Hanaori-san Still Wants to Fight in the Next Life Anime Reveals Theme Songs, Cast Addition
The addition of Maaya Uchida as both a cast member and ending theme performer signals the production's investment in music-driven marketing for a Summer 2026 premiere.
Reporting from 2 sources: Anime News Network, OtakuKart Anime.
The anime adaptation of Hekiru Hikawa's manga 'Hanaori-san Still Wants to Fight in the Next Life' released its second promotional video on June 24, 2026. The trailer previews the opening theme 'High Maintenance Girl' by Masayoshi Ōishi and the ending theme 'Very Good Encounter' by Maaya Uchida, who also joins the cast as Meru Tsumugina. The anime stars Jun Fukuyama as Ryusei Narukami and Akira Sekine as Meteor Hanaori. The supporting cast includes Seena Hoshiki, Hitomi Ueda, Sora Tokui, Nene Hieda, Rie Takahashi, Hiromi Igarashi, Ayasa Itō, and Yōko Hikasa. Hideyo Yamamoto directs the series at LIDENFILMS, with series composition by Yukie Sugawara and character design by Yousuke Okuda. The story follows Ryusei, a former demon king reincarnated as a NEET gamer, who reunites with the hero who defeated him, now a high school girl. The anime is scheduled for a global release in July 2026, with advance streaming in Japan on d Anime Store and ABEMA.
Maaya Uchida, who voices Meru Tsumugina, also performs the ending theme "Very Good Encounter." The opening theme "High Maintenance Girl" is by Masayoshi Ōishi. Both tracks are previewed in the second promotional video.
The trailer focuses on the central premise: Ryusei Narukami, a former demon king reincarnated as a NEET gamer, reunites with the hero who defeated him, now a high school girl named Meteor Hanaori. Their dynamic shifts from epic battles to romantic comedy, with awkward interactions and lingering tension from their past lives. The trailer also teases supernatural abilities carried over from their previous world.
Additional production credits include art director Naoka Ayata, color designer Mineyo Ōnishi, director of photography Kimihiro Nakano, sound director Ryōsuke Naya, and music by Yukari Hashimoto and R・O・N. Seven Seas Entertainment announced in December it will release the manga in English in omnibus format, with the first volume shipping in October 2026.
Hikawa, creator of Pani Poni and character designer for Concrete Revolutio, launched the manga in Kodansha's Morning Two magazine in August 2021. Kodansha published the ninth compiled book volume on March 23.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 2 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.