Japanese anime studio Shirogumi Inc. and media producer Tablier Communications have announced a new project together titled Etotama. One part of the new project is a new original anime that will be airing in Japan next April. The anime’s first visual, cast, staff, character designs and promotional video were also released with the announcement.
A recent event for Etotama has announced the first members of the upcoming series’ cast. The main characters are all themed after the animals of the Chinese Zodiac, who have an adult and a small pretty mode. The anime’s official website has also released the first set of character designs. The main cast includes:
- Rie Murakawa (Hotaru Ichijou in Non Non Biyori) will voice the main character Nya-tan, the cat zodiac
- Eriko Matsui (Benio Yonomori in Mikakunin de Shinkoukei) voices Mo-tan, the cow zodiac
- Ari Ozawa (Chiyo Sakura in Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun) will voice the role of Umatan, the horse zodiac
- Yumiri Hanamori (First major role) will play Uritan, the boar zodiac
- Hiro Shimono (Keima Katsuragi in The World God Only Knows) as Takeru Tendo, an Akihabara high school student
The anime’s production staff were also revealed:
- Concept & Setting Creators: Takashi Hoshi (Schäferhund) and Tooru Zekuu (Trinity x Venus)
- Director: Fumitoshi Oizaki (Acchi Kocchi, Romeo x Juliet)
- Series Composition: Deko Akao (Noragami, Arakawa Under the Bridge)
- Adult Character Designer: Akio Watanabe (The World God Only Knows, Bakemonogatari)
- Pretty Mode Character Designer: QP:flapper (Sora no Method, Lucky Chance!)
- Anime Pretty Mode Character Designer: Asami Takahashi (Doujins, First major role)
- Chief Animation Director and Anime Adult Character Designer: Satoshi Koike (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Sword of the Stranger Key Animator)
- Cgi Director: Daisuke Hirakawa (Rei Ryugazaki in Free!)
- Animation Studio: Shirogumi Inc. (Moyashimon, Antique Bakery)
In addition the anime’s promotional video has also released:
Etotama is a new original anime series produced by Japanese animation studio Shirogumi Inc. and Japanese media producer Tablier Communications. A manga based on the series by Takashi Hoshi and Tooru Zekuu, and illustrated by Hiroma Hino (Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai dj – Anti-Reaju Pandemic) was launched in January this year in Kadokawa’s Dengeki Daioh magazine. The first compiled volume of the manga will be releasing on November 26th.
Here is a synopsis of the series from Haruhichan:
Nya-tan, the cat of Chinese astrology wants to become a member of the Chinese zodiac. Nya-tan is simple and suffers from memory loss, and she tries various foolish ways to become a member. She meets Takeru Tendo, a high school student who lives alone in Akihabara, and becomes a freeloader at his house. Little by little, she gets closer to her goal.
The Etotama anime series will be airing next April during the Spring 2014 anime season. More information about the anime will release in the upcoming months.
You can visit the project’s website here: http://shirogumi-nmd.com/etotama/
And visit the anime’s website: http://etotama.com/
And follow them on Twitter: @etotama_anime
Source – Anime Anime Japan, Anime News Network, Etotama Anime Website
