by The world of Bocchi the Rock! is expanding with a brand-new theatrical anime film. Titled Bocchi the Rock! Movie: Hoshi no Ashiato (Footprints of the Stars), the upcoming movie is scheduled to premiere in Japan in 2027. Unlike the main television series, which follows Hitori Gotoh and her journey with Kessoku Band, the film will focus on Seika Ijichi, the older sister of drummer Nijika Ijichi.
The announcement was made on November 1, 2026, alongside the release of a teaser visual, a special promotional video, and an introduction to the film’s story. The movie will explore the sisters’ past, beginning with a separation that took place approximately ten years before the main story. It will tell a story about family, dreams, and the experiences that shaped Seika and Nijika before Kessoku Band was formed.
The film brings together several familiar names from the anime industry. Shin Wakabayashi will direct, Erika Yoshida will write the screenplay, and Yukiko Horiguchi will handle character designs. CloverWorks, the studio behind the television anime, is returning to produce the animation.
Maaya Uchida and Sayumi Suzushiro will reprise their roles as Seika and Nijika, respectively. Their return gives fans an opportunity to learn more about the sisters’ relationship and the events that helped shape their lives.
What Is Bocchi the Rock! Movie: Footprints of the Stars About?
The upcoming film is a prequel, meaning its story takes place before the events of the original television anime. Its central characters are Seika Ijichi and her younger sister, Nijika.
The official introduction describes the movie as a story about the sisters’ dream that begins with a separation. It will explore a period when the two were still finding their way forward, long before the formation of Kessoku Band.
Seika is familiar to viewers as the manager of STARRY, the live music venue where Kessoku Band performs. She is often portrayed as a serious, practical person who supports Nijika and the other band members from behind the scenes. However, the television series only provides limited information about her earlier life and the experiences that brought her to STARRY.
Nijika, meanwhile, is the cheerful and energetic drummer of Kessoku Band. Her love of music and her determination to form a band are closely connected to her family and her older sister.
By placing these two characters at the center of the story, the movie promises to explore the emotional history behind their relationship. It will also provide more context for the dreams and decisions that eventually lead to the creation of STARRY.
The exact sequence of events and the full plot have not yet been revealed, so viewers will have to wait for further announcements to learn how the film develops the sisters’ story.
Film Story Connects to the Ijichi Sisters’ Past in the Manga
Original creator Aki Hamaji explained that the movie adapts the story of Nijika and Seika that was originally included in Volume 5 of the Bocchi the Rock! manga.
Hamaji revealed that the idea came to her while returning home from a recording session for the first season of the television anime. She wanted to expand on the sisters’ past, which had been touched upon near the end of Episode 8, and create a story showing the journey that eventually led to the formation of STARRY.
The original manga story was therefore an important piece of background for the characters. Bringing it to the big screen allows the production team to explore those events in greater detail through animation, music, and visual storytelling.
Screenwriter Erika Yoshida has expanded the original material for the film. Hamaji praised Yoshida’s work and expressed excitement about seeing the story developed into a theatrical production.
The creator also praised Horiguchi’s character designs, saying that they immediately brought back the atmosphere of Shimokitazawa from that earlier period. Hamaji added that her discussions with director Shin Wakabayashi and the rest of the staff left her impressed by how carefully they understood the original manga’s ideas and worldview.
She expressed confidence that the film would appeal both to longtime readers and to people discovering Bocchi the Rock! for the first time.
Main Staff and Cast Revealed
The production has confirmed its main creative team and the two central voice actors. CloverWorks will handle animation production, while ANIMEC is listed as the distributor.
Staff
- Original Work: Aki Hamaji (Houbunsha’s Manga Time Kirara MAX)
- Director: Shin Wakabayashi
- Screenplay: Erika Yoshida
- Character Design: Yukiko Horiguchi
- Stylist: Hiroaki Iriyama
- Color Design: Kazuko Nakajima
- Art Director: Yuki Funakakushi
- Director of Photography: Yuya Sakuma
- Editor: Daisuke Hiraki
- Sound Director: Akiko Fujita
- Graphic Design: Yuto Hama
- Animation Production: CloverWorks
- Distribution: ANIMEC
Main Cast
- Seika Ijichi: Maaya Uchida
- Nijika Ijichi: Sayumi Suzushiro
Maaya Uchida returns as Seika, while Sayumi Suzushiro reprises her role as Nijika. The announcement currently highlights these two characters and their performers; further cast details have not yet been confirmed.
Original Creator Aki Hamaji Shares a Comment
Aki Hamaji expressed gratitude for the opportunity to bring the story of Seika and Nijika to the big screen. The creator explained that the story was first developed after the recording sessions for the first season of the television anime.
Hamaji wanted to complement the sisters’ past, which viewers had glimpsed in Episode 8, and show the experiences that led to the establishment of STARRY. The original manga story was later expanded for the movie by screenwriter Erika Yoshida.
The creator also praised Yukiko Horiguchi’s character designs for capturing the atmosphere of Shimokitazawa during that period. Hamaji said that conversations with Wakabayashi and the production team revealed how deeply they understood and respected the original work.
Hamaji hopes the finished movie will be something that both existing fans and newcomers can enjoy. The creator also asked audiences to look forward to the film’s completion.
Maaya Uchida and Sayumi Suzushiro Return as the Ijichi Sisters
The film announcement also brings back the two voice actresses who portray the Ijichi sisters in the television anime.
Maaya Uchida expressed happiness at being able to revisit Seika’s story. She recalled being deeply moved when she first read the sisters’ backstory in the manga and said she had wanted to portray Seika’s experiences.
Uchida also highlighted the challenge of playing a character who is not particularly good at expressing her feelings through words. She hopes to communicate Seika’s kindness and her affection for Nijika through the performance, including the emotions that remain beneath her serious exterior.
Sayumi Suzushiro described the movie as an important story for Seika, Nijika, and STARRY. She explained that it explores the sisters’ journey before they met the other members of Kessoku Band.
Suzushiro also noted that the film could help viewers better understand the significance of Nijika’s statement in the first season: her older sister was her only family. She is excited to revisit Nijika and hopes that both longtime fans and new viewers will connect with the story.
Kessoku Band ASIA TOUR 2027 Also Announced
Alongside the film announcement, the franchise revealed a new live concert project: Kessoku Band ASIA TOUR 2027 “To Asia.”
The tour will visit three Asian cities, beginning in Osaka, Japan, before continuing to Seoul, South Korea, and Hong Kong.
The announced schedule is:
- Osaka, Japan: March 13 and 14, 2027
- Seoul, South Korea: May 8, 2027
- Hong Kong: May 22, 2027
The live performances will feature the four voice actresses associated with Kessoku Band: Yoshino Aoyama, Sayumi Suzushiro, Saku Mizuno, and Ikumi Hasegawa. The tour announcement adds another major event for fans of the franchise in 2027.
What About Bocchi the Rock! Season 2?
The theatrical film is a separate project from the previously announced second season of the Bocchi the Rock! television anime.
Season 2 has already been confirmed to be in production, and the latest announcement reiterates that the project is moving forward. However, an exact broadcast date and further details about its release schedule have not yet been announced.
The new movie should therefore not be confused with Season 2. While the television sequel will continue the main anime project, Footprints of the Stars will look back at the history of Seika and Nijika before Kessoku Band came together.
Why Footprints of the Stars Is Important for Bocchi the Rock! Fans
One of the reasons Bocchi the Rock! has connected with so many viewers is its balance of comedy, music, and character development. Although Hitori Gotoh’s social anxiety and musical growth are central to the story, the series also gives its supporting characters their own ambitions, struggles, and relationships.
Seika is particularly interesting because she is usually seen as the dependable manager of STARRY. Her serious personality and occasional strictness can make her seem distant, but the anime has already suggested that her relationship with Nijika is an important part of her character.
A film centered on the sisters offers a chance to understand that relationship from a new perspective. It can also give viewers a deeper appreciation of the venue and the dreams that helped bring the world of Kessoku Band together.
For newcomers, the movie may provide another entry point into the franchise. Since it takes place before the main story, viewers can explore the Ijichi sisters’ background without needing to know every detail of Hitori’s journey. At the same time, longtime fans will have an opportunity to revisit a meaningful part of the manga in a new animated format.
With a returning animation studio, an experienced creative team, and the original creator’s involvement, Bocchi the Rock! Movie: Hoshi no Ashiato is shaping up to be an important addition to the franchise.
The film is scheduled for release in Japan in 2027. More information about its exact premiere date, additional cast members, and international distribution is still awaited.
