The upcoming anime film, Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid: A Lonely Dragon Wants to be Loved, is set to enhance the cinematic experience for fans in Japan with the addition of 4D screenings. This exciting news promises to bring viewers even closer to the world of Kobayashi and her dragon companions when the film opens in Japanese theaters on June 27, 2025.
Immersive 4D Experience Confirmed
The official website for Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid: A Lonely Dragon Wants to be Loved announced that the film will feature immersive 4DX and MX4D screenings, starting simultaneously with the regular screenings. This means fans can experience the movie with added sensory effects such as motion, wind, water, and scents, designed to synchronize with the on-screen action. The film is scheduled to open in 199 theaters across Japan.
Advance Ticket Sales at AnimeJapan 2025
For eager fans, Pony Canyon’s AnimeJapan 2025 booth will offer advance MoviTicke Cards on March 22 and 23. These cards will feature the film’s first key visual and include a randomly distributed mini clear file folder as a bonus.
Anime Series Re-broadcast and Mini-Episodes
To further build anticipation for the film, a television re-broadcast of the anime will begin on April 2 in Japan. Additionally, the KyoAni YouTube channel will stream the 21 “Mini Dora” short anime episodes for a limited time.
Production Details and Cast
Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid: A Lonely Dragon Wants to be Loved is directed by Tatsuya Ishihara (who also directed Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid S and Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions!) at Kyoto Animation. The late Yasuhiro Takemoto, the series director of the first season, is credited as series director.
The confirmed cast includes:
- Mutsumi Tamura as Kobayashi
- Yūki Kuwahara as Tohru
- Maria Naganawa as Kanna
- Yūki Takada as Elma
- Minami Takahashi as Lucoa
- Daisuke Ono as Fafnir
- Yūichi Nakamura as Makoto Takiya
- Emiri Katō as Riko Saikawa
- Kaori Ishihara as Shōta Magatsuchi
- Shiori Sugiura as Ilulu (replacing Tomomi Mineuchi)
Storyline of ‘A Lonely Dragon Wants to be Loved’
While maintaining the cozy, reverse-isekai vibes of the original series, the film A Lonely Dragon Wants to be Loved explores emotionally weighty themes. The story focuses on Kanna Kamui as she is torn between two families.
The found family of Miss Kobayashi, Tohru, and Kanna are enjoying their everyday lives until Kanna’s biological father, Kimun Kamui, arrives to take his daughter back to the fantasy world. Kanna then faces a difficult decision: choose between her dragon and human families. This premise will test Kanna’s character as she decides who is most important to her.
About Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid
Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid began as a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Coolkyousinnjya in May 2013. The series follows Kobayashi, a software engineer whose life changes when she saves a dragon named Tohru. Tohru transforms into a human girl and becomes Kobayashi’s maid. The series blends slice-of-life elements with magical realism.
The anime adaptation by Kyoto Animation premiered in Japan in January 2017, with a second season, Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid S, airing in July 2021.
The Impact of Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation, the studio behind Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid, is known for other beloved anime films such as A Silent Voice and Violet Evergarden: The Movie. The studio has faced challenges, including an arson attack in 2019, but continues to produce high-quality animation.
Availability Outside Japan
As of now, there is no confirmed release date for Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid: A Lonely Dragon Wants to be Loved in theaters outside of Japan. However, fans can hope for the movie to arrive on streaming platforms like Crunchyroll or on DVD. If the film proves popular enough, limited theatrical screenings internationally are also possible.
