The new anime from Rumiko Takahashi, the creator of Inuyasha and Ranma 1/2, is finally here. MAO started airing in April 2026, and viewers are already drawn into its world of curses, time travel, and supernatural mysteries. The show brings together a cursed exorcist from the Taisho era and a modern junior high school student. Two episodes have already been released, and fans are waiting for the next chapter. The first episode came out on April 4, 2026, and the second followed on April 11, 2026. Now, everyone wants to know when MAO Episode 3 will be available to watch.
When Does MAO Episode 3 Come Out
MAO Episode 3 is scheduled for release on Saturday, April 18, 2026. The show follows a weekly schedule, with new episodes coming out every Saturday. For viewers in the United States, the episode will be available on Hulu. The release time is set for 2:15 p.m. PT and 5:15 p.m. ET. The episode will include English subtitles at launch.
For international audiences, the release times are as follows:
- Pacific Daylight Time (PDT): 2:15 p.m.
- Mountain Daylight Time (MDT): 3:15 p.m.
- Central Daylight Time (CDT): 4:15 p.m.
- Eastern Daylight Time (EDT): 5:15 p.m.
- Greenwich Mean Time (GMT): 9:15 p.m.
The anime will have a total of 26 episodes. It is split into two parts, called cours, and will air without any breaks between them. The first cour runs from April to June 2026, and the second cour starts in July and goes through September 2026.
Where to Watch MAO Episode 3
Streaming options for MAO depend on where you live. In the United States, the show is exclusive to Hulu. All new episodes appear on the platform right after they air in Japan. For viewers in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Latin America, the show streams on Disney+. In Japan, the anime airs on the NHK-General channel, along with other local networks and streaming services.
People in India, the United Kingdom, and other parts of Europe should check their local Disney+ or Hulu availability. Currently, no other streaming services have announced plans to carry the show.
What Happened So Far in MAO
The story of MAO centers on two main characters. Mao, voiced by Yuki Kaji, is a young exorcist who lives in the Taisho era of Japan, which is the early 1900s. He carries a curse that has kept him alive for 900 years. Nanoka Kiba, voiced by Natsumi Kawaida, is a junior high school student from modern-day Japan. She travels through a portal and ends up in the past, where she meets Mao.
In the first two episodes, Nanoka discovers that she has gained new abilities after her trip to the past. She returns to the Taisho era to find answers about what happened to her. Mao reluctantly agrees to help her. The first episodes also introduced the cursed sword that only Mao can use. Anyone else who tries to hold it faces a terrible fate. But when Mao’s life is in danger, Nanoka picks up the blade anyway.
The show also set up the main conflict. A cat demon named Byoki, voiced by Takashi Matsuyama, placed the curse on Mao and his sword. Other dark powers are also at play, and both Mao and Nanoka have personal reasons to fight against them.
Who Is in the Cast of MAO
The voice cast for MAO includes several well-known actors. Yuki Kaji, who is famous for roles in Attack on Titan and My Hero Academia, voices the lead character Mao. Natsumi Kawaida plays Nanoka Kiba. Other cast members include:
- Hiro Shimono as Hyakka
- Toshiyuki Toyonaga as Kamon
- Momoka Terasawa as Otoya
- Kazuyuki Okitsu as Shiranui
- Motoko Kumai as Funa Uozumi
- Yoko Hikasa as Tenko
- Risa Shimizu as Sana
- Reina Ueda as Yurako
- Takashi Matsuyama as Byoki
The opening theme song, titled HEARTLOUD, is performed by Kis-My-Ft2. The ending theme song, Juai (Cursed Love), is performed by TRUE.
What Is MAO About
MAO is based on the manga of the same name by Rumiko Takahashi. She started writing the manga in Shogakukan’s Weekly Shonen Sunday magazine on May 8, 2019. The English version of the manga is published by VIZ Media. The story mixes supernatural horror, action, and romance. The official description from VIZ Media explains that Nanoka passes through a portal into the Taisho era, where Mao saves her from a monster. When she returns to the present, she has new powers. She goes back to the past for answers and gets pulled into Mao’s investigation of a series of murders.
The show is directed by Teruo Sato. Yuko Kakihara is in charge of the series scripts. Yoshihito Hishinuma serves as the character designer and chief animation director.
Full MAO Episode Release Schedule
MAO will have 26 episodes in total. Here is the complete schedule for the first cour:
- Episode 1 – April 4, 2026 (Released)
- Episode 2 – April 11, 2026 (Released)
- Episode 3 – April 18, 2026
- Episode 4 – April 25, 2026
- Episode 5 – May 2, 2026
- Episode 6 – May 9, 2026
- Episode 7 – May 16, 2026
- Episode 8 – May 23, 2026
- Episode 9 – May 30, 2026
- Episode 10 – June 6, 2026
- Episode 11 – June 13, 2026
- Episode 12 – June 20, 2026
- Episode 13 – June 27, 2026
The second cour will begin on July 4, 2026, and run through September 26, 2026.
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Why Fans Are Excited About MAO Episode 3
Rumiko Takahashi has a long history of creating successful anime series. Inuyasha ran for 167 episodes and multiple movies. Ranma 1/2 became a classic in the 1990s. Urusei Yatsura helped define romantic comedy anime. Fans of those shows see similar elements in MAO. The mix of supernatural creatures, time travel, and a central romance between the two main characters feels familiar to anyone who watched Inuyasha. The third episode will likely move the main story forward and introduce more about the curse that affects Mao and Nanoka.
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