Official Premiere: Fabulous Beasts 5th Season (You Shou Yan) Announced for 2026
The wait is almost over for fans of mythical comedy. Fabulous Beasts (You Shou Yan) is officially returning for its fifth installment. Following the massive success of its previous 48 episodes, Bilibili and Studio Fenz have confirmed that the new season will premiere on February 20, 2026. Known for its charming "furry" aesthetic and clever take on Chinese mythology in a modern setting, this series continues to be a standout ONA in the global Donghua community. You can prepare to watch Fabulous Beasts 5th Season as it joins the winter 2026 simulcast lineup.
Detailed Series Overview
Fabulous Beasts is a donghua adapted from the manhua of the same name. It is available on Bilibili with a membership and on YouTube for free with English subtitles. The journey began on 17 March 2021, when a trailer was posted on the You Shou Yan Weibo, introducing a world where ancient deities and monsters live alongside humans in secret.
The donghua, as of 29 November 2025, has four seasons and 48 episodes with a fifth season announced to premiere in February 2026. The donghua specifically has noticeable changes in order to save on time, specifically being the adaptation of a limited amount of chapters. While the plot is kept the same, this leads to the removal or limited appearance of multiple named characters. This leads to many single-chapter or minor characters like Qingzi and Bobo making no appearances in the animated version to ensure the pacing remains tight and the comedy hits effectively.
Full Series Information
- English Title: Fabulous Beasts 5th Season
- Japanese Title: 有兽焉 第五季
- Type: ONA (Original Net Animation)
- Episodes: 12
- Status: Not Yet Aired
- Aired: Feb 20, 2026 to ?
- Producers: bilibili
- Studios: Fenz
- Source: Web manga
- Genres: Comedy, Fantasy
- Duration: 6 min. per ep.
- Rating: PG-13 - Teens 13 or older
Core Cast and Production Staff
The production for Season 5 maintains the high standards set by Studio Fenz. The series features a recurring cast of iconic mythical beings that have become fan favorites across the first four seasons.
Confirmed Main Characters
Key Creative Team
Analysis: Adaptation and Character Omissions
One of the defining traits of the You Shou Yan donghua is its production efficiency. By focusing on the core relationship between the primary "beasts" and their modern encounters, the studio manages to maintain a consistent release schedule. However, this comes at the cost of breadth. "While the plot is kept the same," the production notes explain, "the limited duration per episode necessitates a streamlined cast." This is why minor favorites from the manhua often do not make the transition to the screen, allowing more screen time for the high-energy banter of the main trio.
With the premiere set for 10am CST on February 20, fans should get ready for another round of mythical chaos. Stay tuned to Donghua News for more updates on this and other upcoming 2026 releases.
Source: Bilibili Official, You Shou Yan Weibo, Donghua Wiki (translated)
