The Romantic Comedy Tenbin Reveals Its Production Staff and Premiere Date

Reconnecting with a childhood friend always brings a wave of nostalgia, but discovering that the intrepid playmate you remembered is actually a beautiful girl completely changes the rules of friendship. This Saturday, the official website was launched for the anime adaptation of the school romantic comedylight novel written by Yu Hibari, Tenko-saki no Seiso Karen na Bishoujo ga, Mukashi Danshi to Omotte Issho ni Asonda Osananajimi Datta Ken (The Neat and Beautiful Girl at My New School Was My Childhood Friend Who I Used to Play With Who I Thought was a Boy), better known as Tenbin. The production committee took the opportunity to release the first promotional visual for the series and confirmed that episodes will begin airing on Japanese television this coming July via networks such as Tokyo MX and BS Fuji.

The production of this romantic entanglement is led by chief director Chuan Feng Xu. The responsibility of adapting and structuring the series composition falls to the experienced Deko Akao, ensuring a proper pace for the school comedy. The original designs are being adapted for animation by character designer N-Nei Kurahashi. In the sound department, Daiki Hachimaki serves as audio director, while the musical scores are the result of the joint work of composers Ryosuke Nakanishi, Naoki Tani, and Yuri Morita.

The official announcement focused on revealing the full lineup of talent that will make up the main voice cast for this fun youth story:

• Ikumi Hasegawa as Haruki Nikaido.

An actress acclaimed by the otaku community after voicing Ikuyo Kita in the musical phenomenon Bocchi the Rock! and Vladilena Milize in 86: Eighty-Six.

• Shunichi Toki as Hayato Kirishima.

A recognized voice within the industry for playing Kazutora Hanemiya in the hit gang anime Tokyo Revengers.

• Miharu Hanai as Himeko Kirishima.

A young talent who will play the protagonist's perceptive younger sister, who is still in middle school.

• Natsumi Haruse as Minamo Mitake.

A voice actress joining the project to portray one of Hayato's classmates and a member of the gardening club.

• Fuka Izumi as Saki Murao.

Recently known for her leading role as Utena Hiiragi in Gushing over Magical Girls, lending her voice to the girl who works at the local shrine.

About the work

Yu Hibari began publishing this tender story of misunderstandings through the independent web portal Shosetsuka ni Naro during 2020. Its undeniable charm quickly caught the attention of the publisher Kadokawa, who began publishing the work in printed light novel format with illustrations by artist Siso in 2021. The franchise's success allowed it to release its ninth compiled volume in the Japanese market last August. Simultaneously, the story has a successful manga adaptation drawn by Oyama, which began in 2021 and has accumulated seven volumes to date.

Tenbin Synopsis

The plot follows the life of Hayato Kirishima, a high school student who has just moved to a new school in the city. While trying to adjust to his new school environment, he receives a monumental surprise when he reunites with Haruki Nikaido, his intrepid playmate from seven years ago. The big problem is that throughout his childhood, Hayato was absolutely convinced that Haruki was a boy. Upon seeing her again, he realizes that his old friend is actually an extremely beautiful, refined, and popular girl. This drastic discovery makes all the memories of their childhood friendship take on a completely different tone, unleashing a sweet and chaotic romantic comedy where repressed feelings will begin to bloom.

Do you think the trope of the childhood friend who turns out to be an attractive girl still manages to innovate within modern romantic comedies?