The upcoming historical anime series The World Is Dancing just gave fans a big update. The show has a final release date, a brand new trailer, and a confirmed opening theme song.
The anime will officially premiere on July 2, 2026. The announcement came alongside a new main promotional video and key visual. The trailer gives the best look yet at the story’s world. It also features the opening theme song “shusho” by the Japanese rock band Macaroni Empitsu for the first time.
The series tells the story of a young boy who grows up to become Zeami, a legendary figure who helped create Noh theatre. The anime is based on the manga by Kazuto Mihara, which was published in Kodansha’s Morning magazine.
New Trailer Shows More Story and Character Details
The main trailer runs over a minute long and focuses heavily on the main character Oniyasha. Viewers see his early life as a performer in the sarugaku theater. The trailer also shows his important meeting with the shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu.
The opening theme “shusho” plays throughout the video. This is the first time the song has been shared with the public. Macaroni Empitsu, known for their rock sound, wrote the track specifically for the anime.
The visuals in the trailer highlight the animation quality from studio CygamesPictures. The studio has worked on popular titles like Umamusume: Cinderella Gray and The Summer Hikaru Died. The trailer shows smooth dance movements and detailed historical backdrops.
Full Release Schedule for Japan and Streaming Details
The The World Is Dancing anime will first air on television in Japan. The schedule includes:
- TOKYO MX and KBS Kyoto โ July 2, 2026 at 10:00 p.m. JST
- Sun TV โ July 2, 2026 at 24:00 JST (effectively July 3 at 12:00 a.m.)
- BS Asahi and TVQ Kyushu โ Starting July 3, 2026
The series is co-produced by Shochiku Co., Ltd. and CyberAgent, Inc.. Streaming details for platforms outside Japan have not yet been announced. International fans are waiting for news from services like Crunchyroll or Netflix.
New Cast Members Join the Series
The production team revealed five new voice actors joining the show. These characters will play key roles in Oniyasha’s journey.
Takahiro Sakurai will voice Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, the powerful shogun. Yoshimitsu is a major figure in Japanese history. In the story, his support helps shape the future of Noh theatre.
Other new cast members include:
- Nobuo Tobita as Nijo Yoshimoto
- Mamiko Noto as Nariko
- Inori Minase as Chiharu
- Hazuki Seto as Satsuki
Sakurai shared his thoughts on the role. He admitted he did not know much about Noh theatre before taking the part. He called the anime a good starting point for viewers to learn about the art form.
“I did not know much about Noh theatre before this role. This anime is a good starting point for viewers to learn about the art form.”
Main Voice Cast and Production Team
The lead role of Oniyasha is played by Yumiri Hanamori. She is known for her work in Hell’s Paradise and other major anime series.
The previously announced supporting cast includes:
- Simba Tsuchiya as Ishiya
- Maaya Uchida as Kogane
- Romi Park as Zojiro
- Katsuyuki Konishi as Kan’ami
- Haruki Ishiya as Junigoro
The directing team is led by Toshimasa Kuroyanagi. He has worked on shows like The Great Passage and Backflip!!. The character designs come from Keigo Sasaki, known for his work on Blue Exorcist and ERASED.
Story Background: The Birth of Noh Theatre
The story is set in the year 1374. Japan is in the middle of a long conflict between the Northern and Southern Courts. In this time of war, a boy named Oniyasha is born into a family of sarugaku theater performers.
Oniyasha spends his early years feeling sad and confused. He keeps asking himself one question: Why do people dance? His life changes when he sees a performance that he believes is truly “good.” This moment pushes him to create a new style of dance and theater.
The manga by Kazuto Mihara covers this story in only six volumes. Even though it is short, readers praised its strong storytelling and timeless themes. The English version of the manga is available online through Kodansha. Fans can read the first chapter for free.
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Animation Quality and Historical Accuracy
CygamesPictures is handling the animation production. The studio brought in experts to make sure the dance and history parts are correct.
The staff includes Tsumura Reijiro as Noh Choreographer. Kohei Kawaguchi serves as Noh Supervisor. For historical accuracy, Katsuyuki Shimizu is the History Supervisor.
The production team also included Kaiji Moriyama and Mikiko Kawamura as choreographers. This shows the series is putting a strong focus on making the dance scenes feel real and powerful.
Fans of historical anime and dance stories have shown excitement online. Many are praising the trailer’s visuals and the emotional tone of the Macaroni Empitsu song.
The World Is Dancing will begin broadcasting in Japan on July 2, 2026. More information about international streaming partners is expected closer to the release date.
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