Production and release
Mr. Osomatsu, produced by Pierrot and animated by their studio Pierrot division, aired between October 6, 2015, and March 29, 2016. Outside of Japan, the series aired in simulcast on Crunchyroll; marking the first media in the Osomatsu franchise to receive an official English release.[7][8] The series' first episode, which featured multiple parodies, was removed from streaming sites on November 12, 2015, and is replaced by an original video animation in its home video release.[9][10] Additionally, the third episode, which features a crude parody of Anpanman, was edited for its BS Japan broadcast and is altered in its home video release.[9][11]
In September 2016, Kanchi Suzuki revealed on his Twitter account that he is interested in making a second season.[12] A special episode, produced in collaboration with the Japan Racing Association, aired on December 12, 2016.[13] A second season was announced in April 2017,[14] having previously been teased in a listing for the Blu-ray release of "Mr. Osomatsu JRA Special 2016" (おそ松さん おうまでこばなし),[15] and aired between October 3, 2017, and March 27, 2018.[16][17]
An anime theatrical film for the franchise was announced in August 2018, with the main staff and cast from the television series returning to reprise their roles. Titled Osomatsu-san the Movie (えいがのおそ松さん), the film was released on March 15, 2019.[18][19]
A new 7-episode short series was announced in February 2019, with the main staff and cast from the television series returning to reprise their roles. The shorts ran from March 1 to March 15, 2019.[20]
A third season was announced in July 2020, which aired from October 13, 2020, to March 30, 2021.[21][22]
Two new animated theatrical films were announced in June 2021.[23] The first film, titled Mr. Osomatsu: Hipipo-Zoku to Kagayaku Kajitsu, premiered on July 8, 2022. Yoshinori Odaka is directing the film, with the main staff and cast reprising their roles.[24] The second film, titled Mr. Osomatsu: The Soul's Takoyaki Party and the Legendary Sleepover Party, premiered on July 21, 2023.[23][25]
A spin-off anime series based on a line of dog character products, called Matsu Inu, based on the series was announced in August 2023. The series is animated by Point Pictures and directed by Tetsuya Endo, with Endo handling series scripts along with Hitomi Ogawa, Yūki Nagashima designing the characters based on FuRyu's original character designs, and Yukari Hashimoto returning to compose the music alongside Ruka Kawada, Tetsuya Shitara, and Yayoi Sekimukai.[26] It aired within TV Tokyo's Eeny Meeny Miney Moe program from October 7 to December 23, 2023.[27]
A fourth season was announced in June 2024. The second studio of Pierrot, responsible for said show rebranded to the Pierrot Films name, which was announced on July 5, 2024, a month later and would be handling animation production of that season.[28] The season is directed by Yoshinori Odaka and aired from July 8 to October 1, 2025, on TV Tokyo and its affiliates.[29][30]
Distribution
In Australia and New Zealand, Madman Entertainment released the first season on DVD on December 7, 2016,[31] and made the series available on AnimeLab.[32]
At their panel in Otakon 2017, Viz Media announced that they have licensed the first two seasons in North, Central and South America and simulcast the second season.[33][34] Viz released the first season in North America on Blu-Ray on March 9, 2021.[35] It does not include episode 1. The dub was initially written (including episode 1) and directed by Patrick Seitz, who both left the project for other commitments, leaving Christopher Bevins to re-write and re-record the series minus the first episode.[36]
