Get ready for some adorable chaos! The wildly popular manga "Kindergarten Wars" by Yu Chiba is officially getting a TV anime adaptation! The big news dropped yesterday (October 1st), along with the reveal of its main voice cast. Atsumi Tanezaki will lend her voice to the protagonist Rita, while Kentaro Kumagai steps in as her partner, Doug. While recording hasn't even begun, fans are already buzzing with excitement!
"Kindergarten Wars" kicked off its serialization on Shonen Jump+ in September 2022. The story centers around "Noir Kindergarten," touted as "the safest kindergarten in the world." Its students? The children of powerful politicians, celebrities, and wealthy magnates. And the teachers? They're all ex-convicts, offered reduced sentences in exchange for their services. Beyond teaching, their most crucial duty is to protect the students from potential assassins.
Enter Rita, a legendary former assassin known as "The Witch," who takes a job at Noir Kindergarten. With students who are heirs to international political dynasties, global billionaires, or superstar offspring, and teachers who are all ex-killers with unique skills, Rita's main goal isn't just protection – it's to find her future spouse among the many handsome assassins! What follows is a hilarious dark comedy that's anything but child's play.
It's no surprise, really. "Kindergarten Wars" actually ranked fifth in the "Manga We Most Want to See Animated" poll at AnimeJapan 2025, making it a top pick for many Japanese readers.
Here's a fun fact: author Yu Chiba originally dreamed of becoming a professional guitar craftsman. Even after winning a student manga award for a submission to the app-comico during his school days, he continued working as a guitar technician after graduation. He later made his serialization debut with "Jinsei Company" on "Shonen JUMP Rookie" before launching "Kindergarten Wars" on Shonen Jump+ in 2022, gradually becoming the recognized mangaka he is today.
( Related reading: From Guitar Tech to Manga Artist: The Wild Career Path of Yu Chiba, Creator of JUMP+ Hit "Kindergarten Wars" )
Yu Chiba himself couldn't contain his excitement, exclaiming, "The 'Kindergarten Wars' anime is happening~! I'm so thrilled to finally share the news! Thank you all for your continuous support! While details are still scarce, more information will be revealed soon, so please look forward to it~!"
Atsumi Tanezaki, who voices the ex-assassin Rita, also shared her enthusiasm: "Congratulations on the 'Kindergarten Wars' TV anime! It's truly an honor to be the voice of Rita! We haven't started recording yet, but I'm already super excited! We're going to make this an amazing anime! And I can't wait to meet a bunch of hot guys!!!"
And Kentaro Kumagai, who voices Doug, Rita's senior and a teacher with a background as a "swindler," added: "Huge congratulations on the anime adaptation! The distinct personalities of the special teachers, the cool battle scenes, and the emotional connections between them – I'm incredibly excited to see how it all comes to life in the anime! I'll be pouring my heart into this role with both excitement and nerves! I look forward to seeing everyone at 'the world's safest kindergarten'!"
If this sounds like your kind of jam, we highly recommend checking out the manga while you wait! The editorial team gives a big thumbs-up to this hilarious blend of comedy and action. Official broadcast dates are still under wraps, so stay tuned for more updates!
via： 《幼稚園WARS》官方 X