Third 'Kingdom' Anime Season Announced for April 2020

Shueisha announced a third anime season of the Kingdom manga series on Friday, scheduled to premiere on the NHK-G channel in April 2020. The new anime season will adapt the Gasshougun-hen (Coalition Army Arc), which spans from the 25th to the 32nd volume. The announcement comes in approximately five and a half years since the last season ended in 2014.

The third season is being led by a new team of production staff under the supervision of Yasuhisa Hara, the original creator. Masakazu Morita, Jun Fukuyama, and Rie Kugimiya are reprising their character roles as Li Xin (Li Shin), Ying Zheng (Ei Sei), and He Liao Diao (Karyou Ten).

Synopsis
During the Warring States period in China, Li Xin and Piao are two brother-like youngsters who dream of becoming Great Generals, despite their low status as orphaned slaves. One day, they encounter a man of nobility, who gives Piao an opportunity to undertake an important duty within the state of Qin's royal palace. Parting ways, Xin and Piao promise each other to one day become the greatest generals in the world. However, after a fierce coup d'état occurs in the palace, Xin meets with a dying Piao, whose last words spur him into action and lead him to encounter the young and soon-to-be king of Qin, Ying Zheng.

Although initially on bad terms, Xin and Zheng become comrades and start on a path filled with trials and bloodshed. Zheng's objective is to bring all the warring states under Qin, and Xin seeks to climb to the very top of the army ranks. Against a backdrop of constant tactical battle between states and great political unrest, both outside and within the palace, the two endeavor towards their monumental ambitions that will change history forever. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

The historical military-themed series has been serialized in Weekly Young Jump since 2006. Shueisha published the 55th volume (pictured right) on August 19, with the 56th volume planned for November 19 release. Kingdom has a cumulative 45 million copies of its compiled volumes in print.

Studio Pierrot produced the first two anime seasons in Summer 2012 and 2013, each running for three cours. Funimation licensed the anime series in North America and released both seasons on DVD in January and March 2016, respectively.

Commemorating the release of the manga's 50th volume, a live-action film screened in Japan on April 19. The film, directed by Shinsuke Satou (Gantz, Death Note: Light Up the New World live-action film), grossed over US$50 million worldwide.

Kingdom won the Grand Prize at the 17th Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize Awards in 2013.

Official site: https://kingdom-anime.com/
Official Twitter: @kingdom_animePR

Source: Oricon News

Kingdom 3rd Season on MAL