The main promotional video for the upcoming anime adaptation of Tatsurō Suga’s Catch Me at the Ballpark! manga has been released, previewing the opening theme song “Hurray!!” by the seven-member dance and vocal group GENIC. The anime is set to premiere on April 1, 2025, on TV Tokyo and affiliated channels, and will be available for streaming on Crunchyroll.
Storyline: A Heartwarming Escape at the Ballpark
Catch Me at the Ballpark! tells the story of Murata, a weary office worker who seeks refuge from his tiring job at a nearby baseball stadium. There, he meets Ruriko, a beer vendor who appears to be a cool and collected gyaru but is secretly a kind and innocent girl. As Murata becomes her regular customer, he discovers the warmth behind Ruriko’s exterior, and their interactions bring light and laughter to the ballpark.
- The series is described as a “romantic-comedy full of laughs and tears, dedicated to all those involved in professional baseball!”.
- The anime’s official website teases the story with the line: “Am I your type, Onii-san~?”.
- Crunchyroll describes the main synopsis as: “To escape his tiring job, weary Murata finds escape at a nearby baseball stadium. While the games are thrilling, it’s Ruriko, the gyaru as cold as the beer she serves but secretly a sweetheart, who keeps him coming back.”
Production Team: Talented Staff Behind the Anime
The anime adaptation is being produced by EMT Squared, with a talented team of creators:
- Director: Junichi Kitamura (Fluffy Paradise)
- Series Composition: Shigeru Murakoshi (I Parry Everything)
- Character Design: Fumio Iida (Record of Ragnarok animation director)
- Music: MONACA (NieR:Automata Ver 1.1a)
Cast: A Stellar Voice Cast Brings the Characters to Life
A large ensemble voice cast will bring the characters of Catch Me at the Ballpark! to life:
- Fairouz Ai as Ruriko
- Satoshi Inomata as Murata
- Ikumi Hasegawa as Aona
- Satoshi Tanaka as Omatsu
- Yōji Ueda as Nakaizumi
- Ayumi Mano as Natsuno Yamada
- Momoko Seto as Kokoro
- Jin Urayama as Ryuichi Igarashi
- Chiharu Sawashiro as Takimoto
- Hiroki Tochi as Kojiro
- Rika Tachibana as Yuki Takino
- Kentarō Tone as Dennis
- Kō Bonkobara as Brian
- Mayu Sagara as Sara
- Kazuhiro Nakaya as Mitsui
- Wakana Kuramochi as Kisa
- Kiyono Yasuno as Nagisa
- Atsuki Nakamura as Hotaru
- Maaya Uchida as Kohinata
- Akari Yura as Miku
- Mami Fujita as Miku’s Mom
- Kentaro Kumagai as Miku’s Dad
- Jun Fukuyama as Ken Nokogirimiya
- Daiki Yamashita as Wataru Ichinomiya
Music: GENIC to Perform the Opening Theme
The opening theme song, “Hurray!!” is performed by GENIC, a seven-member dance and vocal group. GENIC previously performed the ending theme for the final season of the new Fruits Basket adaptation.
Premiere and Streaming: Where to Watch
Catch Me at the Ballpark! is scheduled to premiere on April 1, 2025, on TV Tokyo and five affiliated channels.
The anime will also stream on Japanese services such as ABEMA, Lemino, and Anime Times. Crunchyroll has licensed the series and will stream it as it airs, making it available to viewers worldwide outside of Japan.
Manga Origins: Tatsurō Suga’s Popular Series
The anime is based on the manga series Ballpark de Tsukamaete! (Catch Me at the Ballpark!) written and illustrated by Tatsurō Suga. The manga began serialization in Kodansha’s Morning magazine in September 2020. As of March 2025, 16 tankōbon volumes have been released.
What to Expect: A Slice-of-Life Comedy with Heart
Catch Me at the Ballpark! promises to be a heartwarming and humorous slice-of-life anime. With its relatable characters, charming storyline, and catchy opening theme, the series is expected to be a delightful addition to the Spring 2025 anime season. The story focuses on the daily interactions and developing relationship between Murata and Ruriko, set against the backdrop of a bustling baseball stadium.
