Animatsu has picked up a new title that will likely see release later this year with the Hanayamata property. While no dates or formats were revealed for it, we’re expecting it to be pretty close to the bilingual and dual format releases that we saw in North america. The series was directed originally by Atsuko Ishizuka based on the scripts by Reiko Yoshida and character designs by Atsuko Watanabe. The series is based on the manga of the same name by Sou Hamayumiba that runs in Manga Time Kirara Forward. The manga kicked off back in 2011 has over half a dozen volumes to its name. The Japanese cast includes Reina Ueda as Naru Sekiya, Minami Tanaka as Hannah N. Fontanstand, Kaya Okuno as Yaya Sasame, Yuka Otsubo as Tami Nishigomon and Manami Numakura as Machi Tokiwaza.
Sentai Filmworks released the series in North America and you can read our Blu-ray and DVD reviews for it. The series was dubbed by sentai Filmworks and stars;
ENGLISH DUB CAST
- Naru Sekiya – Caitlynn French
- Hana N. Fountainstand – Luci Christian
- Yaya Sasame – Monica Rial
- Tami Nishimikado – Cynthia Martinez
- Machi Tokiwa – Carli Mosier
- Sally-sensei – Molly Searcy
- Masaru Ofuna – John Gremillion
- Sachiko Yamanoshita – Brittany Karbowski
- Yuka Komachi – Juliet Simmons
- Arisa Kajiwara – Margaret McDonald
- Naru’s Father – David Wald
- Hana’s Father – Leraldo Anzaldua
- Hana’s Mother – Tiffany Grant
- Tami’s Father – David Matranga
- Yaya’s Father – John Swasey
- Police Officer – John Swasey
Additional Voices
- Leraldo Anzladua
- Christopher Ayres
- Amanda L. Baird
- Joanne Bonasso
- Cayla Coats
Plot concept: Normal appearance, normal intelligence, normal in arts and sports… just normal. This is the entirely normal 14-year-old, Naru Sekiya. While she admires “Heroines” she continues to live a normal life until one moonlit night she meets a fairy. This foreign girl then guides her into the extraordinary world of the yosakoi dance.