The highly anticipated anime adaptation of Hiromu and raemz’s light novel series, “Chitose Is in the Ramune Bottle” (Chitose-kun wa Ramune Bin no Naka), has officially announced it will air as a two-part series with a break in between, beginning its broadcast on October 7. This revelation came alongside the release of the main promotional video, which also unveiled additional cast members and theme song details.
Anime Details and Broadcast Schedule
The “Chitose Is in the Ramune Bottle” anime is set to make its debut on October 7, broadcasting on several Japanese channels including AT-X, Tokyo MX, KBS Kyoto, Sun TV, Fukui Broadcasting, TV Aichi, and BS11. The series will follow a “split-cour” format, meaning its episodes will be divided into two distinct broadcast periods with a hiatus in between. This increasingly common practice in the anime industry allows animation studios more time to maintain quality and manage production schedules, rather than rushing a continuous long run.
What is a Split-Cour?
A “cour” in anime generally refers to a three-month broadcasting block, typically comprising 10 to 14 episodes. A split-cour anime, therefore, is a single season that airs across different, non-consecutive broadcasting seasons, with a break in the middle. This differs from a simple second season, as a split-cour is generally planned as a continuous story arc for a single “season” that is merely split for logistical or production reasons.
Plot and Premise of “Chitose Is in the Ramune Bottle”
The story centers on Saku Chitose, a popular and reputably “perfect” high school student at Fujishi High, the prefecture’s top preparatory school. Despite being the envy of many and even facing online slander, Saku maintains his cool thanks to his high-level academic and athletic abilities, strong communication skills, and a close-knit group of equally popular friends.
However, Saku’s seemingly unshakeable world takes a turn when a teacher tasks him with convincing Kenta Yamazaki, a shut-in student who has been absent for months, to return to school. This mission challenges Saku’s perfect image and forces him to confront a new reality, delving into themes of youth, popularity, and genuine connection. The series is set in Fukui prefecture, adding a local flavor to this emotional coming-of-age narrative.
Production Team and Voice Cast
The anime adaptation is being produced by Studio feel., known for its work on various other anime series. Yuji Tokuno (who has served as an episode director for Oshi no Ko) is directing the series. Naruhisa Arakawa, who has previously worked on series composition for titles like More than a Married Couple, but Not Lovers, is overseeing the series scripts and co-writing them with the original author, Hiromu. Sumie Kinoshita is handling the character designs.
The main voice cast for “Chitose Is in the Ramune Bottle” includes:
- Shogo Sakata as Saku Chitose
- Manaka Iwami as Yuko Hiiragi
- Hina Yomiya as Yua Uchida
- Ikumi Hasegawa as Yuzuki Nanase
- Rumi Okubo as Haru Aomi
- Chika Anzai as Asuka Nishino
The newly announced additional cast members are Yōhei Azakami as Kuranosuke Iwanami and Masaya Miyazaki as Kenta Yamazaki.
Theme Songs
The main promotional video also offered a preview of the anime’s theme songs. Kucci will perform the opening theme song titled “Liar,” while Cider Girl is slated to perform the ending theme song, “Kagerō” (Heat Haze).
The “Chitose Is in the Ramune Bottle” light novel series, written by Hiromu and illustrated by raemz, began publication in June 2019 under Shogakukan’s Gagaga Bunko imprint. Yen Press publishes the English version of both the light novel and its manga adaptation by Bobcat. The series has garnered attention, with the government of Fukui even budgeting for a pop-culture tourism campaign collaboration in 2022. With its October 7 debut and split-cour format, fans can look forward to a detailed and well-paced adaptation of this popular romantic comedy.
