Movie adaptation of "Kono Hon wo Nusumu Mono wa" (The Thief of Books) announced for 2026

Fukamidori Waku's novel work "Kono Hon wo Nusumu Mono wa" will receive an animated film adaptation in 2026. First visual previews have been released.

The story immerses readers in a fantastical adventure within a literary world: When valuable books are stolen from the Great Mikurakan Library, a "Book Curse" plunges the book city Yomunagamachi into chaos. The city is swallowed by gigantic plants and narrative parallel worlds. Mikura Mifuyu, great-granddaughter of the library's founder, teams up with the mysterious, hundred-eyed girl Mashiro to track down the thieves and break the curse.

The novel was published by Kadokawa Bunko and was nominated for the Booksellers Award in 2021.

Production details:

- Director: Fukuoka Dai ("Radiant", "Kami Kuzu☆Idol")

- Character design & Animation: Kurosawa Keiko ("Astra Lost in Space")

- Screenplay: Nakanishi Yasuhiro ("Kaguya-sama: Love is War")

- Music: Oshima Michiru

- Production studio: Kagokan ("Assassination Classroom", "Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun")

The author describes protagonist Mifuyu as a "girl suffering under oppressive constraints" and hopes audiences will follow her struggles and adventures. Director Fukuoka emphasizes the creative challenge of translating the literary source into visual worlds.