Add as a preferred source on Google
Yuki Suenaga and Takamasa Moue’s Akane-banashi has been confirmed to get an anime adaptation. Having begun serialization on February 14, 2022, under Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump, Akane-banashi has been collected into seventeen tankobon volumes as of June 2025. The coming-of-age and comedy drama will focus on the life of a teenage girl named Akane Osaki, whose dream is to become a rakugoka, one who performs rakuga, a traditional form of Japanese comedy skit.
Since a major chunk of the plot revolves around rakugo, Akane-banashi is supervised by Kikuhiko Hayashiya, a professional rakugoka. Akane-banashi anime will be directed by Ayumu Watanabe, known for Space Brothers, Komi Can’t Communicate, After the Rain, etc., and studio Zexcs is in charge of the animation. A new trailer and key visuals were released along with the announcement.
When will Akane-Banashi release?
Akane-Banashi is scheduled to release in 2026, but no release date or month has been revealed as of yet. While ANN (TV Asahi) and BS Asahi will be the original networks of the anime, there has been no news of any official streaming platform. It is just the first announcement, and more will be revealed in the upcoming months.
What is the story of Akane-Banashi?
Akane Osaki’s father, Shinta, was a rakugoka, an individual who performs rakugo. Rakugo is a traditional form of Japanese comedy, where a single person narrates a long story involving multiple characters, playing each one of them and differentiating by distorting his tone, pitch, or through slight body movements, by sitting in one place.
Akane loved to watch her father perform rakugo. However, tragedy struck when her father, along with other students, was expelled from the Arakawa School before they got the shin’uchi, the highest rank of rakugo. So, for the next six years, Akane secretly went to Shinta’s former master and learned rakugo, and sets out to follow her father’s footsteps and avenge him.
Cast and Staff of Akane-Banashi
While the full cast list is yet to be revealed, the official site of the anime has confirmed three of them, along with the behind-camera names. They are as follows:
Cast
- Akane Osaki: Anna Nagase
- Karashi Nerimaya: Takuya Eguchi
- Hikaru Koragi: Rie Takahashi
Staff
- Original Work: Yuki Suenaga (story), Takamasa Moue (art)
- Director: Ayumu Watanabe
- Deputy Director: Yu Harima
- Character Design and Chief Animation Director: Kii Tanaka
- Series Composition: Michihiro Tsuchiya
- Music: Akio Izutsu
- Rakugo Supervision: Kikuhiko Hayashiya
- Animation Production: Zexcs
Also Read: 5 Centimeters per Second Live-Action Movie Trailer, Cast, Release Date, and Nostalgic Theme Song
Source: Akane-Banashi official website
Priyanko is currently pursuing his Master’s in Economics. He loves to read manga or watch anime in his spare time. He is a massive fan of One Piece, Naruto, and Haikyu. Amidst the Great Pirating Era, he wishes to become the greatest Hokage, even though he is short.
Leave a Reply