Ace of Diamond is BACK in a big way. The staff behind Ace of Diamond Act II Second Season just dropped a brand-new main promotional video for the anime’s second cours, and it comes with two massive announcements that have baseball anime fans buzzing: legendary rock band GLAY performs the new opening theme, while the powerhouse duo OxT handles the ending. If you thought the Fall 2026 anime season was already stacked, this just raised the stakes.
GLAY Returns to Anime With NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN
The new main PV previews the opening theme song NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN by GLAY, one of Japan’s most iconic rock bands. GLAY, formed by Takuro, Teru, Hisashi, and Jiro, has sold tens of millions of records, and their involvement signals just how much weight is behind this second cours. The song’s driving guitars and anthemic chorus fit the Seido High School baseball team’s do-or-die energy perfectly.
This is not GLAY’s first brush with anime, but landing an opening slot for a beloved sports franchise like Ace of Diamond (Daiya no A) puts the band back in front of a whole new generation of fans. Early reactions on Japanese social media praise the track’s stadium-ready sound.
OxT Brings the Emotion With ROAD TO BE BLUE
On the ending side, the duo of Masayoshi Oishi and Tom-Hack, known collectively as OxT, performs ROAD TO BE BLUE. Oishi is no stranger to anime fans, having performed the iconic opening themes for Overlord (Clattanoia and Go Cry Go) and the beloved opening of Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun. Tom-Hack, the composer and guitarist behind OxT’s hard-edged sound, has shaped some of the most memorable anisongs of the past decade.
ROAD TO BE BLUE reportedly leans into OxT’s signature blend of melancholy and adrenaline, the perfect comedown after each week’s high-stakes matchup. Expect this one to live on your playlist.
What We Know About the Second Cours
Ace of Diamond Act II Second Season, the sequel to the 2019-2020 anime adapting Yuji Terajima’s Ace of Diamond Act II manga, premiered on April 5 on TV Tokyo and its affiliates, as well as on AT-X. The series also streams on Netflix in Japan. The main cast returned for the current season, with new cast member Daisuke Sakuma joining as Shinichiro Saotome from Inashiro High School.
Behind the scenes, Hideaki Oba (Kunon the Sorcerer Can See, I’m in Love with the Villainess, Love of Kill) directs this season, replacing Mitsuyuki Masuhara, with animation shifting to OLM (Madhouse animated the earlier Ace of Diamond Act II series). Kenji Konuta returns from the previous three anime in the franchise to oversee the series scripts, while Yasukazu Shoji (Major 2nd chief animation director) serves as character designer.
Why This Matters for Sports Anime Fans
Let’s be honest: sports anime has been on an absolute tear. With Blue Lock, Haikyu, and Kuroko’s Basketball keeping the genre alive in mainstream conversation, Ace of Diamond remains the gold standard for baseball storytelling. Eijun Sawamura’s journey from a hotheaded southpaw to Seido’s ace, alongside catcher Kazuya Miyuki and rival-turned-teammate Satoru Furuya, is one of the most satisfying long-form character arcs in anime.
Yuji Terajima launched the original Ace of Diamond manga in Kodansha’s Weekly Shonen Magazine in 2006, ending it in January 2015 with 47 volumes. The sequel, Ace of Diamond Act II, ran from August 2015 to October 2022 with 34 volumes. The franchise even won the shonen category of the 34th Kodansha Manga Awards in 2010. For English-speaking fans, Mad Cave Studios’ Nakama Press imprint will release the manga as Ace of the Diamond in a 3-in-1 omnibus format starting March 23, 2027, while Kodansha USA Publishing and K MANGA handle digital releases.
The Fall 2026 Baseball Battle Heats Up
The timing could not be better. With the second cours arriving in the heart of the Fall 2026 anime season, Ace of Diamond Act II Second Season goes head-to-head with heavy hitters like Spy x Family Season 3 (premiering October 4) and A Returner’s Magic Should Be Special Season 2 (October 7). But baseball anime occupies its own lane, and the combination of a new PV, GLAY, and OxT gives Seido High a real shot at dominating weekly rankings.
The new PV itself teases intense mound showdowns, Inashiro High looming large, and Sawamura’s evolving pitching arsenal. If the animation bump from OLM delivers, this cours could produce some of the best sports sakuga of the year.
What Do You Think?
GLAY on the opening and OxT on the ending, talk about a dream combo. Which theme song are you more hyped for, NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN or ROAD TO BE BLUE? And where does Ace of Diamond rank among your all-time sports anime: above Haikyu, Blue Lock, or Slam Dunk? Drop your hot takes in the comments and let’s argue about Seido’s best pitcher once and for all.
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