Makoto Koichi is cast as protagonist Akira Todo in the original anime Vertex Force, premiering October 3, and as the kind-hearted prince in The Cat and the Dragon, which debuted July 4.
Makoto Koichi has two anime roles announced in mid-2026. In June, he was cast as the kind-hearted prince in The Cat and the Dragon, an OLM television adaptation of Amara's light novel series. The series premiered on July 4 on Tokyo MX and other Japanese channels. Koichi plays a prince who, according to the story, struggles with magic and is assisted by a well-behaved cat named Haneko, voiced by Yu Serizawa.
In July, Koichi was announced as the lead voice actor for the original television anime Vertex Force, directed by Kazuhiro Takamura. He voices Akira Todo, a 13-year-old middle school student in Okinawa who feels inferior because he lacks the Engine power that his older sister Haruka inherited from their father. The anime is set to premiere on October 3 on Tokyo MX, BS11, Gunma TV, and Tochigi TV, with streaming on U-NEXT and other services in Japan. The production team includes SMDE as the studio, with Gorō Kuji as assistant director.
Both roles were revealed through official announcements on the respective anime's websites. The Vertex Force announcement also included a main promotional video and key visual. Koichi's casting in The Cat and the Dragon was part of a three-person addition that also included Yu Serizawa and Kazuya Ichijo.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the cited Yomimono stories below, each itself
sourced, then editorially reviewed. Every
fact links the story it came from.
Jul 26
The original television anime Vertex Force, directed by Strike Witches and Vividred Operation creator Kazuhiro Takamura, will premiere on October 3 at 11:30 p.m. on Tokyo MX, BS11, Gunma TV, and Tochigi TV, with streaming on U-NEXT and other services in Japan. The announcement came on July 24 via the anime's official website, which also released a main promotional video, key visual, and the full main cast. Makoto Koichi voices protagonist Akira Todo, a 13-year-old middle school student living in Okinawa who feels inferior for lacking the "Engine" power his older sister Haruka inherited from their father. Kaede Hondo plays Haruka Todo, a cheerful 16-year-old high school girl who hides her power. Ami Koshimizu voices Eleanor Northbrook, an 18-year-old from the United States; Megumi Han plays Lala Zudenstein, a 16-year-old from Switzerland; and Rie Takahashi voices Yoko Nishina, a 16-year-old from Hokkaido. The story follows Akira and his family as strange events begin occurring worldwide, with unidentified enemies approaching. Takamura is directing at SMDE, with Gorō Kuji as assistant director. Kanetake Ebikawa handles engine design, and JNTHED handles ENIA design.
Jun 4
The television anime adaptation of Amara's light novel series The Cat and the Dragon has announced its July 4 premiere date, along with a first promotional video and three additional cast members. The series will debut on Tokyo MX on July 4 at 9:00 p.m. JST, followed by broadcasts on BS NTV, Yomiuri TV, Nagasaki Culture Broadcasting, and AT-X throughout the following week. Streaming will be available on d Anime Store in Japan. The newly announced cast includes Yu Serizawa as Haneko, a well-behaved cat who assists a prince struggling with magic; Makoto Koichi as the kind-hearted prince; and Kazuya Ichijo as the king, who must negotiate with the dragon. The first PV shows the dragon visiting a human town and requesting an audience with the king, along with glimpses of Haneko teaching magic to a child. The anime is directed by Jin-Koo Oh at OLM, with series composition by Mitsutaka Hirota, character designs by Rie Nishino and Chiaki Kurakazu, and music by Takahiro Obata. The original web novel debuted on Shōsetsuka ni Narō in September 2013, and the series has sold over 1.4 million copies across its light novel and manga editions.