The highly anticipated anime film, Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid: A Lonely Dragon Wants to be Loved (Kobayashi-san Chi no Maid Dragon: Samishigariya no Ryū), has unveiled its non-credit opening sequence, introduced additional cast members, and showcased new visuals ahead of its theatrical release. The movie premiered in Japan on June 27, 2025.
Non-Credit Opening and Theme Song
The non-credit opening for the film has been officially released on Kyoto Animation’s YouTube channel. The opening theme song is titled “Namida no Parade” (Parade of Tears), performed by the musical group fhána, a returning act for the Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid franchise.
Expanded Voice Cast
The film introduces several new and returning voice actors to its ensemble. New additions to the cast include Fumihiko Tachiki, who voices Kimun Kamui, and Nobunaga Shimazaki, cast as Azad. Furthermore, Shinya Takahashi and Azusa Tadokoro lend their voices to characters identified as fairies.
A notable casting change sees Shiori Sugiura taking on the role of Ilulu, replacing Tomomi Mineuchi, who retired from voice acting in 2022.
The beloved main cast members are reprising their roles for the film. These include Mutsumi Tamura as Kobayashi, Yūki Kuwahara as Tohru, Maria Naganawa as Kanna Kamui, Yūki Takada as Elma, Minami Takahashi as Lucoa (Quetzalcoatl), and Daisuke Ono as Fafnir. Other returning cast members are Yūichi Nakamura as Makoto Takiya, Emiri Katō as Riko Saikawa, and Kaori Ishihara as Shōta Magatsuchi.
Striking New Visuals
To build excitement for the film, several new visuals have been released. The official website for Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid: A Lonely Dragon Wants to be Loved unveiled a special collaboration visual featuring artwork by Coolkyoushinja, the original manga author, and character designer Miku Kadowaki. Additionally, a new key visual was revealed during the AnimeJapan 2025 event earlier this year. Prior to the film’s debut, a collection of eight character visuals showcasing both familiar faces and a new antagonist were also unveiled.
International Release
For fans outside of Asia, Crunchyroll has secured the worldwide theatrical distribution rights for the film. The movie will be screened in North America in Japanese with English subtitles. The film is directed by Tatsuya Ishihara, known for his work on Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid S and Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions!. The original manga by Coolkyoushinja began serialization in Monthly Action magazine in May 2013, later moving to Manga Action in February 2024. Kyoto Animation, the studio behind the anime adaptation, is responsible for the film’s animation production.
