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Crunchyroll Adds P.A. Works' Shirobako Anime

Media distribution service Crunchyroll announced on Wednesday that it will stream P.A. Works' Shirobako television anime. The first episode will premiere on Thursday, October 9 at 11:30 a.m. EDT for premium members and one week later for free members.

The stream will be available in the United States, Canada, South Africa, Latin America, United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, The Netherlands, Scandinavia, Turkey and Australia.

Shirobako follows five girls as they work to succeed in the anime industry in writing, production, and voice acting.

TThe main cast includes:

Juri Kimura (Nagi no Asukara) as Aoi Miyamori, a production major


Haruka Yoshimura (Riddle Story of Devil, Sora no Method) as Ema Yasuhara, an animator


Haruka Chisuga (Soul Eater Not!, Zetsumetsu Kigu Shōjo Amazing Twins) as Shizuka Sakaki, a new voice actor


Asami Takano as Misa Tōdō, a 3D CG artist


Hitomi Ohwada, as Midori Imai, a student aiming to be a writer

Other cast members include Shūya Nishiji, Hiroyuki Yoshino, Yuri Yamaoka, Matsuoka Yoshitsugu, Masaya Matsukaze, Ai Kayano, and Mai Nakahara.

Tsutomu Mizushima will direct the series at P.A. Works. Ponkan8 designed original characters and Kanami Sekiguchi adapted them for the anime series. Michiko Yokote is overseeing the series and Tsutomu Mizushima is directing the sound. Yoko Ishida will perform the opening theme, "Colorful Box," and Juri Kimura, Haruka Yoshimura, and Haruka Chisuga will perform the ending theme, "Animetic Love Letter."

Update: Although Crunchyroll's description mentions that the anime is based on a manga by Kenji Sugihara, the series is not based on a manga and is an original series.