The highly anticipated Blu-ray release of the popular 2024 girls’ love anime, “Whisper Me a Love Song,” has been officially canceled. This announcement comes after a series of production issues plagued the series, disappointing fans who were eagerly awaiting the home media release. NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan, the distributor, cited “internal circumstances” as the reason for the cancellation.
Series of Setbacks
The cancellation of the Blu-ray release is the latest in a string of unfortunate events for the anime adaptation of Eku Takeshima’s manga. The anime was initially announced on January 13, 2023, with high hopes from fans of the source material. However, the production process was anything but smooth.
Production Problems
Rumors of significant production problems first surfaced in June 2024. An insider on X (formerly Twitter) revealed that the anime was being produced under problematic working conditions. These issues included a limited number of animators being forced to work overtime, often within a 48-72 hour window, to complete an episode. Additionally, multiple studios were outsourced with limited resources and tight deadlines, adding to the strain.
Delays and Changes
The anime’s original premiere date was set for January 2024, but it was delayed until April of the same year due to “various circumstances.” Further complicating matters, the initial director, Xin Ya Cai, stepped down due to health issues and was replaced by Akira Mano. The animation production also saw changes, with Yokohama Animation Lab sharing the credit with Cloud Hearts.
These initial setbacks were just the beginning. Episodes 9 and 10 were delayed by two weeks in June due to “production circumstances.” Later, Episodes 11 and 12 were significantly delayed, not airing until December 28, 2024, a six-month gap from the previous episodes. This staggered release schedule added to the growing unease among fans.
Blu-ray Release Woes
The Blu-ray release was initially scheduled for four volumes, to be released between September and December of 2024. As production issues mounted, these dates were pushed back by four months. The first volume was rescheduled for January 31, 2025, the second for February 28, the third for March 28, and the fourth for April 30. These new dates, however, would not come to pass, as the entire Blu-ray release has now been canceled.
The cancellation encompasses all four planned volumes of the Blu-ray, leaving fans with no physical release of the anime series. The distributor’s statement on the official website and social media channels simply read, “Regarding the Blu-ray of the TV anime series Whisper Me a Love Song, which we had announced would be released sequentially in January 2025, we have decided to cancel the release due to circumstances at our company.”
Fan Reaction
The news has been met with disappointment and anger from fans. Many took to social media to express their frustration, citing the lack of transparency regarding the reasons for the cancellation. Some online comments highlighted the sentiment that apologies alone are not sufficient.
Cloud Hearts’ Troubles
Adding to the woes, the animation studio Cloud Hearts also appears to be facing its own difficulties. In late October 2024, it was reported that Cloud Hearts’ website became inaccessible, with its domain listed as “Deleted.” Furthermore, the studio is no longer listed as a business partner on Yokohama Animation Lab’s website since May 2024, further suggesting the studio’s possible financial instability. This information points to potentially severe internal issues within Cloud Hearts, which may have contributed to the cancellation of the Blu-ray release.
About “Whisper Me a Love Song”
“Whisper Me a Love Song” is based on a yuri romance manga by Eku Takeshima, which began serialization in Ichijinsha’s Comic Yuri Hime in 2019. The story follows the bubbly and energetic first-year high school student Himari, who falls for her senpai Yori after hearing her band perform.
The anime adaptation was produced by Cloud Hearts and Yokohama Animation Laboratory. The opening theme song, “Follow Your Arrows,” is performed by the anime’s band, SSGIRLS.
Despite the production issues and now canceled Blu-ray release, “Whisper Me a Love Song” was streamed by HIDIVE as it aired in Japan. Kodansha USA Publishing is releasing the manga in English, both digitally and in print.
Conclusion
The cancellation of the “Whisper Me a Love Song” Blu-ray release marks a significant blow for fans of the series, capping a turbulent production cycle. The series, which showed initial promise, was ultimately hampered by production problems, studio instability, and internal issues. This cancellation serves as a stark reminder of the challenges and pitfalls that can plague the anime industry. As of now, there is no indication that production will resume or that a home media release will be considered in the future.
