The upcoming short-form TV anime adaptation of Hisaya Shiraiwa and Takashi Itsuki’s “Ganglion” manga is set to premiere on October 3 in Japan, with broadcasts on TV Tokyo, TV Osaka, AT-X, and BS Yoshimoto. The announcement confirms the adaptation of the comedic manga, which centers on the daily struggles of a henchman working for an evil organization aiming for world domination.
The production committee has unveiled key staff and cast details, alongside a visual for the series, but a promo video specifically revealing the ending song has not been mentioned in the latest reports.
About the Ganglion Anime Production
Ayumu Watanabe, known for his work on “Children of the Sea” and “Summer Time Rendering,” is directing the “Ganglion” anime at studio maf. Ryosuke Tanaka serves as Assistant Director, with Tomoaki Shiono handling series composition and Harise writing the screenplay. Shigeru Fujita is responsible for character designs and chief animation direction, while Takeo Asami is composing the music.
The anime is planned as a short-form series, with each episode reportedly running for approximately 15 minutes, including a special post-episode talk segment exclusive to AT-X viewers. This shorter format has sparked discussion among fans regarding its potential impact on the story’s depth and pacing.
Unveiling the Cast of Characters
The voice cast for the “Ganglion” anime features a lineup of experienced actors:
- Kenji Isobe voiced by Yoji Ueda
- Colonel Shadow (real name: Minoru Kageyama) voiced by Fumihiko Tachiki
- HOPEMAN voiced by Tomokazu Sugita
- Setsuko Isobe voiced by Aoi Koga
- Takashi Isobe voiced by Yoshino Aoyama
- Yumiko voiced by Hikaru Tono
- Food Cart Owner voiced by Itsuji Itao
The Story of Ganglion
Set in Tokyo in the early 2000s, “Ganglion” follows Kenji Isobe, a professional henchman for the titular Ganglion Corporation. This organization, with aspirations of global domination, concocts various “evil schemes” like “Operation: Tokyo Cedar Pollen” and “Operation: Mount Fuji Detonation.” However, their plans are consistently thwarted by the hero HOPEMAN. The manga portrays Isobe’s everyday work life, dealing with unreasonable bosses and the constant frustration of defeat.
The original “Ganglion” manga, written by Hisaya Shiraiwa and illustrated by Takashi Itsuki, was serialized in the now-defunct Comic Yoshimoto magazine and later published as a collected edition in 2009.
Fans can look forward to the “Ganglion” TV anime bringing this unique blend of workplace drama and superhero spoof to screens starting October 3.
