Aniplex, A-1 Pictures, and Psyde Kick Studio have officially announced an original anime project titled Grow Up Show: Himawari no Circus-dan (Grow Up Show: The Sunflower Circus Troupe), set to debut in 2026. The announcement was made on “Sunflower Day,” July 14, 2025.
The upcoming series will be produced by A-1 Pictures and its recently established internal label, Psyde Kick Studio. Psyde Kick Studio was founded with the aim of fostering “freer and more original expression” within A-1 Pictures, combining concepts from “sidekick,” “psycho,” and “psychedelic” to encourage new and experimental creative endeavors. Grow Up Show marks the first project to feature the new label in its credits.
Leading the creative team for Grow Up Show: Himawari no Circus-dan are several notable figures in the anime industry. Kanta Kamei, known for directing Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend, will serve as the director for this new original anime. Original character designs are being handled by Misaki Kurehito, who also provided original illustrations for the Saekano light novels. Takeshi Kikuchi, recognized for his work on Skeleton Knight in Another World, is in charge of series composition and scriptwriting.
A teaser visual for the anime has been released, depicting a girl amidst various circus motifs such as juggling, ball juggling, and trapeze. A promotional video utilizing this visual was also released on YouTube. While story details and cast information are yet to be confirmed, the imagery suggests a narrative centered around a circus theme. The format of the anime has not yet been specified.
