The summer anime World is Dancing has released a synopsis and preview images for its first episode, titled “Why Do People Dance?” (Hito wa Naze Mau no ka), which begins airing on July 2, 2026.
Based on the manga by Mihara Kazuto published in Kodansha’s Morning magazine, World is Dancing is set in the turbulent Nanboku-chō period. The story follows Kiyasha, a beautiful and curious boy who, through encounters with people, laughter, tears, and his own inadequacies, gradually shapes a new form of dance in an impermanent world. This is a tale that imagines what Zeami—the later founder of Noh—might have been like when he was called Kiyasha, a dancing story that continues across 600 years.
Directed by Kuroyanagi Toshimasa (known for Fune wo Amu, Bakuten!!, Omoi, Omoware, Furi, Furare), the animation is produced by Cypic (Uma Musume: Cinderella Gray, Hikari ga Shinda Natsu).
The cast includes Hanamori Yumiri as Kiyasha, Tsuchiya Shinya as Ishiya, Uchida Maaya as Kogane, Park Romi as Masujirou, Sakurai Takahiro as Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, Konishi Katsuyuki as Kan’ami, Matsuda Youji as Inuou, Tobita Nobuo as Nijou Yoshimoto, Noto Mamiko as Gyouko, Minase Inori as Chiharu, Sawashiro Miyuki as Shirabyoushi, Ishitani Haruki as Juunijirou, and Seto Hazuki as Satsuki.
Episode 1 Synopsis
In the year 1374, during an unstable era of conflict between the Southern and Northern Courts, Kiyasha is born into the Kanzeza sarugaku troupe. Unable to find meaning in dance, he spends his days listlessly. One day, he sees a Shirabyoushi dancing in a barn and, for the first time in his life, feels that it is “good.”
Broadcast and Streaming Information
The first episode of World is Dancing will air on July 2, 2026, on TOKYO MX, BS Asahi, TVQ Kyushu Broadcasting, and other stations. Streaming will be available on Prime Video from June 29 at 22:00 (ahead of broadcast), and on ABEMA from July 2 at 22:00 (simulcast). General streaming will be available on services including d Anime Store, DMM TV, FOD, Hulu, Lemino, U-NEXT, and many others.
Staff
| Original Work | Mihara Kazuto, World is Dancing (Kodansha Morning KC) |
| Director | Kuroyanagi Toshimasa |
| Character Design | Sasaki Keigo |
| Series Composition / Script | Kawamitsu Sawako |
| Sub-Director | Fuchimoto Shuhei |
| Sub-Character Design | Hisatake Iori |
| Prop Design | Oda Shi |
| Art Setting | Ogawa Mamio |
| Art Director | Ogura Hiroaki, Inoue Kazuhiro |
| Color Design | Sato Naoko, Narumi Kumiko |
| 3D Director | Nakano Yoshifumi |
| Director of Photography | Kikuchi Yutaro |
| Editor | Hiraki Daisuke |
| Sound Director | Nagasaki Yukio |
| Music | Shinoda Daisuke |
| Opening Theme | Macaroni Enpitsu “Shuushou” (TOY’S FACTORY) |
| Ending Theme | hockrockb “Na mo Nai Hana” (TOY’S FACTORY) |
| Calligraphy | Nemoto Satoru |
| Noh Pattern Supervision | Tsumura Reijirou |
| Choreography | Moriyama Kaiji, Kawamura Mikiko |
| Noh Supervision | Kawaguchi Kouhei |
| Historical Supervision | Shimizu Katsuyuki |
| Animation Producer | Mizoguchi Kan |
| Animation Production | Cypic |
Cast
| Kiyasha | Hanamori Yumiri |
| Ishiya | Tsuchiya Shinya |
| Kogane | Uchida Maaya |
| Masujirou | Park Romi |
| Ashikaga Yoshimitsu | Sakurai Takahiro |
| Kan’ami | Konishi Katsuyuki |
| Inuou | Matsuda Youji |
| Nijou Yoshimoto | Tobita Nobuo |
| Gyouko | Noto Mamiko |
| Chiharu | Minase Inori |
| Shirabyoushi | Sawashiro Miyuki |
| Juunijirou | Ishitani Haruki |
| Satsuki | Seto Hazuki |
(C) Mihara Kazuto / Kodansha / World is Dancing Production Committee
