Petals of Reincarnation Anime Adds Jun Fukuyama as E. Schrödinger Ahead of April Premiere

We were minding our own business when Japan’s unofficial Cat Day strolled in—tail up, attitude on. And with it comes a new casting reveal for Petals of Reincarnation (Reincarnation no Kaben). Yes, we’re talking about a gentleman who looks like a cat. Because of course we are.

A Cat Gentleman Joins the Cast

Jun Fukuyama is joining the TV anime as E. Schrödinger, a refined figure with distinctly feline vibes. The timing is not subtle: February 22 (2/22) is celebrated by fans as Cat Day in Japan, thanks to a wordplay where “2” can sound like nyan (meow). We love a holiday that’s basically math + cats. Madrid could never. Or could it?

If we’re being honest, casting news usually lands like a polite email. This one lands like a cat jumping onto the keyboard: unexpected, confident, and somehow the center of the room.

Why This Story Hits: Talent, Envy, and a Dangerous Shortcut

Tōya’s problem is painfully relatable

The story follows Tōya Senji, a high school boy who does well on paper but feels painfully average in real life. He keeps comparing himself to his high-achieving older brother. So even his successes feel… small. We’ve all been there. You get an A and still think, “Sure, but what about their A+?”

Then the reincarnation branch appears

Tōya crosses paths with a classmate who has been absent for a long time: Haito Luo Buffett. In Tōya’s eyes, she’s not just talented—she’s on another level. And then she drops the real twist: she used a “branch of reincarnation” to claim the talent of her past life.

Her past life wasn’t exactly quiet either. She was Miyamoto Musashi. With that, she becomes a Returner—someone reborn with the skills of who they used to be.

And here’s where we stop nodding politely and start paying attention: Haito tells Tōya there are more Returners out there. Some of them aren’t collecting talent to feel special. They’ve got bigger plans.

Think of it like this:

• Some people want a shortcut to confidence.
• Some people want a shortcut to power.
• And someone always wants a shortcut to control the whole map.

The Anime’s Creative Lineup (and Yes, the Music Is Stacked)

Core staff

The TV anime is being built by a team that clearly came to work. Here’s the roll call we’re keeping an eye on:

• Director: Shun Kudō (Grendizer U) at Benten Film (formerly Gaina)
• Series Composition/Scripts: Atsuo Ishino (The Do-Over Damsel Conquers the Dragon Emperor)
• Character Design: Haruna Katō, supervised by Sayaka Ono (BASTARD!! -Heavy Metal, Dark Fantasy-)
• Music: Kohta Yamamoto (Attack on Titan The Final Season), with Pony Canyon producing the music
• Assistant Director: Kōsuke Murayama (Grisaia: Phantom Trigger)
• Action Director: Kentarō Azuma
• Sound Director: Yukio Nagasaki (Love Live! Sunshine!!)

We’re especially curious about the action direction here. A story about stolen talent can turn into chaos fast, and we want that chaos to look clean.

Opening and ending themes

We’re also getting two tracks that sound like they’re ready to carry mood and momentum:

• Opening: eill – Glitch*
• Ending: Sizuk – ZERO

One title says “reality is unstable,” the other says “we’re starting from nothing.” That’s not subtle. We approve.

Release Window, Broadcast, and the Manga’s Long Road

The TV anime is set to premiere in April on Tokyo MX, BTV, and other networks. HIDIVE is co-producing the anime, which is a detail worth noting if you like tracking how shows get made across borders.

As for the manga: Mikihisa Konishi launched Petals of Reincarnation in Comic Blade in May 2014, then moved it to the publisher’s online site in September 2014 after the magazine ceased publication. The series also hit a milestone recently with the 22nd compiled volume shipping on August 8.

In other words, this isn’t a new kid on the block. It’s a story that’s been sharpening its claws for a while.

Now we want to hear from you: are we watching for the Returner battles, the character drama, or purely for a cat-like gentleman named E. Schrödinger? Tell us what you think, and if you’re excited, add the April premiere to your list and share this with the friend who celebrates Cat Day like it’s a national holiday.