The fall anime Kanata Kara has released the synopsis and advance scene cuts for Episode 1, ‘Mezame’ (Awakening), which begins airing on Sunday, October 4, 2026.
A landmark otherworld fantasy reaches its full TV anime adaptation
Kanata Kara is based on Hikawa Kyouko’s manga, serialized in Hakusensha’s LaLa from the November 1991 issue to the December 2002 issue—about 12 years. The series has more than 4 million copies in circulation and won the Seiun Award, which is given to a representative science fiction work of the year. It is regarded as a cornerstone of otherworld fantasy manga. To mark the 35th anniversary of the serialization, the manga is finally receiving a full TV anime adaptation, with original author Hikawa Kyouko supervising the scripts.
The anime is directed by Abe Noriyuki, with Studio Deen handling animation production. The cast includes Kurosawa Tomoyo as Tachiki Noriko, Kumagai Kentarou as Izark Kia Tarj, Umehara Yuuichirou as Rachef, Takeuchi Eiji as Keimos Lee Goda, Saitou Kimiko as Gaya, Miyazawa Tadashi as Gorya, Nakano Taisuke as Agol, and Itou Miku as Geena-Haas.
Story
The story begins when Tachiki Noriko, an ordinary high school girl, is drawn by a mysterious dream one morning and wanders into an unfamiliar other world. In a place where neither her language nor her common sense works, Noriko is rescued by Izark, a traveling warrior who continues his journey alone.
At the same time, whispers spread across the world: someone will appear to awaken the ‘Tenjouki’ that brings destruction, and it must be obtained before any other nation. What is the Awakening, and what is the Tenjouki? As if he knows the answer, Izark looks at Noriko and murmurs, ‘I must kill this girl.’ Even so, a small bond gradually forms between the two, who come from different languages and cultures. They are eventually pulled into a grand whirlpool of fate.
Episode 1 ‘Mezame’ synopsis
One morning, a golden bird from her dream appears before Noriko, an ordinary high school girl. As she follows it as if invited, she is involved in an accident and wanders into an unfamiliar other world.
Meanwhile, in the other world, nations begin frantically searching for the ‘Awakening,’ which could make one ruler of the world. Noriko, unsure of what has happened to her, is suddenly attacked by monsters in the unknown land, but she is saved by the traveling warrior Izark.
Izark knew that he himself is the ‘Tenjouki’ and that Noriko is the ‘Awakening.’
Episode 1 of Kanata Kara, ‘Mezame,’ will air on October 4 (Sunday) on TOKYO MX, ABC TV, WOWOW, and AT-X.
Broadcast and streaming information
| Service | Start | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| TOKYO MX | October 4 (Sun) | Every Sunday 24:00~ | |
| AT-X | October 7 (Wed) | Every Wednesday 23:30~ | Repeat: Every Friday 11:30~ / Every Tuesday 17:30~ |
| ABC TV | October 10 (Sat) | Every Saturday 26:30~ | |
| WOWOW | October 13 (Tue) | Every Tuesday 24:00~ | All episodes free broadcast |
| Distribution | Start | Services |
|---|---|---|
| Advance distribution | October 5, 2026 (Mon) 0:30 onward, sequentially | U-NEXT, Anime Hoday, Anime Times |
| General distribution | October 10 (Sat) 0:30 onward, sequentially | Various streaming services |
| Latest episode limited free distribution | October 10 (Sat) 0:30 onward, sequentially | TVer |
| Individual paid services | October 10 (Sat) 0:30 onward, sequentially | Various individual paid services |
Details about each streaming service are available on the official website.
Staff
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| Original Work / Script Supervision | Hikawa Kyouko ‘Kanata Kara’ (Hakusensha) |
| Director | Abe Noriyuki |
| Series Composition | Takasugi Rika |
| Character Design | Abiko Eiji |
| Art Director | Mayuzumi Masaki |
| Color Design | Katsuraki Imari |
| Director of Photography | Lee In-ju |
| Editing | Shiraishi Akane |
| Music | Hama Takeshi (Cosmic Wave) |
| Sound Director | Yano Satoshi |
| Sound Effects | Tanaka Hidemi |
| Sound Production | Ai Addiction |
| Animation Production | Studio Deen |
| Production | Kanata Kara Production Committee |
Cast
| Character | Cast |
|---|---|
| Tachiki Noriko | Kurosawa Tomoyo |
| Izark Kia Tarj | Kumagai Kentarou |
| Rachef | Umehara Yuuichirou |
| Keimos Lee Goda | Takeuchi Eiji |
| Gaya | Saitou Kimiko |
| Gorya | Miyazawa Tadashi |
| Agol | Nakano Taisuke |
| Geena-Haas | Itou Miku |
Theme songs
| Theme | Song |
|---|---|
| Opening theme | Gen’in wa Jibun ni Aru. ‘Toukou’ (SDR / Polydor Records) |
| Ending theme | Nanashi no Taro ‘Hikari no Soba de’ (UNIVERSAL MUSIC / Polydor Records) |
Manga edition
The Hakusensha Bunko edition of Kanata Kara volume 1 is priced at 880 yen. Price and availability are as of the article’s publication.
©Hikawa Kyouko・Hakusensha / Kanata Kara Production Committee
