Rascal Santa Claus Anime Airs July 5

The TV anime Rascal Does Not Dream of Santa Claus will premiere on July 5. Alongside the announcement, a second promotional video and key visual have been revealed.

Based on the light novel by Hajime Kamoshida (published by KADOKAWA), which has sold over 3 million copies, the story continues the saga of Azusagawa Sakuta (voiced by Kaito Ishikawa) and girls afflicted by “puberty syndrome,” a mysterious phenomenon tied to emotional instability.

The anime adaptation began with Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai in 2018, followed by three theatrical releases between 2019 and 2023.

In this new installment, Sakuta is now a university student in Kanazawa-Hakkei, living with his girlfriend Mai Sakurajima (voiced by Asami Seto). He encounters Touko Kirishima (voiced by Reina Ueda), a miniskirt Santa who appears out of season, and becomes wrapped up in strange phenomena circulating on social media—such as prophetic dreams, an anonymous internet singer, and eerie poltergeists.

Many stills from the second PV have also been released

The second promotional video features new scenes of Sakuta’s encounters and the emergence of mysterious phenomena. The first half of the PV includes the opening theme song “Snow Drop” by Conton Candy, while the second half highlights the ending theme “Horizon is My Old Wound,” performed by Hirokawa Uzuki (voiced by Sora Amamiya), Akagi Ikumi (Ki Yamane), Himeji Sara (Yoshimi Kohara), and Touko.

The newly released second key visual shows Mai passing by a miniskirt-wearing Santa holding a present. The accompanying tagline reads: “What was handed out was adolescent syndrome (present).”

Aniplex Channel

Channel subscriber count: 3.42 million

2nd PV for the anime “Rascal Does Not Dream of Santa Claus” | Broadcast begins on Saturday, July 5, 2025 at 11:30 PM!

An advance screening of Rascal Does Not Dream of Santa Claus will be held at United Cinema Aqua City Odaiba (Tokyo) on June 21 at 6:00 PM. Cast members Manaka Iwami, Kaito Ishikawa, Asami Seto, Sora Amamiya, and Miori Mito are scheduled to appear on stage. Tickets are priced at 2,500 yen, and advance lottery applications are open via Ticket Pia until June 10.

Additionally, a short version of the in-anime song “Social World,” sung by Touko, is now available for streaming.

The anime will premiere on July 5 at 11:30 PM on TOKYO MX, Gunma TV, Tochigi TV, and BS11. It will also air at 2:30 AM on ABC TV and Me-Tele, and at 9:30 PM on July 6 on AT-X.

Simulcast streaming will be available on ABEMA, U-NEXT, and Animehodai from 11:30 PM on July 5, with other platforms beginning distribution from noon on July 8.

⇧“Your click helps my blog grow—thanks for your support!”

Rascal Does Not Dream of Santa Claus

New PV, Key Visual, and Screening Details Ahead of July Premiere

The release of the second PV and key visual for Rascal Does Not Dream of Santa Claus signals a significant thematic and tonal shift in the series. While the franchise has always explored adolescence through supernatural metaphors, this installment deepens its commentary by intertwining digital-age anxieties—like viral phenomena and online personas—with Sakuta’s emotional journey.

The introduction of Touko Kirishima, an out-of-season “miniskirt Santa,” not only presents a quirky visual twist but also symbolizes the unpredictable nature of youth and emotional growth. Coupled with prophetic dreams and mysterious internet phenomena, the story seems poised to blend nostalgia, wintery melancholy, and existential dread into a reflective coming-of-age experience.

The addition of songs performed by both established characters and Touko herself enhances the emotional texture of the narrative, suggesting that music may play a stronger narrative role than in previous arcs. Moreover, the strategic rollout—advance screening events, simulcasts across major platforms, and targeted promotional tie-ins—shows how much care the production committee is placing in both fan engagement and new audience reach.