Hana-Kimi, one of the most iconic shōjo of
the late 90s and early 2000s, will finally have an anime adaptation. During
the Aniplex Online Fest event, it was confirmed that the
series will premiere in January 2026, and that it will feature an
opening and ending performed by the popular musical duo YOASOBI, something
that already sets the bar very high in terms of expectation.
The manga,
whose full title is Hana Zakari no Kimi-tachi e, was created by the
late Hisaya Nakajo, who published it in Hana to Yume magazine
between 1996 and 2004. With more than a decade since its completion, Hana-Kimi continues
to be remembered as a key work that marked an entire generation of readers with
its mixture of romance, school entanglements and the unforgettable story of
Mizuki Ashiya, who disguises herself as a boy in order to get closer to her
idol.
From
dramas to anime
Although
many fans already enjoyed the multiple live-action adaptations – including the
2007 Japanese drama, the 2011 version with AKB48, and even
productions in South Korea and Taiwan – the
great outstanding debt had always been an animated adaptation. Now, more than
20 years after the end of the manga, that debt will be more than paid off in
2026.
International
premiere guaranteed
The news
also confirms that Crunchyroll will be in charge of streaming
the anime in key regions such as America, Europe, Africa, Oceania, the Middle
East, the CIS, and India. That is, fans around the world will be able to
experience this story at the same time, which points to a global phenomenon
similar to the one that manga had at the time.
A
premiere full of nostalgia
The
announcement comes with an inevitable emotional charge: Hisaya Nakajo,
creator of the work, died in 2023 at the age of 50 due to a heart condition.
That his legacy comes to life in the form of an anime will undoubtedly be a
tribute that his followers will know how to value. Between nostalgia, YOASOBI's
music, and the strength of a shojo classic, Hana-Kimi is
shaping up to be one of the most anticipated releases of 2026.
