The upcoming anime adaptation of Keiichi Arawi’s CITY manga has just announced a significant addition to its cast. Veteran voice actor Hōchū Ōtsuka will be lending his talents as the narrator for CITY The Animation, completing the lineup of main cast members.
Who is Hōchū Ōtsuka?
Hōchū Ōtsuka (大塚 芳忠, Ōtsuka Hōchū), born Yoshitada Ōtsuka on May 19, 1954, is a highly respected and prolific Japanese voice actor and narrator. With a career spanning several decades, Ōtsuka has voiced numerous iconic characters in anime, video games, and dubbed foreign films. He is affiliated with the talent management firm Crazy Box.
Some of his most notable roles include:
- Kyao Mirao in Heavy Metal L-Gaim
- Yazan Gable in Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam
- Akira Sendō in Slam Dunk
- Jiraiya in Naruto
- Sakonji Urokodaki in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
- Mont Blanc Noland in One Piece
Ōtsuka is also widely recognized as the Japanese dubbing voice for actors such as Jean-Claude Van Damme, Donnie Yen (particularly in the Ip Man series), Jeff Goldblum, Ray Liotta, Tim Robbins, and Brent Spiner. He also provided the Japanese voice for Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
About CITY The Animation
CITY The Animation is based on the manga CITY by Keiichi Arawi, the creator of Nichijou: My Ordinary Life. The series is directed by Taichi Ishidate and produced by Kyoto Animation.
CITY is a surreal slapstick comedy that centers around Midori Nagumo, a penniless college student living in a city filled with bizarre and eccentric characters. As Midori navigates her chaotic life, she inadvertently sets off a series of comical events that throw the city into hilarious disarray. The anime promises to capture the unique humor and charm of Arawi’s original manga.
The Cast and Staff
The anime boasts a talented cast and crew.
- Midori Nagumo: Mikako Komatsu
- Niikura: Aki Toyosaki
- Wako Izumi: Yui Ishikawa
- Tsurubishi Makabe: Yoshihisa Kawahara
- Tatewaku Makabe: Miyu Irino
- Matsuri Makabe: Ayaka Nanase
- Eri Amakazari: Azusa Tadokoro
- Riko Izumi: Yū Wakui
- Dr. Adatara/Adatara’s father: Takehito Koyasu
- Adatara’s mother: Mayumi Asano
- Tatsuta Adatara: KENN
- Ryōta Adatara: Satoshi Inomata
- Kamome Adatara: Coco Hayashi
- Umi Adatara: Haruna Fukushima
- Sora Adatara: Yūki Tenma
- Kamaboko Oni: Yū Miyazaki
- Todoroki: Ryōta Suzuki
- Obaba: Kazutomi Yamamoto
- Ii Hito (the Good Guy): Kiyomitsu Mizuuchi
- Sumire Sakurakomi Tanabe: Yūko Gotō
- Hotaka: Jin Domon
- Rindō Obina: Makoto Kaneko
- Yamato Kurogane: Atsushi Kousaka
- Nobuteru Tekaridake: Jun Fukuyama
- Narrator: Hōchū Ōtsuka
Staff:
- Director: Taichi Ishidate
- Original Creator: Keiichi Arawi
- Character Designer/Chief Animation Director: Tamami Tokuyama
- Art Director: Shiori Yamazaki
- Color Designer: Kana Miyata
- Director of Photography: Hiroki Ueda
- 3D Director: Tatsunori Kase
- Sound Director: Yōta Tsuruoka
- Music: Piranhans
- Music Production: Pony Canyon
Theme Songs
The opening theme song, “Hello,” is performed by Riho Furui, while the ending theme song, “Lucky,” is performed by TOMOO.
Premiere Date
CITY The Animation is scheduled to premiere on July 6 on Tokyo MX at 24:00 JST (effectively, July 7 at 12 midnight). It will also air on ABC TV and TV Aichi at later times. BS11 will begin airing the anime on July 7 at 11:00 p.m. JST.
With Hōchū Ōtsuka joining the cast as the narrator, CITY The Animation promises to be a delightful and hilarious adaptation of Keiichi Arawi’s beloved manga. Animation fans can mark their calendars for the July premiere and prepare for a wild ride through the wonderfully strange world of CITY.
