Ranma 1/2 Season 3 has arrived. The latest chapter of MAPPA’s adaptation of Rumiko Takahashi’s manga begins on October 3, 2026, with Netflix streaming the season immediately after the Japanese television broadcast, according to the official broadcast and streaming announcement.
In Japan, Season 3 begins on Nippon TV in the network’s Saturday 24:55 time slot. In conventional clock notation, that is 12:55 a.m. JST on Sunday, October 4. Netflix also lists Ranma1/2 Season 3 among its October 3 releases.
For returning viewers, the new season continues directly from the first 24 episodes rather than starting a separate version of the story. Season 3 begins with Episode 25, titled "修行DEディナー" in Japanese, and places Ryoga back at the center of the action almost immediately.
When does Ranma 1/2 Season 3 release?
The Japanese television broadcast begins on October 3 at 24:55 JST, meaning October 4 at 12:55 a.m. JST on a standard clock. The official schedule says the series starts on Nippon TV before rolling out across other Nippon TV affiliates on their respective schedules.
The important distinction is that 24:55 JST is the start of the Japanese TV broadcast, not a separately announced universal Netflix clock time. The production says Netflix streaming begins immediately after the broadcast, while Netflix lists Season 3 as an October 3 title in its October release calendar.
- Japanese TV premiere: October 3, 2026 at 24:55 JST — technically October 4 at 12:55 a.m. JST
- Japanese network: Nippon TV, followed by other Nippon TV affiliates on their respective schedules
- Streaming: Netflix
- Netflix timing: Immediately after the Japanese broadcast, according to the official anime site
- Animation production: MAPPA
- Director: Konosuke Uda
What is Ranma 1/2 Season 3 about?
Season 3 picks up where the second season ended, continuing the martial-arts romantic comedy rather than introducing a storyline disconnected from the previous episodes.
The premiere is Episode 25, titled "修行DEディナー." According to the official episode synopsis, Ryoga sends Ranma another challenge shortly before summer vacation. After the two clash again, the gap between their abilities becomes clear, and Cologne appears before a humiliated Ryoga with motives of her own.
That direction was already teased when Season 3 was announced. The first promotional announcement highlighted the Bakusai Tenketsu technique and showed Ryoga in a prominent role, establishing that the technique would be part of the new season.
Netflix’s October description also points to trouble involving Cologne training Ryoga, Shampoo setting new plans in motion and a conflict involving cookies — the kind of overlapping martial-arts and romantic complications that define the series.
Ranma, Akane and Ryoga remain at the center
The third promotional video centers Ranma Saotome, Akane Tendo and Ryoga Hibiki while previewing several additional characters entering the story. The Season 3 key visual similarly places those three at the center and surrounds them with characters who appear during the new episodes.
The core voice cast continues with Kappei Yamaguchi as male Ranma Saotome, Megumi Hayashibara as female Ranma, Noriko Hidaka as Akane Tendo, Koichi Yamadera as Ryoga Hibiki and Rei Sakuma as Shampoo, alongside the wider returning ensemble.
The official staff and cast page also lists additional Season 3 roles performed by Masako Nozawa, Jun Fukuyama, Mayumi Tanaka, Saori Hayami and Minami Tanaka.
MAPPA and director Konosuke Uda return
Season 3 keeps the principal production team behind the previous seasons. MAPPA remains responsible for animation production, with Konosuke Uda returning as director. Kimiko Ueno continues on series composition, Hiromi Taniguchi remains character designer, and Kaoru Wada continues as composer.
Rather than repositioning Season 3 as another restart, the production is treating it as the next part of the same adaptation.
Season 3 has new opening and ending songs
The third promotional trailer revealed both theme songs ahead of the premiere. The Season 3 opening is “Sunao Miman” by FUMINO, while the ending theme is “Kawaikunai” by Yuika. Portions of both tracks appear in the third Season 3 promotional video announcement.
Do you need to watch the first two seasons?
Yes. Season 3 is a direct continuation of the current Ranma 1/2 adaptation. The premiere is numbered Episode 25 overall, and the production’s Season 3 advance screening presented Episodes 25 and 26 as the first and second episodes of Season 3.
Viewers starting here would therefore be entering after two full seasons of character introductions, rivalries and relationship developments. For newcomers, beginning with Season 1 remains the clearest route.
How many episodes will Ranma 1/2 Season 3 have?
An official Season 3 episode count has not been confirmed in the official materials checked for this article as of October 3, 2026. The production has confirmed the premiere schedule, early episodes, cast additions, music and story material, but viewers should not assume that Season 3 will match a previous season’s episode count until an official total is announced.
Ranma 1/2 continues its new adaptation
Season 3 extends MAPPA’s adaptation into another group of stories from Rumiko Takahashi’s manga. For now, the essential information is straightforward: Season 3 begins with Episode 25, airs first on Nippon TV and streams on Netflix immediately after the Japanese broadcast.
Ryoga and Cologne are positioned prominently at the beginning, Ranma and Akane remain central to the season’s romantic complications, and several more characters are joining an ensemble that was already becoming increasingly difficult to keep out of trouble.