Young Ladies Don't Play Fighting Games

The anime adaptation of Eri Ejima's manga Young Ladies Don't Play Fighting Games premiered on July 7, 2026, after a delay from its originally planned 2025 debut. The series follows Aya Mitsuki, a scholarship student at Kuromi Girls Academy who hides her fighting game past, and Mio Yorue, the school's 'White Lily' who recognizes her. The adaptation is directed by Shota Ihata at studio Diomedéa, with Wataru Watari handling series scripts, reuniting the pair from Girlish Number.

Before broadcast, the production revealed its full cast and music lineup. Ikumi Hasegawa voices Aya, Kana Ichinose voices Mio, and additional cast includes Yumiri Hanamori as Hana Ichinose, Nobuyuki Hiyama as Gekido, Yohei Azakami as Cafe Au Lait, and Taku Yashiro as Seshiro. Real-life fighting game player and commentator Aru voices the in-story commentator Flamberge. Rock band Hanabie performs the opening theme song "Inochi Mijikashi Tai Suru Otome yo!" and halca performs the ending theme "New Game." The anime also collaborated with Street Fighter 6, including a promotional video in the Battle Hub from June 2-30 and six title cards available through July 14.

Crunchyroll's Anime Nights program screened the first episode early on June 15 across more than 280 theaters in the United States and Canada. Anime News Network reviewed the first four episodes, praising the authentic FGC details such as real Street Fighter footage and arcade sticks, while noting the subtitling challenge of translating FGC jargon. Episodes 5 and 6 follow the girls as they attend EVO Japan, with Mio's mother tricked into thinking it is a tourist trip. Episode 6 highlights the open-bracket nature of fighting game tournaments and deepens the rivals-to-lovers dynamic between Aya and Mio.