The highly anticipated anime adaptation, “CITY The Animation,” officially premiered on July 6, 2025, on Tokyo MX, with subsequent broadcasts on other networks and worldwide streaming via Amazon Prime Video. Produced by the renowned Kyoto Animation, this series marks the studio’s first non-sequel anime in six years since the 2019 arson attack.
Fans of Keiichi Arawi’s unique brand of absurdist humor, previously seen in “Nichijou: My Ordinary Life,” have eagerly awaited this adaptation of his “CITY” manga.
Premiere Details and Global Accessibility
“CITY The Animation” debuted in Japan on July 6, 2025, at 24:00 JST (effectively July 7, 12:00 AM JST) on Tokyo MX. Additional Japanese broadcasts are scheduled for ABC TV and TV Aichi, with BS11 airing the series on July 7 at 11:00 PM JST.
For international audiences, the series is exclusively available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video worldwide. Amazon’s global release for the series was set for July 6, U.S. time, and it offers subtitles in 19 languages and audio in nine languages.
What to Expect from “CITY The Animation”
“CITY The Animation” is a comedy and slice-of-life series that follows the unpredictable daily lives of not-quite-ordinary residents in an otherwise ordinary city. The story primarily centers around penniless college student Midori Nagumo, who, along with her friends Wako Izumi and Ayumu Niikura, navigates humorous and chaotic situations. The series promises laughter, love, and emotional moments as these unique characters set the city in motion.
Key Characters and Voice Cast
The main cast bringing these quirky characters to life includes:
- Midori Nagumo: Voiced by Mikako Komatsu. A university sophomore who is often in debt and trying to find a job to settle things, while also seeking fun adventures.
- Ayumu Niikura: Voiced by Aki Toyosaki. A freshman at the same university as Nagumo, who dreams of becoming a photographer.
- Wako Izumi: Voiced by Yui Ishikawa. Another university sophomore and Nagumo’s friend, known for her airhead personality and tendency to stalk Nagumo.
Other notable cast members include Yoshihisa Kawahara as Tsurubishi Makabe, Miyu Irino as Tatewaku Makabe, and Ayaka Nanase as Matsuri Makabe, among others.
Production by Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation’s involvement has been a significant point of excitement for fans. The studio, known for its high-quality animation and detailed character work, announced the adaptation on September 21, 2024. Taichi Ishidate, who previously directed “Violet Evergarden” and “Beyond the Boundary,” is at the helm as director. The character designs and chief animation direction are handled by Tamami Tokuyama, with music provided by Piranhans. The first trailer, released on March 23, 2025, received widespread acclaim for its faithfulness to Keiichi Arawi’s distinctive art style.
The Manga’s Legacy
The “CITY” manga, written and illustrated by Keiichi Arawi, began serialization in Kodansha’s Morning magazine in September 2016 and concluded in February 2021, spanning 13 tankōbon volumes. Vertical (now Kodansha USA) has licensed the series for English publication in North America. The manga is also available on Kodansha’s K MANGA service. The series is set in Gunma Prefecture, similar to Arawi’s previous work, “Nichijou.”
The anticipation for “CITY The Animation” has been building since its announcement, with positive reactions to trailers and key visuals contributing to the buzz in the anime community. The premiere marks a significant return for Kyoto Animation to non-sequel productions and introduces a new adaptation of Arawi’s beloved comedic style to a global audience.
