Nakamaru Yuichi’s 15-Year-Old Character ‘Kikkun’ Gets Anime Adaptation – Interview Reveals Casting Secrets and Voice Acting Journey

The short anime Chikyuu Daisuki! Kikkun, based on a character created by Nakamaru Yuichi about 15 years ago, will begin airing in July 2026 within the TOKYO MX program 5-ji ni Yumechuu!. Nakamaru not only serves as the original creator and character designer but also voices the protagonist, Kikkun. The story follows an extraterrestrial being from a distant planet who comes to Earth with the mission of invasion, only to find the planet so comfortable that he forgets his original purpose and ends up falling in love with Japan—and eventually protecting it.

From Picture Book Dreams to Anime Reality

In an interview with Anime! Anime!, Nakamaru revealed that the anime adaptation was never part of his original plan. “At the time, I was hoping it might become a picture book someday,” he said. “I worked on the project with my editor, but unfortunately that didn’t happen. So to see it come to life as an anime after 15 years is truly moving.”

The turning point came during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Nakamaru began posting a daily four-panel comic on his company’s official social media. “That was the first time I gave the characters actual dialogue and fleshed out the story elements. I started to feel that something new might come from it, even if I didn’t know what form it would take. When I heard about the anime, I was surprised, but I also felt that the seeds I had planted back then had finally connected.”

The Birth of Kikkun and a Love for Urban Legends

The character’s origins trace back to an illustration series Nakamaru had been running for nearly a decade. “At first I drew in a rather eerie style with little color,” he recalled. “My manager told me it was hard for people to feel attached to, so I shifted toward a more pop direction. That’s when the current Kikkun visual was born.” Nakamaru also admitted a personal passion for urban legends and mysterious stories, which he deliberately wove into the anime’s world. “I love urban legends so much that I’ve been attending a monthly ‘urban legend meetup’ for about five years,” he laughed. “I asked the director to include those elements without disrupting the overall fun tone.”

Voice Acting Debut and Pro Tips from Ootsuka Akio

Nakamaru took on the role of Kikkun himself, despite limited voice acting experience. “I was really nervous at first,” he admitted. “The recording pace was much faster than I expected, and I was honestly in a bit of a panic. But the professional voice actors around me gave me so much support. When I delivered a line with the wrong nuance, they would naturally adjust their performance to cover for me.”

He recalled asking Ootsuka Akio, who voices Mogura, how the pros manage to read the script, watch the video, and time their lines all at once. “Ootsuka-san said that while he does check the script, the video is always in his peripheral vision, so he instinctively knows when to speak. He also watches the character’s expressions and movements during the test take and then performs based on that in the actual recording. I was amazed at how they process all that information simultaneously.”

Casting Dreams Come True: Ootsuka Akio and Sugita Tomokazu

When asked about the star-studded cast, Nakamaru revealed that he had a personal hand in approaching Ootsuka and Sugita Tomokazu (who voices Ika). “I’ve been a huge fan of the Metal Gear Solid series since forever, and I’ve always admired their voices. I had even asked Ootsuka-san to do narration for a personal event before. So I felt there was already a connection. I’m really grateful that we ended up with such a luxurious cast.”

Favorite Character: Hakun the Molar

Among all the characters, Nakamaru singled out Hakun as his personal favorite. “He’s shaped like a molar tooth and speaks in an overly polite, almost snooty way. When I heard his voice for the first time during recording, it was even more charming than I imagined. The cast even joked about whether we’ll see incisor or canine characters in the future!”

Message to Viewers

Nakamaru encouraged viewers to watch 5-ji ni Yumechuu! first, calling it “really entertaining” and full of surprises. “Then Chikyuu Daisuki! Kikkun serves as a kind of palate cleanser—the show’s excitement and the anime’s gentle, healing vibe are polar opposites, so I hope people enjoy them as a set. This anime is packed with characters and world-building I’ve nurtured for over 15 years. Please pay attention to the occasional urban legend touches hidden in the story.”

Bonus Segment: Kikkun no Choitashi!

A special segment featuring Nakamaru’s commentary alongside the anime will air as Kikkun no Choitashi! starting July 2 (Thursday) from 7:30 to 7:35 AM, with streaming on TVer from 7:35 AM after broadcast.

Broadcast and Staff Details

(C) 2026 Nakamaru Yuichi / Kikkun Seisaku Iinkai