Kasumi Yasuda's manga Fool Night is officially getting an anime adaptation, and in one of the most exciting announcements of the year, it will be produced by legendary animation studios Sunrise (Bandai Namco Filmworks) and SHAFT in their first-ever collaboration.
Alongside the news, the team dropped a teaser visual, a debut PV, and character and voice cast information. The series is scheduled for a global exclusive release on Netflix later this year.
Fool Night began its serialization in Shogakukan's "Big Comic Superior" in November 2020 and currently has 12 volumes in print. The series has earned high praise both in Japan and internationally, earning a spot in the "Kono Manga ga Sugoi! 2023" guide and winning "Best Suspense" at the 2023 Japan Expo Awards (DARUMA Award) in France.
The story is set on a far-future Earth. The planet is shrouded in thick clouds, leaving the world in a state of near-perpetual winter and night. With most plant life extinct, humanity faces an existential crisis due to oxygen deprivation. In response, a technology called "Transfloration" is developed, which involves implanting seeds into the bodies of the dying to transform them into plants. Civilization now survives on the meager oxygen produced by these former humans.
The protagonist, Toshiro Kamiya, is an impoverished young man working tirelessly to pay for taxes, living expenses, and medication for his mentally ill mother. However, the harsh reality of his world slowly strips away his hope. In this world devoid of light, he ultimately chooses the path of becoming a "Reika"—a plant transformed from a human. Will he continue to live as a person, or will he cast aside his suffering for a new life as a plant?
The production lineup for the anime is nothing short of spectacular. Sunrise is the powerhouse studio behind hits like Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury and Cowboy Bebop, while SHAFT is renowned for its highly stylized and unique direction in series like Puella Magi Madoka Magica and the Monogatari Series. This marks the first time these two industry-defining studios have ever joined forces.
The studios had already teased a collaboration last week on the 18th without revealing the project's name, sending fans into a frenzy of speculation.
The creative team includes:
Director: Atsushi Yukawa (Unit Director on Suzume)
Series Composition: Jin Tanaka (【Oshi no Ko】)
Sound Director: Yota Tsuruoka (A Silent Voice)
Music: Tatsuya Kato (Dr. STONE)
With a team stacked with acclaimed and high-profile creators, it's clear the production committee has immense confidence in this project.
The debut PV showcases the high-caliber animation born from the Sunrise and SHAFT collaboration, complemented by a powerful score from Tatsuya Kato. The footage masterfully captures the emotional struggles of characters trying to survive in a harsh world.
▼ First PV for the "Fool Night" Anime
The voice cast will be led by Kouki Uchiyama as the protagonist, Toshiro Kamiya, and Minako Kotobuki as his childhood friend, Yomiko Horai.
Original creator Kasumi Yasuda also released a statement about the anime adaptation:
"The starting point for Fool Night was simply the image of 'a cool office filled with houseplants.' I didn't have a detailed plan; I just kept building a room that I liked. The building ended up getting more and more crooked, but in the end, it has successfully led to an anime adaptation."
He also expressed his gratitude to readers worldwide: "This is all thanks to the readers who have supported Fool Night along the way. I hope that through the anime, many people who have never encountered the work before will discover this story. Please lend your support to this sci-fi series I've created."
▼ A celebratory illustration from Kasumi Yasuda for the anime announcement.
Fans have long been hoping for a Fool Night anime, but the surprise announcement of a first-ever collaboration between Sunrise and SHAFT has sent expectations soaring, leaving many excited to see what creative sparks will fly.
The series is confirmed for a global exclusive release on Netflix this year. For those interested, now is the perfect time to check out the original manga while waiting for more official news.
via： X@「フールナイト」アニメ公式