Summary

Kyoto Animation announced a new Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid movie and a CITY anime adaptation for their 2025 lineup.
These projects show KyoAni's comeback after recent challenges, mixing nostalgia with new creativity.
The Dragon Maid movie focuses on Kanna's journey for connection, while CITY offers quirky humor in a more character-driven setting.

Kyoto Animation has announced two exciting new projects during a special livestream event. As part of their 2025 lineup, the studio revealed they will be producing a brand-new Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid movie and an anime adaptation of CITY, a manga by Nichijou creator Keiichi Arawi.

This announcement is a huge moment for both fans and the anime industry, signaling KyoAni’s comeback after a challenging few years. With this mix of a beloved returning franchise and a fresh adaptation, Kyoto Animation is proving once again why it’s a powerhouse in the anime world.

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What Are the Big Announcements?

Kyoto Animation’s livestream gave fans a first look at two major projects slated for release in 2025. The first is a new film based on the popular Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid franchise, titled A Lonely Dragon Wants to be Loved. The second is an anime adaptation of CITY, a quirky comedy manga by Nichijou creator Keiichi Arawi.

These announcements are significant for several reasons. For one, this is the first time KyoAni has tackled a non-sequel project in six years, showing the studio’s eagerness to explore new creative territory with CITY. At the same time, the return of Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid promises to reignite fan excitement for a franchise that has been dormant since 2021. After years of recovery from the tragic 2019 arson attack, Kyoto Animation is back on track, pushing forward with projects that combine nostalgia with fresh creativity.

Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid: A Lonely Dragon Wants to be Loved

One of the most exciting announcements was honestly the return of Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid. Fans of the series, which originally debuted as a manga by Coolkyousinnjya in 2013, have been waiting for the franchise’s return ever since the second season wrapped up in 2021. Known for its heartfelt humor and charming depiction of dragons living in the human world, Dragon Maid has been a massive hit, spawning spin-offs and capturing the hearts of anime fans worldwide.

In this upcoming movie, Kanna takes center stage in a story focused on her journey for connection and belonging. Tatsuya Ishihara, who directed the second season, will return to helm the project, and the core voice cast—including Mutsumi Tamura as Kobayashi and Maria Naganawa as Kanna—will reprise their roles.

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CITY: A Quirky New Adventure From the Creator of Nichijou

Kyoto Animation’s second major project is the anime adaptation of Keiichi Arawi’s manga CITY. For fans of Nichijou, this new anime offers a chance to dive back into his signature style of humor, which blends absurdity with everyday life. The CITY manga ran from 2016 to 2021 and is often described as a spiritual successor to Nichijou, although it brings its own unique flavor to the table.

CITY is set in a bustling town filled with eccentric characters, all of whom navigate bizarre situations that range from laugh-out-loud funny to oddly touching. Arawi’s ability to craft surreal, yet relatable moments is on full display, and fans of Nichijou will find plenty to love in the quirky, unpredictable world of CITY. Unlike the rapid-fire chaos of Nichijou, however, CITY offers a more relaxed, character-driven experience, allowing viewers to truly connect with the ensemble cast as they go about their daily lives in the strangest of ways.

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Why These Announcements Matter

Kyoto Animation’s 2025 lineup is more than just exciting new anime projects; it’s a clear signal that the studio is ready to reclaim its place as one of the most innovative and beloved animation houses in Japan. These projects mark a return to form for a studio that faced unimaginable tragedy with the 2019 arson attack, which claimed 36 lives and deeply affected the anime community worldwide. Yet, despite those challenges, KyoAni has rebuilt itself and is once again pushing the boundaries of creativity, offering both familiar favorites and fresh content.