Sakura Momoko‘s Chibi Maruko-chan and Yoshito Usui‘s Crayon Shin-chan manga, in commemoration of their 40th and 35th anniversaries, respectively, are set to collaborate with one another.
The May 2026 issue of Shueisha’s Ribon, which launches on April 3 and comes with a pouch featuring collaboration artwork, will feature a Chibi Maruko-chan story in which the Nohara family comes to Shizuoka and meets Maruko by chance. Maruko and Shinnosuke will get lost together as part of the tale.
A sequel will be published on the Crayon Shin-chan manga website in two parts as part of Shin Crayon Shin-chan manga. This time, the Sakura family will head to Kasukabe City in Saitama, where Maruko and Shinnosuke’s respective fathers will hit it off with each other over both their first names being Hiroshi. Part 1 will debut on April 3 like the preceding Chibi Maruko-chan story, while Part 2 will be released on April 20.
Additionally, there are plans to sell collaboration goods and to host a pop-up shop.
Chibi Maruko-chan is a biographical manga that follows the life of the titular, nine-year-old character. It started serialization in 1986. The 17th volume that was released in 2018, after the passing of Momoko, was initially its last. An 18th volume was published in 2022, with the content being drawn by Momoko’s former assistant Botan Kohagi.
Meanwhile, Crayon Shin-chan, which follows five-year-old Shinnosuke, made its debut in 1990 in Futabasha’s Weekly Manga Action. After its 50th volume was released in early 2010, a few months after Usui’s passing, it was succeeded by the current Shin Crayon Shin-chan, which credits Usui and UY Studio.
Both manga have inspired long-running TV anime and anime movies. The 33rd Crayon Shin-chan movie, Eiga Crayon Shin-chan Kiki Kaikai! Ora no Yokai Vacation, will begin screening on July 31.
Source: Chibi Maruko-chan and Crayon Shin-chan special website
