A new key visual and trailer have been released ahead of the premiere of the Dark Gathering anime series next summer. The main cast has also been announced, with Yu Sasahara playing Yayoi Hozuki, Nobunaga Shimazaki playing Keitaro Gentoga, and Kana Hanazawa playing Eiko Hozuki. The cast has also provided comments, which you can read below!
The Dark Gathering manga was launched in Shueisha’s Jump SQ in March 2019. Created by Kenichi Kondo, the series follow Keitaro Gentoga, a boy with the ability to see spirits. A shut-in for over two years, he slowly reintroduces himself to society as a private tutor, where he meets an incredibly smart girl named Yayoi Hozuki. She’s instantly able to see Keitaro’s mysterious skill and quicking invites him to go with her to a haunted place. From there, the two begin capturing evil spirits.
The anime is being directed at OLM by Hiroshi Ikehata, known for his work on FLCL Progressive. Shigeru Murakoshi is in charge of series composition while Shinya Segawa provided character designs.
The key visual shows the three main characters in front of a spooky Torii gate, each holding candles to add to the mysterious atmosphere.
The trailer also shows the three characters in action and is filled with traditional horror elements. Fans certainly have their hopes up for this one!
Keep an eye out for more details about Dark Gathering ahead of its broadcast in the summer of 2023!
Cast Comments
Yu Sasahara (Yayoi Hozuki)
“I’m Yu Sasahara, and I’m happy to announce that I’ll be playing the role of Yayoi Hozuki! I’ve always loved spooky occult stories, so when I asked to audition for Dark Gathering, I quickly read the original manga and was overwhelmed by its incredible world. It was so fascinating! I felt like I was meant to play Yayoi! I’ll do my best to make sure that everyone enjoys both the horror and the fighting elements, so let’s go!!”
Nobunaga Shimazaki (Keitaro Gentoga)
“Keitaro is a boy who’s attracted to the occult and who is constantly being pushed around by ghosts and his occult-loving childhood friends. Something I love about him is that no matter how many times he finds himself in a bad situation, he always manages to react in a different way and never gets accustomed to it. Even people who don’t typically like horror might like this series just for Keitaro’s reactions! (laugh)
The staff and cast have worked incredibly hard to bring this series to life. Ghost-centric horror anime is pretty rare these days, so I hope that you’ll love it as much as the original manga!”
Kana Hanazawa (Eiko Hozuki)
“To be honest, I’m not good with horror. Dark Gathering is seriously scary, but putting myself into Eiko’s shoes made things easier! She’s so excited by psychic phenomena that she’s strangely okay with the terrifying things happening around her. Sure, she’s a little weird, but that’s okay! Eiko, thank you! Both fans who have read the manga and those totally new to the story will have a great time–it’s scary, but it’s super compelling too.”
Ⓒ近藤憲一／集英社・ダークギャザリング製作委員会
RELATED ENTRIES
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A new character and voice actress set to appear in this summer’s Dark Gathering anime series has been announced! Rina Kawaguchi will play Ai Kamiyo, the second student to appear in Keitaro’s home tutoring job. Ai witnessed her brother pass away due to her unfortunate condition, so it will be curious to see how she interacts with the main character. Check out a comment from Rina Kawaguchi below!
Rina Kawaguchi (Ai Kamiyo)“Hello, everyone! I’m Rina Kawaguchi, and I’ve been chosen to play the role of Ai Kamiyo in the anime series Dark Gathering. I absolutely love the horror genre, and when I auditioned for this part I was obsessed with becoming a part of Dark Gathering. When my manager told me that I had been chosen to play Ai, I got on the train to go home and literally cried happy tears! This is an unparalleled horror masterpiece ready to blow you away, and I’m hoping that tons of people give it a watch this summer!”
Fans attending AnimeJapan 2023 on March 26 will be able to attend a special Dark Gathering panel featuring voice actors Yu Sasahara, Nobunaga Shimazaki, Kana Hanazawa, and Rina Kawaguchi. It’s unclear what the cast will reveal while on stage, so fans won’t want to miss it! Those invited to the panel will be selected by a special free drawing and applications will be accepted until March 8 at 23:59.
Trailer #1
The manga is currently serialized in Shueisha’s Jump SQ and tells the story of Keitaro Gentoga, who can communicate with spirits. After becoming a shut-in after a difficult incident, he meets a genius girl named Yayoi Hozuki who can see Keitaro’s ability. Yayoi is instantly able to tell that Keitaro has skill as a spirit medium, and she invites him to go with her to a haunted location. The two then start their journey capturing evil spirits.
Stay tuned for more Dark Gathering news!Information
Dark Gathering
Airing Summer 2023
Official Site: https://darkgathering.jp/ -
In March 2022, the cover song project CrosSing was launched. Amassing instant popularity, tracks featured as part of the project have pulled in hundreds of millions of views. The project has featured popular voice actors Maaya Uchida, Kana Hanazawa, and Akari Kito. Ahead of the release of CrosSing Collection Vol. 1 on September 21, a clip of Kana Hanazawa’s cover of Rain has been uploaded to YouTube. The song will be included as a bonus track on the album. The track was used as the ending theme for Makoto Shinkai’s short anime film The Garden of Words, in which Hanazawa played the lead role. Rain - Kana Hanazawa (Sample Video)
Preorders for CrosSing Collection Vol. 1 are now open at the Canime shop. Information
CrosSing Collection Vol.1
Release Date: September 21, 2022
Price: ¥3,850 (Tax Included)
*This product will be sold exclusively through the Canime shop.
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Kenichi Kondo’s Dark Gathering manga series will get an anime adaptation in 2023! The manga is currently serialized in Shueisha’s Jump SQ, and the announcement was made on Ghost Day in Japan which falls on July 26. The series will be directed by Hiroshi Ikehata, known for his work on FLCL Progressive and Space Battleship Tiramisu. Filled with horror, it will be interesting to see what is in store for us from OLM studios, famous for the Pokemon and Beyblade Burst series. The teaser visual shows Yayoi Hozuki standing in a dimly lit tunnel, while the teaser trailer shows the many spirits that will appear in the adaptation. The manga tells the story of Keitaro Gentoga, who has the ability to communicate with spirits. After becoming a shut-in after a difficult incident, he meets a genius girl named Yayoi Hozuki who can see Keitaro’s ability. The two start on a journey to capture evil spirits. Teaser Trailer
Keep an eye out for more details coming soon! Ⓒ近藤憲一／集英社・ダークギャザリング製作委員会 Information
Dark Gathering
Official Site: https://darkgathering.jp/
Official Manga Site: https://jumpsq.shueisha.co.jp/rensai/darkdathering/
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Kakehiki wa Poker Face, the newest song from Kana Hanazawa, will serve as the opening theme for the romantic comedy anime series When Will Ayumu Make His Move? The song will be released on July 20, 2022, and a new photo of the artist has been released ahead of the single. Hanazawa transferred to the Pony Canyon label in 2021, releasing the song Moonlight Magic in September. Her second single SHINOBI-NAI was released on November 3, and her first album via Pony Canyon, BLOSSOM, dropped on February 23, 2022. The opening for the new anime series When Will Ayumu Make His Move?, Kakehiki wa Poker Face is an upbeat electro dance-pop number that might inspire those who are having trouble taking the next step forward. Hanazawa herself will provide the voice of Maki in the series, which is set to premiere in July.
Information
Kakehiki wa Poker Face
Release Date: July 20, 2022
Standard Edition (CD Only): ¥1,400 (Tax Included)
First Edition (CD+BD): ¥2,200 (Tax Included)
Official Site: http://hanazawa-kana.com/
When Will Ayumu Make His Move? Official Site: https://soreayu.com/
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FIREBUG studio and animation planning and production company Enishiya have teamed up for a new short anime, Massara. The animation itself was inspired by the song of the same name by Kiyoe Yoshioka, the lead singer of the popular pop duo Ikinonogakari. This was her first original solo song. The animation is a cross between a music video and a brief anime. The story follows a singer-songwriter, Nazuna (Voiced by Yoshioka), who is about to stop chasing her dream, along with a shy girl, Yuna. As they meet, they influence each other to keep running towards their respective dreams. Yuna is voiced by Kana Hanazawa, known for voicing Mitsuri Kanroji in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. Both the music video and short anime are available to watch on the official Ikimonogakari YouTube channel, so check it out! Comments from Performers and Staff
Kiyoe Yoshioka (Nazuna)
"I tried as hard as I could, and when I realized how much I was putting into the role, it was over in an instant. The animation was so beautiful that I was drawn in and was able to enjoy working on it. I was very moved by the scene where Nazuna and Yuna, the two main characters' thoughts and inner struggle for the songs are depicted, and their feelings really connected with each other. One of the highlights of the film is the faithful reproduction of the scenery of the station where I used to perform on the street when I made my debut. I think this is a kind of work that you can feel 'real.' I hope you will all enjoy it."Kana Hanazawa (Yuna)
"The animation was so delicate and captivating that I wanted it to be released in theaters as it was, and I felt that it was a work that was created with great care. I've listened to a lot of Yoshioka-san's singing voice, so I was very happy to be able to participate in such a wonderful project. She was very friendly and talked to me a lot during the recording process. I became more and more a fan of her personality, which is refreshing and gentle, and makes me feel comfortable being in the same space with her. I think the anime has a joy of being able to enjoy Yoshioka-san's voice to the fullest, and also has the depth of flavor of the songs you listen to while feeling the story!"Keita Nagahara (Director)
“Before the actual post-recording session, we had a practice session as a test, where I explained the nuances of the dialogue and the character’s emotions, but Yoshioka already seemed completely capable of capturing Nazuka with very little prep. Her voice is charming, and although she doesn’t have a ton of voice acting experience, I was amazed by her natural talent. The song scene at the beginning was recorded right in front of me, and I was so moved by the power of her voice. This work is beautiful, and I was able to work with an amazing staff to create a short film that really emphasizes the atmosphere in which these characters live. Just as Yuna, who was unable to sing in front of others, was able to take a step forward with Nazuna, I hope that this film inspires someone else to take another step.”Information
Short Anime ‘Massara’
https://youtu.be/JJThg5VjPvk
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Popular voice actress Hanazawa Kana has released a short music video for her upcoming single Moonlight Magic, releasing on September 29. 「Moonlight Magic」Music Video short ver.
The music video conveys a story almost entirely in CG, with a world-view reflecting the music. The chorus features an adorable dance with movements you'll find yourself wanting to copy. It has also been announced that the full music video for Moonlight Magic will be premiering on YouTube on September 15 at 20:00. We have high expectations for the full MV! Information
Moonlight Magic
Release: September 29, 2021
「Moonlight Magic」Music Video (Premiers September 15, 20:00~ JST)
Hanazawa Kana Official site: http://hanazawa-kana.com/