Short follows Ichiko on her first trip to town.
Kodoani.com – Kadokawa and PA Works have released a short anime on YouTube as part of the original anime project Mayonaka Punch (Midnight Punch) on Monday. The short film, titled “Ichiko! Hajimete no Machi de Otsukai” (Ichiko! First Errand in Town), tells the story of Ichiko's first errand.
The next short film will feature the little girl Fuu. Previously, in July, the project released short films featuring Live (pronounced “ribu”) and Tokage.
The anime premiered on July 8 on Tokyo MX and AT-X channels at 10:30 p.m. JST. The show also aired on BS11 at 11:00 p.m. JST and on KBS Kyoto and Sun TV at 12:00 p.m. JST.
The anime's six voice actors were gradually announced between March 4 and 9. The anime stars Ikumi Hasegawa as Masaki and Fairouz Ai as Live (pronounced “ribu”). Yuina Itō as Ichiko, a member of the “Mayonaka Punch” group who has a penchant for cute things and always follows Live's orders. Hina Yomiya as Fuu, a member of the “Mayonaka Punch” group who is reserved, shy, but has the most common sense in the group. Hitomi Ueda as Tokage, another member of “Mayonaka Punch” who is passionate about gambling and money above all else, and she hates anything troublesome. Ai Kayano as Yuki, who has known Live for a long time and has a grudge against “Mayonaka Punch.”
Live's main cast, Ichiko, Fū, Tokage, and Yuki also perform the opening theme “Gimi Gimi.” Masaki (voiced by Ikumi Hasegawa) performs the ending theme “Henshū-ten” (Edit Point).
The anime, described as a “girls' comedy,” revolves around Masaki, a member of the NewTuber group “Harakiri Sisters,” who is fired due to a certain incident. Aiming to make a comeback, Masaki meets Live. Although the two have different goals, they work together to make a tense comeback, aiming to reach 1 million subscribers on NewTube.
The anime marks the reunion of the main production staff from the Ya Boy Kongming! anime, including director Shū Honma, screenwriter Hideaki Shirasaka, and studio PA Works. Ryōta Arima (chief animation director of The Quintessential Quintuplets∬) is adapting the original character designs by Tsukasa Kotobuki (Saber Marionette J, Cyberteam in Akihabara) into animation. “Dōga Tōkō Shōjo” (Video Submission Girls) is credited as the original work.
The core staff also includes:
Chief Animation Director: Ryōta Arima, Sanae Satō, Masami Gohda Animation Director: Kayoko Nabeta Background Art: Yūta Fujii Art Director: Yuki Maeda Color Key Artist: Asami Eguchi Composition Photography Director: Junya Kodama 2D Art: Makoto Yoshigaki 3D Director: Kōhei Ogawa Editor: Ayumu Takahashi Music: Tape, Raku Music Production: Heart Company Sound Director: Satoki Iida Sound Effects: Yasumasa Koyama Sound Recording Adjustment: Ayumu Anzai Sound Production: dugout
The Mayonaka Punch project also includes a manga and a novel adaptation. A manga adaptation by Tomomi Usui (Cube Arts) launched in Kadokawa's Monthly Young Ace magazine on March 4. The novel is written by Tsuzuro Hibi, with illustrations by Tsukasa Kotobuki.