Unveiling the Enigma: A Comprehensive Guide to MAPPA's Oblivion Baseball

Studio MAPPA is making a comeback in the sports anime genre with the upcoming baseball series Oblivion Baseball. Here's everything we know about it so far.

After the triumphant reception of MAPPA's well-known series Yuri!!! On Ice and Hajime no Ippo, the studio has mostly stayed away from sports-themed anime. However, that is set to change with their latest project.

The blood, sweat, and tears of competitive sports are set to come to life once again as MAPPA brings Eko Mikawa's baseball manga series, Bokyaku Battery, to the screen. Here's everything we know so far, from the release window to the cast members.

Oblivion Baseball release window

Oblivion Baseball will debut in Japan on TV Tokyo in April 2024.

Check out the trailer for the new baseball sports TV anime "Oblivion Battery – Boukyaku Battery" from animation studio MAPPAA, set to air in April 2024. This anime is based on the Baseball Youth Manga by Mikawa Eco on Shounen Jump Plus. pic.twitter.com/LVbb7Xr2t8

— Manga Mogura RE (@MangaMoguraRE) December 17, 2023

Studio MAPPA announced on December 17 that the baseball-themed TV anime Oblivion Battery, along with new key visuals and a teaser trailer, will be debuting in April 2024. Despite some fans' concerns following the Jujutsu Kaisen controversy, this adaptation has been in development for over three years.

So, despite the series debuting into the shadows of concerns over MAPPA anime worker well-being. At least no one can accuse MAPPA of rushing the episodes out in this case.

What’s Oblivion Battery’s plot?

Eko Mikawa's shonen manga tells the tale of Haruka Kiyomine and Kei Kaname, a middle school star pitcher and his equally talented catcher, who vanish without a trace. They suddenly re-emerge at a regular high school in Tokyo, with Kei experiencing amnesia and a sudden decline in his athletic abilities. Can they collaborate to reclaim their former glory?

Oblivion Battery cast and crew

The upcoming anime has a lot to live up to as it becomes a part of Studio MAPPA's impressive lineup of series. The series is being directed by Makoto Nakazono and Takeshi Iida, with character designs by Hitomi Hasegawa and character composition by Michiko Yokote.

The released cast list is as follows:

Toshiki Masuda as Haruka Kiyomine

Mamoru Miyano as Kei Kaname

Kengo Kawanishi as Shuto Kirishima

Mark Ishii as Hironobu Makita

Nobunaga Shimazaki as Shunpei Chihaya

Takeo Ōtsuka as Eiichiro Kokuto

Yōhei Azakami as Aoi Todo

Yoshitaka Yamaya as Kazuki Tsuchiya

Yuuki Kaji as Taro Yamada

We currently don’t know where the series will be streamed outside of Japan. However, as soon as the information is released, we’ll be sure to update you.

Is there a trailer?

KADOKAWA unveiled the series' first teaser trailer on December 17. The show delves into the intense realm of competitive baseball, following the journey of sports partners Haruka Kiyomine and Kei Kaname as they navigate the events that led them to enroll in a regular high school.

Through friendship and hard-work, we begin Kei Kaname’s journey to recover his baseball skills and his memories. But will he succeed?

Find out in April 2024 when Oblivion Battery debuts.

While you wait, you can check out our other anime coverage here.

Editor's P/S

As a hard fan of sports anime, I am thrilled about the upcoming release of MAPPA's Oblivion Baseball. The studio has a proven track record of creating high-quality sports anime, and I have no doubt that Oblivion Baseball will be another hit. The story is intriguing, the characters are well-developed, and the animation is stunning. I can't wait to see what MAPPA does with this series.

I am also impressed with the cast of Oblivion Baseball. Toshiki Masuda and Mamoru Miyano are both talented voice actors, and I am confident that they will bring the characters of Haruka Kiyomine and Kei Kaname to life. The rest of the cast is also solid, and I am excited to see how they all work together.