Kappei's manga "Hidari-Hiki no Ellen," which has also been adapted into a TV drama, has been made into an anime and will be broadcast on TV Tokyo from April 2026. The cast has also been announced, with Shoya Chiba playing the main character Asakura Koichi and Yumi Uchiyama playing Yamagishi Ellen.
The popular series, serialized online, has racked up a total of approximately 240 million pageviews and has sold over 3.9 million copies of the comics. Set in the world of creators, it depicts the struggles and discouragement of Koichi, an ordinary man who dreams of becoming something despite struggling with the limitations of his own talent, and Ellen, a solitary genius who is tormented by her overwhelming talent. Koichi, who chose the path of a designer, encounters seasoned creators in the advertising industry, while Ellen, who has plunged into the global art scene, encounters extraordinary artists.
The anime staff has also been announced, with Toshimasa Suzuki (Fafner in the Fafner in the Azure : Heaven and Earth) as director, Taku Kishimoto (Haikyu!!) as series composer, and Takayuki Goto (Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd GIG) as the original animation character designer. Yuka Fukuchi and Akane Tamai, who served as animation directors on Platinum End, will serve as character designers and chief animation directors. The music will be provided by the music unit "PC Music Club." Signal MD and Production IG will produce the anime.
A teaser visual featuring Eren has been released. It shows Eren spraying aerosol cans with the moon, a symbolic image from the original work, behind him. A teaser PV depicting the meeting between Koichi and Eren has also been released on YouTube.
Original author Kappei commented, "When I was still working, I started drawing 'Hidarikiki no Eren' with a ballpoint pen on the back of a rejected proposal in an empty office late at night. At first it was something extremely personal, something I drew to comfort and inspire myself. I and others would admit that my drawings were crude and it couldn't even be called a manga, but with this anime, everyone other than me will finally be able to see the voices I heard back then, the music that resonated back then, and the scenes that unfolded back then. This is the 'Hidarikiki no Eren' I wanted to draw."
Director Suzuki said, "I have worked in animation for a long time, but this is the first time I have directed a work set in the modern era, a time when I have lived my life. The original story is about a young man who struggles and struggles as he tries to create something. It is a very interesting work with a vivid and realistic depiction that at times resonates with me and makes me remember embarrassing events from my past. I am sure that viewers will find characters they can empathize with. The setting is set in the art and design industry, so I feel that it has a high affinity with animation. The original author, Kappei, has been actively involved and has given me accurate advice, and I am working on the production with young, talented staff and cast members. I hope you enjoy watching it."
Chiba, who plays Koichi, commented, "The sharpness of this work is sharper than anything else, yet endlessly gentle. It was shocking. I really sympathized with Koichi's coexistence of hope and despair, and I really wanted to play the role. I spoke all the lines from the original out loud and did everything I could before heading to the audition... so I'm truly happy to have been involved. Sometimes fun, sometimes serious, I put my all into it. The staff are all very enthusiastic not only about the original work, but also about the world of advertising, which is the setting, and you can really feel the seriousness of the production. I think people of all ages and genders will be able to feel the realistic romance. I hope you'll look forward to it!"
Uchiyama, who plays the role of Eren, said, "I am truly honored to be able to play Yamagishi Eren. The human drama of the characters, their conflicts, suffering, and hopes are portrayed realistically, and this work has touched the hearts of many people, so I would like to play Eren with care. I would appreciate your support!"
To commemorate the TV anime adaptation, it was also announced that the series will collaborate with "TV Tokyo Economic Week," a project in which all of TV Tokyo's economic programs deal with the same theme to promote the economy. The original author, Kappy, will appear on "News Morning Satellite" and "WBS (World Business Satellite)," which will be broadcast on November 14th. A long interview with Kappy will be streamed on TV Tokyo's economic video media, "TV Tokyo BIZ," from 7:00 pm on November 13th.
*Staff (titles omitted)
Director: Toshimasa Suzuki▽Series Composition: Taku Kishimoto▽Original Animation Character Design: Takayuki Goto▽Character Design and Chief Animation Director: Yuka Fukuchi, Akane Tamai▽Color Design: Mitsuko Sekimoto▽Art Director: Goshi Sato▽Art Setting: Kazuhiro Obata▽Director of Photography: Shun Arimura▽Editor: Junichi Masunaga▽Sound Director: Jin Aketagawa▽Music: PC Music Club▽Animation Production: Signal MD, Production IG
