Get ready for a fresh dose of comedic romance as the Kirio Fan Club anime makes its highly anticipated debut. Fans are buzzing with the recent announcement that veteran voice actor Tomokazu Sugita will lend his distinctive voice to a teacher character in the series second episode, airing on April 9. This addition promises to bring even more charm and humor to an already quirky and captivating story.
Tomokazu Sugita Joins the Classroom
Tomokazu Sugita, renowned for his versatile roles across countless anime, is set to make a special appearance in the Kirio Fan Club anime. He will portray a teacher in the second episode, which premieres on April 9. Sugita's involvement is sure to excite long-time anime enthusiasts and add an extra layer of appeal to this brand-new series. His unique delivery and ability to embody a wide range of personalities make him a beloved figure in the industry, and his role as a teacher in Kirio Fan Club is eagerly awaited.
The anime officially launched on April 2 at 24:26 JST, effectively April 3 at 12:26 a.m., airing in the Super Animeism TURBO block on MBS, TBS, and 26 other affiliated channels, as well as on AT-X. For international viewers, HIDIVE is streaming the anime concurrently with its Japanese broadcast, ensuring fans worldwide can keep up with Aimi and Nami's hilarious pursuit of love. The series also had its North American premiere at Anime Boston on April 4, generating early excitement.
Kirio Fan Club: A Uniquely Hilarious Romance
Based on Chikyu no Sakana Ponchan's manga, Kirio Fan Club delves into the wonderfully absurd world of high school crushes. The story centers around Aimi and Nami, two friends who are also rivals in their affection for Ken Kirio. What makes their crush particularly unique? Their ability to pinpoint Kirio's presence from a distance thanks to his notoriously ear-splitting farts. Far from being a deterrent, this peculiar trait only solidifies their adoration, leading to philosophical debates about love, nightly rituals to entice him into their dreams, and meticulous lists detailing every aspect they admire about him, down to the very last organ.
The manga, described by Kodansha USA Publishing, poses a central question: will their deep, hilarious friendship ultimately triumph over their competitive pursuit of love? This premise promises a refreshing take on the romantic comedy genre, blending genuine friendship dynamics with laugh-out-loud situations and endearing character interactions. Kodansha USA Publishing plans to release the manga in English starting in spring 2026, giving readers ample time to prepare for this one-of-a-kind narrative.
Meet the Cast and Crew
The Kirio Fan Club anime boasts a talented cast bringing these memorable characters to life:
- Nene Hieda as Aimi Miyoshi
- Shion Wakayama as Nami Sometani
- Gakuto Kajiwara as Ken Kirio
- Yūya Hirose as Mitsuru Manda
- Jin Ogasawara as Hayato Momose
- Ayasa Itō as Satsuki Muraoka
- Fūka Izumi as Seira Tashiro
Directing the series at SATELIGHT is Sō Toyama, known for his work as an episode director on popular titles like BanG Dream!, The Apothecary Diaries, and Love Live! Sunshine!!. Aya Satsuki, recognized for her contributions to A Girl & Her Guard Dog, Solo Camping for Two, and Too Cute Crisis, is both overseeing and writing the series scripts. Nami Hayashi, who worked on TASUKETSU -Fate of the Majority-, is responsible for the character designs, ensuring the anime's visual appeal matches its engaging story. The opening theme song, "FANCLUB," is performed by Skirt and ODD Foot Works, while singer-songwriter Ako performs the ending theme song, "Harmony."
Additional skilled staff members include Kikuko Sadakata for Main Key Animation, Katsuhisa Takiguchi of Studio Tulip handling Art Settings, Daisuke Suzuki also from Studio Tulip as Art Director, Haruko Nobori of Hiyori as Color Key Artist, and Tsuyoshi Shimura of T2 Studio as Compositing Director of Photography. Shūji Matsumoto is the Editor, Toshiki Kameyama serves as Sound Director with Studio Sound Bee handling Sound Production, and Tomoki Kikuya composes the music, produced by PONY CANYON.
From Page to Screen and Beyond
Chikyu no Sakana Ponchan initially announced in September 2024 that their beloved manga, Kirio Fan Club, would receive both a live-action television adaptation and an anime adaptation. The live-action series made its debut in April 2025, paving the way for the animated version to capture an even broader audience.
The manga itself, which launched on Jitsugyo no Nihon Sha's Comic Ruelle service in 2022, concluded its run in August 2024. Its sixth and final compiled volume was released in September 2024. A five-chapter spinoff series further expanded its world, running from October 2024 through February 2025. The manga's quality and unique narrative were recognized when it ranked #10 on the top 20 list for female readers in the 2025 edition of Takarajimasha's Kono Manga ga Sugoi! guidebook, cementing its status as a must-read for fans of compelling romance comedies.
With a unique premise, a stellar voice cast including Tomokazu Sugita, and a dedicated production team, Kirio Fan Club anime is set to be a standout series of the season. Tune in to HIDIVE to experience this hilarious and heartwarming journey of friendship, rivalry, and peculiar love.
