It has been announced that the TV anime "Kiriou Fan Club," based on the manga "Pon-chan the Earth Fish," which has also been adapted into a TV drama, will begin airing in April 2026. It has also been announced that additional cast members will appear: Hirose Yuya as Yuya Hirose, Ayasa Ito as Muraoka Satsuki, and Fuka Izumi as Tashiro Seira.
The first key visual, showing seven characters crossing paths in a school hallway, and the first promotional video using footage from the anime have been released.
Hirose, who plays Mitsuda Mitsuru, commented, "The emotions he hides inside are powerful, and I really liked the way he interacts with people, so I was happy to be able to play him! The original work is so interesting, and the dialogue and word sense are so outstanding, so I struggled to think about how to approach it when it was heard as sound! Many of the cast members are around the same age, so we were able to work together in a harmonious atmosphere during the dubbing! I hope you'll look forward to seeing how Mitsuda interacts with the girls and Kirio!"
Ogasawara, who plays Momose Hayato, said, "What is youth? I can't imagine that I can now clearly understand something that I didn't even understand when I was living through that time, but during the dubbing period for this work, I was thinking every week, 'Maybe this is what it was like,' and I think that period could definitely be called that for me. The ordinary interactions and the series of small, meaningless choices that don't amount to anything, however, gradually take on meaning within the people involved, and no life ever pays off neatly. But even so, when you spend time with someone important, everything turns into fond memories, one by one, and becomes a memento. This is a masterpiece that depicts such beautiful days with a frankly ridiculous sense of comedy. I am very honored to have been able to help."
Ito, who plays Muraoka Satsuki, said, "I was fascinated by the fast-paced conversations between Aimi and Nami and their unexpected perspectives, and as I read through the original work, I was captivated. I'm sure you'll laugh and laugh and laugh a lot, but I'd be happy if the charm of this work, which has more to it than that, reaches many people. Satsuki, whom I will be playing, has a friendly personality and is popular in her class. She has the personality of a life-sized high school student, and is so youthful that you can't help but admire her! I really enjoyed acting as her. I hope that the broadcast will be a work that adds a bit of joy and a smile to everyone's daily lives. Please look forward to it!"
Izumi, who plays Tashiro Seira, commented, "I never thought there would come a day in my life when I'd think, 'I'm so glad I've been a serious otaku'... I feel so rewarded. Seira is a very loving, proactive, and powerful person. For those of you who are experiencing the work for the first time through the anime, I hope you'll look forward to seeing what kind of role Seira will play! I've been exposed to the works of Earth's Fish Pon-chan Sensei since I was a student, so I never expected to be able to appear, and especially to a character who is such a concentrated version of my student days...! I'm thrilled! I'm really looking forward to the broadcast! I hope everyone enjoys it."
Director So Toyama said, "When you learn the meaning of the 'Kirio Fan Club,' you'll want to watch this irreplaceable youth ensemble drama all over again. Their story, which is sure to have made you laugh and cry more than enough the first time you watch it, will become even clearer and bring you more laughter and tears. This device emerges clearly from the witty and original dialogue, the rich expressions, and the exquisite positions of the characters. Please watch until the end. Then follow their story for a second and third time and enjoy it. In order to express all of this fun, many of the staff, including the cast, animation, art, color, cinematography, production manager, director, and more, have become members of the 'Kirio Fan Club' and are actively supporting (producing) the series!"
Aya Satsuki, who is in charge of series composition and scriptwriting, said, "I discussed day and night with Pon-chan the Earth Fish and the staff about how we could make sure that the sparkle of those moments when you laughed, cried, and missed your friends over and over again through 'Kirio Fan Club' would be conveyed to everyone without fading, even through the animation. I think this work is a story about how to spend this one and only time with the important people who are by your side, and how to express your feelings of love. I hope that this will make people want to watch this anime with their loved ones, or think about contacting them for the first time in a while, and that in this way, the feeling of love will be connected, even just a little, to the world."
Nami Hayashi, who is in charge of animation character design, commented, "Around three years ago, I mentioned 'Kirio Fan Club' as a work that I wanted to see made into an anime, and it caught the attention of a producer, who connected us and led to it being made into an anime. I never thought it would actually happen, so I'm filled with surprise and gratitude. I'm also very honored to be involved in character design!! I'm putting my heart and soul into the production, hoping that the charm of the original will be conveyed even more in the anime, and that it will bring youth, laughter, tears, sweat, and drool. Please look forward to it airing!"
Nobori Haruko, who is in charge of color design, said, "Kirio Fan Club is being made into an anime! I wanted to be a part of this project! When I received the offer, I jumped at the chance and said, I want to do it!" The story is set in my favorite town and depicts the everyday lives of cute high school students. It's so much fun to be able to live through my youth again with these kids, crying and laughing every day. The colors are soft and gentle. Why not join us in experiencing youth together? Please be sure to watch it."
Sound director Kameyama Toshiki commented, "There's a mysterious feeling that overflows in the gaps between words and emotions, and although the big picture is one in which a storm of youthful impulses rages around us, toying with us, I think what makes this a fun work is the portrayal of characters with a nonchalant attitude, as if they're making a model out of matchsticks in the midst of that storm. I feel like I learned the importance and cherishment of finding and enjoying interesting things through this work!"
The series is a one-way romantic comedy that depicts high school girls Miyoshi Aimi and Someya Nami engaging in endless fantasies and love exchanges with their crush, classmate Kirio Ken. It was serialized in "COMIC Ryuel" (Jitsugyo no Nihon Sha) from 2022 to 2024. It Kono Manga ga Sugoi! 2024" and 10th place in the women's edition of "This Kono Manga ga Sugoi! 2025", and was made into a live-action drama in April this year.
The anime will be directed by Toyama and produced by Satelight, with Nene Hieda playing Miyoshi Aimi, Shion Wakayama playing Someya Nami, and Kajiwara Gakuto playing Kirio Ken.
*Cast (titles omitted)
Director: So Toyama▽Series Composition/Script: Aya Satsuki▽Animation Character Design: Nami Hayashi▽Main Key Animation: Kikuko Sadakata▽Art Setting: Katsuhisa Takiguchi (Studio Tulip)▽Art Director: Daisuke Suzuki (Studio Tulip)▽Color Design: Haruko Nobori (Hiwa)▽Director of Photography: Go Shimura (T2studio)▽Editing: Shuji Matsumoto▽Sound Director: Toshiki Kameyama▽Sound Production: Studio Sound Bee▽Music: Tomoki Kikutani▽Music Production: Pony Canyon▽Animation Production: Satelight
