Anime World Honors Workforce: Top Franchises Celebrate Labor Thanksgiving Day 2025 with Exclusive Art

The landscape of anime and manga witnessed a surge of tributes on November 23, 2025, coinciding with Japan's national observance of Labor Thanksgiving Day. This holiday, rooted in ancient harvest rituals, serves as a crucial time to express profound gratitude for the year's agricultural yield and to honor the dedication of the entire working population. This year, the creative community utilized this opportunity to infuse the holiday with their distinctive style, releasing a variety of unique messages and celebratory illustrations that emphasized the core values of hard work and appreciation. Fans globally welcomed this public holiday outpouring of unique, themed content from several of the industry's most recognized properties.

Major Franchise Celebrations

A significant highlight of the day's events centered on the theatrical release of Zombie Land Saga: Revenge. The franchise's official channels shared a vibrant, festive illustration, encouraging fans to support the dedicated 'working idols' performing on the big screen. This initiative effectively captured the spirit of labor and achievement celebrated by the holiday.

Similarly, the team behind Granblue Fantasy joined the festivities, revealing a striking new illustration featuring the popular characters Iwya, Le'ona, and Wilnas. Depicted in maid attire, this visual tribute symbolized their commitment and relentless effort, reflecting the persistent popularity of the franchise and its ongoing recognition of character contribution.

The scope of the celebration extended beyond these two major titles, drawing in a diverse array of other significant franchises. Participating works included the expansive worlds of Palworld, the industry-focused drama SHIROBAKO, the horror icon Resident Evil, the beloved characters of Sanrio, the military comedy Sgt. Frog, and the agricultural narratives of Hyakushō Kizoku. Each property offered a unique perspective on the theme of gratitude and labor.

Further enriching the festive atmosphere, illustrator Neko no Kedama provided an additional, special Labor Thanksgiving Day illustration. Collectively, these widespread contributions not only paid homage to the significance of the holiday but also demonstrated the creativity, hard work, and shared experiences that define the vibrant and continually evolving world of anime.