{"rewrite":{"id":"r_fb7b0f177d7adc56a493026f","clusterId":"c_0c3b99849985f7a7e59a11fc","slug":"tv-asahi-launches-new-short-anime-block-picoani-with-five-titles","model":"deepseek-v4-flash","headline":"TV Asahi Launches New Short Anime Block PicoAni With Five Titles","summary":"TV Asahi announced its new short anime programming block PicoAni on Monday, with a lineup including Koupen-chan, Sirotan, Pop Pap Polters, Momomo! Ninimo, and Josemaru. The block will air existing and new short series, with debuts rolling out from October 2026 through January 2027.","whyItMatters":"The block gives TV Asahi a dedicated weekend slot for short-form anime, packaging five character-based series under one brand.","webCardHtml":"\u003cp\u003eTV Asahi announced its new short anime programming block PicoAni on Monday, revealing a lineup of five titles. The block will air on weekend mornings in the Kanto region, mixing an already-airing series with four new productions.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eKoupen-chan, based on Rurutea\u0026#39;s illustrations, is currently airing Sundays at 8:00 a.m. JST and will continue on the block. Sirotan, the seal mascot from Creative Yoko, will debut in October on Saturdays at 4:29 p.m. JST, with Aoi Yūki reprising her role. Pop Pap Polters, a miniature anime from MOZU STUDIOS, also starts in October on Saturdays at 10:00 a.m. JST.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTwo titles arrive in January 2027: Momomo! Ninimo, a 3DCG short from Pinkfong and TV Asahi about a clumsy orange cat, airs Saturdays at 10:00 a.m. JST, and Josemaru, based on Inochi-ya\u0026#39;s dog plush character, airs Sundays at 10:00 a.m. JST. Inochi-ya is directing at Animi.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKoupen-chan\u003c/strong\u003e: Currently airing Sundays at 8:00 a.m. JST\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSirotan\u003c/strong\u003e: Debuts October, Saturdays at 4:29 p.m. JST\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePop Pap Polters\u003c/strong\u003e: Debuts October, Saturdays at 10:00 a.m. JST\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMomomo! Ninimo\u003c/strong\u003e: Debuts January 2027, Saturdays at 10:00 a.m. JST\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJosemaru\u003c/strong\u003e: Debuts January 2027, Sundays at 10:00 a.m. JST\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ul\u003e","blueskyPost":"PicoAni's lineup mixes established mascot characters like Koupen-chan with new properties. TV Asahi is testing whether short-form anime can build a regular audience outside the usual late-night slot.","twitterPost":"PicoAni mixes established mascot characters with new series. TV Asahi is betting short-form anime can hold a regular timeslot.","threadsPost":"PicoAni's lineup includes established mascot characters like Koupen-chan alongside new properties. TV Asahi is testing whether short-form anime can hold a regular audience outside the usual late-night programming slot.","newsletterBlurb":"TV Asahi announced PicoAni, a new short anime block airing weekend mornings in Kanto. The lineup includes five titles: Koupen-chan (already airing), Sirotan and Pop Pap Polters (October 2026), and Momomo! Ninimo and Josemaru (January 2027).","attributionJson":"[{\"source\":\"Anime News Network\",\"url\":\"https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2026-06-15/tv-asahi-announces-new-short-anime-programming-block-picoani/.238537\",\"title\":\"TV Asahi Announces New Short Anime Programming Block 'PicoAni'\"}]","lintFlagsJson":null,"lintHits":0,"costUsd":0,"inputTokens":4315,"outputTokens":847,"status":"published","repairAttempts":0,"nextRepairAt":null,"factsAttemptedAt":1781557077,"createdAt":"2026-06-15T20:45:05.000Z","publishedAt":"2026-06-15T20:49:57.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-06-15T20:49:57.000Z"},"cluster":{"id":"c_0c3b99849985f7a7e59a11fc","canonicalTitle":"News\nTV Asahi Announces New Short Anime Programming Block 'PicoAni'","representativeArticleId":"a_43c033ca772dce55f04e5a55","sourceCount":1,"writtenSourceCount":1,"writeAttempts":0,"isSolo":true,"entitiesJson":"{\"anime_titles\":[],\"manga_titles\":[],\"work_titles\":[],\"studios\":[],\"people\":[],\"type\":\"announcement\",\"domain\":\"anime\",\"is_roundup\":false}","contentType":"news","status":"published","firstSeenAt":"2026-06-15T20:00:00.000Z","lastSeenAt":"2026-06-15T20:00:00.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-06-15T20:49:57.000Z"},"attribution":[{"source":"Anime News Network","url":"https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2026-06-15/tv-asahi-announces-new-short-anime-programming-block-picoani/.238537","title":"News\nTV Asahi Announces New Short Anime Programming Block 'PicoAni'"}],"entities":{"anime_titles":[],"manga_titles":[],"work_titles":[],"studios":[],"people":[],"type":"announcement","domain":"anime","is_roundup":false},"keyFacts":["TV Asahi announced its new short anime programming block PicoAni on Monday, with five titles including Koupen-chan, Sirotan, Pop Pap Polters, Momomo! Ninimo, and Josemaru.","Koupen-chan is currently airing Sundays at 8:00 a.m. JST and will continue on the block.","Sirotan, the seal mascot from Creative Yoko, debuts in October on Saturdays at 4:29 p.m. JST, with Aoi Yūki reprising her role.","Pop Pap Polters, a miniature anime from MOZU STUDIOS, starts in October on Saturdays at 10:00 a.m. JST.","Momomo! Ninimo, a 3DCG short from Pinkfong and TV Asahi about a clumsy orange cat, and Josemaru, based on Inochi-ya's dog plush character, both debut in January 2027."]}