Get ready to return to the charming world of Miss Kobayashi and her dragon maid, Tohru! A special English-subtitled trailer has dropped for the upcoming film, Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid: A Lonely Dragon Wants to be Loved, giving fans a sneak peek at the film’s opening theme song, “Namida no Parade” (“Parade of Tears”), performed by the beloved band fhána. Here’s everything we know about the upcoming movie.
A Long-Awaited Return to the Dragon World
Miss Kobayashi‘s Dragon Maid: A Lonely Dragon Wants to be Loved is set to premiere in Japanese theaters on June 27, 2025. The film promises to deliver the same heartwarming reverse-isekai vibes as the original series while exploring deeper, more emotionally resonant themes.
Production
The film is produced by Kyoto Animation, the same studio behind beloved anime films such as A Silent Voice and Violet Evergarden: The Movie. Tatsuya Ishihara (Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid S, Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions!) is directing the anime, with Yasuhiro Takemoto (Season 1 director) credited as the series director. Yuka Yamada (Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid S series screenwriter) is handling the script, and Miku Kadowaki (Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid S character designer) is in charge of character design and also serves as chief animation director. Other staff members include:
- Background Art Director: Shingo Kasai (Free!- the Final Stroke-)
- Color Designer: Naomi Takahashi (Free!- the Final Stroke- co-color designer)
- Compositing Director: Hiroki Umeda (Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid S)
The Story So Far
For those new to the series, Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid follows the story of Kobayashi, an average office worker whose life takes a turn when she saves the life of a dragon named Tohru. Tohru, grateful for Kobayashi’s help, transforms into a human girl and becomes Kobayashi’s maid. Living together, they are joined by other dragons, each with their unique personalities, leading to a heartwarming and often chaotic everyday life.
The movie’s plot will center around:
“The normal office worker, Miss Kobayashi. Dragons gathered after being attracted by Miss Kobayashi. Suddenly, there is a visitor for the young little dragon, Kanna. Surprisingly, he is Kanna’s real father.”
“Namida no Parade”: A Symphony of Emotions
The opening theme, “Namida no Parade” (Parade of Tears), is performed by fhána, the same band that provided the opening themes for both seasons of the Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid TV anime series. The band commented on their performance, saying they poured their hearts into creating a song that is “endlessly fun and deeply emotional”.
A Mix of Old and New Voices
The film will feature the return of many beloved voice actors, including:
- Mutsumi Tamura as Kobayashi
- Yūki Kuwahara as Tohru
- Maria Naganawa as Kanna
- Yūki Takada as Elma
- Minami Takahashi as Lucoa
- Daisuke Ono as Fafnir
- Yūichi Nakamura as Makoto Takiya
- Emiri Katō as Riko Saikawa
- Kaori Ishihara as Shōta Magatsuchi
However, there are also some new additions to the cast:
- Shiori Sugiura as Ilulu (replacing Tomomi Mineuchi, who retired from voice acting in 2022)
- Fumihiko Tachiki as Kimun Kamui
- Nobunaga Shimazaki as Azad
More Music to Delight
In addition to the opening theme, the film will also feature an ending theme song, “Bokutachi no Hibi” (Days of Us), performed by Sachiko Kobayashi, and an insert song called “Negaigoto” (Wish) by kotringo. Two music releases are planned for June 27 JST, the date of the film’s release:
- Eiga “Kobayashi-san Chi no Maid Dragon Samishigariya no Ryuu” OP/ED Shudaika: Contains the theme songs.
- Eiga “Kobayashi-san Chi no Maid Dragon Samishigariya no Ryuu” Zenkyokushuu: Includes the music, insert songs, and theme songs in one package.
Where to Watch
The film is set to debut on June 27 in 199 theaters in Japan and will have immersive 4DX and MX4D screenings. As of now, there is no confirmed release for theaters in the West. However, fans overseas can hope for the movie’s arrival on streaming platforms like Crunchyroll or on DVD. If the film proves popular enough, it could potentially see limited theatrical screenings internationally. In the meantime, both seasons of the Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid anime series, as well as all 16 episodes of the short animation series, are available to stream on Crunchyroll.
A Legacy of Dragons and Maids
The Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid series began as a manga series by Coolkyousinnjya, first serialized in Futabasha’s Monthly Action magazine in May 2013. In 2024, the series moved to MANGA Action magazine after Monthly Action ceased publication. As of February 2025, sixteen tankobon volumes have been released. The manga has also inspired several spin-offs, including Kanna’s Daily Life, Elma’s Office Lady Diary, Lucoa is My XX, and Fafnir the Recluse.
The anime adaptation by Kyoto Animation premiered in Japan in January 2017, with a second season, Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid S, airing in 2021. A video game titled Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid: Burst Forth!! Choro-gon Breath was released in Japan in March 2022 and in North America in August 2022.
The series is set in Koshigaya, Saitama Prefecture, and follows Kobayashi, a female office worker who discovers a dragon capable of transforming into a human girl and hires her as her maid, living in her apartment.
Final Thoughts
With a new film on the horizon, Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid continues to capture the hearts of fans worldwide. The blend of heartwarming slice-of-life moments, fantastical elements, and endearing characters makes for a truly unique and enjoyable experience. Be sure to check out the new trailer and get ready for Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid: A Lonely Dragon Wants to be Loved when it hits theaters in Japan on June 27, 2025!
