The highly anticipated anime adaptation of Sai Naekawa’s popular yuri manga series, “This Monster Wants to Eat Me” (Japanese: Watashi o Tabetai, Hito de Nashi), officially premiered on Thursday, October 2, 2025. Produced by Studio Lings, the series is now available for global streaming on Crunchyroll, promising a unique blend of supernatural horror, suspense, and poignant character drama.
The anime introduces viewers to a world where a young woman’s desire for an end meets a monster’s peculiar hunger, initiating an unconventional, dark relationship.
A Haunting Premise: Grief, Mermaids, and an Unusual Pact
“This Monster Wants to Eat Me” centers on Hinako Yaotose, a high school student grappling with profound grief and a desire to die after losing her family in a tragic accident. Her life takes an extraordinary turn when she is attacked by a monster and subsequently saved by Shiori Oumi, a mysterious mermaid.
However, Shiori’s salvation comes with a chilling condition: she intends to consume Hinako herself, but only once Hinako has “matured” into the most delicious meal. Surprisingly, Hinako accepts this fate, viewing it as a potential path to the “ending” she longs for. This agreement sets the stage for an intricate and emotionally charged narrative exploring themes of loneliness, depression, and the strange bonds that can form in the face of despair. The series is lauded for its combination of dark storytelling with moments of unexpected sweetness.
Key Cast and Production Team Bringing the Manga to Life
The anime boasts a talented voice cast and experienced production staff, ensuring a faithful and impactful adaptation of Naekawa’s original work.
Stellar Voice Cast
Leading the cast are:
- Reina Ueda as Hinako Yaotose, the melancholic protagonist. Ueda also performs the series’ ending theme song, “Lily.”
- Yui Ishikawa as Shiori Oumi, the enigmatic mermaid with a peculiar appetite.
- Fairouz Ai as Miko Yashiro, Hinako’s bubbly best friend.
Creative Minds Behind the Animation
The anime adaptation is helmed by Studio Lings. The core production team includes:
- Chief Director: Naoyuki Kuzuya
- Director: Yūsuke Suzuki
- Series Composition and Scriptwriting: Mitsutaka Hirota
- Character Designs: Sō Ikuyama (also credited as Nozomi Ikuyama)
- Music Composition: Keiji Inai
The opening theme song, “nie” (“Sacrifice”), is performed by Yoshino.
Where to Watch “This Monster Wants to Eat Me”
The series made its debut in Japan on AT-X, Tokyo MX, Sun TV, and BS NTV on October 2, 2025.
For international audiences, Crunchyroll is streaming “This Monster Wants to Eat Me” worldwide, excluding Asia. New episodes are scheduled to release weekly, with the season expected to run for 13 episodes. Viewers can catch new episodes with English subtitles on Thursdays.
