Copyright: ©Kazuto Mihara, KODANSHA/"The World Is Dancing" Production Committee.
The World Is Dancing, currently available to HIDIVE subscribers throughout the U.S. and Canada as well as in key overseas markets including Australia and New Zealand since June 29, has unveiled the synopsis, next episode preview, and advance cuts for Episode II.
Set in a turbulent era of constant conflict, this work follows the intensely curious and beautiful boy Oniyasha (CV: Yumiri Hanamori) as he meets people, laughs, cries, confronts his own weaknesses, and shapes a new form of dance in an impermanent world. It is a "dancing story" spanning 600 years, exploring what might have happened when the man who would later create Noh—Zeami—was still called Oniyasha.
The anime is produced by the animation studio Cypic (Umamusume: Cinderella Gray, The Summer Hikaru Died). The series is directed by Toshimasa Kuroyanagi, known for his work on the TV anime The Great Passage, the animated film Love Me, Love Me Not, and both the TV and theatrical versions of the Backflip!! series.
The series recently won a Special Award at the Short Shorts Film Festival, drawing immense attention for its outstanding quality.
Set in 1374 during the conflict between the Northern and Southern Courts, Act 1 introduced Oniyasha, a boy born to the Kanze troupe of sarugaku performers, who spends his days unable to find meaning in dance. One day, he encounters Shirabyoshi dancing in a barn, experiencing something truly "good" for the first time. Following the broadcast, social media was flooded with praise from viewers captivated by the passion ignited in Oniyasha's heart and the breathtaking animation of the dance sequences.
Following the broadcast and streaming of Act 1, social media was flooded with high praise from viewers who were captivated by Oniyasha’s passion and the striking intensity of the dance. Enthusiastic comments poured in, with fans stating, "Act 1 of The World Is Dancing was amazing!" and "It was incredibly entertaining; I'm absolutely watching every single episode." Viewers also expressed their awe at the production quality, noting, "The way the expression of Shirabyoshi's dance changed alongside Oniyasha's shifting heart was truly beautiful," and "The dance scene in the second half was a masterpiece that showed just how far Japanese animation can go."
Anticipation for the rest of the series was evident in reactions like, "It exceeded my expectations! I can't wait to see what the passion born within Oniyasha will go on to create."
In Episode II, fascinated by Shirabyoshi’s “good” dance, Oniyasha wishes to be able to dance like that himself and begins visiting her along with his friends Kogane and Ishiya. However, the heart-pounding excitement he felt that day never returns no matter how long he waits, leaving Oniyasha with a growing sense of frustration.
Nevertheless, triggered by his encounter with the Shirabyoshi, Oniyasha's dance slowly begins to change, even earning him praise from his father, Kan'ami, who had never acknowledged him before. But it was not only Oniyasha's dance that had changed...
What kind of story will Oniyasha's changing dance and heart weave from here on? Don’t miss Act II!
The World Is Dancing Episode II Title & Advance Cuts
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Episode II: You Have a Body, Don't You?
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Fascinated by what he found “good”, Oniyasha makes visits to Shirabyoshi accompanied by his friends Kogane and Ishiya, who also want to be able to dance that well. Though Oniyasha’s dance changes due to their encounters, other things have changed as well.
■ About The World Is Dancing
Follow “The World Is Dancing” on Social Media:
Official Website: https://sh-anime.shochiku.co.jp/worldisdancing-anime
Official X: https://x.com/wid_anime (@wid_anime)
Streaming Information:
Streaming from June 29, will be available to all HIDIVE subscribers throughout the U.S. and Canada as well as in key overseas markets including Australia and New Zealand.
(Check other platform details at the Official Website).
INTRODUCTION:
One does not need dance to live.
In 1374, during the turbulent age when the Northern and Southern Courts were locked in conflict, the Northern Court’s shogun, Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, was becoming an increasingly dominant force.
Born the son of Kan’ami, head of the Kanze troupe of sarugaku performers, Oniyasha drifts through his days with a hazy question lodged in his heart: Why do people dance? His spirit remains clouded, until the day he encounters a dance that is truly “good.”
Curious, sensitive, and strikingly beautiful, the boy meets people, laughs, cries, confronts his own weaknesses, and slowly begins to shape a new form of dance for a world steeped in impermanence.
Kazuto Mihara’s groundbreaking Noh themed manga from Morning finally comes to life as an anime, filled with scenes that stir the heart and dynamic movement and chanting that can only be expressed through animation.
Directed by Toshimasa Kuroyanagi (The Great Passage, Backflip!!) and animated by Cypic (Uma Musume: Cinderella Gray, The Summer Hikaru Died), this series showcases top tier animation supported by a standout cast
This is a story shaped by dance that may have unfolded when the boy who would one day create Noh—Zeami—was still known as Oniyasha, carried across 600 years to the present.
STORY:
In 1374, amid the turmoil of the Northern and Southern Courts’ long running conflict, a boy named Oniyasha is born into a family of sarugaku theater performers. He spends his days in a kind of quiet gloom, haunted by a simple but persistent question: Why do people dance? Then, one day, he witnesses a dance that he feels to be “good”—and everything begins to change. This is the story of the beautiful young boy who would one day shape the art of Noh and be remembered as Zeami.
Cast & Staff:
Cast
Yumiri Hanamori, Simba Tsuchiya, Maaya Uchida, Romi Park, Takahiro Sakurai, Katsuyuki Konishi, Youji Matsuda,Nobuo Tobita, Inori Minase, Miyuki Sawashiro,Haruki Ishiya, Hazuki Seto
Staff
Based on the manga “The World Is Dancing” by Kazuto Mihara originally serialized in the weekly MORNING magazine published by KODANSHA Ltd.
Director: Toshimasa Kuroyanagi
Character Design: Keigo Sasaki
Series Composition/Script: Sawako Kawamitsu
Sub Director: Shuhei Fuchimoto
Sub Character Design: Iori Hisatake
Prop Design: Odashi
Art Setting: Mamio Ogawa
Art Director: Hiromasa Ogura, Kazuhiro Inoue
Color Design: Naoko Sato, Kumiko Naruke
3D Supervisor: Yoshinori Nakano
Director of Photography: Yutaro Kikuchi
Editing: Daisuke Hiraki
Sound Director: Yukio Nagasaki
Music: Daisuke Shinoda
Opening theme song: Macaroni Empitsu “shusho” (TOY'S FACTORY)
Ending theme song: hockrockb "Unnamed Flower" (TOY'S FACTORY)
Calligraphy/Title Lettering: Satoshi Nemoto
Noh Choreography: Tsumura Reijiro
Choreography: Kaiji Moriyama, Mikiko Kawamura
Noh Supervision: Kohei Kawaguchi
History Supervision: Katsuyuki Shimizu
Animation Producer: Mizoguchi KAN
Animation Production: Cypic
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