The five-episode miniseries, which will premiere on Duolingo’s YouTube channel on October 13, coincides with the debut of Duolingo’s revamped Japanese language courses, which are now available to learners of all languages.
Co-created with Los Angeles-based animation studio Titmouse, known for the films Big Mouth and Metalocalypse, The Final Test turns language learning into a story of perseverance.
“The Final Test” builds on the growing connection between the anime fan community and language learning, Duolingo explained in a statement.
The series introduces a new story about Duo the owl and his friends: before they became the guardians of the series, they were ordinary people. The duo, who help learners stay motivated, must overcome various challenges to keep their series alive – and each other.
“Anime is a global cultural phenomenon, and for so many people, it’s the spark that gets them excited to learn Japanese,” said Manu Orssaud, CMO at Duolingo. “With The Final Test, we’re channeling that passion and expanding our character universe in a way that’s unexpected, streak-obsessed and unmistakably Duolingo.”
Duolingo is also bringing the anime experience to life beyond the screen with fan-focused activations:
- Limited-edition anime plushies and enamel pins available for purchase online and at Duolingo’s New York Comic Con booth.
- Duolingo app integrations include custom lesson-complete animations and widget illustrations themed around The Final Test.
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