New Lycoris Recoil Anime in the Works

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✨ Concept & Creation

Lycoris Recoil (リコリス・リコイル) is an original anime series created by Spider Lily and directed by Shingo Adachi, known for his work as character designer on Sword Art Online. Unlike most anime, it didn’t start as a manga or light novel—instead, it launched straight as a high-energy TV anime. The story idea came from Asaura, author of Ben-To, and was brought to life by A-1 Pictures in 2022.

Set in a near-futuristic Tokyo, the series centers around undercover agents called “Lycoris” who maintain peace behind the scenes. At the heart of the story is the energetic Chisato Nishikigi and her more serious partner Takina Inoue, who work out of a café that doubles as a covert operations base.

Original Story: Asaura
Director & Character Designer: Shingo Adachi
Studio: A-1 Pictures
Debut: July 2022 (Anime-original)
Episodes: 13 (Season 1)
Status: Ongoing (New anime and short films in production)
Adaptations: Manga series, spin-off novels, and more

Lycoris Recoil Anime Pannel

🗣️ “You might think these short movies are the new work…”

In a recent interview with Mantan Web, Adachi clarified a point that’s been confusing fans for over a year: the Lycoris Recoil – Friends are Thieves of Time shorts are not the mysterious “new animation project” teased back in 2023.

“We began working on [the new project] immediately after the TV anime ended and are proceeding carefully,” Adachi said. “If the shorts are well-received, I’d like to continue making them too.”

🎬 Two Paths Forward

While Friends are Thieves of Time premieres April 16, 2025, on Aniplex of America’s YouTube channel, Adachi’s comments confirm that fans can expect two separate Lycoris Recoil tracks moving forward:

Takina Inoue

A heartwarming, slice-of-life short film series featuring Chisato and Takina’s daily life at LycoReco Café.
A more ambitious new anime—possibly a second season or a full-length film—still under wraps but in production.

🎨 Behind the Scenes

The interview also included character designer Imigimuru, who expressed interest in returning for future projects.

📺 Where to Watch
Both English-subbed and dubbed versions of Lycoris Recoil are available on Crunchyroll, and the shorts will be freely accessible online starting this April.

As the Lycoris universe continues to grow, fans have a lot to look forward to—both in cozy café moments and high-stakes secret missions.

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