NHK recently announced the addition of five new cast members to the upcoming live-action TV series “Anpan.” The series is part of NHK’s long-standing Renzoku Terebi Shōsetsu franchise and is based on the life story of Anpanman manga creator Takashi Yanase and his wife Nobuo Komatsu.
The new cast members include Fumiya Takahashi as Kentarō Karashima, Sara Shida as Usako Ogawa, Sonim as Mimi Yamashita, Kumi Takiuchi as Yukiko Kuroi, and Kōichi Yamadera as Haruto Zama. These additions join the previously announced cast members, including Nanako Matsushima, Kazunari Ninomiya, and Yutaka Takenouchi.
The series will follow the childhood of Takashi and Nobu, leading up to the creation of Anpanman. Miho Nakazono will be the scriptwriter for the series, and Ken Kurasaki is the chief producer. The show is set to premiere in spring 2025.
This new installment in the Renzoku TV Shōsetsu franchise follows the success of the Natsuzora story, which aired in 2019 and was based on the early Japanese animation industry. Each series in the franchise typically runs for 15 minutes every weekday morning for half a year, totaling over 30 hours of content.
Yanase’s iconic manga, “Soreike! Anpanman,” has been adapted into a long-running anime series since 1988 and has inspired 35 anime films. The character of Anpanman is beloved not only in Japan but also internationally. Yanase passed away in 2013, leaving behind a rich legacy in the world of children’s entertainment.
