"Kimi Ai" Anime Adaptation Announced: Yui Ishikawa and Soma Saito to Lead Cast
The world of romance anime is about to get a lot more heartwarming. Natsu Mizuno's original work, which was illustrated by Kei Misawa and has the incredibly long but intriguing title, "The next duke who said, 'I have no intention of loving you,' has come to dote on you for some reason," is officially getting a television anime adaptation. According to the latest updates, the show is scheduled to begin its broadcast on the TV Asahi network and BS Asahi starting this July. Fans of the source material are already quite excited to see how this story of from cold rejection to complete devotion will play out on screen.
The casting department has also shared some big news. The talented Yui Ishikawa has been roped in to play the lead female character, Elsa Yukalainen, while the popular Soma Saito will be providing the voice for the male lead, Julius Loias. Both actors are well-known for their previous hits, so the chemistry between the two characters is expected to be top-notch.
A Heartwarming Tale of a Contract Marriage
"Kimi-Ai," as it is popularly called by the fans, is a sweet romantic comedy that focuses on Elsa. She is the daughter of a fallen aristocrat and, despite being very poor, she manages to live her life with a very positive attitude. Then we have Julius, who is the elite next duke but is also surprisingly clumsy and always troubled. The plot follows these two as they enter into a contract marriage because of their own separate interests. However, as they spend more time together and see each other's kindness, they slowly start becoming a real couple. It is exactly why the next duke who said i have no intention of loving you is a must watch anime for those who love slow-burn romance.
Currently, the original manga is being serialized in COMIC Polaris, and it has built a very loyal following. Along with the announcement, a main visual titled "Doting Premonition Edition" was released, showing Elsa smiling while Julius looks at her. A teaser PV has also been dropped to give us a first look at the animation style.
TV anime “The next duke who said, 'I have no intention of loving you,' has come to dote on you for some reason.” Teaser PV
Production Staff and Creator Comments
The production quality seems to be in good hands. The animation is being handled by Zeroji, who worked on "The Grieving Ghost Wants to Retire," and Glass, who recently worked on "Behemoth, an S-rank monster, but he's mistaken for a cat and lives as an elf girl knight." Here is a quick look at the main staff members:
- Director: Hitoyuki Matsui (Known for "Tonica Kawaii")
- Series Composition: Tomoko Konparu (Known for "Kimi ni Todoke")
- Character Design: Yuko Yahiro (Known for "Kaguya-sama: Love Is War")
The original creator, Mizuno, even sent in some congratulatory illustrations to mark the occasion. Misawa also expressed a lot of surprise and joy, mentioning that the character settings, art, and cast are all looking wonderful. They are both really looking forward to seeing their characters come to life, and frankly, so are we!
