It has been announced that a new TV anime adaptation of "Magic Knight Rayearth," the popular manga by the manga creation group "Hikaru Shidou," will air on TV Asahi's anime block "IMAnimation W" every Wednesday at 11:45 PM starting in October. The main cast members who will play the three main Magic Knights have also been announced: Ayane Sakura will play Hikaru Shidou, Rumi Umi Ryuuzaki will play Umi Ryuzaki, and Rie Fuu Hououji will play Rie Takahashi .
This marks the first new anime in approximately 29 years since the OVA (Original Video Animation) "Magic Knight Rayearth," released in 1997, and the first television anime series to air in approximately 31 years since the previous series that aired from 1994 to 1995. The staff has also been announced, with Yui Miura directing, Shigeru Murakoshi handling series composition, Satomi Watanabe designing the characters, and Yuki Kajiura, Takumi Ozawa, and Shiho Terada composing the music. The anime will be produced by E&H production, the animation studio led by director Sunghoo Park, who worked on the first season of the TV anime " Jujutsu Kaisen" and "Jujutsu Kaisen 0 ."
Sakura, who plays Hikaru Shidou, a character with a straightforward heart and strong drive, commented: "I've half-given up on the idea that 'I hope I can one day become someone who can lend a voice to a CLAMP work,' something that I'm sure many actors think about, but I still cling to CLAMP's works on sleepless nights, and I never imagined that I would be given the fate of voicing Hikaru Shidou . I've been trying to become a person worthy of Hikaru, who has lived among so many people, so that this can be called inevitable. I've been imagining all sorts of emotions people will have when they hear this news, and I've been rereading Rayearth and rewatching the anime to keep myself sane. I'm Ayane Sakura , and I will be voicing Hikaru Shidou in the Reiwa era. I'm an Aquarius, blood type B, so please treat me well."
Rumi Okubo, who plays Umi Ryuuzaki, a strong-willed and cool character who is also very loyal to her friends and deeply compassionate, said, "I'm Rumi Okubo, and I'll be playing the role of Umi Ryuuzaki. The day has finally come when I can say these words...! I've always been a huge fan of CLAMP's works, and I've been reading the magazine Nakayoshi since kindergarten, so I followed Rayearth in real time, both the manga and the anime in the Heisei era. My absolute favorite character has always been Umi-chan. Out of all the female characters in CLAMP's works, Umi-chan is my number one. I went into the audition repeating to myself, 'A believing heart, the strength of one's feelings, becomes power,' and when I heard I got the part, I was so happy I cried. I'm incredibly lucky to be able to play my absolute favorite character, but once the voice recording starts, I'll be facing Umi not as a fan, but as an actress. As an actress playing Umi, and as a fan who loves Umi-chan and Magic Knight Rayearth, I will do my best to help make the series a success!"
Takahashi, who plays Fuu Hououji, a character with a gentle demeanor but who supports her comrades with sharp insight at times, said, "My name is Fuu Hououji, and I will be voicing Rie Takahashi. I am deeply impressed by the charm of this work, the deep love of the fans, and the enthusiasm of everyone on the team I will be working with. I feel a warm sense of 'me' overflowing from within, wanting to be a source of strength for Fuu, and by extension, for everyone. Inner strength is key in this work, and I pledge here to give it my all and run with all my might."
A new illustration by CLAMP has also been released, and the statement reads: "We are truly grateful to the production team for once again cherishing, loving, and continuing the story of ' Magic Knight Rayearth,' which began in 1993, now in 2026. It was a great honor to be among the first to hear the wonderful performances of the new cast and the beautiful music. We, too, will cherish and watch over the journey that Hikaru, Umi, and Fuu are taking in Cephiro, together with all of you."
A key visual has been released depicting Hikaru, Umi, and Fuu as Magic Knights against the backdrop of the fantastical other world of Cephiro. The visual also features Princess Emeraude, who summoned the three girls to Cephiro, Zagato with a defiant expression, and Mokona, a mysterious being who travels with the Magic Knights, hinting at a grand adventure in another world.
A teaser PV using footage from the main film has also been released on YouTube. It shows three girls who meet at Tokyo Tower and are suddenly transported to another world, where they take on the challenge of the world as magical knights.
"Magic Knight Rayearth " is a legendary fantasy adventure manga by CLAMP that was serialized in the shojo manga magazine "Nakayoshi" (Kodansha) from 1993 to 1995. The story follows three girls, Hikaru Shidou, Umi Ryuuzaki , and Fuu Hououji, who are suddenly summoned to the other world of Cephiro by Princess Emeraude while on a field trip to Tokyo Fuu Hououji . To rescue the captured princess, they become legendary magic knights...
The TV anime series, produced by Tokyo Movie (now TMS Entertainment), aired from 1994 to 1995, and the theme song, " Yuzurenai Negai " sung by Naomi Tamura, was a huge hit, selling over 1 million copies on CD. In 1997, a three-episode OVA (Original Video Animation) was released.
