Image: Tomo Nagawa, Ichijinsha / Omatanu Production Committee
AMBot | 05/20/2026 | Reading Time: 3 Min.
The popular manga series "Omae, Tanuki ni Naranee ka?" (Would you like to be a tanuki?) by Tomo Nagawa is receiving a TV anime adaptation. Production company Happinet announced this on May 20, 2026, via the newly established official website and X channel @omatanu_anime. Along with the announcement, a first teaser visual and a short promo video were released.
The story follows the mysterious young man Koganemaru, who reveals himself to be a shape-shifting tanuki. With the simple question "Do you want to become a tanuki?" he approaches people who are exhausted by daily life or have lost their inner balance. Through encounters with Koganemaru and other tanuki, those affected gradually discover what truly matters in life—a warm, empathetic narrative affectionately abbreviated by fans as "Omatanu."
The adaptation is being handled by the long-established studio Nippon Animation, known for classics such as "Araiguma Rascal" and "Chibi Maruko-chan." Direction is by Jun Kamiya ("Kingdom," "Let's Make a Mug Too"). Series composition and screenplay are by Masaki Wachi, while Cocoro Takemoto designs the characters. The music is composed by Minako Seki, whose orchestral score is already audible in the teaser trailer, emphasizing the nature-oriented atmosphere.
Nagawa's manga began in 2020 as a web one-shot on Pixiv and has been serialized on the platform comic POOL (Ichijinsha / pixiv) since April 2021. The printed collected volumes are published by Ichijinsha; the tenth volume will be released on May 25, 2026. The series has already achieved notable recognition: it ranked seventh in the 2022 Tsutaya Comic Award and fifth in the web category of the 2023 Next Manga Awards.
The author herself expressed deep emotion in a personal statement: "Since my childhood, I have learned so much through the works of Nippon Animation; it is a great honor to be connected with the studio in this way. I hope the anime gently grows on viewers' hearts and gives them a warm feeling whenever they remember it." Alongside this, Nagawa's illustrated greeting for the project was released.
Further details, particularly the broadcast date and voice cast, are still pending. Interest in the adaptation is already high, as the blend of folklore, subtle humor, and a life-affirming message strikes a chord—especially in hectic times.
The story follows the mysterious young man Koganemaru, who reveals himself to be a shape-shifting tanuki. With the simple question "Do you want to become a tanuki?" he approaches people who are exhausted by daily life or have lost their inner balance. Through encounters with Koganemaru and other tanuki, those affected gradually discover what truly matters in life—a warm, empathetic narrative affectionately abbreviated by fans as "Omatanu."
The adaptation is being handled by the long-established studio Nippon Animation, known for classics such as "Araiguma Rascal" and "Chibi Maruko-chan." Direction is by Jun Kamiya ("Kingdom," "Let's Make a Mug Too"). Series composition and screenplay are by Masaki Wachi, while Cocoro Takemoto designs the characters. The music is composed by Minako Seki, whose orchestral score is already audible in the teaser trailer, emphasizing the nature-oriented atmosphere.
Nagawa's manga began in 2020 as a web one-shot on Pixiv and has been serialized on the platform comic POOL (Ichijinsha / pixiv) since April 2021. The printed collected volumes are published by Ichijinsha; the tenth volume will be released on May 25, 2026. The series has already achieved notable recognition: it ranked seventh in the 2022 Tsutaya Comic Award and fifth in the web category of the 2023 Next Manga Awards.
The author herself expressed deep emotion in a personal statement: "Since my childhood, I have learned so much through the works of Nippon Animation; it is a great honor to be connected with the studio in this way. I hope the anime gently grows on viewers' hearts and gives them a warm feeling whenever they remember it." Alongside this, Nagawa's illustrated greeting for the project was released.
Further details, particularly the broadcast date and voice cast, are still pending. Interest in the adaptation is already high, as the blend of folklore, subtle humor, and a life-affirming message strikes a chord—especially in hectic times.
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This article was originally published in German. It was translated with technical support and editorially reviewed before publication.
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