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Hanayamata Creator's Dropout Idol Fruit Tart Manga Listed With TV Anime

In the Honya Club retailer's listing for the May issue of Houbunsha's Manga Time Kirara Carat magazine, the issue's cover image reports that a television anime adaptation of Sou Hamayumiba's Ochikobore Fruit Tart (Dropout Idol Fruit Tart) manga has been green-lit. The issue will ship on Thursday, and the magazine had teased in December that its next three issues would have major announcements.

The manga's story begins when first-year high school student Ino Sakura heads to Tokyo to pursue becoming an idol. She teams up with fellow Nezumi Dorm residents — unpopular former child actor Roko, musician Hayu, and model Nina — to form the new idol unit Fruit Tart. These dropout idols get back on their feet and enter the world of show business to prevent their dorm from being demolished.

The story debuted as a one-shot manga in the magazine in 2014. The manga then launched as a series in 2015. Houbunsha released the third compiled book volume last June.

Hamayumiba launched the earlier Hanayamata manga in Houbunsha's Manga Time Kirara Forward magazine in 2011 and ended it in 2018. The 10th and final compiled book volume shipped in April 2018. That manga inspired a television anime by Madhouse in 2014, and Crunchyroll streamed the series as it aired in Japan. Sentai Filmworks licensed the anime, and released it with an English dub on home video in 2016. The manga also inspired several smartphone apps, as well as a PlayStation Vita game in 2014.

Source: Honya Club