The highly anticipated TV anime adaptation of Hisaya Nakajo’s beloved shojo manga, Hana-Kimi, has released a new video, revealing additional cast members and key staff, and confirming its premiere date of January 4, 2026. The series promises to bring the classic cross-dressing romantic comedy to a new generation of fans, with Crunchyroll slated to stream the anime globally.
New Trailer Highlights Key Characters and January 2026 Premiere
A new teaser trailer for the Hana-Kimi anime has been unveiled, offering a fresh look at the series and its main characters. While previous announcements confirmed the main cast, this video provides further insight into the animation style and character interactions. The anime is officially set to begin broadcast in January 2026, with Crunchyroll confirming its streaming availability across North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Africa, Oceania, the Middle East, CIS, and India. Japanese musical unit YOASOBI, known for their work on popular anime like BEASTARS and Oshi no Ko, will perform both the opening and ending theme songs for the series.
Expanded Cast Roster Brings Iconic Characters to Life
In addition to the previously announced main trio, a significant list of new voice actors has joined the Hana-Kimi anime project, breathing life into a wider array of memorable characters. Aya Yamane is cast as Mizuki Ashiya, Taku Yashiro as Izumi Sano, and Kikunosuke Toya as Shuichi Nakatsu.
The newly announced cast members include:
- Yuichiro Umehara as Minami Nanba
- Jun Fukuyama as Hokuto Umeda
- Reiji Kawashima as Senri Nakao
- Koki Uchiyama as Daiki Kayashima
- Wataru Komada as Kyogo Sekime
- Anan Furuya as Shinji Noe
- Kotaro Nishiyama as Wataru Nihonbashi
- Yuko Natsuyoshi as Julia Maxwell
These additions complete a robust voice cast, promising dynamic performances for the classic shojo story.
Behind the Scenes: Production Staff Additions Revealed
The production team at Signal.MD has also seen new key staff members announced, ensuring a high-quality adaptation of the beloved manga.
The main staff includes:
- Director: Natsuki Takemura (known for Go! Go! Vehicle Zoo)
- Assistant Director: Shigeru Ueda (involved in To Love-Ru and Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? IV)
- Series Composition: Takao Yoshioka (worked on Aharen-san wa Hakarenai and Horimiya: The Missing Pieces)
- Character Design: Shi Yi Su (contributed to Dragon Goes House-Hunting)
- Music: Masaru Yokoyama (composer for Arakawa Under the Bridge and Horimiya: The Missing Pieces)
- Sound Director: Jin Aketagawa (known for 86 and Golden Kamuy)
Signal.MD is handling the animation production for the series. The first episode of the anime already had a world premiere at the Anime NYC event.
Series Overview and Enduring Appeal
Hana-Kimi, or Hanazakari no Kimitachi e (For You in Full Blossom), is a classic romance shojo manga by Hisaya Nakajo, which ran in Hakusensha’s Hana to Yume magazine from 1996 to 2004, comprising 23 volumes. The manga has garnered immense popularity, inspiring several live-action TV dramas in Taiwan (2006), Japan (2007, 2011), and South Korea (2012) before this first anime adaptation.
The story centers on Japanese-American track-and-field star Mizuki Ashiya, who disguises herself as a boy to transfer to an all-boys high school. Her goal is to meet her idol, high jumper Izumi Sano, and help him return to the sport after an injury. Mizuki’s new life at the all-boys’ school, where she even becomes roommates with Sano, requires her to keep her true identity a secret in challenging situations like the classroom, locker room, and her own bedroom. The series explores themes of identity, friendship, and romance as Mizuki navigates her deception while impacting the lives of her eccentric classmates and the observant school nurse.
The anime adaptation will continue the legacy of Hisaya Nakajo, who sadly passed away in October 2023 at the age of 50. Fans can anticipate a faithful and engaging adaptation of this beloved cross-dressing comedy when it debuts in January 2026.
