Image: Kenji Inoue, Kimitake Yoshioka, Kodansha / Grand Blue 3 Production Committee
AMBot | 06/19/2026 | Reading Time: 3 Min.
On June 19, 2026, the first public screening of the third season of the anime "Grand Blue" (Japanese: "Guran Buru") took place at Shinjuku Wald 9 Cinema in Tokyo. On stage, voice actors Yuma Uchida (Iori Kitahara), Ryohei Kimura (Kohei Imamura), Chika Anzai (Chisa Kotegawa), and Kana Asumi (Aina Yoshiwara) greeted the audience – including many fans who joined in the series' boisterous, drinking-loving spirit.
The event began, as is typical for "Grand Blue," with an unannounced beer mug on stage. Kimura led the toast: "You write 'empty the cup' and read it 'Kanpai'!" to which the audience responded with raised glasses. Uchida, who himself did not drink alcohol, called out in high spirits: "Let's enjoy it!" – a mood that immediately spread to the fans.
The series, based on the manga by Kenji Inoue and Kimitake Yoshioka, follows college student Iori, who studies at a university on the Izu Peninsula and is a member of a diving club that parties at least as much as it dives. In the third season, the story moves abroad for the first time – to Palau. Chika Anzai revealed in surprise: "In this season, there might be more ocean scenes than ever before. In Season 2, you basically only saw the sea in the opening." The comment drew laughter, as "Grand Blue" is often called a "naked diving comedy."
The voice actors expressed their excitement about the new episodes. Kimura raved: "The new characters have a huge impact – they really bring energy into it." Uchida added: "You think, 'Oh, so there was another drawer after all!'" Particularly, the voice acting made the material even funnier – "When the sound is added, it just becomes ridiculously funny," said Kimura.
The voice actors also gave insights into the recording sessions. Unlike many other productions, "Grand Blue" is often recorded together, which enhances the improvised laughter and the dynamics of the scenes. "You stack the laughter together," Uchida explained. Anzai admitted that she often had to burst out laughing during recordings.
Later in the evening, the new characters of the season also came into focus: including the German otaku Carina (voiced by M･A･O), Sayaka Kotegawa (Sayaka Ohara), the sisters' mother, as well as the dive shop employees Chief (Asami Seto) and Maki (Aya Suzaki). The latter is a lively businesswoman who organizes the shop in Palau.
As for the plot: Iori and his friends travel to Palau at the request of his cousin Nanaka to help out at a newly opened branch of the dive shop "Dolphin." Kohei initially hesitates because he can't watch his favorite anime live abroad – but in the end, an unforgettable South Sea adventure full of chaos awaits the group.
The broadcast of "Grand Blue" Season 3 starts on July 6, 2026, at 24:00 on Tokyo MX and BS11. Additional air dates are Tuesdays at 2:30 AM on MBS and Thursdays at 21:00 on AT-X. The opening "Natsuko" is by FUNKY MONKEY BΛBY'S, and the ending "Hadaka no Mermaid" is by the idol group Mameshiba no Taigun, produced by Kuro-chan.
The event began, as is typical for "Grand Blue," with an unannounced beer mug on stage. Kimura led the toast: "You write 'empty the cup' and read it 'Kanpai'!" to which the audience responded with raised glasses. Uchida, who himself did not drink alcohol, called out in high spirits: "Let's enjoy it!" – a mood that immediately spread to the fans.
The series, based on the manga by Kenji Inoue and Kimitake Yoshioka, follows college student Iori, who studies at a university on the Izu Peninsula and is a member of a diving club that parties at least as much as it dives. In the third season, the story moves abroad for the first time – to Palau. Chika Anzai revealed in surprise: "In this season, there might be more ocean scenes than ever before. In Season 2, you basically only saw the sea in the opening." The comment drew laughter, as "Grand Blue" is often called a "naked diving comedy."
The voice actors expressed their excitement about the new episodes. Kimura raved: "The new characters have a huge impact – they really bring energy into it." Uchida added: "You think, 'Oh, so there was another drawer after all!'" Particularly, the voice acting made the material even funnier – "When the sound is added, it just becomes ridiculously funny," said Kimura.
The voice actors also gave insights into the recording sessions. Unlike many other productions, "Grand Blue" is often recorded together, which enhances the improvised laughter and the dynamics of the scenes. "You stack the laughter together," Uchida explained. Anzai admitted that she often had to burst out laughing during recordings.
Later in the evening, the new characters of the season also came into focus: including the German otaku Carina (voiced by M･A･O), Sayaka Kotegawa (Sayaka Ohara), the sisters' mother, as well as the dive shop employees Chief (Asami Seto) and Maki (Aya Suzaki). The latter is a lively businesswoman who organizes the shop in Palau.
As for the plot: Iori and his friends travel to Palau at the request of his cousin Nanaka to help out at a newly opened branch of the dive shop "Dolphin." Kohei initially hesitates because he can't watch his favorite anime live abroad – but in the end, an unforgettable South Sea adventure full of chaos awaits the group.
The broadcast of "Grand Blue" Season 3 starts on July 6, 2026, at 24:00 on Tokyo MX and BS11. Additional air dates are Tuesdays at 2:30 AM on MBS and Thursdays at 21:00 on AT-X. The opening "Natsuko" is by FUNKY MONKEY BΛBY'S, and the ending "Hadaka no Mermaid" is by the idol group Mameshiba no Taigun, produced by Kuro-chan.
This article was originally published in German. It was translated with technical support and editorially reviewed before publication.
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