The shoujo manga From Far Away will receive an anime adaptation

Suddenly traveling to a fantasy world wasn't always a genre saturated by video game mechanics and modern reincarnations. In the nineties, this premise was the fundamental core for building epic, romantic, and deeply dark tales. This Wednesday, a website was launched to officially announce the anime adaptation of the classic shoujo manga written and illustrated by Kyouko Hikawa, From Far Away (Kanata Kara). The production committee released a commemorative video and confirmed that the series will premiere on Japanese television during the course of this year.

The revelation of this project arrives alongside the celebrations for the 35th anniversary of the franchise's beginning. To frame the news, the original author published a commemorative illustration on official social media channels. On a technical level, the committee confirmed that veteran Noriyuki Abe will take full control from the director's chair. He is a historical figure within the animation industry, globally recognized for having directed shonen giants such as Bleach, Great Teacher Onizuka (GTO), and Flame of Recca. At the moment, it has not been revealed which animation studio will be in charge of the production, nor who will make up the main voice cast.

About the work

Kyouko Hikawa began serializing this emblematic story in the pages of LaLa magazine, backed by the publisher Hakusensha, back in 1991. The work built a solid legacy for over a decade, concluding its uninterrupted publication in 2002. The complete story was packaged into 14 traditional compiled volumes. Its enduring commercial success led the publisher to release a seven-volume special Bunko edition between 2004 and 2005. Today, it is considered a fundamental pillar of "isekai" stories aimed at a female audience.

Synopsis of From Far Away

The plot follows Noriko, an ordinary student who, while returning home from school, is inexplicably transported to a fantasy world filled with dangers and strange creatures. Her troubles multiply when she is rescued by Izark, a handsome and brave young man who decides to protect her. However, the noble warrior hides a terrifying burden: within him resides the most malevolent darkness imaginable. According to an ancient prophecy of those lands, Noriko possesses the exact power to unleash that latent evil. Bound by fate, both will forge an unlikely alliance to survive and navigate this wondrous yet lethal world together.

Do you think the animation industry should bet on rescuing more classic gems from the nineties instead of adapting so many current light novels?