Takamasa Moue is the illustrator of the Akane-Banashi manga, which is currently being adapted into an anime that premiered on April 4, 2026, and streams on Netflix and YouTube.
Takamasa Moue is the illustrator of the Akane-Banashi manga, which writer Yuki Suenaga created. The manga began in February 2022 and has 17 volumes as of the anime's 8th episode preview, or 21 compiled volumes as of April 3, according to Netflix's English dub announcement. Viz Media publishes the English version of the manga.
The Akane-Banashi anime adaptation premiered on April 4, 2026, on TV Asahi's IMAnimation block. It streams on Netflix worldwide and on the Akane-Banashi Global YouTube channel in North America and Latin America. The anime is directed by Ayumu Watanabe, with scripts by Michihiro Tsuchiya, assistant director Yu Harima, character designs and chief animation direction by Kii Tanaka, and production by ZEXCS. The Japanese cast includes Anna Nagase as Akane Osaki, Takuya Eguchi as Karashi Nerimaya, and Rie Takahashi as Hikaru Koragi.
Netflix listed the English dub cast for the first two episodes on May 16, 2026, with Abby Trott as Akane Osaki, Xander Mobus as Shinta Arakawa, and Brook Chalmers as Shiguma Arakawa. Bang Zoom! Studios handles production, with Eric P. Sherman as executive producer and Alex Von David as ADR director and writer. The English dub debuted on May 17, 2026, with weekly episode releases. The anime's 8th episode preview was released on May 22, 2026, ahead of its May 23 debut.
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2h ago
The Akane-Banashi anime has released a preview for its 8th episode ahead of its May 23, 2026 debut. The series premiered on April 4, 2026, and streams on YouTube and Netflix worldwide. The anime adapts the manga by writer Yuki Suenaga and illustrator Takamasa Moue, which began in 2022 and has 17 volumes. Viz Media publishes the English version. The anime is directed by Ayumu Watanabe, with scripts overseen by Michihiro Tsuchiya. Yu Harima is assistant director, and Kii Tanaka handles character designs and chief animation direction. Production is by ZEXCS. The Japanese cast includes Anna Nagase as Akane Osaki, Takuya Eguchi as Karashi Nerimaya, Rie Takahashi as Hikaru Koragi, and others. Netflix also recently revealed additional English dub cast members for the third episode. The story follows Akane Osaki, a high school student who secretly takes rakugo lessons from her father's former teacher, Shiguma Arakawa, and begins her climb from opening act to headliner.
6d ago
Netflix has listed the English dub cast and staff for the first two episodes of the Akane-banashi anime, which adapts the manga by Yūki Suenaga and Takamasa Moue. The English dub cast includes Abby Trott as Akane Osaki, Xander Mobus as Shinta Arakawa, Rebecca Wang as Masaki Osaki, and Brook Chalmers as Shiguma Arakawa. Other cast members include Evan Michael Lee, Rich Brown, Kirk Thornton, Mona Marshall, Clifford Chapin, Dorah Fine, Matt Shipman, and Darius Marquis Johnson. Bang Zoom! Studios is handling production, with Eric P. Sherman as executive producer and Alex Von David as ADR director and writer. Netflix will debut the English dub for the first two episodes on May 17, with subsequent episodes releasing weekly. The anime began airing on TV Asahi's "IMAnimation" block on April 4. Netflix will begin streaming the series with the English dub on May 17. The anime also streams for free on the Akane-banashi Global YouTube channel in North America and Latin America after Japanese broadcast. The manga launched in February 2022 and has 21 compiled volumes as of April 3.