New Slot Dedicated to Short Anime from TV Asahi: PicoAni
Japan's leading television channel TV Asahi has officially announced PicoAni, a brand new programming block focused on short anime productions. According to Anime News Network, the block will meet audiences starting from fall 2026 and will bring a total of four new short anime to screens.
The first two productions to be broadcast under the PicoAni block will start in October 2026. Then, the other two anime will be added to the broadcast schedule to meet the audience in January 2027. The names of the projects or studios have not been announced yet, but this step by TV Asahi is considered a strategic move taken along with the growing interest in short-format content.
The short anime trend has seen a significant rise in recent years, especially with increased consumption on mobile devices and digital platforms. Short-episode productions like Pui Pui Molcar, Aggretsuko, or Pop Team Epic promise viewers low time commitment but high entertainment. This new block by TV Asahi will create a more suitable space for studios to experiment, while also providing viewers with more frequent and diverse content.
The announcement of PicoAni is quite exciting for short anime enthusiasts. In addition to traditional 20-25 minute productions, the block will host experimental, comedy, slice-of-life, or quick-consumption storytelling. Project details and studio information expected to be announced in the coming months will give important clues about the direction of the short anime market.
