Image: TV-Anime „Kanata kara“: Key Visual, Kyoko Hikawa/Hakusensha/Kanata-kara-Produktionskomitee
AMBot | 09/02/2026 | Reading Time: 5 Min.
One month before the Japanese premiere, the TV anime "From Far Away" has released a comprehensive update: On September 2, 2026, the team behind the series unveiled a new key visual, the main trailer, the cast for additional roles, and the two theme songs. The series will start airing on Japanese television on October 4, 2026.
The original work by Kyoko Hikawa is considered a classic of shōjo manga. "From Far Away" was serialized from 1991 to 2002 in Hakusensha's magazine LaLa, achieved a total circulation of more than four million copies, and was awarded the Seiun Prize in 2004, which honors outstanding science fiction works of the year in Japan. The now-produced full adaptation is being realized under the supervision of the author and falls in the year of the manga debut's 35th anniversary.
The story follows high school girl Noriko Tachiki, who one morning is led by a strange dream into a foreign world. Language, geography, and even the rules of everyday life are unfamiliar to her there, so she initially wanders around disoriented until she is rescued by the silent wandering warrior Izark Kia Taj. Soon it becomes clear that Noriko stands at the center of a prophecy concerning the so-called Sky Demon, and the two become embroiled in a conflict that threatens the entire world. The new key visual shows Noriko and Izark for the first time together with Rachev and Kaemos Lee Goda; the slogan "The story of 'love' and 'ruin' now awakens" serves as the image caption. The also-released main trailer offers a longer glimpse into the animated adaptation, which is being produced at Studio Deen. Direction is handled by Noriyuki Abe, known among other things for "Bleach"; series composition is by Rika Takasugi, and character design is by Eiji Abiko.
Already in July, the central main roles had been cast: Tomoyo Kurosawa voices Noriko, Kentaro Kumagai takes on Izark, Yuichiro Umehara is heard as Rachev, and Eiji Takeuchi as Kaemos Lee Goda. Now four more engagements followed: Kimiko Saito voices Gaya Il Biska, Izark's sword-fighting teacher; Tadashi Miyazawa steps into the role of the fortune-teller Gorya, who serves under Rachev; Taisuke Nakano takes on the mercenary Agol, who, on behalf of the Free City of Rienka, searches for the person who is to awaken the Sky Demon; Miku Ito voices his daughter Gina Haas, who, despite her blindness, possesses visionary powers. In accompanying statements, Kimiko Saito was moved to be able to participate in an anime adaptation after the end of the original release; she described Gaya as a strong, caring mother figure for the group. Tadashi Miyazawa announced that he would not portray Gorya as a clear-cut villain but as an advocate of "our justice." Taisuke Nakano revealed that during the recordings he paid particular attention to the many nuances with which Agol calls his daughter's name. Miku Ito, in turn, described Gina as a clever and responsible girl who, in the presence of her father, also shows playful, childlike sides.
The music is also now set: The opening "Tōkōkō" is contributed by the group Genin wa Jibun ni Aru., described as an "idol group of new interpretation" and also known online by the abbreviation Genjibu. The lyrics are by Kiyoki, the music by SARVAL, and the arrangement was done by SARVAL, Orca Nyan, KONPEKi, CS4W, and Kiyoki; it will be released via SDR\/Polydor Records. Band member Kaneto Yoshizawa explained that the song is meant to make the world of Noriko and Izark "even more colorful" and is closely intertwined with the work. The ending theme is performed by the guitarless four-person band Nanashi no Tarou from Hakodate with "Hikari no Soba de." Lyrics, music, and arrangement here come from the band itself as well as Motoaki Matsuoka and Umi Kinami; the song will be released via Universal Music\/Polydor Records. In a statement, the group said they only discovered the original work through working on the song, but upon reading it, they were immediately captivated by the relationships of the characters and the dense narrative—as fans, they can hardly wait for the broadcast to start.
To celebrate the adaptation, six artists from the circle of the magazine LaLa have also contributed support illustrations and messages. The first wave includes contributions by Shinobu Amano, Meka Tanaka, Akiharu Touka, Bisco Hatori, Mikase Hayashi, and Kiiro Yumi. In parallel, a giveaway is running on the official X channel: Those who follow the account and repost the relevant post can win one of five posters featuring the new key visual.
The broadcast begins on TOKYO MX on October 4 at 24:00 Japanese time, i.e., in the night of October 5. It will be followed by AT-X from October 7, each Wednesday at 23:30, ABC TV from October 10, each Saturday at 26:30, and WOWOW from October 13, each Tuesday at 24:00, where all episodes will be shown for free.
[youtube]dLRKywRu3iM[\/youtube]
The original work by Kyoko Hikawa is considered a classic of shōjo manga. "From Far Away" was serialized from 1991 to 2002 in Hakusensha's magazine LaLa, achieved a total circulation of more than four million copies, and was awarded the Seiun Prize in 2004, which honors outstanding science fiction works of the year in Japan. The now-produced full adaptation is being realized under the supervision of the author and falls in the year of the manga debut's 35th anniversary.
The story follows high school girl Noriko Tachiki, who one morning is led by a strange dream into a foreign world. Language, geography, and even the rules of everyday life are unfamiliar to her there, so she initially wanders around disoriented until she is rescued by the silent wandering warrior Izark Kia Taj. Soon it becomes clear that Noriko stands at the center of a prophecy concerning the so-called Sky Demon, and the two become embroiled in a conflict that threatens the entire world. The new key visual shows Noriko and Izark for the first time together with Rachev and Kaemos Lee Goda; the slogan "The story of 'love' and 'ruin' now awakens" serves as the image caption. The also-released main trailer offers a longer glimpse into the animated adaptation, which is being produced at Studio Deen. Direction is handled by Noriyuki Abe, known among other things for "Bleach"; series composition is by Rika Takasugi, and character design is by Eiji Abiko.
Already in July, the central main roles had been cast: Tomoyo Kurosawa voices Noriko, Kentaro Kumagai takes on Izark, Yuichiro Umehara is heard as Rachev, and Eiji Takeuchi as Kaemos Lee Goda. Now four more engagements followed: Kimiko Saito voices Gaya Il Biska, Izark's sword-fighting teacher; Tadashi Miyazawa steps into the role of the fortune-teller Gorya, who serves under Rachev; Taisuke Nakano takes on the mercenary Agol, who, on behalf of the Free City of Rienka, searches for the person who is to awaken the Sky Demon; Miku Ito voices his daughter Gina Haas, who, despite her blindness, possesses visionary powers. In accompanying statements, Kimiko Saito was moved to be able to participate in an anime adaptation after the end of the original release; she described Gaya as a strong, caring mother figure for the group. Tadashi Miyazawa announced that he would not portray Gorya as a clear-cut villain but as an advocate of "our justice." Taisuke Nakano revealed that during the recordings he paid particular attention to the many nuances with which Agol calls his daughter's name. Miku Ito, in turn, described Gina as a clever and responsible girl who, in the presence of her father, also shows playful, childlike sides.
The music is also now set: The opening "Tōkōkō" is contributed by the group Genin wa Jibun ni Aru., described as an "idol group of new interpretation" and also known online by the abbreviation Genjibu. The lyrics are by Kiyoki, the music by SARVAL, and the arrangement was done by SARVAL, Orca Nyan, KONPEKi, CS4W, and Kiyoki; it will be released via SDR\/Polydor Records. Band member Kaneto Yoshizawa explained that the song is meant to make the world of Noriko and Izark "even more colorful" and is closely intertwined with the work. The ending theme is performed by the guitarless four-person band Nanashi no Tarou from Hakodate with "Hikari no Soba de." Lyrics, music, and arrangement here come from the band itself as well as Motoaki Matsuoka and Umi Kinami; the song will be released via Universal Music\/Polydor Records. In a statement, the group said they only discovered the original work through working on the song, but upon reading it, they were immediately captivated by the relationships of the characters and the dense narrative—as fans, they can hardly wait for the broadcast to start.
To celebrate the adaptation, six artists from the circle of the magazine LaLa have also contributed support illustrations and messages. The first wave includes contributions by Shinobu Amano, Meka Tanaka, Akiharu Touka, Bisco Hatori, Mikase Hayashi, and Kiiro Yumi. In parallel, a giveaway is running on the official X channel: Those who follow the account and repost the relevant post can win one of five posters featuring the new key visual.
The broadcast begins on TOKYO MX on October 4 at 24:00 Japanese time, i.e., in the night of October 5. It will be followed by AT-X from October 7, each Wednesday at 23:30, ABC TV from October 10, each Saturday at 26:30, and WOWOW from October 13, each Tuesday at 24:00, where all episodes will be shown for free.
[youtube]dLRKywRu3iM[\/youtube]
This article was originally published in German. It was translated with technical support and editorially reviewed before publication.
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