The manga series Ganglion, a collaborative work by author Hisaya Shiraiwa and illustrator Takashi Itsuki, is officially receiving a television anime adaptation scheduled to premiere on October 3. The announcement was made through a newly launched website, revealing broadcast details, key staff, and the main voice cast for the upcoming series.
Unveiling the “Ganglion” Story
Set in Tokyo in the early 2000s, Ganglion is described as a work-related drama centered around a combatant named Isobe. Isobe is employed by “Ganglion Co., Ltd.,” an organization with ambitious plans for world domination. The manga delves into Isobe’s daily life as he undertakes various missions, such as the “Tokyo Cedar Pollen Operation” and the “Mount Fuji Bombing Operation.” Despite his efforts, he frequently faces defeat at the hands of the hero HOPEMAN. The narrative explores the struggles of a “salaryman combatant” in the nascent era of compliance, highlighting his perseverance against unreasonable demands from his superiors. The original one-volume manga was published by Yoshimoto Books in 2009.
Anime Broadcast Details and Production Team
The Ganglion anime is slated to begin airing on October 3. Viewers in Japan can catch the series on TV Tokyo, TV Osaka, AT-X, and BS Yoshimoto. AT-X will offer the fastest broadcast, starting on Fridays at 8:30 PM JST, followed by TV Tokyo at 1:53 AM JST on Fridays, TV Osaka at 9:55 PM JST on Tuesdays, and BS Yoshimoto at 10:55 PM JST on Saturdays.
The production team bringing Ganglion to life includes a notable lineup of industry professionals:
- Planning: Yoshimoto Kogyo
- Script: Harise
- Director: Ayumu Watanabe (known for works such as Komi Can’t Communicate and Summer Time Rendering)
- Assistant Director: Ryōsuke Tanaka
- Character Designer & Chief Animation Director: Shigeru Fujita
- Series Composition: Tomoaki Shiono
- Color Design: Naomi Nakano
- Art Director: Yoshihiro Nakamura
- Director of Photography: Tomoya Yokoyama
- Animation Director: Fūka Niida
- CG Director: Takumi Mukai
- Editing: Kiyoshi Hirose
- Music: Takeo Asami
- Music Production: INSPION
- Sound Director: Kisuke Koizumi
- Sound Production: INSPION Edge
- Animation: Noboru Fukae
- Animation Production: studio maf
- Cooperation: Yoshimoto Broad Entertainment
- Production: Ganglion Production Committee
Illustrator Takashi Itsuki also drew a special illustration to commemorate the anime announcement.
Main Voice Cast Revealed
A talented ensemble of voice actors has been announced to portray the main characters of Ganglion. The cast includes:
- Kenji Isobe: Yōji Ueda
- Colonel Shadow (Jin Kageyama): Fumihiko Tachiki
- HOPEMAN: Tomokazu Sugita
- Setsuko Isobe: Aoi Koga
- Takashi Isobe: Yoshino Aoyama
- Komiko (Yumiko): Hikaru Tōno
- Old Man at the Food Stall: Itsuji Itao
Character visuals and official comments from the cast members have also been released, further building anticipation for the series. An autograph present campaign featuring Yōji Ueda’s signature has also commenced on the official X (formerly Twitter) account.
