by The upcoming anime adaptation of The Guy She Was Interested In Wasn’t a Guy at All has revealed its first full promotional video, additional voice cast members, and official premiere date. The highly anticipated romance anime will begin airing in Japan on January 8, 2027, as part of Nippon TV’s Friday anime programming block, FRIDAY ANIME NIGHT, also known as Fura-Ani.
The latest announcement was made at New York Comic Con 2026 on October 8. Alongside the new promotional video, the production team confirmed that Kenjiro Tsuda, Tasuku Hatanaka, Yurina Amami, Fairouz Ai, and Maiko Nomura will join the voice cast. The video also features music composed by Kosuke Noma and Takayuki “Kojiro” Sasaki, offering fans an early look at the anime’s musical atmosphere.
Based on the popular manga by Sumiko Arai, the series follows Aya Osawa, a high school student who loves Western rock music. Aya becomes fascinated by a mysterious, black-clad employee at a CD shop, unaware that the person she admires is actually her female classmate, Mitsuki Koga.
With its combination of music, romance, friendship, and questions about identity, the anime promises a distinctive coming-of-age story. Animation studio CloverWorks is handling production, with director Masashi Ishihama, series composer Rino Yamasaki, and character designer Kanna Hirayama leading the creative team.
The announcement has generated excitement among manga readers and anime fans eager to see how the original story’s expressive artwork, emotional relationships, and love of classic rock will translate to animation.
The Guy She Was Interested In Wasn’t a Guy at All: Release Date and Latest Updates
Here are the main details confirmed so far:
- Official English title: The Guy She Was Interested In Wasn’t a Guy at All
- Japanese title: Ki ni Natteru Hito ga Otoko Janakatta
- Original creator: Sumiko Arai
- Japanese premiere: January 8, 2027
- Broadcast schedule: Fridays at 11:00 PM JST
- Japanese broadcaster: Nippon TV, FRIDAY ANIME NIGHT
- Animation studio: CloverWorks
- Director: Masashi Ishihama
- Series composition: Rino Yamasaki
- Character design: Kanna Hirayama
- Opening theme: “Breed” by Nirvana
- Music: Kosuke Noma and Takayuki “Kojiro” Sasaki
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
The official website states that the manga has sold more than 2.25 million copies worldwide and has accumulated more than two million social media followers.
Crunchyroll has announced plans to stream the anime when it premieres in January 2027. Viewers should check their regional catalogue closer to the release date for local availability. <Cite refs=me’s Music and Characters
The first full promotional video was released following its presentation at New York Comic Con 2026. Unlike a brief teaser, the new PV uses footage from the anime itself, giving viewers a better idea of its visual presentation, characters, and musical atmosphere.
The video features the voices of Mitsuki Koga, played by Mariya Ise, and Aya Osawa, played by Akari Kito. It also introduces the background music created by Kosuke Noma and Takayuki “Kojiro” Sasaki.
Music is central to the identity of The Guy She Was Interested In Wasn’t a Guy at All. Aya and Mitsuki initially connect through their shared appreciation of rock music, which helps them form a bond despite their different personalities and the secrets separating them.
The promotional video therefore does more than introduce the main characters. It also establishes the role music will play in the anime’s emotional storytelling.
The production team has emphasised that music connects people who might otherwise struggle to understand one another. This idea is reflected in Aya and Mitsuki’s relationship, which gradually develops through conversations about bands, songs, and their personal tastes.
The PV offers an early glimpse of how CloverWorks will bring the manga’s expressive character designs and emotional moments to life. Fans can also look forward to hearing the soundtrack in the context of the finished episodes.
Five New Voice Actors Join the Cast
The latest announcement introduces five additional cast members who will portray characters connected to Mitsuki and Aya’s lives.
The newly announced cast includes:
- Joe: Kenjiro Tsuda
- Narita: Tasuku Hatanaka
- Chizuru: Yurina Amami
- Mao: Fairouz Ai
- Kanna: Maiko Nomura
Kenjiro Tsuda will voice Joe, Mitsuki Koga’s uncle. The other four actors will portray characters from the high school attended by Mitsuki and Aya.
Kenjiro Tsuda as Joe
Kenjiro Tsuda is one of the most recognisable additions to the cast. Known for his distinctive, expressive voice, he has appeared in numerous anime and video game projects.
In this series, he voices Joe, Mitsuki’s uncle. His character offers another perspective on Mitsuki’s life outside her school relationships and her mysterious identity as the CD shop employee.
Tsuda’s casting is particularly exciting for fans who enjoy voice performances that communicate personality through subtle changes in tone and delivery.
In his comment about the project, Tsuda praised the combination of nostalgic rock music and a fresh story about love and friendship. He also described the two central characters as endearing because they struggle to communicate their feelings clearly.
Tasuku Hatanaka as Narita
Tasuku Hatanaka will voice Narita, one of the students attending the same high school as Mitsuki and Aya.
Hatanaka previously participated in a drama CD adaptation of the manga, making his return to the franchise particularly meaningful. He expressed happiness about being able to portray Narita again in the television anime.
In his comment, Hatanaka praised the original work for balancing a stylish, lighthearted atmosphere with emotional depth and warmth.
He also noted that the recording sessions included touching moments, suggesting that the emotional qualities of the manga have carried over into the anime’s voice performances.
Yurina Amami as Chizuru
Yurina Amami will portray Chizuru, another character within the girls’ school circle.
In her comment, Amami highlighted the story’s depiction of friendship and youth, describing the happiness, excitement, and occasional loneliness that accompany growing relationships.
She also encouraged viewers to pay attention to the different sounds and colours expressed throughout the anime.
Her remarks reinforce the importance of atmosphere in the adaptation. Music, visual presentation, and the characters’ changing emotions all contribute to the way the story communicates its themes.
Fairouz Ai as Mao
Fairouz Ai joins the cast as Mao.
In her comment, she reflected on the emotional difficulty of being true to oneself and the pain that can come from hiding one’s identity. She also highlighted the story’s warm message that people can find someone who understands and accepts them.
This theme is particularly relevant to Mitsuki, who carefully separates her quiet school persona from her confident appearance as the CD shop employee.
Her situation creates tension because Aya is attracted to a version of Mitsuki she does not fully recognise. At the same time, their growing connection offers the possibility of greater honesty and understanding.
Maiko Nomura as Kanna
Maiko Nomura will voice Kanna, a senior figure whom Mitsuki and Aya admire.
Nomura described Kanna as mature and cool, someone who stands out as a person the two girls look up to.
She also expressed excitement about seeing how the anime will portray the music that plays within the characters as their feelings develop.
Kanna’s role adds another dimension to the social environment surrounding the main characters. Her presence helps broaden the story beyond the central relationship between Aya and Mitsuki.
Meet the Main Characters: Mitsuki Koga and Aya Osawa
At the heart of the anime are two high school students whose relationship begins with an unexpected misunderstanding.
Aya Osawa: A High School Girl Who Loves Rock Music
Aya Osawa is a cheerful, fashionable high school student who is passionate about Western rock music.
She enjoys discovering music and connecting with people who share her interests. However, finding someone with similar musical tastes is not always easy.
Her life changes when she visits a CD shop and meets an employee dressed entirely in black. The employee seems mysterious, distant, and exceptionally knowledgeable about music.
Aya quickly becomes interested in the person, particularly because their conversations reveal a shared appreciation of rock.
Played by Akari Kito, Aya is an energetic character whose enthusiasm drives much of the story. Her straightforward feelings create both charming and awkward moments as she tries to get closer to the person she admires.
Mitsuki Koga: The Quiet Girl Behind the Mysterious Image
Mitsuki Koga is Aya’s classmate and the person behind the mysterious CD shop employee’s appearance.
At school, Mitsuki is quiet and prefers not to draw attention to herself. She presents a very different image from the stylish, black-clad employee Aya finds so fascinating.
Mitsuki is played by Mariya Ise, who previously voiced the character in the manga’s drama CD adaptation.
The central complication is that Aya develops romantic feelings for Mitsuki without knowing that the person she admires at the shop is the same girl who sits beside her in class.
Mitsuki gradually becomes more involved in Aya’s life, but revealing her identity is not easy. She worries about how Aya might react and whether the truth could change their developing relationship.
This secret forms the foundation of the story’s romantic tension.
What Is The Guy She Was Interested In Wasn’t a Guy at All About?
The anime adapts Sumiko Arai’s manga, which first gained attention through its online publication before receiving a print release.
The story follows Aya, who becomes interested in a mysterious employee at a local CD shop. The employee’s appearance and musical knowledge make a strong impression on her, and their conversations gradually deepen her fascination.
However, the person Aya believes to be a man is actually Mitsuki, her female classmate.
Mitsuki knows about Aya’s growing feelings but struggles to reveal the truth. Although she generally avoids standing out at school, she finds herself drawn into increasingly personal conversations with Aya.
The result is a coming-of-age story that combines romantic tension with questions about identity, self-expression, and the difficulty of communicating honestly.
The series also explores the role of friendship. Relationships are not built only through grand declarations; they often develop through small conversations, shared interests, and moments when people begin to understand each other more clearly.
For readers discovering the series for the first time, its central premise is easy to follow. Aya is attracted to someone she believes is a mysterious male music enthusiast, while Mitsuki must decide how to respond to feelings she was not expecting.
The situation creates humour and romantic uncertainty, but it also allows the story to explore the vulnerability involved in being seen and accepted for who you really are.
Why Music Is So Important to the Story
Music is not simply background decoration in The Guy She Was Interested In Wasn’t a Guy at All. It is one of the main ways the characters communicate and develop their relationship.
Aya and Mitsuki initially connect because of their shared love of rock. Their conversations about music allow them to reveal parts of themselves that might otherwise remain hidden.
For Aya, discovering someone who understands her musical interests is exciting. For Mitsuki, music offers a way to express herself without having to explain every aspect of her personality.
This makes their shared interest especially meaningful. The music gives them something to talk about before they are ready to discuss their more complicated feelings.
The anime’s music team consists of Kosuke Noma and Takayuki “Kojiro” Sasaki. Their compositions are intended to complement the characters’ emotions and help establish the atmosphere of the series.
In their comments, both musicians expressed enthusiasm for the original manga’s use of rock music. Noma described the project as his first time composing music for a television series and said the recording sessions took place in Tokyo and Los Angeles.
Sasaki also expressed excitement about the original work’s grunge influences and the opportunity to create music that reflects its characters’ delicate emotions.
The involvement of musicians familiar with rock helps reinforce the story’s identity and its connection to the wider musical culture that inspires the characters.
Nirvana’s “Breed” Confirmed as the Opening Theme
Another major musical announcement is the confirmation of “Breed” by Nirvana as the anime’s opening theme song. The track was announced alongside the initial promotional material earlier in 2026.
Nirvana is one of the best-known bands associated with the grunge movement of the early 1990s. The band’s sound is closely connected to the alternative rock influences that appear throughout the manga.
Using “Breed” as the opening theme strengthens the connection between the anime and its musical inspiration.
The choice is also a natural fit for a story in which music helps define the characters’ identities. Rather than treating rock as a passing interest, the series places it at the centre of Aya and Mitsuki’s connection.
The opening theme gives the anime an opportunity to establish its energetic tone from the beginning, while the original soundtrack can explore quieter emotions and the characters’ changing relationships.
Fans should look out for further information about the full soundtrack and any additional music announcements as the premiere approaches.
Who Is Making the Anime?
The production team combines experienced anime creators with a studio known for its polished character animation.
Original work: Sumiko Arai
Director: Masashi Ishihama
Series composition: Rino Yamasaki
Character design: Kanna Hirayama
Music: Kosuke Noma and Takayuki “Kojiro” Sasaki
Animation production: CloverWorks
Masashi Ishihama will direct the series, while Rino Yamasaki is responsible for series composition. Kanna Hirayama will handle character design.
CloverWorks is producing the animation. The studio has worked on a range of popular anime, including character-driven stories and visually expressive productions.
For this adaptation, the team will need to capture the manga’s distinctive visual style while translating its emotional storytelling into movement, voice acting, and music.
The challenge is particularly interesting because the original manga communicates so much through colour, facial expressions, and the contrast between Mitsuki’s public and private appearances.
The anime format provides new ways to express those details through performance and sound.
Full Voice Cast and Production Staff
Cast
- Mitsuki Koga: Mariya Ise
- Aya Osawa: Akari Kito
- Joe: Kenjiro Tsuda
- Narita: Tasuku Hatanaka
- Chizuru: Yurina Amami
- Mao: Fairouz Ai
- Kanna: Maiko Nomura
Staff
- Original work: Sumiko Arai
- Director: Masashi Ishihama
- Series composition: Rino Yamasaki
- Character design: Kanna Hirayama
- Music: Kosuke Noma and Takayuki “Kojiro” Sasaki
- Animation production: CloverWorks
Where Can You Watch The Guy She Was Interested In Wasn’t a Guy at All?
The anime is scheduled to begin airing in Japan on January 8, 2027, at 11:00 PM JST on Nippon TV’s FRIDAY ANIME NIGHT programming block.
Crunchyroll has also announced plans to stream the series when it premieres. International viewers should check the platform’s regional catalogue for availability and any local release details.
An exact international release time and a complete regional streaming schedule have not been specified in the information currently available.
Fans can follow the official anime website for future updates, including new promotional videos, character visuals, music announcements, and additional cast information.
The Guy She Was Interested In Wasn’t a Guy at All is shaping up to be one of the notable romance anime releases of early 2027.
The first promotional video offers a more detailed look at the adaptation, while the newly announced cast expands the story’s world beyond its two central characters. Kenjiro Tsuda, Tasuku Hatanaka, Yurina Amami, Fairouz Ai, and Maiko Nomura bring additional voices to the series, and the music team promises to preserve the original manga’s strong connection to rock.
The story’s appeal comes from its balance of humour, romantic uncertainty, friendship, and emotional honesty. Aya’s attraction to the mysterious CD shop employee creates the central misunderstanding, while Mitsuki’s hidden identity introduces questions about trust and self-expression.
With CloverWorks handling animation and Nirvana’s “Breed” confirmed as the opening theme, the adaptation has several elements that should appeal to both existing manga readers and newcomers.
The anime will premiere in Japan on January 8, 2027, with Crunchyroll streaming plans also announced.
