Fans eagerly awaiting the anime adaptation of Hirafumi and Yagi Shinba’s “Ichigo Aika: Zatsu de Namaiki na Imōto to Warikirenai Ani” manga, officially titled “Ichigo Aika: Strawberry Elegy,” can mark their calendars for an early premiere. The series is slated to begin streaming on AnimeFesta and OceanVeil starting December 12 at 12 midnight PDT. Notably, the OceanVeil stream will offer an uncensored version with English subtitles, preceding its Japanese broadcast television debut in January 2026.
Diving into “Ichigo Aika: Strawberry Elegy”
“Ichigo Aika: Strawberry Elegy” is an adaptation of an erotic stepsibling romance manga, which began its digital serialization on Comic Cmoa in November 2022 and has since released three compiled digital volumes. The narrative centers around Kōta, whose life takes an unexpected turn after his father remarries. His new stepsister, Aika, initially presents a beautiful facade, but this impression quickly shatters to reveal a “super-bratty, trend-obsessed gyaru”.
The core of the story revolves around the chaotic dynamic between Aika, who acts as a “perfect daughter” in front of their parents but a “full-blown teenage disaster” when alone, and Kōta, a “nit-picky, straight-laced” individual constantly at odds with her free-spirited nature. Despite their initial clashes, the relationship between the step-siblings begins to evolve as Aika gradually warms to Kōta’s caring demeanor, hinting at an unexpected romantic development.
Early and Uncensored Streaming Details
The anime will make its debut on December 12, with simultaneous premieres on both AnimeFesta in Japan and OceanVeil internationally. A significant point of interest for global viewers is OceanVeil’s commitment to streaming an “uncensored and unedited” version with English subtitles, providing an early look at the series ahead of its traditional broadcast. The Japanese broadcast television premiere for “Ichigo Aika: Strawberry Elegy” is scheduled for January 2026. This dual-release strategy is common for AnimeFesta original productions, which often provide both a censored “broadcast” version and a “premium” uncensored online version.
Production Team and Voice Cast
The production of “Ichigo Aika: Strawberry Elegy” is handled by Studio Hōkiboshi. Pyuta Konno is at the helm as director, while Eeyo Kurosaki is responsible for the series scripts. Character designs are being managed by Yoshihiro Watanabe, and Aiue Oka is composing the music. Suiseisha is producing the series.
The main voice cast bringing the step-siblings to life includes:
- Hana Yurimoto as Aika Takamura
- Yūta Ikarashi as Kōta Takamura
- Momosuke as Yoshiyuki Takamura
- Iroha Haruno as Misaki Takamura
This anime joins a growing list of adaptations from the AnimeFesta block, which is known for producing short anime series based on adult or risque manga. WWWave Corporation, the owner of AnimeFesta, also operates the OceanVeil streaming platform, facilitating the international distribution of these titles.
