NAFCA Releases Original Anime Hokuto to Kagemaru
The release marks the first completed anime from NAFCA, an industry organization founded in 2023, and the project doubles as a source of licensed educational materials for animation schools.
Key Facts
- NAFCA released its first original anime, 'Hokuto to Kagemaru,' on YouTube on June 8.
- A 2025 crowdfunding campaign for the anime raised 136% of its target.
- The cast includes Yumiko Kobayashi as Kagemaru, Hitomi Nabatame as Hokuto, and Shigeru Chiba as narrator.
- Character designers are Yoshihiko Umakoshi ('Ojamajo Doremi,' 'My Hero Academia') and Satoshi Koike ('Keroro Gunsō the Super Movie').
- A sequel aimed at professional-level skills is in production.
Reporting from 1 source: ASCII.jp.
The Japan Animation Film Culture Association (NAFCA) has completed and released the original anime 'Hokuto to Kagemaru' on YouTube. The project began as educational material for the Animator Skill Test textbook, and a 2025 crowdfunding campaign exceeded its goal by 136%. The cast includes Yumiko Kobayashi, Hitomi Nabatame, and Shigeru Chiba, with character design by Yoshihiko Umakoshi and Satoshi Koike. A sequel is in production.
The Japan Animation Film Culture Association (NAFCA) released its first original anime, 'Hokuto to Kagemaru,' on YouTube on June 8. The project started as a way to illustrate animation techniques and terminology for the Animator Skill Test textbook. A 2025 crowdfunding campaign raised 136% of its target to finish the short.
The cast features Yumiko Kobayashi as Kagemaru, Hitomi Nabatame as Hokuto, and Shigeru Chiba as narrator. Character designers include Yoshihiko Umakoshi ('Ojamajo Doremi,' 'My Hero Academia') and Satoshi Koike ('Keroro Gunsō the Super Movie'). All animation and finishing were done domestically. Intermediate materials such as layouts and key animation will be provided to educational institutions. A sequel aimed at professional-level skills is in production.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.
Sources
- ASCII.jp NAFCAオリジナルアニメ『ほくとと影マル』公開！