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The broadcast schedule, director, and production company have been announced for March Comes in Like a Lion which made big waves with the confirmation that it’s getting a TV anime adaptation. The anime will begin broadcasting on NHK General TV in fall 2016. Furthermore, the anime is being produced by Shaft, and Akiyuki Shinbo has joined as director. This is shaping up to be a big project for the original manga by Chika Umino.
March Comes in Like a Lion is created by Chika Umino, author of Honey & Clover. It’s a popular series currently serialized in Hakusensha’s Young Animal. The drama, which is themed after shogi and depicts a variety of human relationships, follows up Honey & Clover with high popularity. The series was bathed in the limelight in 2011 when it won the 4th Manga Taisho award. It has gone on to win several big awards including the 35th Kodansha Manga Award in the general category in 2011, and the Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize Manga Award in 2014. Because of that, there were many voices calling for adaptations, and the simultaneous announcement of a TV anime adaptation and live-action movie in 2015 was met with resounding applause.
The announcement made this time makes good on fans’ anticipation. With the decision made for an NHK General TV broadcast, the series will reach many more fans. Directing is Akiyuki Shinbo, a hitmaker who has brought countless hits to the world including Puella Magi Madoka Magica and Bakemonogatari. Characteristics of his work are definitive stories and edgy production. Animation studio Shaft and Shinbo have joined forces many times in the past. The studio has produced one popular series after the next including Arakawa Under the Bridge and Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei. It seems these two forces will draw even more attention to the anime.
Comment from Chika Umino:
*“Bakemonogatari, Madoka Magica, Arakawa Under the Bridge, Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei*—I love director Shinbo’s work, and I thought that if the dream of ‘Shinbo being at Shaft!’ couldn’t come true, then there would be no point animating it… So I’m really happy! My intention is to support them and help out as much as I can!”
The second issue of Young Animal on sale now includes a color frontispiece of the series and an announcement regarding the broadcast. The October broadcast is still a ways off, so keep it here for more reports to come.
Source: animeanime