anime will premiere on NHK ETV in October. The cast includes Asai Ayaka as Pan Dorobou, Suwabe Junichi as the baker, and Toyosaki Aki as the fake Pan Dorobou. Kyary Pamyu Pamyu provides the ending theme song.
The limited edition of the magazine features a special section that thoroughly explains the appeal of the anime adaptation, along with an interview with Asai Ayaka, who voices the main character. In addition, purchasers of the limited edition will receive an original B5 clear file featuring the newly drawn cover illustration. An exclusive postcard using the same artwork is available for orders placed through Amazon.co.jp.
Meanwhile, a collaboration with SHOWA’s “Fuwari Hotcake Mix” (600g) began on September 1, offering fans a chance to win exclusive merchandise. By purchasing at least one eligible product and submitting a receipt photo, participants can enter a draw for prizes including a cushion pouch, a blanket, and QUO Card Pay 500 yen. The campaign is split into two periods, each with different prizes, and a total of 1,000 winners will be selected across both rounds.
On October 16, the birthday book Pan Dorobou Your Birthday Book: Sekaiichi Itoshii 20-nen no Kiroku will be released. This beautifully designed record book allows parents to document their child’s growth and treasured memories from birth to age 20, with Pan Dorobou and friends popping up on every page to celebrate milestones. Priced at 1,980 yen (1,800 yen plus tax), it makes a thoughtful gift for baby showers, birthdays, or the start of school. The ISBN is 9784046605740.
In addition, fans can experience the world of Pan Dorobou in person at two upcoming events: the Pan Dorobou Festival in Arao, Kumamoto (September 18 – November 23) and Pan Dorobou Hiroba Sapporo in Hokkaido (October 2 – November 23). Both events promise plenty of photo-worthy moments and merchandise.
The December issue of Monthly The Television (limited edition) is available for reservation starting September 1. While the included TV listings are for the Tokyo metropolitan area, the limited edition and the regular December issue share the same feature content, including the Pan Dorobou special section, across all regional versions.
For the hotcake mix campaign, the submission periods are:
- Round 1: September 1, 2026 10:00 – December 3, 2026 23:59 (receipts valid until November 30)
- Round 2: December 1, 2026 00:00 – March 3, 2027 23:59 (receipts valid until February 28, 2027)
Prizes include:
- Round 1: Cushion pouch (200 winners)
- Round 2: Blanket (200 winners)
- Double chance: QUO Card Pay 500 yen (600 winners)
Winners will be selected by drawing after the campaign ends, and notification will be made via shipment of prizes.
The birthday book is scheduled for October 16, 2026, and can be ordered using ISBN 9784046605740.
© Shibata Keiko / KADOKAWA / Pan Dorobou Production Committee
