The “street dance × romance” manga Wandance, currently serialized in Afternoon, has been announced to receive a TV anime adaptation, scheduled to air in 2025. The anime will be produced by Madhouse and Cyclone Graphics, with RIEHATA joining as the dance producer. To commemorate the anime adaptation, an illustration and comment from the original author, Coffee, have also been released.
Wandance is a “street dance × romance” manga by Coffee, serialized in Kodansha’s monthly comic magazine Afternoon, with a total series circulation surpassing 900,000 copies. The story follows Kabo Kotani, a high school student with a stutter who struggles to express his feelings. He becomes fascinated by his classmate Hikari Wanda, who immerses herself in dance without worrying about others, and he begins to challenge himself by expressing through freestyle dance, which requires no words.
In addition to bold and dynamic dance scenes, the delicate human relationships and bittersweet romantic depictions have captured the hearts of readers. The manga is not only popular in Japan but also internationally, being published in 10 languages. It was also awarded the “You Should Read This Manga 2023” in North America as a work expected to be adapted into an anime. Amid the growing anticipation from fans both domestically and abroad, the much-awaited anime adaptation has finally been realized.
The dance genre featured in this work, “Breaking,” recently gained recognition when it was adopted as a new sport for the Paris Olympics, where Japan’s representative AMI Yuasa won a gold medal. With the rising attention on street dance, the anime adaptation is expected to draw significant interest.
The TV anime will be produced by Madhouse, a long-established animation studio with support from fans across generations, and Cyclone Graphics, known for its digital animation using VFX and CG. Additionally, world-renowned dancer RIEHATA, who has choreographed for famous artists like BTS, will be brought on as the dance producer, aiming to create an unprecedentedly authentic dance animation.
To commemorate the anime adaptation, an illustration and comment from the original author, Coffee, were also released. The illustration depicts a dynamic duo shot of Kabo Kotani and Hikari Wanda. With a stylish design based on a yellow theme, it captures the cool essence of Wandance.
With the announcement of the TV anime adaptation, the official social media accounts and website have been launched. On official X (formerly Twitter), a campaign will be held where fans can ask questions to Coffee to celebrate the anime adaptation. Additionally, the 13th volume of the manga will be released on August 22, and the October issue of Afternoon magazine, releasing on August 23, will feature Wandance on the cover. Wandance continues to rise, and it’s a series you won’t want to miss.
Full Comment from the Original Author, Coffee:
“Manga doesn’t produce sound or motion. But instead, it has other strengths that actual dance and music don’t have. It allows readers to supplement the movement and sound with their imagination. In some cases, this may evoke more emotion than actually seeing or hearing it. When it comes to this anime adaptation, some of the movement and sound will be realized. However, if we aim to replicate a realistic appearance too faithfully, I feel it could diminish the significance of adapting the manga into anime. I would be thrilled if the creators could play with experimentation and improvisation, creating an imaginative visual experience that goes beyond what I had envisioned. I hope everyone enjoys it too.”
