They’ll get by with a little help from their friends.
Earlier today, the official Aikatsu! website updated with a new trailer for the upcoming Aikatsu Friends anime. The two-and-a-half minute trailer introduces the major characters in the series, as well as their voice actors.
The three-minute arcade game teaser shows off the the core gameplay, as well as the various cards that will be offered for the game’s “Cardass” system. The promo also highlights several pieces of tie-in merchandise that will be offered for the show.
The Aikatsu Friends! anime, as well as the arcade game, will debut in April.
Tatsuya Igarashi (Armored Trooper Votoms Case;Irvine, Unlimited Psychic Squad) was tapped to direct the project at Bandai Namco Pictures, with Satomi Watanabe providing character designs. Yuuko Kakihara (Cells at Work!, Digimon Adventure tri.) is in charge of series composition for the title.
Other confirmed crew members include:
- Music: DIGZ MOTION SOUNDS
- Supervisor: Ryuichi Kimura
- Sound Director: Hiromi Kikuta
The confirmed voice cast includes:
- Aine Yūki: Akane Matsunaga
- Mio Minato: Ibuki Kido
- Maika Chōno: Karen Miyama
- Ema Hinata: Yui Ninomiya
- Karen Kamishiro: Azusa Tadokoro
- Mirai Asuka: Ayaka Ohashi
- Koko: Sumire Morohoshi
The cast and crew were officially revealed on February 4, at a “baton passing” event. The event was attended by all major cast members.
Aikatsu Friends! is the third entry in the franchise. The most recent entry, Aikatsu Stars! will run through March 29, and end on its 100th episode. Teruo Satoh is directing the show at Bandai Namco Pictures, with Yukiko Aikei (Accel World, Your Lie in April) providing character designs. Yuuko Kakihara (Chihayafuru 2, Orange) is in charge of series composition for the project.
The Aikatsu! franchise made its début in 2012 as an arcade game. The project inspired an anime series, which ran from 2012 through 2016, spanning 178 episodes.
Sources: MoCa News, Twitter (pKjd)
