The highly anticipated TV anime adaptation of Hisaya Nakajo’s beloved shojo manga series, Hana-Kimi, is officially slated to premiere in January 2026. The announcement, made during Aniplex Online Fest 2025, also revealed that the popular Japanese musical unit YOASOBI will perform both the opening and ending theme songs, alongside the unveiling of the anime’s first key visual.
January 2026 Debut Confirmed for Hana-Kimi Anime
Fans eager to see the classic romance come to life in animation finally have a release window, with the Hana-Kimi anime set to broadcast in January 2026. This marks the first anime adaptation for the influential manga, which has previously inspired multiple live-action television dramas across Asia. Crunchyroll has confirmed that it will stream the series as it airs in Japan across various regions, including North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Africa, Oceania, the Middle East, CIS, and India.
The anime is produced by Signal.MD, with Natsuki Takemura directing and Shigeru Ueda serving as assistant director. Takao Yoshioka is handling the series composition, Shi Yi Su is responsible for character designs, and Masaru Yokoyama is composing the music.
YOASOBI Takes on Theme Songs
Adding to the excitement, the acclaimed musical duo YOASOBI will contribute both the opening and ending theme songs for the Hana-Kimi anime. Known for their work on popular anime such as BEASTARS, Mobile Suit Gundam the Witch from Mercury, and Oshi no Ko, YOASOBI expressed their honor and enthusiasm for working on Hana-Kimi, a series that holds a special place for many fans. While the titles of the new songs have yet to be revealed, their involvement promises a strong musical accompaniment to the upcoming series.
First Key Visual Revealed
Alongside the premiere date and theme song artist, a vibrant first key visual for the Hana-Kimi anime was unveiled during Aniplex Online Fest 2025. The visual offers a glimpse into the animated world of Osaka Gakuen, featuring protagonist Mizuki Ashiya alongside the eccentric cast of characters she encounters in her undercover school life.
The Story of Hana-Kimi
Hana-Kimi, short for Hanazakari no Kimitachi e (‘For You in Full Blossom’), is a shojo manga written and illustrated by Hisaya Nakajo. The manga was originally serialized in Hakusensha’s Hana to Yume magazine from September 1996 to August 2004, spanning 23 volumes. VIZ Media publishes the English-language version of the series.
The romantic comedy centers on Japanese-American track-and-field star Mizuki Ashiya, who idolizes high jumper Izumi Sano. After Sano suffers an injury, Mizuki takes drastic measures to help him return to his sport: she disguises herself as a boy and transfers to his all-boys boarding school, Osaka Gakuen. Her mission is to encourage Sano, but living as a boy in a dorm full of quirky male students, including her roommate Sano and the passionate Shuichi Nakatsu, proves to be a constant challenge filled with comedic mishaps and blossoming feelings.
The main voice cast for the anime includes Aya Yamane as Mizuki Ashiya, Taku Yashiro as Izumi Sano, and Kikunosuke Toya as Shuichi Nakatsu.
A Long-Awaited Anime Adaptation
Despite its immense popularity and influence in the shojo genre, Hana-Kimi had previously only received live-action adaptations, including a Taiwanese drama (2006), two Japanese dramas (2007, 2011), and a South Korean drama (2012). The announcement of an anime adaptation comes almost two decades after the manga’s conclusion and after the passing of its creator, Hisaya Nakajo, in October 2023. This new animated series aims to bring Nakajo’s vision to life in a faithful and dynamic way for a new generation of fans.
