A surprising new Tekken animated series is on the way.

The Tekken franchise has seen its fair share of animated adaptations that didn’t quite hit the mark, but the latest project seems to break the mold. Bandai Namco has unveiled Tekken! Cartoon, a series that draws heavily from American animation styles, setting it apart from previous entries.

The trailer features fan-favorite characters like the brawling bear Kuma, the chainsaw-wielding robot Alisa, the samurai Yoshimitsu, the complex Kazuya Mishima, and Paul. Each character is reimagined in a chibi style, inspired by their designs in Tekken 8. The aesthetic is reminiscent of classic Cartoon Network shows from the ’90s and early 2000s, complete with a nostalgic VHS crackle and silhouettes that evoke memories of Dexter’s Laboratory.

While the teaser doesn’t reveal details about the plot or episode format—whether it will consist of short segments or full-length episodes—the YouTube description does provide an extensive list of the creative team. Japanese animator Amehiro is on board as the character designer, and their previous work clearly influences the show’s art style.

A significant detail is that Sohta Ozawa will direct the series. As the creative director at the talent agency NERD, which represents various music artists, including Hololive VTuber Hoshimachi Suisei and lyricist Taku Inoue (who has contributed to Tekken’s music), there’s a good chance that music will play a prominent role in Tekken! Cartoon. NERD has also been involved in producing music videos, such as Suisei’s viral hit “Bibbidi-Ba” and Bump of Chicken’s “I,” the ending theme for the latest season of My Hero Academia.

The full staff list is as follows:

Tekken has a rich history of animated adaptations, starting with 1998’s Tekken: The Motion Picture, a largely criticized direct-to-DVD anime that loosely adapted the first game. In 2011, the 3D-animated film Tekken: Blood Vengeance focused on Alisa and Xiaoyu. The most recognized adaptation is likely the recent Netflix series Tekken: Bloodline, which loosely draws from Tekken 3 but faced criticism for its visuals and storytelling.

Recently, the Tekken series has been in a bit of a tumultuous phase, especially with long-time director Katsuhiro Harada leaving Bandai Namco for SNK. Many dedicated players have expressed dissatisfaction with Tekken 8 due to controversial balance changes and a perceived overemphasis on offensive play. However, the game did manage to pull off one of the most unexpected crossovers in fighting game history, introducing Yujiro Hanma from the wild manga/anime Baki to the roster in early 2027. Now that’s a twist!