Animation Series "Pan Dorobou": Ayaka Asai Voices the Lead Role Revealed in Teaser PV

The lead role in the anime adaptation of the popular picture book series "Pan Dorobou" (meaning "The Bread Thief") has been cast: Ayaka Asai lends her voice to the mischievous protagonist. This was announced in the second teaser trailer, which reveals the distinctive voice of the Bread Thief for the first time. The new preview video shows the title character dashing through the city with a loaf of bread over their shoulder.

Asai expressed her excitement for the role: "I will play the Bread Thief as if carefully kneading dough—with all my heart and full dedication," the voice actress said in a statement. The series' ending theme is sung by the well-known J-Pop singer Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, who also expressed her enthusiasm for participating in a work loved by her and her children.

In addition to the trailer, two special key visuals were released, showing the Bread Thief with a different facial expression than the previously known main visual. A compilation of the first fan club event on April 5th, featuring author Keiko Shibata, Ayaka Asai, and Kyary Pamyu Pamyu on stage, was also released.

The story of the surreal and playful "Pan Dorobou," who escapes from a bakery, is based on the award-winning picture book series of the same name by Keiko Shibata. The anime production, directed by Takahiko Kyogoku at Studio Shin-Ei Animation, will begin airing on Japanese television on NHK E-Tele in October 2026.