The highly anticipated television anime adaptation of Yu Hibari and Siso’s romantic comedy light novel series, ‘Tenkō-saki no Seiso Karen na Bishōjo ga, Mukashi Danshi to Omotte Issho ni Asonda Osananajimi Datta Ken’ (also known by its shorter title, “Tenbin,” or the English translation, “The Transfer-Student Childhood Friend Who I Thought Was a Guy Was Actually a Pure and Adorable Beautiful Girl”), has announced a key cast member and confirmed its premiere for 2026. Asmik Ace revealed that Ikumi Hasegawa will join the voice cast.
Ikumi Hasegawa Joins the Cast of ‘Tenbin’ Anime
Voice actress Ikumi Hasegawa has been announced as a cast member for the upcoming ‘Tenkō-saki no Seiso Karen na Bishōjo ga, Mukashi Danshi to Omotte Issho ni Asonda Osananajimi Datta Ken’ TV anime. While the specific role she will be playing has not yet been detailed, her involvement adds an exciting element to the production, building anticipation among fans of the light novel and manga series.
‘Tenkō-saki no Seiso Karen na Bishōjo ga’ Set for 2026 Premiere
The anime adaptation of the beloved romantic comedy is officially slated for a 2026 debut. The anime was initially announced in 2023 during Kadokawa’s “Sneaker Bunko 35th Anniversary Festa!” livestream. Further details regarding the animation studio, additional cast members, and a more specific release window within 2026 are expected to be revealed in the coming months.
The Endearing Premise of ‘The Transfer-Student Childhood Friend’
The ‘Tenkō-saki no Seiso Karen na Bishōjo ga, Mukashi Danshi to Omotte Issho ni Asonda Osananajimi Datta Ken’ story revolves around Hayato, a high school boy who moves to the city and transfers to a new school. There, he experiences a surprising reunion with Haruki, a childhood friend he vividly remembers as a boy he used to play with seven years prior. To Hayato’s astonishment, Haruki is now a beautiful, pure, and adorable girl who is also the class idol.
Despite her refined public image, Haruki reveals her true, unreserved, and “crass” personality only when she is in front of Hayato, demonstrating that their unique bond from childhood remains intact despite the physical changes and passage of time. The romantic comedy explores how the two childhood friends navigate their rekindled relationship, bridging the gap between their past and present selves, and the evolving dynamics between them.
From Web Novel to Anime Series
The series originated as a web novel written by Yu Hibari, which began serialization online on the user-generated novel publishing website Shōsetsuka ni Narō in June 2020. It was later acquired by Kadokawa Shoten, who began publishing it as a light novel with illustrations by Siso under their Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko imprint in February 2021. As of August 2024, eight volumes of the light novel have been released. A manga adaptation, illustrated by Kina Ōyama, was also serialized online by Fujimi Shobo via the Niconico Seiga website as part of the Dra Dra Flat brand from September 2021 to June 2025, compiling into seven tankōbon volumes. The upcoming anime television series marks the latest expansion of this popular romantic comedy franchise.
