TV Asahi Launches PicoAni Short Anime Block for Quick Hits

TV Asahi has launched PicoAni, its first dedicated short anime brand and programming block, tailored for viewers who want quick, character-driven stories that fit between scrolls and commutes.

The broadcaster is expanding its anime time slots with new "PicoAniTime" windows on Saturdays at 4:29 p.m. and Sundays at 10 a.m. Kanto local time, alongside the existing Sunday morning slot that already airs Koupen-chan. The brand groups compact anime designed to hook audiences fast while building characters ripe for global licensing, social media, events, and merchandise.

October 2026 kicks things off with Sirotan, a gentle series about a fluffy white seal voiced by Aoi Yūki and produced with Shinei Animation. Sharing the launch window is Pop Pap Polters, a miniature anime from acclaimed creator Mozu at MOZU STUDIOS. January 2027 adds Momomo! Ninimo, a Pinkfong collaboration centered on a clumsy orange cat who hates cucumbers, and Josemaru, the everyday adventures of a tiny dog plush character directed by its creator Inochi-ya.

Producer Yukiko Shirakura described the shorts as concentrated doses of charm where "the creators' dedication and the appeal of the characters are packed in." The push reflects broader industry efforts to meet changing habits with short-form content that travels easily across platforms and borders while nurturing fresh IP.