Yonezu Kenshi’s “Karasu” (烏), the 2026 NHK Soccer Theme song, received a short anime adaptation released on June 25, 2026 at 8:00 PM JST. Produced by the acclaimed animation studio MAPPA, the 39-second video has sparked an outpouring of emotional reactions on social media.
This marks the third collaboration between Yonezu Kenshi and MAPPA, following the TV anime Chainsaw Man opening theme “KICK BACK” in 2022 and the theme song “IRIS OUT” for the 2025 film Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc.
The short anime depicts a player relentlessly chasing a ball, while above, a single crow (karasu) soars powerfully into the sky. The imagery intertwines the player’s earnest journey—beyond mere victory or defeat—with the free flight of the crow. Viewers have responded with comments like “My heart is burning,” “God-tier,” “I was so drawn in I forgot to breathe,” “It brought tears to my eyes,” and “I was made to cry in 39 seconds.” The star-studded collaboration also drew praise: “So hype!!” “God × God,” “I can feel the bond between MAPPA and Yonezu,” and “I’m glad their friendship seems to be deepening.”
Many comments focused on the visual texture. “I love the pencil-drawn look of the animation,” “The shading of the pencil expresses movement and the passage of time beautifully,” “The black-and-white manga-like world with only blue standing out is gorgeous,” “The use of only blue, black, and white is great,” and “The sense of speed is incredible.” The soft yet dynamic animation earned widespread acclaim.
Soccer fans also noted specific details. The protagonist’s jersey number 10 appears at 11 seconds, and the character is drawn shorter than other players. This led to speculation: “He’s drawn shorter than the others, never giving up on his dream like a ‘dreamy crow,’ standing on the dream stage… that image crossed my mind,” and “Number 10, short, good at dribbling—Yonezu has said he likes Messi, so is this a nod to him?” Many fans suggested the player is modeled after global star Lionel Messi. Others mentioned Kaoru Mitoma and Takefusa Kubo.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 saw Japan’s final group stage match against Sweden on June 26 at 8:00 AM JST, ending in a 1-1 draw. Japan advanced as group runners-up and will face powerhouse Brazil on June 30 (Japan time).
“Karasu” is scheduled to air during NHK’s soccer broadcasts and related programming on NHK General TV and NHK BS Premium 4K. Fans are sending passionate support: “Let’s win against Brazil!” “Defeat Brazil and see new horizons!” and “Full support!!”—hoping the wind at the backs of the “crows” on the pitch will lead to victory.
Staff for the “Karasu” Short Anime
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| Storyboard & Direction | Takashima Hiroyuki |
| Animation Director | Noda Takeshi |
| Animation | Noda Takeshi, Takashima Hiroyuki, Nakakoji Yoshiki, Anpu |
| Director of Photography | Shiira Ryuya |
| Supervising Photographer | Jutta Chika |
| Photography | Kato Shinnosuke |
| Editing | Kato Shinnosuke, Shiira Ryuya |
| Plugin Cooperation | bry-ful |
| Production Manager | Muraoka Naotake |
| Production | MAPPA |
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