The main cast of the TV anime "Kore Kaite Shine," based on the manga by Toyoda Minoru, which was nominated for the Manga Taisho 2023 and the 70th Shogakukan Manga Award, has been announced. Akira Sekine will play the protagonist, Yasumi So, a manga-loving first-year high school student living on Izu Ojima. Also announced as members of the Ojima High School Manga Research Club founded by Yasumi, are Saori Hayami as Teshima Rei, Niimi Saya as Fujimori Kokoro, Fujimura Kanon as Akafuku Yuki, and Inori Minase as Ishiryuu Hikaru. The anime will begin airing on Nippon TV in July.
Sekine, who plays Yasumi Ai, commented, "Ai-chan is a very hardworking girl. Her positivity as she gets excited about even the smallest discoveries, incorporates what she finds, and strives to shine more and more is very dazzling to play. Honestly, it's impossible to fully describe the appeal of ' Kore Kaite Shine'. The rich nature of Izu Ojima. The wonderful partners and characters. Episodes that you can't help but empathize with. And the unique works that they draw. Everything is full of charm. I also think it's a rich work, as the feeling you get changes depending on whose perspective you're looking at it from. I hope you will support their growth and enjoy it!"
Hayami, who plays Teshima Rei, a Japanese language teacher at the high school that Ai attends, said, "I am truly happy to be able to appear in this work as Teshima Rei. At first glance, he appears to be a cool and strict person, but after becoming the advisor of the manga study group, he shows another side to him...no, two or three sides to him, he is a deep character who becomes visible. During the dubbing, the cast and staff came together as one, creating each episode with great passion but in a friendly atmosphere. I think this is a story that will resonate with people who are currently pursuing their dreams, as well as those who are being chased by reality and have no time for dreams. I hope you enjoy it from the first episode to the last."
Hitomi, who plays Fujimori Kokoro, a classmate of Ai who is talented at drawing and also a member of the manga study group founded by Ai, said, "When I first came across the original work, I was surprised by the gap between the pop cover and the impactful title. That gap is also scattered throughout the story, and I feel like I was able to really think about the feeling of 'love'. Kokoro is also a girl who lives her life facing and accepting her own feelings. I tried to act with care, every single word that comes out of her body. I always went to the set thinking how happy I was to be involved in this work. I think it's a work that's like a ball of energy! I really want lots of people to see it!! Thank you very much!!!!!!"
Fujimura, who plays Akafuku Yuki, who starts a manga study group with Aio, said, "When I first read the original work, it reminded me of my school days, when I was working wholeheartedly towards my dreams, with nothing but the feeling that it was fun, and it made my heart beat faster. I think this is a work that will resonate with many people, both those who have experienced being passionate about something and those who will encounter it in the future. I am very happy to be involved in such a warm and gentle work. Akafuku is a girl who goes at her own pace and is free-spirited. I had fun playing the role, being led around by her and also gaining energy from her! I would be happy if you could watch it and make comments along with Yasumi!!"
Minase, who plays Ishiryu Hikaru, a first-year high school student who moves to Izu Ojima and also works as a talented amateur manga artist, commented, "The character I play, Hikaru, is a unique character with a very original sensibility, so I played the role very carefully so as not to let the fountain of imagination well up in her head dry up. This is a dazzling and endearing work in which each character's dreams fill freely, resonating with the rich nature. I'm sure you will encounter moments that will move your heart. Being involved in this production made me feel strongly that I never want to forget this feeling that 'creating is fun!' I'm sure that feeling will reach everyone! Please support me!"
The main visual has also been released. The design is reminiscent of a manga manuscript, and features Ai and Pokota at the center, along with members of the Ojima High School Manga Research Club, teacher Teshima, and Teramura Nana, the owner of the rental bookstore on Izu Ojima that Ai frequents.
The series is a "manga x high school girl coming-of-age story" that has been serialized in "Gessan" (Shogakukan) since 2021. It depicts a high school girl who is fascinated by manga, forming a manga study group with her friends, and struggling to find what she wants to draw. The main character, Yasumi, is a first-year high school student who lives on Izu Ojima, an island off the coast of Tokyo, and loves reading manga. After a certain incident, she begins to think about drawing manga.
The anime will be directed by Akagi Hiroaki, known for "Teasing Master Takagi-san The Dangers in My Heart," and produced by Shin-Ei Animation.
*Staff (titles omitted)
Director: Akagi Hiroaki ▽ Series Composition: Fukuda Yuko ▽ Screenplay: Fukuda Yuko, Itami Aki, Kato Kanichi ▽ Character Design: Segawa Takehisa ▽ Color Design: Yanagisawa Kumiko ▽ Art Director: Kasuga Reiji ▽ Director of Photography: Hamao Shigemitsu ▽ Editing: Hida Fumi ▽ Music: Tsutsumi Hiroaki (Miracle Bus) ▽ Sound Director: Amano Tatsuhiro ▽ Sound Production: Bit Groove Promotion ▽ Animation Production: Shin-Ei Animation
