Anime Limited picked up the rights to Your Lie in April back in April of this year and there’s a lot of anticipation for the first of this two-part release that ‘s coming up. Unfortunately, they’ve had delays in getting licensor approvals for things and that makes for a complicated situation – made worse by retailers listing street dates. The company has noted that some retailers arel isting for a September release for the title in the UK market but Anime Limited is making it clear that it is not an accurate date. They’re looking at an October release but are not nailing down a date until the approals are done. They’re also not making any sort of tentative dates for the second half either at this point.
“If you’re someone who like to feel emotions while watching anime you simply can’t go wrong with Your lie in April” says Andrew Partridge, President of Anime Limited, back in April when they picked up the rights. “This series has all the feels. Is one of the most emotional viewing experiences I and others in the Anime Limited office have had when watching anime. But on top of that everything about this series is brilliant. The style and presentation is top notch, the soundtrack to the series is phenomenal. It’s a great adaptation of the source material and is actually a story that many in the industry are big fans of. For example, did you know that Eiichiro Oda, the creator of One Piece, is a huge fan of Your lie in April?”
Animated by A-1 Pictures and airing for 22 episodes, they adapted the original work began in 2011 in Monthly Shonen Magazine by Naoshi Arakawa and finished in February 2015 with eleven volumes. It was well thought of at the 37 Kodansha Manga Awards as well where it won the Best Shonen Manga award. The anime adaptation is being directed by Kyohei Ishiguro based on scripts by Takao Yoshioka while Yukiko Aikei is serving as both character designer and chief animation director.
The Japanese cast includes Natsuki Hanae as Kōsei Arima, Risa Taneda as Kaori Miyazono, Ayane Sakura as Tsubaki Sawabe, Ryota Ohsaka as Ryōta Watari, Yuuki Kaji as Takeshi Aiza and Saori Hayami as Emi Igawa.
Directed by Patrick Seitz, the English cast includes Max Mittleman as Kousei Arima, Erica Lindbeck as Kaori Miyazono, Erica Mendez as Tsubaki Sawabe, Kyle McCarley as Ryota Watari, Erika Harlacher as Emi Igawa, Erik Kimerer as Takeshi Aiza, Stephanie Sheh as Nagi Aiza, Julie Ann Taylor as Nao Kashiwagi, Robbie Daymond as Saito, Carrie Keranen as Hiroko Seto, Cristina Vee as Koharu Seto and Wendee Lee as Saki Arima.
Plot concept: Based on the award winning original manga Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso by Naoshi Arakawa, Your lie in April focuses on a piano prodigy who is unable to hear his music after suffering from the trauma of losing his beloved mother and piano instructor. With both of those things stripped from him, Kousei Arima’s life becomes lackluster and monotonous.
One day, Kousei is introduced to a violinist named Kaori Miyazono. Though he has a terrible first impression of her, Kaori’s music completely enthralls him. Free, powerful and passionate – Kaori’s bold performance breathes life back into Kousei. Brought together by music, can the heartfelt sounds of this girl’s violin lead him to play the piano again?
English trailer from Aniplex:
And the Japanese trailer:
