AVAM Members Join Anime Film Kimi to Hanabi to Yakusoku to
The casting of three AVAM members-a group with over 2.2 million social media followers-brings a large existing fanbase to a film that already features a lead from the popular group timelesz, expanding its cross-promotional reach.
Reporting from 2 sources: Eiga Natalie, Anime Anime.
Three members of the idol group AVAM-Nanami Saeki, Hana Kikyo, and Yuka Himemiya-have been cast in the anime film "Kimi to Hanabi to Yakusoku to." They will voice classmates of the protagonist Makoto Natsume, played by Shori Sato of timelesz. The film is based on the novel by Matoka, published under Shogakukan's Gagaga Bunko. Directed by Kei Suzuki, the animation is produced by SynergySP and Answer Studio, with planning and production by Shin-Ei Animation. The story is a love drama set against the Nagaoka Festival Grand Fireworks Display in Niigata. It follows Makoto, who is approached by classmate Aki Hayama, who says her great-grandmother told her he would draw a picture for her. The film is scheduled for nationwide release on July 17, 2026. Saeki commented that voicing a theatrical anime was a goal of hers. Kikyo noted she lived in Niigata as a child and would watch the Nagaoka fireworks annually. Himemiya expressed hope the film becomes everyone's "unforgettable summer."
The film's theme song is timelesz's new song "Kienai Hanabi." Shori Sato, also from timelesz, voices the protagonist Makoto Natsume in his first lead role in an anime film. Nanoka Hara plays the heroine Aki Hayama. Rie Takahashi voices a girl named Haru who appears before Makoto. Natsuko Yokozawa, who is from Niigata like the film's setting, plays Makoto's mother.
AVAM is a seven-member idol group formed through auditions with approximately 15,000 applicants. Their concept is "little devil." Their representative song "Kyou, Izon shite." has gone viral on TikTok, with total music video views exceeding 20 million. The group's total social media followers, including individual members, surpass 2.2 million.
Additional production credits include screenplay by Kohei Mori, character design by Yuji Watanabe, and character draft by Akamoku. The music is by Arisa Okehazama. Planning and production is by Shin-Ei Animation, with distribution by Shochiku and Shin-Ei Animation. The film is supported by Niigata Prefecture, Nagaoka City, the Niigata Tourism Association, and the Nagaoka Fireworks Foundation.
Scene cuts showing the three AVAM members as classmates have also been released.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 2 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.