The world of sci-fi is no stranger to aliens, but South Korean web animation series Alien Stage dives into darker waters with its own spin on the genre. Courtesy of its art style, original songs, and emotional story, the psychological thriller has earned a dedicated following since its debut, and it will soon head to a new, well, stage.
As announced during Anime Expo 2026, the first Alien Stage anime is currently in production, coming hot on the heels of its official alternate universe (AU), Zombie Stage, which was released on 26 June. The news marks the franchise’s most significant development to date, and additional information, such as a release window, staff, studio, or cast, remains under wraps.
Created by animator Vivinos, also known for Pink Bitch Club and the ending sequence for My Dress-Up Darling‘s second season, and QMENG, the series started as an original animated music project on YouTube in 2022. In contrast to traditional episodes, its story unfolds through music videos, character songs, and promotional artwork that reveal a twisted reality — a group of abducted humans are forced to participate in a singing competition for alien spectators, where the losers are executed and the victors advance to the next round.
“In a post-apocalyptic world where aliens have abducted humans, the ‘Alien Stage’ is a reality singing competition that has become a worldwide sensation in the alien world. Its upcoming 50th season is planned to be just as dramatic, exhilarating, and exciting as its previous instalments. The human contestants must sing their hearts out as best as they can or face elimination,” reads the synopsis for the animated series.
It has racked up more than 200 million total views across 12 episodes, with peak viewership standing at a whopping 44 million. The final episode, titled “Karma”, was released in June 2025, and the multimedia franchise now includes official art books, merchandise, concerts, collaborations, exhibitions, and more. Alongside the upcoming anime, fans can also look forward to the first-ever 3D Live world tour for Alien Stage, which will stop by South Korea (Seoul), Japan (Tokyo), and the US (Los Angeles) in 2027.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
Edwin Teo
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