Image: Minoru Toyoda, Shogakukan, Manga-Club der Oshima-Minami-Oberschule
AMBot | 06/30/2026 | Reading Time: 3 Min.
On July 3, 2026, the anime "Kore Kaite Shine" (Draw This, Then Die!) will premiere on Japanese television, an adaptation of the award-winning manga by Minoru Toyoda. Now, first preview images and the plot of the opening episode have been released. The series will air nationwide on 30 stations within the "Furaani" programming block on Nippon TV and will also be available on AT-X from July 10.
The first episode is titled "Magical Villa – What Would a Manga Hero Do in This Situation?" It introduces high school student Ai Yasumi, who lives on Izu Oshima, an island belonging to Tokyo. Ai is a passionate manga reader who is shy in the real world and struggles to make friends. Her greatest support is her imaginary friend Pokota, a character from her favorite manga "Robota and Pokota" by the artist Hoshi no Rei. One day, while secretly reading a manga in class, it is confiscated by her homeroom teacher Rei Teshima, who then disparages the entire art form. Downhearted, Ai learns that her idol Hoshi no Rei will be presenting a new work at the Comitia convention. This inspires her to hatch a bold plan.
The preview images show Ai amidst the idyllic island world, always accompanied by Pokota, who constantly encourages her when she hesitates. The anime promises a heartwarming story about the joys and struggles of drawing manga—a "manga romance of coming of age," as the producers call it.
The production is handled by Studio Shin-Ei Animation, known for "Doraemon" and "The Dangers in My Heart." The director is Hiroaki Akagi, series composition is by Hiroko Fukuda, character design by Takekazu Segawa, and music composed by Hiroaki Tsutsumi. The main role of Ai Yasumi is voiced by Akira Sekine, with additional voice actors including Saori Hayami (Rei Teshima), Saya Hitomi (Kokoro Fujimori), Kanon Fujimura (Sachi Akafuku), and Inori Minase (Hikaru Sekiryu). Noriko Hidaka lends her voice to the imaginary friend Pokota.
The opening song "Isho" is by Tatsuya Kitani, and the ending "Conifer" is by the band Regal Lily.
The original manga by Minoru Toyoda has been serialized in Shogakukan's "Monthly Shonen Sunday" magazine since November 2021 and has won the Manga Taisho Award in 2023 and the 70th Shogakukan Manga Award (2025). To coincide with the anime's premiere, the tenth compiled volume will be released on July 10, 2026. Anticipation for the series is high, as the heartfelt story of a young manga artist's journey resonates deeply with fans.
The first episode is titled "Magical Villa – What Would a Manga Hero Do in This Situation?" It introduces high school student Ai Yasumi, who lives on Izu Oshima, an island belonging to Tokyo. Ai is a passionate manga reader who is shy in the real world and struggles to make friends. Her greatest support is her imaginary friend Pokota, a character from her favorite manga "Robota and Pokota" by the artist Hoshi no Rei. One day, while secretly reading a manga in class, it is confiscated by her homeroom teacher Rei Teshima, who then disparages the entire art form. Downhearted, Ai learns that her idol Hoshi no Rei will be presenting a new work at the Comitia convention. This inspires her to hatch a bold plan.
The preview images show Ai amidst the idyllic island world, always accompanied by Pokota, who constantly encourages her when she hesitates. The anime promises a heartwarming story about the joys and struggles of drawing manga—a "manga romance of coming of age," as the producers call it.
The production is handled by Studio Shin-Ei Animation, known for "Doraemon" and "The Dangers in My Heart." The director is Hiroaki Akagi, series composition is by Hiroko Fukuda, character design by Takekazu Segawa, and music composed by Hiroaki Tsutsumi. The main role of Ai Yasumi is voiced by Akira Sekine, with additional voice actors including Saori Hayami (Rei Teshima), Saya Hitomi (Kokoro Fujimori), Kanon Fujimura (Sachi Akafuku), and Inori Minase (Hikaru Sekiryu). Noriko Hidaka lends her voice to the imaginary friend Pokota.
The opening song "Isho" is by Tatsuya Kitani, and the ending "Conifer" is by the band Regal Lily.
The original manga by Minoru Toyoda has been serialized in Shogakukan's "Monthly Shonen Sunday" magazine since November 2021 and has won the Manga Taisho Award in 2023 and the 70th Shogakukan Manga Award (2025). To coincide with the anime's premiere, the tenth compiled volume will be released on July 10, 2026. Anticipation for the series is high, as the heartfelt story of a young manga artist's journey resonates deeply with fans.
Images
This article was originally published in German. It was translated with technical support and editorially reviewed before publication.
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