Details have been announced for a mysterious new anime project, a first-time collaboration between SUNRISE Studios, known for popular anime series like "Gundam," and Shaft, known for popular anime such as "Puella Magi Madoka Magica" and the "<Monogatari> series." It has been revealed that the anime will be based on Kasumi Yasuda's manga "Fool Night," which is currently serialized in "Big Comic Superior" (Shogakukan). It will be exclusively streamed worldwide on Netflix in 2026. An official X page titled "Sunrise x Shaft New Anime" was opened on June 18th, and a countdown to the information release at midnight on June 23rd had also been generating buzz.
The announcement was made at the "NETFLIX ANIME STUDIO FOCUS" panel event at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival 2026, the world's largest animation film festival currently being held in France. Atsushi Yukawa, who directed "Suzume no Tojimeri," will direct the series, Jin Tanaka, known for "Oshi no Ko," will handle the series composition, and Tatsu Kato, known for "Dr. STONE," will be in charge of the music. Koki Uchiyama, and Minako Kotobuki will voice Toshiro's childhood friend, Yomiko Horai.
In order for humanity to survive, a technique called "flower transformation" is developed, which involves implanting seeds into the bodies of dying humans to transform them into plants. However, in the distant future, on Earth, where thick clouds cover the sky and winter and night are the norm, most plants wither and die, and humanity suffers from oxygen deprivation. In a society that relies on the meager oxygen obtained through "flower transformation," a young man named Kamiya Toshiro, struggling with poverty, works tirelessly to pay taxes, living expenses, and medication for his mentally ill mother. In this lightless world, he chooses the path of becoming a "spirit flower," a plant into which humans have transformed.
The original manga series has 12 volumes published, with a cumulative circulation of approximately 600,000 copies. The manga is sold in 17 countries and regions. It has also received high praise overseas, winning the Best Suspense Award at the "2023 Japan Expo Awards (DARUMA Award)" and being nominated for the "Angoulême International Comics Festival" in France, often called the "Cannes of the manga world."
A teaser visual has also been released featuring the protagonist, Kamiya Toshiro, looking straight ahead, along with a human being in the process of transforming into a flower. A teaser PV has also been released, which includes Kamiya Toshiro's heartfelt monologue, Horai Yomiko gazing directly at a "spiritual flower" lying on a treatment table, and a spiritual flower whose transformation has progressed to the point where it can no longer speak or move of its own free will.
◇Staff (titles omitted)
Director: Atsushi Yukawa▽Series Composition: Hitoshi Tanaka▽Character Design: Robert Sato▽Assistant Director: Ryo Shimura▽Visual Development: Ryo Kikuchi▽Art Director: Maki Takano (JCSTAFF)▽Color Design: Hitoshi Hibino▽Director of Photography: Mansei Ishikawa (Animo Caramel), Chiaki Tokuda (Terra Effect), Takayuki Aizu (Shaft)▽CG Directors: Naoki Yamamoto, Junya Hirano▽Editing: Rie Matsuhara (Seyama Editing Room)▽Sound Director: Yota Tsuruoka▽Music: Tatsuya Kato▽Animation Production: Sunrise x Shaft
◇Comments from Director Atsushi Yukawa
The anime "Fool's Night" began with a proposal submitted by a former hikikomori (social recluse). Then, through a surprising coincidence, Sunrise and Shaft were connected, and I was approached after a certain director and Mr. Suzuki from Shaft recommended me. As those who have read the original manga will know, this work is very multifaceted. However, unlike manga, the speed at which you read through a video is passive, and you can't stop and think. So at first I struggled with how to present it, but in the end I trusted you, the viewer, and focused only on meticulously depicting time without overthinking things. Tarkovsky also said that film is the art of sculpting time, but I realized on this project that he could only say that because he trusted the viewers. We are on your side if you want to think. Rest assured that everyone involved in the "Fool's Night" anime project—those who make it, those who support it, and those who deliver it—are doing an amazing job! If there's anything you don't like, it's all my fault. Enjoy!
◇Comment from the original author, Kasumi Yasuda
"A sterile office filled with houseplants"—that's the scene I wanted to see, and that's how the construction of Fool Knight began. Without any plan, I kept creating rooms I liked, the building became distorted, but it didn't collapse, and somehow it made it to the anime. It's all thanks to the readers all over the world who have supported Fool Knight. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. And now that it has reached a higher altitude, I hope that through the anime we can reach even further...
I would be delighted if others could find it. Please enjoy the speculative fiction I have created.
◇Comment from Koki Uchiyama, who plays the role of Toshiro Kamiya
"Fool's Night" depicts the lives of humans living on a future Earth in a harsh environment. One of them, Toshiro Kamiya, hopes for something amidst his hardships. To express his complex emotional changes, we tried various expressions in each episode. We would love for many people to watch the anime "Fool's Night."
◇Comment from Minako Kotobuki, who plays the role of Yomiko Horai
I'm Minako Kotobuki, and I'll be voicing Yomiko Horai. I was captivated by the intense worldview of "Fool's Night" as depicted by Mr. Yasuda, and by Director Yukawa's sense of style, right from the audition. I felt that if I could fully portray Yomiko in this work, I might have no regrets. I am honored to be able to play Yomiko now. Yomiko loves to eat and at first glance seems like an ordinary person, but as a Tenka employee, Yomiko's heart may be somewhat distorted. The happiness that we feel and the happiness that Yomiko and others feel are surely different, so I tried to be careful not to miss anything in my performance. This is a story that could happen in our not-too-distant future. I am truly happy that this story will be distributed to the world on Netflix.
