Witch on the Holy Night Film Cast Revealed: Tomatsu, Hanazawa, Kobayashi Lead

Well, well, well. The gears of the anime industry keep turning, and this week they've ground out some rather shiny casting news. ufotable, the studio that made us all believe unlimited budget works was a thing, has decided who will voice the leads in their upcoming film adaptation of Mahōtsukai no Yoru (Witch on the Holy Night). And it's a lineup that feels both fitting and... expensive. Let's just say the check from Aniplex cleared.

A Trio of Familiar Voices for a Classic Tale

The studio revealed that Haruka Tomatsu will take on the role of the reluctant mage heir, Aoko Aozaki. She'll be joined by Kana Hanazawa as the young witch, Alice Kuonji, and Yūsuke Kobayashi as the anachronistic transfer student, Soujyuro Sizuki. It's a cast that screams "prestige project." You don't hire voices of this caliber for a quick cash-in. This is a signal that Type-Moon and ufotable are treating this with the reverence usually reserved for a Fate entry.

For those not steeped in the lore, this film is a big deal. The original visual novel is one of the foundational texts of the so-called "Nasuverse"—that loosely connected universe where Tsukihime and Fate/stay night characters occasionally bump into each other in metaphysical alleys. It's set in the late 1980s, a period detail we don't see often, and follows Aoko as she's forced into a magical apprenticeship she never wanted, all while dealing with high school politics and a scheming older sister.

Why This Film Matters Beyond the Hype

Let's talk numbers for a second. The PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch version of the game has sold over 150,000 copies worldwide. That's not Demon Slayer numbers, but for a niche visual novel remake, it's a very healthy figure. It proves there's an audience, one hungry for more of Kinoko Nasu's early world-building. This film isn't just an adaptation; it's the long-awaited cinematic unveiling of a story that has been cult canon for over a decade.

The project's history is a journey in itself. It started as a novel draft Nasu and Takashi Takeuchi shared only with friends in the mid-90s. Think of it as their secret handshake before they formed Type-Moon and changed the doujin game forever. The fact it's finally getting the ufotable treatment, complete with their signature spellbinding animation, feels like a promise being kept to the fans who have been there since the beginning.

The Nasuverse Connection: It's All Family Business

Here's a fun bit of trivia for the lorehounds. The Aozaki sisters are the connective tissue of this universe. An older Aoko is the mentor to Tsukihime's Shiki Tohno. The older sister, Tōko (whose voice actor we eagerly await), is the employer of The Garden of Sinners' Shiki Ryōgi. Adapting Witch on the Holy Night isn't just telling one story; it's shining a light on the origin point for two of the most iconic "Shikis" in anime. It's like getting the prequel to the prequel.

With the recent English release of Tsukihime -A piece of blue glass moon-, the timing is perfect. The Western audience is finally getting properly acquainted with this side of Type-Moon's catalog. This film will be the next logical step, a visual feast to anchor all that complex mythology.

What to Expect When the Curtain Rises

So, what's our take? We expect ufotable to do what they do best: make magic look absolutely stunning. The late 80s setting offers a fantastic aesthetic opportunity—think less sleek modern CGI and more textured, atmospheric artistry. The character dynamics—the reluctant Aoko, the isolated Alice, the fish-out-of-water Soujyuro—are classic Nasu, ripe for both drama and surprisingly sharp humor.

The film is slated for later this year. No specific date yet, but the announcement of this cast tells us production is moving full steam ahead. Our advice? If you're curious, consider checking out the visual novel on Steam or Switch. It's the best way to prep for the spectacle to come. And for longtime fans, let's just enjoy this moment. After all these years, seeing Aoko and Alice finally animated by one of the best in the business... it's a little bit of magic in itself.

Stay tuned. The night the witch arrives is coming sooner than you think.