A Major Collaboration Between MAPPA and Kenshi Yonezu: "Karasu – Raven" Released for the 2026 World Cup
The top name in the J-Pop world, Kenshi Yonezu, and the giant studio of modern animation, MAPPA, are back with a massive project that blends sports and art. Released on June 25, 2026, the short anime clip brings to life Yonezu's single "Karasu – Raven" (Crow), which he prepared for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Selected as the 2026 football theme for NHK, this track plays a leading role in the broadcasts, particularly during the critical group match between Japan and Sweden.
Visually mesmerizing, this short film was prepared using a special technique reminiscent of pencil strokes to reflect the "manga world" theme mentioned in the song's lyrics. While Hiroyuki Takashima sits in the director's chair, Takeru Noda took on the role of animation director. In the clip, images of a figure running persistently after a football are intertwined with a crow flapping its wings freely in the sky. Kenshi Yonezu states that while writing the song, he aimed to celebrate that football is not just about winning or losing, but about an individual maintaining their independence even while being part of a team.
This collaboration is not the first major meeting between the MAPPA and Kenshi Yonezu duo. The pair previously worked together on the project "Kick Back", the opening song for the Chainsaw Man anime, which became a global hit. Furthermore, "Iris Out", the theme song for Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc, which was released in 2025 and grossed over $191 million, was also a product of this successful partnership. As of 2026, Yonezu has made history as the first artist to receive an RIAA Platinum certification with a Japanese song, while MAPPA reinforces the prestige it gained with productions like Jujutsu Kaisen and Attack on Titan through this music video.
As the excitement of the 2026 World Cup grips the entire world, the fact that Japan's national broadcaster NHK integrates such high-quality anime productions into its sports broadcasts proves once again the place of anime culture in Japanese society. "Karasu – Raven", which took its place on digital platforms on June 15, has already climbed to the top of the music charts. Football fans and anime enthusiasts will continue to see these impressive visuals on NHK screens throughout the tournament. The next step is the highly anticipated "GHOST" Japan tour by Yonezu, which will begin in November 2026.
