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Anpanman Creator Takashi Yanase's Life Inspires Biographical Anime

Froebel-kan Co., Ltd. announced in January that it is producing a new television biographical anime special about Soreike! Anpanman creator Takashi Yanase that will premiere on BS NTV on Sunday, and on Kochi Broadcasting on February 23.

The 55-minute anime is titled Yūki no Hana ga Hiraku Toki: Yanase Takashi to Anpanman no Monogatari (When the Flower of Courage Blooms - The Story of Takashi Yanase and Anpanman), based on Kumiko Kakehashi's novel of the same name, and celebrates what would have been the 100th birthday of the manga creator.

Froebel-kan began streaming a trailer for the anime on Saturday.

Tetsuro Kodama (The Bears' School, Ganbare! Lulu Lolo - Tiny Twin Bears) is directing the anime at TMS Entertainment. Kazuho Hyodo (ReLIFE, Kiratto Pri☆Chan, Robot Girls Z) is penning the script.

The cast includes:

• Yasuaki Takumi as Takashi
• Wataru Hatano as Chihiro
• Tesshō Genda as Uncle
• Naomi Shindoh as Aunt
• Megumi Toyoguchi as Nobu
• Hiroshi Tsuchida as Superior Officer
• Shinnosuke Ogami as Shopkeeper
• Buntoku Nakamura as Son
• Ryūto Iwata as Takashi (child)
• Kōsei Kimura as Chihiro (child)
• Hiromu Katou as Child

Yanase was best known for his Soreike! Anpanman manga, which inspired a television anime that has been ongoing since 1988. The manga has also inspired 30 anime films to date, with a 31st film slated to open in June. The character is well-known not only in Japan, but also overseas. Yanase passed away on October 13, 2013.

Source: Froebel-kan's website and YouTube channel, Comic Natalie