ABEMA announces free Kemono Friends marathon
ABEMA announced on July 19, 2026, that it will stream both TV anime seasons of Kemono Friends for free on July 21 and July 22, 2026. The rollout covers the first season from 2017 and Kemono Friends 2, and each marathon will be followed by a one-week free viewing window.
What Was Announced
The free event begins with the first season of Kemono Friends, which ABEMA will air on July 21, 2026 at 1:15 p.m. JST and again at 1:15 a.m. JST. The sequel, Kemono Friends 2, follows on July 21 at 7:15 p.m. JST and on July 22 at 7:15 a.m. JST and 1:15 p.m. JST. ABEMA says every episode in both runs will remain available free for one week after broadcast.
The announcement is straightforward, but the programming choice is interesting: ABEMA is not just replaying a single nostalgic title slot. It is lining up both seasons back-to-back so viewers can move from the original 2017 run into the 2019 sequel without having to chase separate uploads or paywalls.
Why It Matters
Kemono Friends began as a media mix project built around an app game and then expanded into TV anime, comics, stage productions, and web animation. That history matters because the franchise has always been larger than one broadcast. A free marathon makes the entry point lighter for newcomers while also giving long-time fans an easy way to revisit the series in order.
It also highlights a useful part of the current anime ecosystem: older or mid-era titles do not have to disappear once a new season cycle moves on. Streaming platforms can keep them in circulation, and a limited-time free event creates a clear moment for discovery instead of leaving the show buried in a catalog.
Context for International Fans
If you only know the name, the premise is simple to grasp. The story takes place in Japari Park, a vast animal park where animals become humanoid “animal girls” through the power of a mysterious substance called Sand Star. The first season made that idea feel fresh by pairing a gentle adventure tone with a distinctive world and a memorable cast.
For international viewers, Kemono Friends is also a reminder of how aggressively cross-platform Japanese franchises can evolve. A project can begin with a game concept, move into television, and then continue across multiple formats without losing the core idea that made people notice it in the first place. This ABEMA schedule leans into that continuity rather than framing the title as a one-off throwback.
What Happens Next
If you want to watch live, mark the exact JST times. The first season airs on July 21, 2026 at 1:15 p.m. JST and 1:15 a.m. JST. Kemono Friends 2 airs on July 21 at 7:15 p.m. JST and on July 22 at 7:15 a.m. JST and 1:15 p.m. JST. After each broadcast window, ABEMA says the episodes stay free for one week, so the effective deadline is the end of that catch-up period rather than only the live slot.
That setup makes the event easy to sample. You can start with one episode block, decide whether the series still fits your taste, and then continue at your own pace within the free window.
Sources
Information was checked on July 19, 2026 at 21:56 JST.
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