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A manga about the origins of Noh theater is coming to life on screen. The World Is Dancing, co-produced by CyberAgent and Shochiku, is set to begin airing in July 2026. A new teaser trailer has been released alongside the announcement, along with new cast reveals, staff details, and a special illustration from the manga’s original author.
Based on the six-volume manga by Kazuto Mihara, which ran in Kodansha’s seinen magazine Morning, the story is set in 1374 during a period of conflict between Japan’s Northern and Southern Courts. It follows Oniyasha, the son of a sarugaku theater troupe leader, who grows up carrying one nagging question: Why do people dance? After witnessing a performance that moves him deeply, he begins a journey of growth — meeting people, facing his own doubts, and slowly giving shape to a new form of dance. Oniyasha is the boy who would eventually be known as Zeami, the figure credited with developing Noh into the art form it is today.
The English version of the manga’s first chapter is currently available online as a free preview.
Original manga author Kazuto Mihara released a newly drawn illustration of the main characters and shared his thoughts on the adaptation. He described feeling both surprise and joy at seeing the story take a new form, noting that the anime will include characters and scenes that did not appear in the original manga. He also reflected on how the act of retelling a story in a different medium felt, to him, connected to the very structure of Noh itself.
The series is directed by Toshimasa Kuroyanagi, known for The Great Passage and Backflip!!, and animated by CygamesPictures, the studio behind The Summer Hikaru Died. Music is composed by Daisuke Shinoda, a Tokyo University of the Arts graduate whose past credits include the award-winning film Listen to the Universe.
Noh choreography supervision is handled by Tsumura Reijiro, a designated Important Intangible Cultural Property holder and Noh actor of the Kanze school. Choreography for the series is handled by two figures: Kaiji Moriyama, who served as chief choreographer and stage director for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony, and Mikiko Kawamura, a dancer and choreographer with a varied performance background.
Animation producer Mizoguchi KAN, who studied Noh under Tsumura Reijiro, described the project as an effort to present Muromachi-period entertainment through anime, which he sees as the frontline of modern entertainment. The World Is Dancing will have a presence at AnimeJapan 2026, held at Tokyo Big Sight on March 28 and 29. Exhibits and exclusive footage will be available at both the Shochiku Anime Booth (East Hall 5, Booth J-25) and the CyberAgent Anime Booth (East Hall 5, Booth J-49).
