KyoAni's Steam-Powered 'Sparks of Tomorrow' Anime Arrives July 2026 on Netflix

Kyoto Animation has officially locked in the premiere window for its new TV anime, Sparks of Tomorrow. The series is set to debut worldwide in July 2026, streaming exclusively on Netflix. KyoAni confirmed the show will also air concurrently on Japanese television.

The announcement today also included a fresh visual and confirmed key staff for the production.

The project is based on Hiro Yuki's light novel, 20 Seiki Denki Mokuroku. Published in 2018 under KyoAni's KA Esuma Bunko imprint, the novel features illustrations by Kazumi Ikeda. The original work earned an honorable mention at the 8th Kyoto Animation Awards back in 2017.

The story transports viewers to an alternate early 20th-century Kyoto, a city dominated by steam power. It follows Kihachi Sakamoto, a young man left cynical after the death of his brother and the failure of their shared 'Age of Electricity' dreams.

His path crosses with Inako Momokawa, the 15-year-old daughter of a Fushimi sake brewer. Inako maintains a devout public appearance while concealing her own grief over her mother and her secret ambitions. Their intertwined search for answers leads them into the mysteries hidden within the '20th Century Electrical Catalog.'

Minoru Ota is handling his feature directorial debut, co-writing the scripts alongside Tatsuhiko Urahata. Kohei Okamura is confirmed for character designs and chief animation direction. Takaaki Suzuki is handling world-building, with music by Hitomi Koto. Voice actors Yuma Uchida and Sora Amamiya are cast as Kihachi and Inako, respectively.

KyoAni is promising highly expressive animation and impressionistic backgrounds designed to capture the era’s intense upheaval. Fans can expect the first trailer drop in October 2025. A special stage presentation is planned for AnimeJapan 2026.