{"id":7640,"date":"2026-08-11T16:37:21","date_gmt":"2026-08-11T08:37:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/pui-pui-molcar-5th-anniversary-special-2026\/"},"modified":"2026-08-11T16:37:21","modified_gmt":"2026-08-11T08:37:21","slug":"pui-pui-molcar-5th-anniversary-special-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/pui-pui-molcar-5th-anniversary-special-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Pui Pui Molcar 5th Anniversary Special Is Coming \u2014 Creator Tomoki Misato Returns to Direct"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Five years ago, a tiny stop-motion anime about guinea pigs that were also cars pulled the internet into a collective squeal of joy. Now, <strong>PUI PUI Molcar<\/strong> is marking its 5th anniversary with an all-new special \u2014 and the news that fans have been waiting for: original creator and director <strong>Tomoki Misato (\u898b\u91cc\u671d\u5e0c)<\/strong> is returning to the director&#8217;s chair for the first time since Season 1 aired in early 2021.<\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"474\" height=\"267\" data-attachment-id=\"7638\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/molcar-5th-anniversary-set-production\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/molcar-5th-anniversary-set-production.jpg?fit=1280%2C720&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1280,720\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"molcar-5th-anniversary-set-production\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/molcar-5th-anniversary-set-production.jpg?fit=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/molcar-5th-anniversary-set-production.jpg?fit=474%2C267&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/molcar-5th-anniversary-set-production.jpg?resize=474%2C267&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Behind-the-scenes stop-motion production set for PUI PUI Molcar 5th Anniversary Special\" class=\"wp-image-7638\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/molcar-5th-anniversary-set-production.jpg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/molcar-5th-anniversary-set-production.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/molcar-5th-anniversary-set-production.jpg?resize=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/molcar-5th-anniversary-set-production.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/molcar-5th-anniversary-set-production.jpg?w=948&amp;ssl=1 948w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 474px) 100vw, 474px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><figcaption>Behind the scenes: the stop-motion production set for the 5th anniversary special. \u00a9 \u898b\u91cc\u671d\u5e0c\uff0fPUI PUI \u30e2\u30eb\u30ab\u30fc\u88fd\u4f5c\u59d4\u54e1\u4f1a<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n<h2>Choco&#8217;s Birthday Kicks Off the Celebrations<\/h2>\n\n<p>The anniversary special was announced on <strong>August 10, 2026<\/strong> \u2014 the in-universe birthday of <strong>Choco<\/strong>, the beloved chocolate-brown Molcar. The official teaser visual dropped on the same day, showing Choco peeking over a birthday cake adorned with the series logo and a sparkler \u2014 a neat meta-wink from the production team. No air date has been announced yet, but the teaser confirms that <strong>Shinei Animation<\/strong> is once again handling production.<\/p>\n\n<p>Misato&#8217;s involvement is the headline. After Season 1&#8217;s viral moment \u2014 every episode clocking in at around five minutes, each one somehow more chaotic and adorable than the last \u2014 subsequent Molcar content expanded the universe but stepped away from Misato&#8217;s direct creative hand. The anniversary special brings that full-circle: the franchise&#8217;s most recognisable voice is back where it started.<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"474\" height=\"267\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/hVO8ZMUxwQ4?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><figcaption>Official teaser: \u300ePUI PUI \u30e2\u30eb\u30ab\u30fc\u300f&#8221;\u795d\uff15\u5468\u5e74&#8221;\u3092\u8a18\u5ff5\u3057\u3066 \u898b\u91cc\u671d\u5e0c\u76e3\u7763 \u59cb\u52d5\u4e2d\uff01 (TV\u30a2\u30cb\u30e1\u300ePUI PUI \u30e2\u30eb\u30ab\u30fc\u300f\u516c\u5f0f)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<h2>What We Know So Far<\/h2>\n\n<p>Details are deliberately slim at this stage \u2014 the teaser is more of a mood piece than a plot reveal \u2014 but here&#8217;s what&#8217;s confirmed:<\/p>\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Format:<\/strong> Anniversary special (episode count TBC)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Director:<\/strong> Tomoki Misato, returning after Season 1 (2021)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Studio:<\/strong> Shinei Animation<\/li>\n<li><strong>Central character:<\/strong> Choco, whose canon birthday is August 10<\/li>\n<li><strong>Air date:<\/strong> Not yet announced<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"474\" height=\"533\" data-attachment-id=\"7639\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/molcar-characters-aomori-2026\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/molcar-characters-aomori-2026.jpg?fit=1200%2C1350&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1200,1350\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"molcar-characters-aomori-2026\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/molcar-characters-aomori-2026.jpg?fit=267%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/molcar-characters-aomori-2026.jpg?fit=474%2C533&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/molcar-characters-aomori-2026.jpg?resize=474%2C533&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"PUI PUI Molcar characters group visual from the Aomori 2026 collaboration\" class=\"wp-image-7639\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/molcar-characters-aomori-2026.jpg?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/molcar-characters-aomori-2026.jpg?resize=267%2C300&amp;ssl=1 267w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/molcar-characters-aomori-2026.jpg?resize=910%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 910w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/molcar-characters-aomori-2026.jpg?resize=768%2C864&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 474px) 100vw, 474px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><figcaption>The full Molcar cast \u2014 including Shiromo, Potato, Choco, Abbey, and Teddy \u2014 in a recent collaboration visual. \u00a9 \u898b\u91cc\u671d\u5e0c\uff0fPUI PUI \u30e2\u30eb\u30ab\u30fc\u88fd\u4f5c\u59d4\u54e1\u4f1a<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n<h2>Five Years of Pui Pui<\/h2>\n\n<p>PUI PUI Molcar first aired in January 2021 and immediately became one of those rare anime that transcends its target demographic. The show&#8217;s absurdist traffic-jam humour, Claymation-adjacent aesthetic, and genuinely expressive guinea-pig-car cast made it a staple of social media clip culture well beyond Japan. Singapore fans will likely remember the series landing on Netflix shortly after its Japanese broadcast, which is how many of us here first encountered the chaos of Shiromo, Potato, Choco, and the rest of the gang.<\/p>\n\n<p>An air date and broadcast platform for the anniversary special haven&#8217;t been confirmed yet. We&#8217;ll update this post the moment official details land. In the meantime, the official YouTube channel is your best bet for teasers \u2014 and yes, it&#8217;s worth keeping notifications on.<\/p>\n\n<!--GT-SCOUT source=\"Web (English)\" theme=\"Anime\" flags=\"air date to be confirmed\"-->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Five years of guinea pig cars and counting \u2014 PUI PUI Molcar is celebrating with a brand-new anniversary special, and original director Tomoki Misato is back at the wheel.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":7637,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":[]},"categories":[25],"tags":[68,264,336,1148],"class_list":["post-7640","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-manga-anime","tag-anime","tag-anime-2026","tag-anime-announcement","tag-pui-pui-molcar"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/molcar-5th-anniversary-choco.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p13AlF-1Ze","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":7279,"url":"https:\/\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/cyber-formula-35th-anniversary-new-anime-2026\/","url_meta":{"origin":7640,"position":0},"title":"Cyber Formula Is Back \u2014 New Sequel Anime and 35th Anniversary Festival Confirmed","date":"August 6, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Sunrise has confirmed a new Cyber Formula short anime \u2014 a direct sequel to SIN \u2014 alongside a 35th anniversary festival in Japan for January 2027. 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