The dodgeball revival nobody saw coming has a date. Honoo no Toukyuujo: Dodge Danko — a sequel to the early-'90s sports classic Honoo no Toukyuuji Dodge Danpei — premieres July 6, 2026, with a main trailer, full cast, and theme-song lineup now locked in.
Quick answer
Honoo no Toukyuujo: Dodge Danko premieres July 6, 2026 on Tokyo MX and BS11 at 11:00 p.m. JST, with MBS following July 7. It's a 12-episode sports anime from studio CUE, directed by Hiroshi Ikehata, adapting Tetsuhiro Koshita's sequel manga to the 1989-1995 Dodge Danpei. The opening is "Kaishin no Ichigeki" by Momoiro Clover Z; the ending is "Welcome to Azatosa World" by i☆Ris. An advance screening of the first two episodes runs June 21 at Shinjuku Wald 9. SenpaiRanks will track it on the summer 2026 board once episodes air.
The new cast
Manaka Nakayama leads as Danko Ichigeki, with Kaori Maeda (Chinko Kobotoke), Akira Sekine (Mochiko Etai), and Yō Taichi (Susan Canon) rounding out the young team. The supporting bench is stacked with familiar voices — Sumire Uesaka as Hako Mikasa, Yuka Iguchi as Jyuri Igarashi, Fairouz Ai as Zoe, and Katsuyuki Konishi as the adult Danpei Ichigeki, tying the sequel back to the original.
Behind the camera
Ikehata directs at CUE, with Kazuho Hyōdō on series scripts and Narihito Sekikawa handling character designs and chief animation direction. Yasunori Iwasaki and Ren Tsukagoshi compose, with Yūichi Imaizumi as sound director.
Where it comes from
Koshita's original Dodge Danpei ran 1989-1995 across 18 volumes and was a defining Shonen sports title of its era. Dodge Danko picks up the lineage with a new generation — the adult Danpei's presence in the cast is the bridge.
Worth a slot?
Sports anime live or die on momentum, and a July start puts this one squarely in the summer 2026 conversation. Its position on SenpaiRanks's summer board will fill in as votes land — and if you watch the premiere, rating it is how you put your read on the record before the crowd consensus forms. For the full season, see our summer 2026 watchlist and the best summer 2026 anime hub. Another July premiere worth a look: All Works Maid. You can also track it on its summer 2026 calendar page, or the full catalog entry.
Frequently asked questions
Q: When does Honoo no Toukyuujo: Dodge Danko premiere?
A: July 6, 2026 on Tokyo MX and BS11 at 11:00 p.m. JST, with MBS on July 7.
Q: How many episodes is Dodge Danko?
A: 12 episodes.
Q: Who is making Dodge Danko?
A: Studio CUE, directed by Hiroshi Ikehata, adapting Tetsuhiro Koshita's manga.
Q: Who sings the theme songs?
A: Momoiro Clover Z performs the opening "Kaishin no Ichigeki"; i☆Ris performs the ending "Welcome to Azatosa World."
Q: Is Dodge Danko a sequel?
A: Yes — it's a sequel to Honoo no Toukyuuji Dodge Danpei, which ran from 1989 to 1995.
Q: Where does Dodge Danko rank?
A: SenpaiRanks will track it on the summer 2026 board on both the Consensus and Quality axes once episodes air.