Hit Matsuken Samba Song Gets New Anime Short Series
Japanese actor Ken Matsudaira is expanding his famous Matsuken Samba franchise with a new short anime project titled Matsuken Anime scheduled to premiere in July 2026.
The series features the legendary character alongside a new sidekick named Matsuken Dog as they work to defeat the various frustrations found in daily life.
Production for the upcoming YouTube series involves Tatsunoko Productions, a veteran studio known for its long history in the animation industry.
The Matsuken Samba song has been a staple of Matsudaira’s career since 1994, originally serving as a contrast to his more traditional and stoic samurai roles.
Official social media presence for the project has already launched on X and YouTube to provide updates leading up to the summer release.
Fans will be able to visit a dedicated project booth at the AnimeJapan 2026 event to learn more about the bright and positive series.
The anime follows a history of the song appearing in various media, including the 2011 film Kamen Rider OOO Wonderful: The Shogun and the 21 Core Medals.
More recently, the track served as the ending theme for the 2025 series From Bureaucrat to Villainess: Dad’s Been Reincarnated! and was the subject of a collaboration with the group Momoiro Clover Z.
In related industry news, EVIL LINE RECORDS announced the IADORE short anime from the HYPNOSISMIC Division Rap Battle label is set to premiere on January 30, 2026.
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