Bushiroad has shared exciting news for fans during the Cardfight!! Vanguard 15th Anniversary: Bushiroad New Year Announcements 2026 event. The company revealed that its new cross-media project ZERO RISE will expand into both a television anime and a live stage play.
The stage play is scheduled to run from May 2 to May 17 at the Hikōsen Theater in Tokyo. Adding a fun twist, the same cast members will both perform on stage and voice their characters in the anime adaptation. Alongside the announcement, the project also released animation previews and character promotional videos, giving fans an early look at the world of ZERO RISE.
The cast is divided into several teams, including UNFIXX, KINGS+HOOT, RumbleWing[s], and BLACKSPOT, each featuring distinctive characters with their own personalities and styles. Suit actors will also appear in mystery roles, adding to the project’s intrigue.
The original concept is credited to Bushiroad president Takaaki Kidani and Yoshiki Watabe, with character designs handled by From Tokyo. The stage play will be directed by Nobuhiro Mōri, while Ichidai Matsuda (ILCA) is in charge of the script.
ZERO RISE centers on young people who have been pushed out of—or walked away from—the world of basketball. Set in a harsh society marked by growing inequality, the story follows these youths as they search for a second chance in an underground street basketball league known as “ZERO RISE.” It’s a tale of struggle, hope, and finding light in unexpected places.