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 recently revealed a non-credit opening sequence, additional cast members, and a new visual, further building excitement for its theatrical release. The film, which premiered in Japanese theaters on June 27, 2025, continues the beloved slice-of-life fantasy series from Kyoto Animation.
A Glimpse into the Opening: “Namida no Parade”
The non-credit opening sequence, now available to the public, features the film’s opening theme song, “Namida no Parade” (Parade of Tears), performed by the returning musical group fhána. fhána has been a staple of the Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid anime, having performed opening themes for both prior television seasons, “Aozora no Rhapsody” for the first season and “Ai no Supreme!” for the second season, Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid S. The visual presentation of the opening sequence is a testament to Kyoto Animation’s continued dedication to high-quality animation, providing fans with a tantalizing preview of the film’s aesthetic and mood. The song’s emotional depth and fhána’s signature style are expected to set the tone for the film’s narrative, which delves into Kanna’s family background.
Expanding the Dragon Maid Family: New Voice Talent
The film introduces several new and returning voices to its ensemble cast. Mutsumi Tamura reprises her role as the titular Miss Kobayashi, with Yūki Kuwahara returning as Tohru and Maria Naganawa as Kanna. Other familiar voices include Yūki Takada as Elma, Minami Takahashi as Lucoa, Daisuke Ono as Fafnir, Yūichi Nakamura as Makoto Takiya, Emiri Katō as Riko Saikawa, and Kaori Ishihara as Shōta Magatsuchi.
Notably, Shiori Sugiura takes over the role of Ilulu, replacing Tomomi Mineuchi, who retired from voice acting in 2022.
The newly announced additional cast members include:
- Fumihiko Tachiki as Kimun Kamui. Kimun Kamui is Kanna’s father and the leader of the Chaos Forces, whose arrival will disrupt the peaceful lives of Kobayashi and the dragons, as he attempts to force Kanna to return to the Dragon World.
- Nobunaga Shimazaki as Azad.
- Shinya Takahashi as a middle-aged fairy, who previously appeared in the TV anime’s second season.
- Azusa Tadokoro as a fairy girl.
- Sachiko Kobayashi as Felicitas.
These additions are set to enrich the film’s narrative, particularly with the introduction of Kimun Kamui, central to the film’s plot, which focuses on Kanna’s emotional journey and the potential conflict between the Chaos and Harmony factions of dragons.
A Fresh Look: The New Visual
Alongside the cast announcements and opening reveal, a new collaboration visual has been unveiled. This visual is a joint effort between Coolkyoushinja, the original manga author of Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid, and Miku Kadowaki, the anime’s character designer. The visual reportedly features Kanna, Kobayashi, Tohru, and Ilulu, drawn by Coolkyoushinja, while Kimun Kamui and Azad, drawn by Kadowaki, glare at each other, hinting at an impending confrontation. This visual serves to further illustrate the film’s core conflict and the emotional stakes involved for the characters, especially Kanna.
Production and International Release
Kyoto Animation, the renowned studio behind Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid and other critically acclaimed works such as A Silent Voice and Violet Evergarden: The Movie, is producing the film. Tatsuya Ishihara, who directed the second season of the TV anime, returns to helm the film. Yuka Yamada is responsible for the script, while Miku Kadowaki serves as character designer and chief animation director. The late Yasuhiro Takemoto is also credited as “series director” for the film.
The film, officially titled Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid: A Lonely Dragon Wants to be Loved, held advance screenings in Japan on May 26, 2025, before its wide release on June 27, 2025, across 199 theaters, including immersive 4DX and MX4D screenings. Crunchyroll has secured the worldwide theatrical rights for the film, excluding Asia, and plans to screen it in North America with Japanese audio and English subtitles. While a specific worldwide release schedule is yet to be fully detailed, fans outside of Asia can anticipate further announcements from Crunchyroll. The movie’s plot centers on Kanna as she navigates a difficult situation when her biological father, Kimun Kamui, arrives to take her back to the Dragon World, setting the stage for a conflict between the “Chaos” and “Harmony” forces. Miss Kobayashi, determined not to lose Kanna, endeavors to mend the fractured bond between Kanna and her father.
