A few character designs have released for the upcoming YuruYuri OVA, titled YuruYuri: Nachuyachumi! The OVA will feature updated designs from the 2011 and 2012 anime series, since it will be animated by another studio, TYO Animations (Shinryaku! Ika Musume, Plastic Nee-san). They will be replacing animation studio Dogakobo (GJ-bu, Mikakunin de Shinkoukei). The OVA is set to air this Winter.
Above are the updated designs of the series’ main characters for Nachuyachumi!. They are illustrated by Motohiro Taniguchi (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Strike Witches) who is also the key animator. A comparison image of the new OVA designs and the character designs from the two anime series was also released. The designs on the left are from the 2011 and 2012 anime, designed by Chiaki Nakajima (Love Lab), and the ones on the right are from Taniguchi.
YuruYuri, is a manga series created by Namori that released in June 2008 and is still running. The manga has a total of 11 volumes thus far and has sold over 1 million copies as of December 2011. Namori has also created two more manga series alongside YuruYuri: YuruYuri Reset!, which is currently on hiatus, and YuruYuri Ohmuroke a web manga that started in July 2012. The series also received an anime adaptation in July 2011 by animation studio Dogakobo. The second season of the anime titled YuruYuri♪♪ aired in 2012, also in July.
Here is a synopsis of the series from Haruhichan:
Right after starting middle school, Akari Akaza joins the Amusement Club which is composed solely by her two childhood friends, Kyouko Toshinou and Yui Funami. Chinatsu Yoshikawa, Akaza’s classmate, becomes a member after finding out about the dissolution of the Tea Club.
The Amusement Club, situated at the tea room facility since the Tea Club disbanded, has no clear purpose, being free for the girls to do whatever they want.
YuruYuri: Nachuyachumi! will be releasing this Winter anime season in Japanese theatres followed by a physical release. The OVA will be directed by Hiroyuki Hata (Saikin, Imouto no Yousu ga Chotto Okashiinda ga.) with Michiko Yokote (Gintama, Shinryaku! Ika Musume) writing the script. More information on Nachuyachumi! will release at a later date.
The official website of the YuruYuri anime can be viewed here.
