The popular television anime adaptation of Mayo Momoyo's light novel series, Always a Catch! (Nigashita Sakana wa Ōkikatta ga Tsuriageta Sakana ga Ōkisugita Ken), has exciting news for fans. Two new cast members have officially joined the series, bringing more beloved characters to life.
Meet the New Voices
Daiki Hamano and Wataru Komada are the latest additions to the Always a Catch! cast. Daiki Hamano steps into the role of Goffredo, while Wataru Komada voices Macchio. Both characters are introduced as loyal servants of the prominent Annovazzi family, making their debut appearance in the anime's fifth episode. Their contributions are set to deepen the narrative, adding more layers to the family dynamics within the romantic comedy.
Always a Catch! The Story So Far
For those new to the series, Always a Catch! offers a unique blend of romance and comedy. The story centers on Maria Annovazzi, a duke's daughter who was once destined to inherit her father's dukedom. Consequently, Maria dedicated her life to mastering martial arts, pushing thoughts of marriage aside. Her path takes an unexpected turn with the arrival of a baby brother, which means she is no longer the sole heir. Deciding it is finally time to seek a spouse, Maria finds herself late to the marriage game.
Her journey takes her abroad to a neighboring country in search of eligible bachelors. However, she is immediately confronted by the crown prince, who publicly declares their engagement null and void. Maria is understandably bewildered, as she was unaware of any such engagement. It turns out the prince has mistaken her for someone else. Once the misunderstanding is cleared, the prince witnesses Maria's formidable combat skills firsthand as she takes down a group of bandits. This revelation sparks an unexpected attraction, as the prince discovers a fondness for strong, capable young women.
Key Players and Creators
The anime features a talented ensemble cast bringing the vibrant characters to life:
- Yū Serizawa as Maria Annovazzi
- Atsushi Tamaru as Renato di Rubini
- Saori Hayami as Aida Amethis
- Shūichirō Umeda as Placido di Rubini
- Taku Yashiro as Raimondo Cigata
- Natsuki Hanae as Ireneo
- Kaori Maeda as Eleonora Casciari
- Rumi Ōkubo as Rosalia Pinotti
- Tetsu Inada as Maria's father
- Yūko Kaida as Queen Rubini
Behind the scenes, the creative team is led by Akira Oguro, who directs the anime at TROYCA. Michiko Yokote is responsible for the series scripts, ensuring a captivating storyline. Isamu Suzuki handles character designs, giving the cast their distinctive visual appeal.
Musical Themes and Broadcast
Adding to the anime's charm are its opening and ending theme songs. HoneyWorks feat. Airi Suzuki perform the energetic opening theme song, "Chikai wa Kyun to." The emotional ending theme song, "DEAD OR LOVE," is performed by singer Yoshino.
The anime officially premiered on April 1, airing on Tokyo MX and BS 11 at 24:00 JST, effectively kicking off on Thursdays at midnight.
From Novel to Screen
The Always a Catch! saga originated as a short story by Mayo Momoyo on the "Shōsetsuka ni Narō" website in 2020. Momoyo then launched a sequel series on the same platform later that year. Square Enix began publishing the novels with illustrations by Mito in 2021. The series saw a manga adaptation by Kaki Nagato, which launched on Square Enix's Manga UP! service in April 2022. Both the seventh volume of the novels and the tenth compiled book volume of the manga shipped on April 7, highlighting the series' ongoing success and popularity.
Fans outside Japan can enjoy the manga digitally, as Square Enix's Manga UP! Global, Kadokawa's BookWalker Global Store, and Comikey all publish the English version. With new cast members joining and the story unfolding, Always a Catch! continues to be an engaging watch for romantic comedy fans.
