Director Sou Toyama Discusses Realism in Kirio Fan Club
Director Sou Toyama discussed his approach to the upcoming Kirio Fan Club anime adaptation in an interview published on April 1. The series, based on Chikyu no Osakana Ponchan's manga, follows two high school girls, Aimi and Nami, who have a crush on a classmate named Kirio. Toyama said the most important thing is to portray the characters realistically as ordinary high school girls, not idealized versions. To achieve this, the anime avoids typical exaggerated expressions like heavy deformation or symbolic visual effects. He described the story as a real human drama that shifts between comedy and serious moments. The director noted that Kirio's face is never shown, a choice meant to let viewers imagine their own version of the character and become more immersed in the girls' emotions. Toyama said being a fan of someone enriches one's life and creates motivation. The series streams on HIDIVE.