Fans tracking Ace Diamond Act 2 received their first preview of the second cour’s musical lineup as the production staff streamed a main promotional video and confirmed broadcast dates on Tuesday. The baseball drama (titled Daiya no A Act II in Japan) continues Eijun Sawamura’s journey on the mound. Rock band GLAY and music duo OxT supply the new themes. Television broadcasts begin in Japan on October 11 across TV Tokyo and AT-X, with streaming availability following on Netflix in Japan. [1, 2]
Musical Lineup for Ace Diamond Act 2
Japanese rock band GLAY will perform the opening theme titled “NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN” for the second cour, providing a hard-charging sonic backdrop for Seido High School’s heated tournament run. The band previously contributed memorable opening songs to earlier chapters of the baseball adaptation, establishing an enduring creative relationship with the animated franchise. The newly released promotional video showcases fast-paced game cuts with snippets of the driving track. High school baseball demands intense focus on every pitch. GLAY’s energetic guitar work complements the mounting tension as Eijun Sawamura and his teammates battle elite regional rivals. [1]
Musicians Masayoshi Oishi and Tom-H@ck unite as the duo OxT to deliver the ending theme song “ROAD TO BE BLUE.” Both artists boast extensive credits across popular anime soundtracks, and their past contributions to Ace of Diamond have become fan-favorite anthems during intense tournament climaxes across the country. Will the new ending theme reflect the bittersweet reality of third-year players facing potential elimination? The announcement confirms the title while leaving the song’s melodic arrangement for the upcoming televised broadcast. The staff pair OxT’s melodic pop-rock style with reflective character artwork to close each episode. [1, 2]
Music plays a vital role in sports anime, where precise rhythm punctuates dramatic strikeouts and decisive defensive plays. Sound composer Hajime Hyakkoku oversees the wider instrumental score, returning from the first season of Ace of Diamond Act II to arrange background compositions for upcoming tournament matches. The combination of GLAY’s opening sprint and OxT’s melodic closing creates a balanced musical framework for the autumn quarter. Both musical acts understand the emotional weight carried by high school players striving for national championships. The trailer gives viewers their first taste of that energy before the full broadcast commences. [1]
October Broadcast and Streaming Schedule
The second cour premieres on October 11 in Japan across multiple television and digital distribution networks. TV Tokyo and its affiliated broadcasting channels will air the episodes at 5:30 p.m. JST (4:30 a.m. EDT), giving the sports series an evening timeslot. Premium network AT-X follows with a late broadcast at 9:00 p.m. JST the same evening. Viewers in Japan can stream each episode on Netflix right after the television broadcast concludes, providing immediate digital access for domestic streaming subscribers. Schedules remain synchronized across regions. [2]
Production on this continuation moves forward after a measured mid-year pause. The production team initially announced the second season of Ace of the Diamond Act II in May 2024, building anticipation for the squad’s return. Its first cour aired in Japan from April 5, 2026 to June 28, 2026, delivering 13 total episodes before taking a seasonal break. Broadcasts resumed after three months. That broadcast run established the team’s standing in tournament play, preparing viewers for the intense second half arriving this autumn. [1]
The autumn broadcast window brings high competition across Japan’s animation industry. The October premiere aligns with broader television programming changes, arriving in the same season where the Overgeared anime sets an October premiere with its own newly confirmed voice cast and promotional footage. The schedule also complements theatrical debuts across Tokyo, echoing excitement seen as The BanG Dream Ave Mujica film trailer reveals an October debut for enthusiastic big-screen cinema audiences. Fans tracking Ace Diamond Act 2 face a packed entertainment calendar this October. [1, 2]
Creative Staff and Studio Changes
Director Hideaki Oba leads the production team at animation studio OLM, succeeding Mitsuyuki Masuhara, who directed all three previous television seasons in the sports franchise. Oba brings directorial experience from diverse projects, including Love of Kill, Kunon the Sorcerer Can See, and I’m in Love with the Villainess. OLM took over animation duties for this second season, whereas Madhouse previously produced the first season of Ace of Diamond Act II and co-produced earlier installments with Production I.G. Studio shifts bring fresh visual energy. The promotional video highlights fluid motion during pitching mechanics and infield plays. [1, 2]
Script supervisor Kenji Konuta returns to oversee series composition, maintaining narrative continuity across all television seasons produced to date. Konuta has shaped the franchise’s episodic pacing since the original 2013 anime premiere, translating Yūji Terajima’s manga chapters into structured screen drama. Veteran leadership ensures steady storytelling. His return guarantees that the dialogue and tactical baseball sequences retain the grounded realism that established the series’ dedicated following. [1, 2]
Yasukazu Shoji steps into the role of character designer for this season, replacing Minoru Ueta and Satoshi Tasaki (who previously shared character design and chief animation duties). Shoji previously served as chief animation director on Major 2nd and designed characters for Restaurant to Another World 2, bringing specialized experience in sports animation to the dugout. The updated character sheets preserve Terajima’s recognizable facial expressions while refining uniform details and athletic silhouettes. How seamlessly will these visual updates translate into high-intensity pitching duels? The preview video demonstrates crisp line work and dynamic lighting across every defensive sequence. [1, 2]
Returning Roster and Inashiro Casting
Ryota Osaka reprises his central role as protagonist Eijun Sawamura in Ace Diamond Act 2, leading Seido High School’s pitching rotation into crucial tournament matches. The returning main cast anchors the emotional core of the team, preserving established relationships between pitchers and catchers. Viewers who experienced Sawamura’s difficult journey from an erratic middle-school thrower to Seido’s trusted ace can expect intense character development as Tokyo tournament pressures mount. Sawamura’s unique moving fastball continues to challenge opposing batters. The vocal performance captures the pitcher’s relentless determination and boisterous dugout leadership. [1, 2]
Ryota Osaka returns to lead Seido’s roster on the mound. Daisuke Sakuma joins the cast as Shinichiro Saotome from rival Inashiro High School. [1, 2]
Additional casting announcements introduce new competitive energy to the second season. The newly confirmed voice roster features Shugo Nakamura as Koya Urabe, Atsushi Tamaru as Soichi Nagira, Kento Hama as Koji Nara, and Toshiya Miyata as Koji Chimaru. These new performers represent rival squads competing across the Tokyo tournament bracket. Roster depth defines elite baseball programs. As Seido pursues its championship aspirations, every opposing batter presents tactical challenges that test catcher Miyuki’s game-calling and Sawamura’s stamina on the rubber. [1]
Tournament baseball allows zero margin for unforced errors. Seido’s historic rivalry with Inashiro High School forms one of the central narrative pillars of Terajima’s sports epic. With Shinichiro Saotome entering Inashiro’s lineup, the tactical chess match between the two prestigious Tokyo baseball institutions grows even more compelling. Can Sawamura maintain composure against Inashiro’s disciplined batters when the count falls full? The forthcoming episodes will reveal how both teams manage bullpen fatigue and strategic substitutions as elimination looms. [1, 2]
Manga Legacy and Publishing History
Yūji Terajima built an enduring sports legacy across sixteen continuous years of serialization in Japan. He launched the baseball manga Ace of Diamond (Daiya no Ace) in Kodansha’s Weekly Shonen Magazine on May 17, 2006, concluding on January 14, 2015, across 47 tankobon volumes. In 2010, the manga earned top honors in the shōnen division during the 34th Kodansha Manga Awards. Terajima launched the sequel Ace of Diamond Act II on August 19, 2015, serializing the continued high school baseball saga until October 26, 2022, when Kodansha published the 34th volume. Readers often ask whether the manga is finished, and publishing records confirm that Terajima brought the serialized story to a complete conclusion with 34 compiled volumes. [1, 2]
International publishing and screen adaptations expanded the franchise’s global footprint. Kodansha USA Publishing began releasing Ace of the Diamond digitally in March 2017, while K MANGA publishes Ace of the Diamond Act II online. Mad Cave Studios’ Nakama Press imprint will release 3-in-1 print omnibus volumes starting March 23, 2027. On television, Madhouse and Production I.G produced the 75-episode first anime in 2013, followed by the 51-episode Ace of Diamond: Second Season in 2015 and Madhouse’s 52-episode Ace of Diamond Act II in 2019. Crunchyroll streamed prior seasons worldwide. [1, 2]
With the second cour scheduled for October 11, viewers can anticipate Eijun Sawamura’s return to the rubber. The latest promotional video confirms that Ace Diamond Act 2 preserves its visual energy and competitive tension as tournament stakes escalate. Driving songs from GLAY and OxT ensure that Seido’s autumn campaign starts with high momentum. The squad is ready to compete. [1]
- ONLINE NEWS Moo, W. (2026, September 15). Ace of the Diamond Act II Second Season 2nd Cour Highlights GLAY’s Opening Theme in New Trailer. Anime Trending. [Article Link]
- ONLINE NEWS Cayanan, J. (2026, September 15). Ace of Diamond Act II Second Season’s 2nd Part Unveils Theme Songs in New Video. Anime News Network. [Article Link]
- ONLINE NEWS Anime News Network. (2026, September 15). Ace of Diamond Act II Second Season’s 2nd Part Unveils Theme Songs in New Video. Anime News Network Newsroom. [Article Link]
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