As we sit halfway through the year, 2026 has been shaping up to be a truly glorious year for animation.
From the arrival of all-new series to the return of beloved favorites, animation is experiencing yet another modern renaissance.
Case in point? Simply scanning the recent news and developments we have been covering here at BSCKids showcases just how strong animation’s resurgence has become, as well as how rich and diverse its offerings continue to be.
That growing lineup now includes a returning title that fans have been waiting years to see again: the beloved 2010s magical girl series known as “LoliRock.”
Get ready for the show and revolution with the new star generation, as the long-awaited third season is officially in production.
“LoliRock,” created by Jean Louis-Vandestoc, first arrived in France in the fall of 2014 before expanding globally. The series — produced by Marathon Media and Zodiak Kids with the participation of France Télévisions and The Walt Disney Company France — quickly became a favorite among audiences not only in France and Europe, but around the world.
The series puts a unique spin on the coming-of-age story audiences are familiar with, blending it with magical girl storytelling and idol-inspired elements. The result is a series that felt distinct when it premiered and remains just as unique today.
“LoliRock” follows Iris, a seemingly ordinary teenage girl with a passion and talent for singing. The only problem? Strange things happen whenever she sings.
Those mysteries only deepen after she auditions for a new girl group known as LoliRock. Iris soon finds herself in the midst of a battle she never asked to join and confronted with a shocking revelation: she is actually a magical princess from Ephedia who was sent to Earth for her own protection.
Now that she has come of age and her powers have awakened, Iris must join forces with her new friends Talia and Auriana to save her home realm. Their quest requires them to recover the twelve Oracle Gems of the Crown of Ephedia, which have been scattered across Earth.
Only then can they defeat the evil Lord Gramorr, overcome his loyal followers Praxina and Mephisto, and free Ephedia — including Iris’ imprisoned family.
While the stakes surrounding the Oracle Gems, Lord Gramorr’s growing threat and the schemes of Praxina and Mephisto provide plenty of action, “LoliRock” truly distinguishes itself through its heart. The series balances magical battles and fantasy adventures with grounded stories about friendship, identity and growing up.
For their cover, Talia and Auriana pose as foreign exchange students, but that role often creates challenges of its own. In an almost reverse-isekai dynamic, they struggle to navigate everyday life on Earth just as Iris struggles to come to terms with magic, destiny and princesshood.
Their differing personalities not only create a wonderfully balanced team, but also a believable one. Together, they form a found family that drives the story forward with genuine heart, later expanding to include characters such as Carissa and Lyna while a war continues to unfold back home on Ephedia.
While they can never fully forget that their families and people remain in danger, they are still given the opportunity to experience parts of a normal teenage life. The series authentically treats all of its teenage characters — princess or not — like actual teenagers in the way they act, speak and react. It is a refreshing approach that helps ground even the most fantastical moments.
Though magical battles, quests for ancient gems and teenage life fill much of the series, one of the most memorable elements of “LoliRock” is its musical identity. Not only are Iris, Talia and Auriana princesses fighting to save their realm, they also become a legitimate and increasingly popular girl group.
While secondary to the larger conflict, the music remains an important part of the series’ identity. It allows for full performance sequences, memorable songs and moments that help distinguish “LoliRock” from many of its peers. The music really is that good.
There are countless things that make “LoliRock” stand out and fully embrace what it sets out to achieve. And after years of anticipation following the dramatic Season 2 finale, there is clearly more story left to tell.
If anything, the conclusion of the second season only raised the stakes and created even more opportunities for compelling storytelling moving forward.
Events we will now finally get to witness ourselves.
Based on a recent blog from Banijay Kids & Family, fans now have their first synopsis of the story ahead for the princesses.
Spoilers for the ending of Season 2:
In the upcoming series, after defeating Gramorr, the princesses are back on Earth where LoliRock is preparing to embark on a world tour. However, their tranquility is short-lived. Determined to avenge the death of her brother Mephisto, Praxina has become more powerful than ever and has set her sights on Earth. LoliRock must now protect the planet as they travel the globe on tour.
Though brief, the synopsis lays the foundation for what may be the princesses’ greatest challenge yet.
Previously, their mission was to save their world. Now, they must protect the second home they have chosen for themselves.
With Iris’ personal relationships and connections potentially at risk, the new season may place even greater emphasis on her dual identities — balancing life on Earth while embracing her role as a princess of Ephedia.
Add world travel to the equation and we are about to see the girls experience new cultures, environments and challenges while facing threats far beyond anything they have encountered before.
Not only can viewers look forward to more of the classic “LoliRock” heart and storytelling, but also new songs that may very well find their way onto everyone’s Spotify Wrapped — along with even more magic.
That final point already appears to be true, as the first released visual shows all five princesses powered up and ready for battle in updated versions of their magical forms.
While previous entries in the franchise never received an especially expansive merchandise line, the anticipation surrounding Season 3 could create new opportunities for fans to bring home pieces of the magical world they love and complete their own “LoliRock” collection.
Despite the years that have passed since the dramatic conclusion of Season 2, fan demand for the return of the princesses has never truly faded. Those calls for a continuation have come not only from longtime viewers who discovered the series during its original run, but also from an entirely new generation of fans who found the show after production had ended.
As the media landscape continues to evolve, and following the success of major girl-focused franchises that blend heart, action, magic and music, there may be no better time for “LoliRock” to return.
Between the renewed interest in fantasy adventures aimed at young audiences, the resurgence of music-driven storytelling and the continued appeal of early-2000s-inspired themes and aesthetics, the timing feels almost perfect. (Yes, the series premiered in the 2010s, but many of its themes would have fit perfectly alongside some of the era’s most beloved fantasy adventures.)
Combined with the continued rise of French animation as a global creative powerhouse through series such as “Miraculous,” the returning “Totally Spies!,” and newer productions like “The Doomies” and “Dragon Striker,” the stage feels perfectly set for the princesses’ return.
We are about to dive headfirst into another fantastical world shaped by some of the industry’s most creative storytellers. Truly, there is no better series to add to that growing list than “LoliRock.”
Honestly, what better time to get everyone dancing to the “Lolistep”?
After years of waiting, the stage is finally set for the princesses’ long-awaited return. With new adventures ahead, new music on the horizon and an entirely new chapter ready to unfold, we are ready for our next “LoliRock” concert to begin.
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