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A decade ago, the production house Gathering brought a unique concept to the anime scene with the introduction of “Bananya,” an endearing cat that makes its home inside a banana peel. Celebrating the 10th anniversary of this beloved character, TMS Entertainment USA is set to expand access to the widely cherished TV series featuring the whimsical feline.
In honor of this milestone, TMS Entertainment has unveiled a special 10th-anniversary logo for the “Bananya” series, which fans can view below.
As detailed in a recent press release, TMS recently announced that it will release the English-dubbed episodes of all Bananya from Seasons 1-3, consisting of 39 three-minute anime shorts. An official watch party for Season 1 will be hosted on the “Anime! on TMS” YouTube channel on April 18, 2026. A second watch party for Bananya Season 2 has also been scheduled for May 2026.
Launched in 2016, the “Bananya” series follows the whimsical escapades of the titular character alongside his vibrant group of friends. According to the official website, Bananya is described as a creature that masquerades as an ordinary banana. When unobserved, it indulges in playful antics and mischief. The adorable character has a fondness for sweets and aspires to transform into a “stylish choco bananya.” The series also features other beloved characters, such as Bananyako, a fashionable “Madonna” with a love for style, and Kurobananya, a gourmet gentleman hailing from Europe.
Bananya Anime Gets Free English Dub Episodes on YouTube for 10th Anniversary
Initially released in 2016, the Bananya series chronicles the daily adventures of the titular character and his colorful companions. Bananya’s official site describes the concept: “[Bananya] lives disguised as a real banana, and when no one’s around, it sneaks around playing and causing mischief. It loves playing with sweet treats, and its dream is to become a ‘stylish choco bananya.’” Other central characters include Bananyako, a fluffy “Madonna” who loves fashion and a gentlemanly gourmet from Europe named Kurobananya.
Despite fierce competition from the likes of Hello Kitty and Cinnamoroll, the Bananya franchise has successfully “slipped into the hearts” of fans worldwide. Season 1 of the Bananya anime series initially debuted in 2016. A second season, titled Bananya and the Curious Bunch, was released in 2019. Season 3, titled Bananya Around the World, hit the airwaves in 2024. The English dub for Season 3 has not yet been released and is scheduled to debut in June 2026.
Notably, the Bananya anime series has few official streaming homes for viewers outside Japan. Crunchyroll has made the original Japanese version of the series available (with subtitles) to subscribers in all major territories outside Asia. Alternatively, Hulu streams the English-dubbed version.
However, access to the streaming service is primarily limited to viewers located in the U.S. By hosting Bananya‘s dub on YouTube, TMS is able to reach English-speaking audiences in areas such as Australia and the UK, which lack access to Hulu’s expansive anime library.
Bananya‘s YouTube debut is just one of several major anniversary initiatives for the beloved fruit-dwelling feline. Masami Tokunaga, Senior Vice President of TMS Entertainment USA, hints that there is much more to come. “We are excited to celebrate Bananya‘s 10th anniversary this year. It has been a whole decade since the launch of the Bananya anime series…please stay tuned for more exciting Bananya news and updates, and let’s make this a memorable 10th anniversary together!”
According to TMS’ press release, Bananya‘s anniversary celebration will include various “merchandise, events and other celebratory projects.” Additionally, TMS Entertainment has confirmed the production of a new Bananya episode that will highlight “fan-favorite characters and delightful new adventures.” The release date of this commemorative episode has yet to be announced.
Season 1 of Bananya is slated to premiere on YouTube on April 18, 2026. The original Japanese-language version of Bananya is streaming on Crunchyroll. The English-dubbed version is available on Hulu.
- Release Date
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2016 – 2024-00-00
- Network
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TV Tokyo, TV Osaka, Teletama, TV Aichi, TVh, TVQ, TSC
- Directors
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Kyou Yatate
Cast
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Yuki Kaji
Bananya (voice)
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Ayumu Murase
Baby Sweet (voice)
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