A new promotional video and key visual have arrived for the Akane-banashi anime, offering a glimpse into the upcoming Karaku Cup arc. The video specifically teases the student rakugo storytelling tournament of the same name.
The story follows Akane Osaki, a high school student determined to become a master rakugo storyteller, inspired by her father's passion and a past incident. The anime features Anna Nagase as Akane and Takuya Eguchi as Karashi Nerimaya, a two-time champion of the Student Rakugo Championship.
Directed by Ayumu Watanabe (Children of the Sea) at ZEXCS, the series also boasts a notable staff, including Yu Harima as assistant director and Kii Tanaka as character designer. The music is composed by Akio Izutsu, with Kikuhiko Hayashiya serving as the rakugo supervisor. Keisuke Kuwata performs both the opening and ending theme songs.
The Akane-banashi anime premiered on TV Asahi's "IMAnimation" block on April 4. It is available for free streaming of full episodes in North America and Latin America via the official "Akane-banashi Global" YouTube channel. Netflix will begin streaming the series with an English dub on May 17, releasing the first two episodes initially, followed by weekly installments. The manga, created by YÅ«ki Suenaga and Takamasa Moue, has received critical acclaim, including nominations for prestigious manga awards and recognition on ALA and New York Public Library best-of lists.
Source: Anime News Network
