The latest television adaptation of Magic Knight Rayearth has expanded its roster, with the official website announcing three new additions to the cast. Voice actors Mao Ichimichi, Natsumi Takamori, and Miyuki Sakurai have joined the production to portray Hikaru's classmates. These new arrivals bolster the supporting cast for the series, which officially began its broadcast run on October 7 as part of TV Asahi's IMAnimation W programming block.
This production is helmed by director Yui Umemoto at E&H Production, with Takayuki Sano serving as assistant director. The creative team also includes series composer Shigeru Murakoshi and character designer Satomi Watanabe. The show's musical score is a collaborative effort between Yuki Kajiura, Takumi Ozawa, and Shiho Terada.
While this new series brings the classic CLAMP magical girl story to a modern audience, the franchise has a long history of domestic releases. The original manga, serialized in Nakayoshi from 1993 to 1995, has seen multiple English-language iterations over the decades, ranging from Tokyopop’s initial 1997 release to the recent hardcover box sets from Kodansha USA. Given the series' deep roots in 90s shoujo, it remains to be seen how this new adaptation will balance nostalgia with its updated production style.
