The anime world is abuzz with excitement as two highly anticipated adaptations of Yama Wayama’s beloved manga, Let’s Go Karaoke! and Captivated, by You, are slated to premiere in July 2025. Fans can look forward to a double dose of Wayama’s unique storytelling and captivating characters.
Let’s Go Karaoke!: An Unlikely Duet Takes Center Stage
Let’s Go Karaoke! (Karaoke Iko!) follows the unlikely friendship between Satomi Oka, a diligent middle school choir leader, and Kyouji Narita, a Yakuza lieutenant with a serious karaoke problem.
Plot Summary
Satomi Oka’s biggest concern is his upcoming final choir competition. However, his life takes an unexpected turn when he’s strong-armed by Kyouji Narita into giving him karaoke lessons. Narita, terrified of facing his boss’s karaoke contest and the loser’s punishment, needs Satomi’s help to improve his singing. The manga is published by Kadokawa.
Key Characters
- Satomi Oka: A third-year junior high student and head of the school choir. He finds himself in the awkward position of coaching a Yakuza member in singing. Shun Horie voices Satomi Oka in the anime adaptation.
- Kyouji Narita: A Yakuza lieutenant who seeks Satomi’s help to avoid a humiliating punishment in a karaoke contest held by his boss. Daisuke Ono voices Kyouji Narita.
- Wada: A second-year middle school student and Satomi’s junior in the school’s choir group. Voiced by Shinnosuke Tokudome.
Anime Production Details
- Director: Asami Nakatani ( Yohane the Parhelion: Sunshine in the Mirror)
- Assistant Director: Yukiko Tsukahara (Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian)
- Series Composition: Yoshimi Narita (Twilight Out of Focus, Dance Dance Danseur)
- Character Designer: Mai Matsuura (King of Prism by Pretty Rhythm, The Stories of Girls Who Couldn’t Be Magicians)
- Music Composer: Takuro Iga (Oshi no Ko)
- Animation Studio: Doga Kobo
Let’s Go Karaoke! Manga and Live-Action Film
Let’s Go Karaoke! was initially released as a dōjinshi (self-published manga) in 2019 before being published as a book by Kadokawa Future Publishing in 2020. The manga was ranked third in the 14th Manga Taisho awards in 2021. A live-action film adaptation, directed by Nobuhiro Yamashita, premiered in Japan in January 2024.
Captivated, by You: A Slice-of-Life Exploration of High School Life
Captivated, by You (Muchū sa, Kimi ni.) presents an anthology series of loosely connected stories centered around students at an all-boys school.
Plot Summary
The manga explores the lives of several students, with a focus on Hayashi, an aloof student with a unique perspective, and Nikaidou, who tries to keep his classmates away by acting gloomy.
Key Characters
- Miyoshi Hayashi: A student who is unapologetically true to himself, drawing attention from classmates and strangers. Voiced by Kensho Ono.
- Joji Ema: A student at the boys’ school. Voiced by Koki Uchiyama.
- Akira Nikaidou: A student who has adopted a downcast and grim persona to avoid becoming close to his classmates.
Anime Production Details
- Director: Asami Nakatani (Yohane the Parhelion: Sunshine in the Mirror)
- Assistant Director: Yukiko Tsukahara (Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian)
- Series Composition: Yoshimi Narita (Twilight Out of Focus, Dance Dance Danseur)
- Character Designer: Mai Matsuura (King of Prism by Pretty Rhythm, The Stories of Girls Who Couldn’t Be Magicians)
- Music Composer: Takuro Iga (Oshi no Ko)
- Animation Studio: Doga Kobo
Captivated, by You Manga and Drama
Captivated, by You was first released as a dōjinshi in February 2019. It was then published in one volume by Enterbrain in August 2019. A five-episode live-action television drama adaptation aired in Japan in January-February 2021. The manga ranked second in the 2020 Kono Manga ga Sugoi! for the Female Readers division. In the same year, it also won the New Face Award at the 23rd Japan Media Arts Festival and the Short Work Prize at the 24th Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize.
Shared Production Team
Both anime adaptations share the same production team, with Doga Kobo handling the animation and Asami Nakatani directing. This ensures a consistent visual style and quality across both series.
Yen Press Licensing
Yen Press has licensed both Let’s Go Karaoke! and Captivated, by You for English release, making them accessible to fans worldwide.
Anticipation Builds for July Premieres
With their unique stories, relatable characters, and talented production teams, Let’s Go Karaoke! and Captivated, by You are poised to become two of the most talked-about anime of 2025. Anime enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting their July debut.
