Yamishibai: Japanese Ghost Stories is coming back for another round of spooky tales. The horror anthology anime announced its 17th season will debut July 12 on TV Tokyo, continuing a franchise that's been delivering six-minute urban legend adaptations since 2013.

Director Akira Funada returns for his seventh consecutive season to lead the project at studio ILCA, with production support from ILCASHIPS and LEON STUDIO. This time around, the season's overarching theme centers on "decision"—likely shaping the narrative direction of the horror stories.

The creative team remains largely consistent. Producers Takuya Iwasaki and Norio Yamakawa are back on board, along with scriptwriters Hiromu Kumamoto, Mitsuhiro Sasaki, and Kanako Ishigami. The voice cast includes returning performers like Kanji Tsuda and Tomoko Ōishi, alongside newcomers to the series.

The opening theme will be performed by band Fūrin, who also handle the ending track "Yamishibai no Blues."

For those unfamiliar with the franchise, Yamishibai adapts Japanese urban legends and folklore into short horror vignettes presented in the style of traditional kamishibai (paper theater) productions from the Shōwa era. The series has built a dedicated following over its 13-year run, spawning multiple spinoffs including The World Yamizukan (2017) and the Ninja Collection anime (2020). A live-action adaptation also aired in 2020.

Crunchyroll has historically streamed previous seasons internationally, so expect this 17th installment to follow a similar distribution pattern. The show's longevity speaks to its effective formula—short runtime makes it accessible, while the urban legend premise provides endless material to draw from.

The 16th season wrapped up in January, so this July premiere gives the franchise a six-month break before returning to screens. For anime fans seeking bite-sized horror with cultural depth, season 17 looks like a solid entry point.