Tomo Nagawa’s Would you like to be a tanuki? is officially making the jump from manga to TV anime, and honestly, this sounds like the kind of soft emotional series that could hit harder than expected.
Publisher Ichijinsha announced that the manga, known in Japanese as Omae, Tanuki ni Narane--ka?, will be adapted into a television anime. Alongside the reveal, the production team also shared a teaser video and key visual, while Nagawa marked the announcement with a special celebratory illustration.
No broadcast window has been announced yet, so for now this is still in the “keep on radar” zone rather than a confirmed seasonal pick.
What is Would you like to be a tanuki? about?
The story follows Koganemaru, a mythical tanuki who approaches humans struggling with life and asks them a very strange but oddly comforting question: would they like to try living as a tanuki?
That setup sounds cute on paper, but the core idea is more reflective than just “haha fluffy animal life”. Through the tanuki experience, the people Koganemaru meets are pushed to reconnect with what actually matters to them.
For Malaysian and SEA anime fans, this could land nicely if you enjoy slower, heartwarming series that mix folklore, healing vibes, and life lessons. Think less tournament arc, more Sunday evening decompression after a long week of work, class, ranked games, or just surviving KL traffic.
The anime staff has some solid names
The anime will be directed by Jun Kamiya, whose previous credits include Kingdom season 1, Hikaru no Go, and Let’s Make a Mug Too. That is an interesting mix, especially because this project seems more gentle and character-driven than something like Kingdom.
The series scripts are being handled by Masaki Wachi, who also worked on Kingdom season 1 and 2. Character designs come from Cocoro Takemoto, credited on Genbanojō and Hakushon Daimaō 2020, while Minako Seki, another Kingdom season 1 and 2 name, is composing the music.
Production is taking place at Nippon Animation.
Why SEA fans should care
This is not the loudest anime announcement of the season, but that might be exactly why it stands out. The anime calendar is usually packed with isekai, action sequels, idol projects, and gacha-adjacent adaptations. A folklore-flavoured slice-of-life story about tired humans rediscovering themselves through tanuki life? That is a different lane.
There is also a strong chance this kind of series becomes one of those low-key comfort watches people recommend after episode three, especially if the adaptation nails the emotional tone. SEA fans tend to show up for wholesome, reflective anime when the execution is good — the kind you can watch with dinner, not necessarily the kind you scream about on release day.
The original manga started in Ichijinsha’s Comic Pool digital manga magazine in April 2021. Its ninth compiled volume was released in October 2025, and the 10th volume is scheduled to arrive on May 25.
For now, the main thing to watch is when the anime gets a proper release window, cast announcement, and international streaming details. If it gets picked up for simulcast in our region, this could be a nice one for Malaysian anime fans who want something warm, thoughtful, and a bit different from the usual seasonal chaos.
Source: Anime News Network