BE:FIRST’s “Stare In Wonder” Now Streaming and Featured as TV Anime Wandance Opening Theme! Special Lyric Video Revealed
The exciting news for fans of the upcoming TV anime *Wandance* is here! BE:FIRST, the popular seven-member dance and vocal group, has officially released their new song “Stare In Wonder” for digital streaming starting October 6, 2025. This track has been chosen as the opening theme for the TV anime. To celebrate, a special lyric video, created in collaboration with the original manga, has also been unveiled!
About the Story: Wandance’s Journey of Dance and Self-Expression
*Wandance* is a captivating TV anime based on Kouhii’s manga, which is currently serialized in Kodansha’s Monthly Comic Magazine “Afternoon” and has already sold over 1.1 million copies. This heartwarming story intertwines “street dance” with “romance,” following the journey of Kotani Hanaki, a high school student who struggles with stuttering and finds it difficult to express his feelings. His life takes a transformative turn when he encounters Wanda Hikari, a classmate who fearlessly expresses herself without concern for others’ opinions. Through her, Kotani Hanaki becomes drawn into the world of dance, embarking on a 青春 (seishun) tale where he challenges himself to express emotions through “freestyle” dance, a form that requires no words.
The manga has garnered significant popularity not just in Japan but also internationally, being published in 10 languages. It even received an award in the “You Should Read This Manga 2023” North American manga awards as a “work expected to be animated.”
The Creative Team Behind the Anime
The TV anime adaptation of *Wandance* is helmed by Katou Michiya, who takes on the roles of director, scriptwriter, and VFX supervisor. Animation production is a collaborative effort between the renowned studios Madhouse and Cyclone Graphics.
The talented voice cast brings the characters to life:
| Character | Voice Actor |
|---|---|
| Kotani Hanaki | Uchiyama Kouki |
| Wanda Hikari | Hitsujimiya Hina |
| Miyao On | Suwa Ayaka |
| Itsukushima Iori | Masuda Toshiki |
| Kabeya Raku | Uchida Yuuma |
| Takumi Uchi | Hayashi Yuu |
| Assei | Kobayashi Chikahiro |
BE:FIRST’s “Stare In Wonder”: A Song of Growth and Self-Discovery
BE:FIRST’s new single, “Stare In Wonder,” was specially composed as the opening theme for *Wandance*. SKY-HI, a devoted reader of the original manga, engaged in extensive discussions with Kouhii, the author, to truly capture the essence of Kotani Hanaki’s growth through dance within the song.
The track was created with the expertise of INIMI’s Sunny and LOAR, along with MONJOE, who have previously contributed to many of BE:FIRST’s celebrated hits. “Stare In Wonder” encapsulates the powerful moment of overcoming one’s weaknesses by focusing solely on sound amidst a noisy world. The song is a danceable and emotional masterpiece, faithfully reflecting the manga’s narrative while also resonating with BE:FIRST’s own journey of starting from scratch and forging their path forward. The choreography for this compelling track was handled by KAITA from RHT., ReiNa from RHT., and BE:FIRST’s own SOTA, who also serve as dance cast members in the TV anime.
Experience the Special Lyric Video and Dance Performance
The recently released Special Lyric Video for “Stare In Wonder” is a fantastic collaboration with the original *Wandance* manga, allowing viewers to fully immerse themselves in the world of the anime alongside this fantastic song. Furthermore, on October 6 at 8 PM JST, a Special Dance Performance video for “Stare In Wonder” will also be released, promising even more visual spectacle.
Where to Find “Stare In Wonder”
BE:FIRST’s new song “Stare In Wonder,” featured as the opening theme for the TV anime *Wandance*, will also be included in their highly anticipated first best-of album, “BE:ST,” set to be released on October 29. The MV edition of the album will feature the Special Dance Performance video for “Stare In Wonder,” while the BMSG MUSIC SHOP edition will offer both the Special Dance Performance video and a captivating Behind The Scenes video capturing the filming process.
TV Anime Wandance Broadcast Information
Get ready to groove with *Wandance*! The TV anime is scheduled to begin its broadcast on October 8, 2025, airing every Wednesday at 11:45 PM JST on TV Asahi national network’s “IMAnimation W” block and other channels. (Please note that some regions may have different broadcast times).
BE:FIRST ‘Stare In Wonder’
Lyrics : SKY-HI
Music : Sunny, MONJOE, LOAR, SKY-HI
Produced by SKY-HI, Sunny, MONJOE
Choreographer : KAITA from RHT., ReiNa from RHT., SOTA (BE:FIRST)
2025/10/29 (Wednesday)
Best Album “BE:ST”
Label : B-ME
TV Anime Wandance Broadcast Information
Starting October 8, 2025, every Wednesday at 11:45 PM JST
To be broadcast on TV Asahi national network’s “IMAnimation W” block and other channels! *Excluding some regions
《Nakase Koutarou》
