After two decades of moving wine markets, inspiring sommeliers, and spawning multiple live-action dramas across continents, the legendary oenophile manga The Drops of God is at last being uncorked as a television anime, with a premiere scheduled for 2026.
The announcement comes from Pony Canyon, the production company spearheading the project, which has launched a dedicated official website and social media accounts to build excitement. This marks the first anime incarnation of the story, which has captivated readers worldwide with its intricate blend of family drama, high-stakes competition, and an immersive dive into the world of fine wines. The series will air on major Japanese networks, including Tokyo MX, Kansai TV, and BS NTV, promising a visually stunning portrayal of the manga's oenophilic themes.
A teaser visual and trailer were unveiled alongside the announcement, offering a glimpse into the anime's elegant art style. The visual depicts the central characters amid a backdrop of swirling wine glasses and vineyard vistas, evoking the manga's signature motif of comparing wines to biblical imagery and rock music lyrics. The trailer teases intense tasting scenes and familial confrontations, set against a score that hints at orchestral swells underscoring the protagonists' journeys of self-discovery.
Leading the production is director Kenji Itoso, known for his work on character-driven narratives, at studio Satelight, renowned for its fluid animation and attention to detail in projects like A Certain Magical Index. Collaborating with Satelight is YANCHESTER, adding further expertise to the animation pipeline. While full staff details are still forthcoming, the initial reveal has already highlighted the team's commitment to faithfully capturing the manga's sophisticated aesthetic and emotional depth.
Adding to the buzz, the voice cast announcement features prominent talents reprising or stepping into iconic roles. Kazuya Kamenashi, who portrayed protagonist Shizuku Kanzaki in the 2009 Japanese live-action drama, returns to voice the character, bringing a layer of continuity for longtime followers. Takuya Sato lends his voice to rival Issei Tomine, drawing from his dramatic range seen in Moriarty the Patriot. Rounding out the key trio is Maaya Uchida as Miyabi Shinohara, whose versatile performances in series like The Pet Girl of Sakurasou make her a fitting choice for the story's emotional anchor.
This anime adaptation arrives at an opportune moment, as The Drops of God continues to influence global wine culture two decades after its debut. The series has sold millions of copies and been translated into multiple languages, earning praise for demystifying sommelier expertise while weaving a compelling tale of inheritance and rivalry. With its 2026 release, the project is poised to introduce the story to a new generation through anime's dynamic medium, potentially expanding its reach even further.
What is The Drops of God about?
Originally serialized in Kodansha's Morning magazine from November 2004 to June 2014, The Drops of God emerged as a groundbreaking manga that fused culinary education with dramatic storytelling. Created under the pseudonym Tadashi Agi by the sibling duo Shin and Yuko Kibayashi—who drew from their own research trips to French vineyards—and illustrated by Shu Okimoto's meticulous linework, the series spanned 44 volumes and became a cultural phenomenon. It not only topped sales charts in Japan and Asia but also gained acclaim in France, where it reportedly boosted sales of featured wines by up to 30 percent. The manga's innovative approach to describing vintages through poetic analogies, such as likening a Bordeaux to a Beatles song, transformed it into an accessible gateway for wine enthusiasts and casual readers alike.
The story's enduring appeal has led to several live-action adaptations prior to this anime venture. In 2008, a Korean drama version aired, introducing the narrative to East Asian audiences with a focus on the competitive elements. This was followed in 2009 by a Japanese television series produced by Nippon TV, which starred Kazuya Kamenashi as Shizuku and emphasized the cultural nuances of Japanese wine appreciation. More recently, in 2023, Apple TV+ premiered an international co-production titled Drops of God, a multilingual French-Japanese-American series directed by Oded Ruskin. Featuring Tomohisa Yamashita as Issei Tomine and Fleur Geffrier as Camille Léger—a character adapted as the estranged daughter of the late critic—the show garnered critical acclaim for its global perspective and lavish production. That series was renewed for a second season set to debut in early 2026, overlapping intriguingly with the anime's timeline.
At its core, The Drops of God revolves around a high-stakes quest for legacy and passion. As described by Kodansha USA:
Yutaka Kanzaki, a wine critic whose reviews have enough clout to move the industry worldwide, has died—leaving behind a wine collection worth over two billion yen. Only the one who can name his favorite bottles, plus vintages, will inherit this dream of a cellar. It’s a battle between Yutaka’s biological son Shizuku and adopted child Issei to identify these “Twelve Apostles”—along with the very best wine in his collection, the so-called “Drops of God.”
This synopsis encapsulates the manga's blend of sensory adventure and personal growth, where each "apostle" bottle serves as a chapter in the rivals' odyssey through flavor profiles, history, and hidden emotions.As production ramps up, the anime promises to bottle the essence of this timeless rivalry for screens worldwide, one vintage at a time.
