Young Ladies Don't Play Fighting Games Anime Adds Four Cast Members in New Trailer
The July 7 premiere date and full cast reveal confirm the long-delayed adaptation is finally on track, with a staff lineup that includes a notable novelist and a real fighting game community figure.
Reporting from 2 sources: Anime News Network, Anime Corner.
The television anime adaptation of Eri Ejima's manga Young Ladies Don't Play Fighting Games revealed four additional cast members and a main promotional video on Friday. Yumiri Hanamori joins as Hana Ichinose, Nobuyuki Hiyama as Gekido, Yohei Azakami as Cafe Au Lait, and Taku Yashiro as Seshiro. The trailer previews both the opening theme song "Inochi Mijikashi Tai Suru Otome yo!" by rock band Hanabie and the ending theme song "New Game" by halca. The anime is set to premiere on July 7 across AT-X, Tokyo MX, MBS, BS NTV, and Nagasaki Broadcasting Company channels. Shota Ihata is directing the series at studio Diomedéa, with Wataru Watari handling series scripts, Mayuko Matsumoto designing characters, and Kana Hashiguchi composing the music. The previously announced main cast includes Ikumi Hasegawa as Aya Mitsuki, Kana Ichinose as Mio Yorue, Sayaka Senbongi as Yu Inui, Shino Shimoji as Tamaki Ichinose, and Maria Naganawa as Arisa Fujimiya. Real-life fighting game player and commentator Aru voices the in-story commentator Flamberge. The anime was delayed from its originally planned 2025 debut.
The anime was first announced in 2021 and was delayed from its originally planned 2025 debut. The series is directed by Shota Ihata, whose previous credits include Domestic Girlfriend, Girlish Number, and The Saint's Magic Power is Omnipotent. Wataru Watari, best known for writing the My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU novels, handles series scripts. Mayuko Matsumoto designs the characters, and Kana Hashiguchi composes the music.
Additional staff include Scott MacDonald as art director, Maho Takahashi for art setting, Yuki Hayashi as color key artist, Yasuyuki Itou as compositing director of photography, Toshihiko Kojima as editor, and Yayoi Tateishi as sound director. Kadokawa's professional fighting game team FAV gaming, whose members compete in Street Fighter 6, is credited for collaborating on recording.
Real-life fighting game player, commentator, and event organizer Aru voices the in-story commentator Flamberge. The manga by Eri Ejima launched in Kadokawa's Monthly Comic Flapper magazine in January 2020. Kadokawa published the 10th compiled volume on December 23. Seven Seas Entertainment releases the manga in English and has released the ninth volume.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 2 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.